SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL SCOPING REPORT The Havering Local Plan February 2015 Contents Page Introduction ................................................................................... 3 Task A1: Policy Review ................................................................... 4 Task A2: Baseline information ........................................................ 5 Task A3: Identified Sustainability Issues ......................................... 6 Task A4: Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Framework .......................... 9 Task A5: Consultation on the Scope of the SA ............................... 11 Appendix A: Relevant Plans and Policies ....................................... 12 Appendix B: Baseline Information ................................................ 42 Social Profile and Trends ................................................................... 42 Economic Profile and Trends ............................................................ 55 Environmental Profile and Trends..................................................... 61 Appendix C: List of Acronyms ....................................................... 68 2 Introduction This Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report documents Stage A in the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) process for the new Havering Local Plan. It addresses the requirements of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as required under the European Union Directive 2001/42/EC and the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 and Sustainability Appraisal as required by Section 19 (5) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The purpose of this Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report is to identify the scope and methodology for the appraisal of the new Havering Local Plan. Regulatory Context European Directive 2001/42/EC requires that a SEA is undertaken on certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment; the directive applies to all Development Plan Documents. SEA is a tool for improving the consideration of the environment in the preparation of plans and programmes and aids in minimising negative impacts and optimising positive ones. The purpose of the SA is to ensure that the promotion of sustainable development is integrated in the plan making process. It is a key tool used to appraise the environmental, economic and social effects of plans, strategies and policies. Section 19(5) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 states that local planning authorities must carry out a sustainability appraisal on all local development documents and prepare a report of the findings of the appraisal. Provided it is carried out as recommended by Government Guidance, the SA process fully incorporates the requirements of the SEA Directive. The SA process is broken into five stages that will occur alongside the production of the Havering Local Plan. STAGE A: Setting the context, establishing baseline and deciding on scope STAGE B: Developing and refining options and assessing effects STAGE C: Preparing the SA Report STAGE D: Consulting on the DPD and SA Report STAGE E: Monitoring the significant effects of implementing the DPD 3 The Local Plan The Council is required to prepare a Local Plan by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Localism Act 2011. The new Havering Local Plan will identify the key issues and strategic priorities for Havering up to 2030/31 and will set out both strategic and development management policies. The Local Plan will be used by the Council when determining planning applications and when providing informal advice to prospective developers. The new Havering Local Plan will be prepared in accordance with the statutory process set out in Local Planning Regulations 2012 and is required to be consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (the NPPF) and in general conformity with the London Plan. The Local Plan will be subject to an examination in public before an independent planning inspector. Havering is committed to the principles of sustainable development and incorporating sustainable development in its strategies and activities. The Sustainability Process is key to ensuring that sustainable development is integrated into Havering’s Local Plan. Methodology The methodology used to prepare this Scoping Report follows government guidance. This report comprises Stage A of the Sustainability Appraisal process. Stage A consists of five key tasks: Task A1: Policy Review Task A2: Baseline Information Task A3: Identified Sustainability Issues Task A4: Sustainability Appraisal Framework Task A5: Consultation on the Scope of the SA Task A1: Policy Review Task A1 of the SA comprises the review of relevant policies, plans, programmes and strategies. This requirement arises from the SEA Directive to include in the ‘Environmental Report’ an ‘outline of the content, main objectives of the plan or programme and relationship with other relevant plans and programmes’ as well as relevant environmental protection objectives established at international, Community of Member State level (Annex 1(e)). 4 The purpose of this review is to: identify social, environmental and economic objectives, indicators and targets that should be reflected in the SA process Identify external factors that may have an impact on the preparation of the Local Plan A summary of the key policies, plans and programmes that will affect the development of the Havering Local Plan is set out below. A detailed list is set out in Appendix A. International: European Union Directives United Nations agreements European Directives, Conventions and Plans National: National Planning Policy National Minerals Policy Government White Papers Planning Circulars Planning (and related) Acts Associated Regulations Regional: London Plan Mayoral Strategies Supplementary Planning Guidance Local: Local Strategies Task A2: Baseline information Annex I of the SEA Directive and Government Guidance on Sustainability Appraisal of Local Development Frameworks details the requirement to collect baseline information. This provides the basis for predicting and monitoring effects and to help identify sustainability problems and alternative ways of dealing with them. The baseline information focuses on the environmental, economic and social characteristics of the Borough, selected baseline data will also provide the basis for monitoring the sustainability effects resulting from the Local Plan. The selected baseline data is identified in Stage A4: Sustainability Appraisal Framework and is subject to change as the preparation of the plan progresses. 5 A complete assessment of borough characteristics against the main issues of sustainability, considering a wide range of indicators, is included in Appendix B. Revision of the Baseline Data There are a number of additional evidence base documents (set out below) that will be prepared and will inform the Local Plan and provide additional and updated baseline information. (Please note that this list is not exhaustive and other sources of baseline data may be identified as the Sustainability Appraisal progresses). Retail and Commercial Leisure Needs Assessment Employment Land Review Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Levels 1 and 2 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs Assessment Romford Town Centre Development Framework Rainham and Beam Park Housing Zone Masterplan Task A3: Identified Sustainability Issues The requirement to identify sustainability problems arises from Annex 1(d) of the SEA Directive, which states that the ‘Environmental Report’ should include ‘any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan or programme including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance, such as area designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC (the Birds Directive) and 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive)’. The SA requirement specifies the inclusion of economic and social as well as environmental problems. The review of sustainability issues is an iterative process throughout all the stages of the Sustainability Appraisal. An accurate understanding of Havering sustainability issues is best achieved through the development and maintenance of up to date baseline data. The following key issues have been identified through a consideration of the baseline information available at this time, which is included in Appendix B. 6 Theme Key Issues 1. SOCIAL DIMENSION Population . Population will grow, with younger (0 to 15) and older (over 65) groups Growth seeing the largest increase, which means there is a need to consider appropriate housing and infrastructure developments to meet the needs of these groups. Population is diversifying, which may give rise to different cultural needs – social infrastructure must be flexible enough to accommodate change. Housing . More people turning to Private Renting Sector following the revision of the Council’s Allocation Policy . Less affordability of homes elsewhere in London is driving in- migration. Homelessness in the borough. The housing mix (tenure, size and services) should reflect identified need and demand. Affordability of housing for local residents . Growth of the Private Rented Sector, its quality and affordability. Appropriate provision and accessibility to supported housing to meet needs and mitigate costly alternatives. Health and . An increasing and aging population and appropriate provision of Wellbeing health and social care services in accessible locations. Accessibility to public