Central & Eastern Berkshire Authorities Joint Minerals & Waste Plan Interim SA/SEA Report June 2018 Contents Non Technical Summary .............................................................................................. 1 Cumulative Effects (Inter Plan) .................................................................................. 18 1. Introduction and Purpose ................................................................................... 21 1.1 Background .................................................................................................... 21 1.2 The SA/SEA Process ..................................................................................... 22 1.3 Meeting the requirements of the SEA Directive .............................................. 25 1.4 Requirements of SA ....................................................................................... 26 1.5 Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) ....................................................... 27 1.6 JMWP Background ......................................................................................... 27 1.7 JMWP Vision .................................................................................................. 29 2. Stage A Scoping Appraisal Findings ................................................................. 31 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 31 2.2 Task A1 Review of Plans and Policies ............................................................ 31 2.3 Task A2: Environmental Context (Establishing the Baseline and Future Baseline Environment) .............................................................................................. 32 2.4 Task A3 Sustainability Issues ......................................................................... 33 2.5 Limitations ...................................................................................................... 37 2.6 Task A4: Developing the SA/SEA Framework ................................................ 37 2.7 Task A5 Consulting on the Scope of SA/SEA ................................................. 39 3. Stage B: Developing and Refining Options and Assessing Effects ................ 47 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 47 3.2 B2: Developing Strategic Alternatives ............................................................. 47 3.3 B1-B5: Testing the Plans Objectives against the SA/SEA Objective ............... 53 3.4 B1-B5: Testing the Development Management (DM) Policies against the SA/SEA Objectives ................................................................................................... 59 3.5 B1-B5: Testing the Minerals and Waste Polices against the SA/SEA Objectives 64 3.6 Waste Policies Summary ................................................................................ 64 3.7 Minerals Policies Summary ............................................................................ 67 3.8 Sites Assessment Summary ........................................................................... 70 4. Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................ 82 4.1 Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................... 82 4.2 Summary of Intra Plan Effects (synergistic) .................................................... 82 4.3 Summary of Inter Plan Effects (additive and synergistic) ................................ 84 4.4 Mitigation ........................................................................................................ 88 4.5 Limitations and Difficulties Encountered ......................................................... 91 4.6 Monitoring ...................................................................................................... 92 4.7 Concluding Statement .................................................................................... 93 4.8 Next Steps ...................................................................................................... 94 Acronyms .................................................................................................................... 95 Glossary ...................................................................................................................... 97 Appendix A: Summary of Relevant Plans and Policies ......................................... 103 Appendix B: Summary of Baseline Information ..................................................... 111 Appendix C: SA/SEA Framework Information ........................................................ 119 Appendix D: Full SA/SEA of the JMWP Objectives ................................................ 121 Appendix E: Long List and Full Appraisal of Development Management Options ................................................................................................................................... 124 Appendix F: Long List and Full Appraisal of Waste Policies ................................ 169 Appendix G: Long List and Full Appraisal Mineral Policies .................................. 186 Appendix H: Site Information .................................................................................. 207 Appendix I: Site Specific Assessments ................................................................ 217 Appendix J: Quality Assurance Checklist .............................................................. 282 Appendix K: Example mitigation measures ........................................................... 286 Prepared by Hampshire Services Hampshire County Council © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100018817 www.hants.gov.uk/sharedexpertise Derived from 1:50000 scale BGS Digital Data under Licence 2011/049F, British Geological Survey ©NERC Non Technical Summary Introduction This Non Technical Summary provides an overview of the initial findings of the Sustainability Appraisal (including Strategic Environmental Assessment) undertaken for the Central and Eastern Berkshire Authorities - Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (JMWP). The document is referred to herein as the ‘Interim SA/SEA Report’. What is the Central and Eastern Berkshire – Joint Minerals and Waste Plan? Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham Borough Council (collectively referred to as ‘Central & Eastern Berkshire Authorities’) are working in partnership to produce a Joint Minerals & Waste Plan (JMWP) which will guide minerals and waste decision-making in the Plan area for the period up to 2036. The JMWP is at Draft Plan stage and provides a draft Vision, Objectives and Policies to guide minerals and waste planning decisions, as well as proposed site allocations put forward to achieve the Plan’s Vision: JWMP (Draft Plan) Vision ‘In recognition of the importance of the area as a source of minerals, the Central & Eastern Berkshire Authorities will aim to ensure the maintenance of a steady and adequate supply of minerals, whilst maximising the contribution that minerals development can bring to local communities, the economy and the natural environment. Waste will be managed in a sustainable way, in accordance with the waste hierarchy. We will work in collaboration with others to ensure the best environmental solution to waste management is delivered. The Plan will also ensure that the full extent of social, economic and environmental benefits of minerals and waste development are captured, contributing to the Central and Eastern Berkshire’s economic activity and enhancing quality of life and living standards within the area, whilst minimising impacts on the natural environment.’ What are Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment? When preparing a minerals and waste local plan, authorities are legally required to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the plan. These assessments are required by the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 and the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC). These two processes have been combined into this Interim SA/SEA Report. Sustainability Appraisal ensures that the social, economic and environmental effects are identified and appraised. The purpose of the SA/SEA is to provide a Interim SA/SEA Report (June 2018) 1 high level consideration of the environment, and ensure that environmental and sustainability considerations have been properly integrated into the plan. It aims to make the JWMP more sustainable and responsive to its environmental effects, by identifying the JMWP significant impacts and ways of minimising its negative effects. The SA/SEA Methodology The SA/SEA Process Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the authorities are required to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of this emerging Joint Minerals and Waste Plan. SA seeks to promote sustainable development by integrating sustainability considerations in to the preparation and adoption of policies, plans and programmes. SA is required in order to deliver national sustainability objectives. This is also supported by provisions within National Planning Policy Framework and the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive. According to Government policy1, SA should ‘be an integral part of the plan preparation process, and should consider