In terms of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) - deaths up to 1 year per 1,000 live births, Luton and South Bedfordshire has mixed results compared to the 2004 national (5.1%) and regional averages (4.2%)54. In 2003 Luton records a figure of 4.2% and South Bedfordshire 5.9%55. (2004 IMR rates for Luton and South Bedfordshire are not currently available). IMR as a whole can be used as a proxy measure against which deprivation can be measured. Table 3.25 shows the percentage of resident population that classify themselves as being in either good, fairly good or not good health, it also provides the percentages of people working age with a limiting long term illness. 54 ONS, http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1154 55 audit commission, http://www.areaprofiles.audit-commission.gov.uk/ (wqzntt3yqdqb3xmvfg4bhu45)/DetailPage.aspx?entity=10001026 52 56 Table 3.25: Health conditions (2001) South East of Luton Bedfordshire England England People of a working age with a limiting long term illness (%) 12.33 10.13 11.4 13.29 General health: good (%) 69.64 72.34 70.35 68.76 General health: fairly good (%) 22.31 20.84 22.05 22.21 General health: not good (%) 8.05 6.82 7.6 9.01 Approximately 1 child in every 7 lives in a low income household in South Bedfordshire, whereas in Luton, 1 in every 4 children (approximately 11,000) live in low income households.57 The LDF will need to consider how health profiles and demand for services will alter resulting from the growth proposals. Individual living conditions will also change as people move through the life cycle. Deprivation is not a static phenomenon; people move in and out of it. 3.12.1 Trends The proportion of people that describe themselves as being in good health in Luton and South Bedfordshire is approximately 71% which is above the national (69%) and regional average (70%). Further to this, health inequalities in Luton and South Bedfordshire prevail with a 5.2 year life expectancy gap between the worst and best wards in South Bedfordshire and 5.9 years in Luton. 3.13 Material Assets Material assets include resources such as land, building materials and other resources, many of which are non-renewable. This topic is concerned with the efficient use of resources, including the re-use of brownfield sites 56 National Statistics, Cited November 2006 http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=5&b=276882&c=south+bedfordshire&d=13 &e=6&g=423906&i=1001x1003x1004&o=219&m=0&enc=1 57 Department of Health website, Cited November 2006, http://www.communityhealthprofiles.info/profiles/09UE-HP.pdf 53 and sustainable waste management. Waste is the “flip-side” of the consumption of material assets, and is itself a symptom of resource depletion. This is aggravated by the disposal of material to landfill which, in turn, uses up valuable land. Waste is recognised as being an opportunity for resource recovery (through re-use and recycling for example). 3.13.1 Previously Developed Land (PDL) The national target is that 60% of new housing is to be on built on PDL. Luton and South Bedfordshire both perform particularly well in relation to this target. 98.9% of new homes in South Bedfordshire and 100% of new homes in Luton between 2004 and 2005 were built on PDL. This is a good performance when compared to the National average of 73.5%58. 3.13.2 Waste Table 3.26 indicates the recycling habits and waste production of households in Luton and South Bedfordshire compared to the UK. From this data it can be seen that the percentage of household waste recycled and composted has increased between 2003 and 2006. However, the amount of household waste collected per head has increased. The cost of collection per household has also risen since 2003/04. Table 3.26: Recycling Rates59 Luton Luton South South 2003- 2005- Bedfordshire Bedfordshire 2004 2006 2003-2004 2005-2006 UK 2003-2004 UK 2005-2006 % Household waste recycled 14.3 15.2 15 15.7 15.2 17.6 % Household waste composted 6.3 9.6 0.5 13.5 6.5 9.1 Kg household waste collected per head 429.4 480.2 429.5 453.2 444.5 438.5 Cost of waste collection per household (£) 52.1 52.8 40 42 43.4 47.7 58 Communities and Local Government, cited Nov 2006, http://www.bvpi.gov.uk/pages/keyFacts_BVPI.asp?lastpage=1&aid=119 59 http://www.bvpi.gov.uk/pages/keyFacts_BVPI.asp?lastpage=1&aid=119 54 3.13.3 Trends The percentage of household waste recycled, composted and amount of waste being collected is increasing. 