Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal (includes Non-Technical Summary)

Ended on the 13 March 2019

Stage A: Scoping Results
1. Stage A.1: Identifying other Plans and Programmes and Sustainability Objectives
  1. Relevant plans, programmes and sustainability objectives were identified during the Scoping stage, which are set out in detail in Appendix A. The list of relevant legislation and policies also sets out how proposals in the LPR will take these objectives into account.
  2. In July 2018 the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published. The Scoping Report was prepared and consulted on in 2017, prior to the publication of the NPPF. References to the NPPF (2012) have therefore been updated to reflect the revised NPPF (2018). No additional changes to the Scoping Report or SA are required as a result of the revised NPPF's publication.
2. Stage A.2: Baseline information
  1. Baseline information detailing a range of social, economic and environmental data was obtained from a number of sources, the findings of which are set out in Appendix B. Collectively this data was used as the baseline to provide the basis for identifying issues and determining objectives for the Local Plan Review.
3. Stage A.3: Key Sustainability Issues
  1. Based on the baseline information, the Council identified key sustainability issues of relevance for the Borough. These are presented in Appendix B.
4. Stage A.4: SA Framework
  1. The SA Framework is set out in Table 3-1. The Objectives, guide questions and indicators in The Framework were designed to be consistent with other authorities in the ISPA, including Suffolk Coastal, Babergh and Mid Suffolk Districts. Following consultation on the Scoping Report, a revised SA Framework was prepared that took into account any related comments.
  2. The Framework is comprised of 19 SA Objectives. The SEA Directive necessitates the assessment of likely impacts on certain topics (listed in Annex 1(f)). SEA Topics relevant to each SA Objective are listed in the SA Framework.
  3. The SA Framework that emerged from the SA Scoping Report considers the existing sustainability baseline in Ipswich and the key sustainability issues in the Borough. Every proposal in the LPR, and their alternatives, will be assessed against every objective of this framework to identify their likely impacts on sustainability in relation to the likely evolution of the baseline in the absence of the plan.

