Braintree District Council Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report: Annex B – Baseline Information January 2013 Environmental Report - Annex B January 2013 Place Services at Essex County Council Environmental Report - Annex B January 2013 Contents 1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................................1 1.1. Background ........................................................................................................................1 1.2. Sustainability Baseline Information ....................................................................................1 2. Biodiversity...............................................................................................................................2 2.1. Essex Biodiversity Action Plan...........................................................................................2 2.2. Designated Sites ................................................................................................................2 2.2.1. International Designations..........................................................................................2 2.2.2. Sites of Specific Scientific Interest .............................................................................2 2.2.3. National Nature Reserves ..........................................................................................4 2.2.4. Local Nature Reserves...............................................................................................4 2.2.5. Local Wildlife Sites .....................................................................................................5 2.3. Summary............................................................................................................................6 3. Landscape ................................................................................................................................7 3.1. Agricultural Land ................................................................................................................7 3.2. Landscape Character Areas...............................................................................................8 3.3. Protected Lanes .................................................................................................................9 3.4. Special Verges ...................................................................................................................9 3.5. Summary..........................................................................................................................10 4. Air Quality...............................................................................................................................11 4.1. Air Quality Management Areas ........................................................................................11 4.2. Nitrogen Dioxide Monitoring in Braintree District..............................................................11 4.3. Summary..........................................................................................................................12 5. Climatic Factors .....................................................................................................................13 5.1. Climate Change Projections.............................................................................................13 5.2. Total Energy Consumption...............................................................................................14 5.3. Carbon Dioxide Emissions ...............................................................................................14 5.4. Energy Consumption........................................................................................................15 5.5. Renewable Energy Consumption.....................................................................................15 5.6. Code for Sustainable Homes ...........................................................................................16 5.7. Summary..........................................................................................................................16 6. Water Quality..........................................................................................................................18 6.1. Key Water Courses in Braintree District...........................................................................18 6.2. Aquifers in Essex County .................................................................................................18 6.3. Water Supply in the East of England................................................................................19 6.4. River Basin Management Plan.........................................................................................20 6.5. Planning Permissions Granted Contrary to Environment Agency Advice. .......................22 6.6. Summary..........................................................................................................................22 7. Flooding..................................................................................................................................24 7.1. Flood Zones .....................................................................................................................24 7.2. Planning Permissions Granted Contrary to Environment Agency Advice. .......................25 7.3. Flood Risk Assessments..................................................................................................26 7.4. Summary..........................................................................................................................27 8. Cultural Heritage and Townscape ........................................................................................28 8.1. Historic Environment ........................................................................................................28 8.2. Listed Buildings ................................................................................................................28 8.3. Historic Buildings At Risk Register...................................................................................29 8.4. Archaeology, Recorded Sites and Finds in Braintree District...........................................30 8.5. Scheduled Monuments.....................................................................................................30 8.6. Historic Landscapes.........................................................................................................31 8.7. Conservation Areas..........................................................................................................32 8.8. Summary..........................................................................................................................35 Place Services at Essex County Council Environmental Report - Annex B January 2013 9. Health ......................................................................................................................................36 9.1. Health Summary Indicators..............................................................................................36 9.2. Participation in Sport ........................................................................................................36 9.3. Incapacity Benefit Claimants............................................................................................37 9.4. Safety ...............................................................................................................................37 9.4.1. Road Traffic Casualties ............................................................................................38 9.5. Summary..........................................................................................................................39 10. Population and Social............................................................................................................40 10.1. Population ........................................................................................................................40 10.1.1. Population Structure.................................................................................................40 10.2. Deprivation .......................................................................................................................41 10.3. Crime................................................................................................................................43 10.4. Education, Skills and Training..........................................................................................43 10.5. Summary..........................................................................................................................44 11. Economy.................................................................................................................................46 11.1. Working Age Population...................................................................................................46 11.2. Labour Supply ..................................................................................................................46 11.3. Job Density.......................................................................................................................47 11.4. Employment by Industry Class.........................................................................................47