3.14 Cultural Heritage In order to plan for the future it is necessary that we understand the past. Historical assets are irreplaceable and enrich our understanding of the past and present. They help record local distinctiveness, to create an attractive environment and are of considerable tourism and recreational value. Development should reflect local character in the use of building materials, the relationship of buildings to one another and to the surrounding landscape. Luton and South Bedfordshire contain many buildings of historic quality and interest. Including: 26 Scheduled Ancient Monuments (24 in South Bedfordshire60 and 2 in Luton61) 619 listed buildings (518 in South Bedfordshire and 101 in Luton) 26 Conservation Areas (22 in South Bedfordshire and 4 in Luton) Three registered Historic Parks and Gardens- Putteridge Bury - Luton, Grade II, Wardown Park - Luton, Grade II and Luton Hoo – South Bedfordshire, Grade 2 ** 3.15 Landscape Landscape character contributes to the quality of place at the regional, county and local levels. Luton and South Bedfordshire encompasses a varied landscape including a dramatic chalk escarpment, rolling chalk farmlands, chalk valleys, greensand ridges and valleys, and clay hills. 60 South Bedfordshire Annual Monitoring Report, South Bedfordshire District Council, 2004/2005, cited November 2006, http://www.southbeds.gov.uk/lgcl-environment/planning/pdf/SouthBedfordshireDistrictCouncil- AnnualMonitioringReport.pdf 61 Luton Borough Council, Cited November 2006, http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/business/economic_development/Environment%20and%20Heritage 55 The Countryside Agency’s Character of England Map identifies 3 national Countryside Character Areas within Luton and South Bedfordshire, the Chilterns, the Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge and the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Claylands. These Character Areas are illustrated on the map overleaf. The detailed Draft South Bedfordshire District Landscape Character Assessment Report (June 2006) identifies 8 distinctive landscape character types and 24 landscape character areas reflecting more subtle changes in character relating to topography, geology, soils, land use, woodland pattern etc. Landscape features such as the escarpment, small patches of ancient woodland, historic field patterns, flood meadows, parkland, historic settlements and buildings, and other intrinsic landscape qualities including small pockets of tranquillity all contribute to local character and distinctiveness. However parts of the farmland landscape have been affected by intensive arable farming with an associated loss of hedgerow boundaries, ponds, wetlands and natural grassland. In addition there are localised parts of the landscape that have been affected by minerals extraction-chalk and sand and gravel, Luton and South Bedfordshire includes the nationally designated Chiltern’s AONB, south of Luton and Dunstable, and to the north east an outlier of this AONB. It also includes a number of Areas of Great Landscape Value e.g. north of Leighton Buzzard and south of Luton, as well as Areas of Local Landscape Importance. (However it should be noted that current government policy in PPS7 is that the justification for retaining more local designations needs to be rigorously assessed). 56 Mid Bedfordshire 9C 6A 9C 8A 7B 10B 10C 6A 9D 8A 7B South Bedfordshire 5A 9B Luton 8B 9E 10A 11D 11B 9A 12B 12D 12C 11A 11C Urban Areas Landscape Character Areas 12A 5. Clay Vales 10. Rolling Chalk Farmland 5A: Eaton Bray 10A:Totternhoe - Dunstable Downs 5B: Barton-le-Clay 10B: Houghton Regis - North Luton 6. Wooded Greensand Ridge 10C: Barton Hill 6A:Woburn 11. Chalk Dipslope 7. Greensand Valley 11A:Whipsnade 7B: Ouzel 11B: Caddington - Slip End 8. Clay Hills 11C: Luton Hoo 8A:Toddington - Hockliffe 11D: Luton Airport - Chiltern Green 8B: Billington 12. ChalkValleys 8C: Harlington - Pulloxhill 12A: Gade 9. Chalk Escarpments 12B:Ver 9A: Dunstable Downs 12C: Slip End 9B:Totternhoe 12D: Lea 9C:The Clappers 9D:Warden Hill - Stopsley Common 9E: South Dunstable Key County boundary District boundary 1km 4km Source: South Bedfordshire Landscape Character Assessment, Landuse Consultants 3.16 Townscape The townscape of the area is equally varied with Luton and Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard including to different extents historic market town centres, Victorian terraces, high rise estates, large scale industrial estates/business parks and a range of 20th century suburban townscapes. Some of these areas have distinctive historic qualities (designated as Conservation areas-see Cultural heritage section) and/or are of good design, whilst others have considerable potential for regeneration and enhancement. Major historic parks and other open spaces are also a distinctive feature of some townscapes, although in others their current visual quality is poor. Small villages and hamlets within South Bedfordshire include distinctive historic townscapes and settings but some closest to the main urban areas have been particularly affected by suburban development, Consultation question Q2: Are there any other issues or information related to the topics covered in sections 3.4 to 3.16 that are relevant to the Core Strategy and Growth Area DPDs that should be included? 57 4 Stage A3- Identifying Environmental and Sustainability Issues 4.1 Introduction The SEA Directive has a requirement to identify and list any relevant existing environmental problems.