SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL OF THE WOLVERHAMPTON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK Part 1 Scoping Report Client: Wolverhampton City Council Report No.: UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB Status: Consultation Version Date: 21 st September 2010 Author: NCB Checked: NJD Approved: NEJP SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB Contents 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Purpose of this Report 1 1.2 The Part 1 and Part 2 Scoping Reports 1 1.3 Wolverhampton City 2 1.4 The Wolverhampton City Council Local Development Framework 4 1.5 Sustainable Development: Context 7 1.6 Integrated Sustainability Appraisal of the Wolverhampton LDF 10 1.7 Consultation on the Scoping Reports 12 2 Approach to Sustainability Appraisal 13 2.1 Introduction 13 2.2 Best Practice Guidance 13 2.3 Stages of SA 13 3 Presenting the SEA scoping information 15 3.1 Sustainability themes 15 3.2 Presenting the policy and plan review, the baseline and the key environmental issues 17 4 Accessibility and transport 19 4.1 Summary of policy and plan review 19 4.2 Summary of baseline data 19 5 Air Quality 27 5.1 Summary of policy and plan review 27 5.2 Summary of baseline data 27 6 Biodiversity and Geodiversity 29 6.1 Summary of policy and plan review 29 6.2 Summary of baseline data 29 7 Climate Change 35 7.1 Summary of policy and plan review 35 7.2 Summary of baseline data 35 8 Economic Factors 41 8.1 Summary of policy and plan review 41 8.2 Summary of baseline data 41 UE Associates Ltd © 2010 Page i SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB 9 Health 47 9.1 Summary of policy and plan review 47 9.2 Summary of baseline data 47 10 Historic Environment 55 10.1 Summary of policy and plan review 55 10.2 Summary of baseline data 55 11 Housing 65 11.1 Summary of policy and plan review 65 11.2 Summary of baseline 65 12 Material Assets 69 12.1 Summary of policy and plan review 69 12.2 Summary of baseline data 69 13 Population 73 13.1 Summary of policy and plan review 73 13.2 Summary of baseline data 73 14 Quality of life 79 14.1 Summary of policy and plan review 79 14.2 Summary of baseline data 79 15 Water and soil 89 15.1 Summary of policy and plan review 89 15.2 Summary of baseline data 90 16 Sustainability Objectives 97 16.1 Purpose of the SA Framework 97 17 Subsequent stages of the SA process to be carried out following scoping, and the assessment methods to be used 99 17.1 Introduction 99 17.2 Refining options and assessing effects 99 17.3 SA and Publication/Submission 99 17.4 SA and Examination 101 UE Associates Ltd © 2010 Page ii SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB 18 Consultation on the Scoping Reports 103 18.1 Purpose of Consultation 103 18.2 Consultation Details 103 Appendix A: Annex I of the SEA Directive Appendix B: Example of a Detailed Assessment Matrix Appendix C: Review of Policies, Plans and Programmes UE Associates Ltd © 2010 Page iii SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB This page is intentionally blank. UE Associates Ltd © 2010 Page iv SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB List of Tables and Figures Tables: Table 1.1: Key facts relating to the Wolverhampton LDF. Table 1.2: Definition and components of Sustainable Communities Table 2.1: SA stages, and stages covered in this Scoping Report. Table 3.1: Sustainability themes. Table 4.1: Travel to work in Wolverhampton. Table 4.2: Percent of households within 10 minutes of a local, district or main centre on a weekday by public transport or walking. Table 5.1: Biodiversity, flora and fauna in Wolverhampton. Table 7.1: Carbon dioxide emissions in Wolverhampton by source 2005-2007. Table 7.2: Per capita carbon dioxide emissions in Wolverhampton 2005-2007. Table 8.1: VAT registrations and deregistrations in Wolverhampton 2001-2007. Table 8.2: Enterprises by age of business. Table 8.3: Employment by occupation. Table 8.4: Employment by sector. Table 8.5: Qualifications in Wolverhampton. Table 9.1: Health in Wolverhampton. Table 10.1: Summary profiles of the twelve Character Areas located in Wolverhampton. Table 11.1: Households on the Local Authority Housing Register. Table 11.2: House prices and sales 2003-2010. Table 11.3: Number of households accepted as homeless. Table 12.1: Renewable energy power stations in Wolverhampton. Table 12.2: Waste arisings and recycling rates in Wolverhampton. Table 12.3: Household waste arisings and recycling rates in Wolverhampton. Table 12.4: Housing completions on brownfield sites. UE Associates Ltd © 2010 Page v SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB Table 13.1: Estimated population change by ethnic group. Table 14.1: Change in IMD rank between 2004 and 2007, West Midlands urban area Authorities. Table 14.2: Crime in Wolverhampton: total crimes. Table 14.3: Crime in Wolverhampton: offences per 1,000 