Thurrock Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (DRAFT) February 2016 Contents Glossary and Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................ i Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................. iii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project background ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Purpose of this report .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.4 Scoping consultation ................................................................................................................................... 2 2. Thurrock’s Local Plan and Sustainability Appraisal ............................................................................. 3 2.1 Thurrock’s Local Plan .................................................................................................................................. 3 2.1.1 Local Plan Timetable/ Programme .............................................................................................................. 3 2.2 The Sustainability Appraisal process .......................................................................................................... 4 2.2.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment .......................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Health Impact Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.3 Equalities Impact Assessment .................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.4 Habitats Regulations Assessment ............................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Guidance sources ........................................................................................................................................ 7 3. Planning and Policy Context .................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Requirement and Scope .............................................................................................................................. 8 3.2 Document Review for Thurrock ................................................................................................................... 8 3.3 International ................................................................................................................................................. 8 3.4 National ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.5 Regional ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.6 Local .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.7 Future Review ........................................................................................................................................... 10 4. Evidence Base ......................................................................................................................................... 11 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 11 4.2 Data sources ............................................................................................................................................. 11 4.3 Environmental baseline ............................................................................................................................. 11 4.3.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................................. 11 4.3.2 Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna .................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.3 Climate Change and Energy ..................................................................................................................... 18 4.3.4 Cultural Heritage ........................................................................................................................................ 21 4.3.5 Flood Risk .................................................................................................................................................. 22 4.3.6 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.7 Landscape, Townscape and Visual Impacts ............................................................................................. 27 4.3.8 Materials and Waste .................................................................................................................................. 29 4.3.9 Noise.......................................................................................................................................................... 31 4.3.10 Water Resources and Quality ................................................................................................................... 34 4.4 Socio-economic baseline .......................................................................................................................... 35 4.4.1 Economy and Employment ....................................................................................................................... 35 Document No. 4.4.2 Education and Skills .................................................................................................................................. 38 4.4.3 Housing ..................................................................................................................................................... 40 4.4.4 Deprivation ................................................................................................................................................ 42 4.4.5 Crime ......................................................................................................................................................... 43 4.4.6 Equalities ................................................................................................................................................... 45 4.5 Health baseline .......................................................................................................................................... 49 4.5.1 Pollution and Health .................................................................................................................................. 51 4.5.2 Physical Activity and Obesity .................................................................................................................... 52 4.5.3 Access to Services and Facilities .............................................................................................................. 54 4.5.4 Transport Safety ........................................................................................................................................ 55 5. Sustainability Issues and Problems ...................................................................................................... 57 6. Sustainability Appraisal Framework and Approach ............................................................................ 60 6.1 Sustainability Objectives............................................................................................................................ 60 6.2 Appraisal guide questions ......................................................................................................................... 61 6.3 Methodology and approach ....................................................................................................................... 63 6.3.1 Spatial Scope ............................................................................................................................................ 63 6.3.2 Temporal Scope ........................................................................................................................................ 64 6.3.3 Secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects ......................................................................................... 64 6.3.4 Appraisal of policies and proposals ........................................................................................................... 64 6.3.5 Appraisal of potential development sites ................................................................................................... 65 6.3.6 Assumptions and uncertainties