Sustainability Appraisal of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review Scoping Report August 2018 Sustainability Appraisal of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review Scoping Report LC-342 Document Control Box Client Malvern Hills District Council Sustainability Appraisal of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review: Scoping Report Title Report Filename LC-361_SWDP_SA_Scoping_8_030818JE.docx Date August, 2018 Author CW Reviewed JE Approved ND Front cover: Bredon Hill from Broadway Tower by Richard Giddy About this report & notes for readers Lepus Consulting Ltd (Lepus) has prepared this report for effects of the South Worcestershire Development Plan the use of Malvern Hills District Council on the behalf of Review and meets the requirements of the SEA Directive. It South Worcestershire Councils. There are a number of is not intended to be a substitute for Environmental Impact limitations that should be borne in mind when considering Assessment (EIA) or Appropriate Assessment (AA). the conclusions of this report. No party should alter or change this report whatsoever without written permission from Lepus. Client comments can be sent to Lepus using the following address. © Lepus Consulting Ltd 1 Bath Street, Cheltenham This Scoping Report is based on the best available information, including that provided to Lepus by the Council Gloucestershire and information that is publicly available. No attempt to GL50 1YE verify these secondary data sources has been made and they have assumed to be accurate as published. This Telephone: 01242 525222 scoping report was prepared in May 2018 and is subject E-mail: [email protected] to and limited by the information available during this time. www.lepusconsulting.com This report has been produced to assess the sustainability SA of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review August, 2018 LC-361_SWDP_SA_Scoping_8_030818JE.docx Contents 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 This report ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 South Worcestershire ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Sustainability Appraisal .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Integrated approach to SA and SEA ........................................................................................................................................ 2 1.5 Best Practice Guidance ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 1.6 The South Worcestershire Development Plan Review ............................................................................................................ 4 2 Presenting the Sustainability Information ....................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Policy, plan and programme review ......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Baseline data collection ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Key sustainability issues ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 3 Accessibility and Transport............................................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Summary of policy, plan and programme review .................................................................................................................. 9 3.2 Baseline data ..............................................................................................................................................................................10 3.3 Key Sustainability Issues ............................................................................................................................................................18 3.4 Future Evolution without the Plan ..............................................................................................................................................18 4 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................................................................20 4.1 Summary of policy, plan and programme review ................................................................................................................20 4.2 Baseline data ..............................................................................................................................................................................20 4.3 Key Sustainability Issues ............................................................................................................................................................22 4.4 Future Evolution without the Plan ..............................................................................................................................................22 5 Biodiversity and Geodiversity .......................................................................................................................................23 5.1 Summary of policy, plan and programme review ................................................................................................................23 5.2 Baseline data ..............................................................................................................................................................................24 5.3 Key Sustainability Issues ............................................................................................................................................................38 5.4 Future Evolution without the Plan ..............................................................................................................................................38 6 Climate Change ...............................................................................................................................................................40 6.1 Summary of policy, plan and programme review ................................................................................................................40 6.2 Baseline data ..............................................................................................................................................................................40 6.3 Key Sustainability Issues ............................................................................................................................................................52 6.4 Future Evolution without the Plan ..............................................................................................................................................52 7 Economic Factors ..............................................................................................................................................................53 7.1 Summary of policy, plan and programme review ................................................................................................................53 7.2 Baseline data ..............................................................................................................................................................................53 7.3 Key Sustainability Issues ............................................................................................................................................................56 7.4 Future Evolution without the Plan ..............................................................................................................................................57 8 Health and Quality of Life .............................................................................................................................................58 8.1 Summary of policy, plan and programme review ................................................................................................................58 8.2 Baseline data ..............................................................................................................................................................................58 8.3 Key Sustainability Issues ............................................................................................................................................................68 8.4 Future Evolution without the Plan ..............................................................................................................................................68