population. Table 14.4: Current and projected provision of open space. Table 15.1: Biological Water Quality in Wolverhampton. Table 15.2: Chemical Water Quality in Wolverhampton. Table 16.1: SA Objectives. Figures: Figure 1.1: Map of Wolverhampton Figure 1.2: Structure of the Wolverhampton Local Development Framework Figure 1.3: Five guiding principles of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, Securing the Future Figure 4.1: Local transportation network. Figure 4.2: 24-hour flows into Wolverhampton City Centre. Figure 4.3: 24-hour flows out of Wolverhampton City Centre. Figure 4.4: Travel to work in Wolverhampton. Figure 4.5: Walking and cycling networks in Wolverhampton City Centre. Figure 5.1: Locations where nitrogen dioxide objectives were exceeded in 2008. Figure 6.1: View of Wolverhampton city centre from Smestow Valley LNR. Figure 6.2: Location of biodiversity assets in Wolverhampton. Figure 6.2: Geology of Wolverhampton and the surrounding area. Figure 7.1: Changes in annual mean temperature in the West Midlands to 2099. Figure 7.2: Changes in summer mean precipitation in the West Midlands to 2099. Figure 7.3: Changes in winter mean precipitation in the West Midlands to 2099. Figure 8.1: Comparison of business formation in Wolverhampton and the West Midlands. UE Associates Ltd © 2010 Page vi SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB Figure 8.2: Key business and industrial areas in Wolverhampton. Figure 9.1: Wolverhampton health summary. Figure 9.2: General health in Wolverhampton by ward. Figure 9.3: Participation in sports and active recreation in Wolverhampton. Figure 9.4: Healthcare services in Wolverhampton. Figure 10.1: Designated cultural heritage assets in Wolverhampton. Figure 10.2: Listed buildings and Conservation Areas in Wolverhampton. Figure 10.3: Wolverhampton Character Areas. Figure 11.1: Examples of housing in Wolverhampton. Figure 11.2: Housing Market Areas. Figure 11.3: Average house prices. Figure 12.1: Recent trends related to household waste arisings and management. Figure 13.1: Population density in Wolverhampton. Figure 13.2: Population density in comparison with other areas. Figure 13.3: Population density across Wolverhampton. Figure 13.4: Wolverhampton population pyramid. Figure 13.5: Wolverhampton’s age structure from 1991 to 2001. Figure 13.6: Local and national age-population change from 1991 to 2000. Figure 13.7: Percentage of people from different ethnic backgrounds – Local, Regional and National Ethnicity levels. Figure 14.1: Index of Multiple Deprivation ranking for each ward in Wolverhampton. Figure 14.2: Unemployment trends in Wolverhampton. Figure 14.3: Claimant counts in Wolverhampton by ward. Figure 14.4: Long-term unemployment variability across Wolverhampton. Figure 14.5: Location of open spaces in Wolverhampton. Figure 15.1: Source Protection Zones in the vicinity of Wolverhampton. Figure 15.2: SFRA flood risk map. UE Associates Ltd © 2010 Page vii SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB Abbreviations AQMA Air Quality Management Area PM 10 Particulates BAP Biodiversity Action Plan PPPs Policies, plans and programmes BME Black and Minority Ethnic [Groups] PPS Planning policy statement CAMS Catchment Abstraction Management RSDF Regional Sustainable Development Strategy Framework CO 2 Carbon dioxide RSS Regional Spatial Strategy DCLG Department of Communities and SA Sustainability appraisal Local Government Defra Department of the Environment, Food SAC Special Area of Conservation and Rural Affairs DPD Development Plan Document SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment EU European Union SFRA Strategic Flood Risk Assessment GVA Gross Value Added SI Statutory Instrument IMD Indices of Multiple Deprivation SINC Site of Importance for Nature Conservation LAQMA Local Air Quality Management Area SLINC Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation LDD Local Development Document SPD Supplementary Planning Document LDF Local Development Framework SPZ Source Protection Zones LNR Local Nature Reserve SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest LTP2 West Midlands Local Transport Plan STW Sewage Treatment Works 2006-11 NO 2 Nitrogen Dioxide UKCIP UK Climate Impacts Programme NVQ National Vocational Qualification WCC Wolverhampton City Council ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister W. Mids West Midlands ONS Office of National Statistics WMU Water Management Unit UE Associates Ltd © 2010 Page viii SA of the Wolverhampton LDF: Part 1 Scoping Report September 2010 UE-0053_Part 1 Scoping Report_4_210910NCB 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of this Report This Part 1 Scoping Report has been prepared for Wolverhampton City Council (WCC) as part of the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Local Development Documents (LDDs) for the City’s Local Development Framework (LDF).