Table 3-1: SA Framework
Population
*1 - To reduce poverty and social exclusion*	Will it reduce poverty and social exclusion in those areas most affected? Will it reduce benefit dependency? Does it support the changing population profile of the area? Will it encourage engagement/participation in community/cultural activities? Will it contribute to regeneration activities? Will it enhance the public realm?	Long term unemployment rate (Suffolk Observatory) Proportion of the population who live in wards that rank within the most deprived 10% and 25% of wards in the country (Index of Multiple Deprivation)	Human health Population
Housing
*2 - To meet the housing requirements of the whole community*	Will it contribute to the supply of housing? Will it reduce homelessness? Will it contribute to meeting demand for a range and mix of housing including affordable housing and specialist housing? Will it reduce the number of unfit homes? Will it contribute to the delivery of sustainable homes?	New homes completed in the monitoring year (council records) New homes approved in the monitoring year (council records) Recorded homeless rates (ONS) Net additional dwellings – size, type, affordable (Council records)	Human health Population Material assets
Health and wellbeing
*3 - To improve thehealth of the population overall and reduce health inequalities* 4 - To improve the quality of where people live and work**	Will it improve access to health facilities and social care services? Will it encourage healthy lifestyles? Will it support the diverse range of health needs within the community? Will it contribute to a healthy living environment? (noise, odour etc?) Will it reduce crime/ fear of crime and anti-social activity? Will it promote design that discourages crime? Will lit avoid locating development in locations that could adversely affect people's health? Will it support those with disabilities? Will it protect and improve air quality? Will it avoid exacerbating existing air quality issues in designated AQMAs?	Condition of resident's general health (Census - QS302EW) Change in the amount of Accessible Natural Greenspace (Natural England) Level of recorded crime and antisocial behaviour (Suffolk Observatory) Percentage of the borough's population having access to a natural greenspace within 400 metres of their home Length of greenways construction Hectares of accessible open space per 1000 population	Water Climate factors Human health Fauna Biodiversity Flora
Education
*5 - To improve levels of education and skills in the population overall*	Will it improve qualifications and skills of young people and adults? Will it support the provision of an adequate range of educational and child care facilities?	GCSE and equivalent results for young people (Department for Education) % of working age population with NVQ level 4+ or equivalent qualification (Census 2011 - QS501EW)	Population Human health
Water
*6 - To conserve and enhance water quality and resources*	Will it support the achievement of Water Framework Directive Targets? Will it protect and improve the quality of inland waters? Will it protect and improve the quality of coastal waters? Will it promote sustainable use of water? Will it maintain water availability of water dependent habitats? Will it support the provision of sufficient water supply and treatment infrastructure in a timely manner to support new development? Will it improve ground water quality?	Recorded water quality in rivers, estuaries and groundwater from River Basin Management Plans (Environment Agency) Recorded Water Resource Availability Status (Environment Agency, Anglian Water, Essex & Suffolk Water) Bathing water quality (EA)	Soil Material Assets Landscape Flora
Air
*7 - To maintain and where possible improve air quality*	Will it protect and improve air quality? Will it avoid exacerbating existing air quality issues in designated AQMAs? Will it contribute to a healthy living environment?	Number of designated AQMAs (Council records) Estimated district CO₂ emissions (Department of Energy and Climate Change)	Air Human health Fauna
Material Assets (including Soil)
*8 - To conserve and enhance soil and mineral resources* *9 - To promote the sustainable management of waste*	Will it encourage the efficient use of land? Will it minimise the loss of open countryside to development? Will it minimise loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land to development? Will it maintain and enhance soil quality? Will it promote sustainable use of minerals? Will it encourage the use of previously developed land and/or the reuse of existing buildings? Will it prevent land contamination and facilitate remediation of contaminated sites? Will it reduce household waste generated/ head of population? Will it reduce commercial and industrial waste generated/ head of population? Will it increase rate/head of population of waste reuse and recycling?	Percentage of development recorded on greenfield / brownfield land (Council records) Change in recorded soil quality (Environment Agency) Allocations recorded on best agricultural land quality (1,2,3) (Council records/DEFRA) Estimated household waste produced (Council records) Estimated quantity of household waste recycled (Council records)	Human health Landscape
Climatic change and flooding
*10 - To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from energy consumption* *11 - To reduce vulnerability to climatic events and flooding*	Will it ensure suitable adaptation to climate change? Will it reduce emission of greenhouse gases/head of population by reducing energy consumption? Will it increase the proportion of energy needs being met by renewable sources? Will it minimise the risk of flooding from rivers and watercourses? Will it minimise the risk of flooding on the coasts/estuaries? Will it reduce the risk of coastal/ estuarine erosion? Will it reduce the risk of damage from extreme weather events?	Estimated district CO₂ emissions (Department of Energy and Climate Change) Installed Megawatts (MW) of commercial scale renewable energy schemes (Council records) Estimated number of properties at risk from flooding (Environment Agency) Number of schemes incorporating SUDs mechanisms (Suffolk County Council)	Biodiversity Flora Fauna Cultural heritage including architectural & archaeological heritage Landscape
The Coast and Estuaries
*12 - To safeguard the integrity of the coast and estuaries*	Will it support sustainable tourism? Will protect environmentally designated sites? Will it protect the special character and setting of the coast and estuaries?	Recorded visitor numbers on designated European sites (AONB unit, Natural England, Council records)	Biodiversity Flora Fauna Landscape Water
Biodiversity
*13 - To conserve and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity*	Will it maintain and enhance European designated nature conservation sites? Will it maintain and enhance nationally designated nature conservation sites? Will it maintain and enhance locally designated nature conservation sites? Will it avoid disturbance or damage to protected species and their habitats? Will it help deliver the targets and actions in the Biodiversity Action Plan? Will it help to reverse the national decline in at risk species? Will it protect and enhance sites, features and areas of geological value in both urban and rural areas? Will it lead to the creation of new habitat? Does it ensure current ecological networks are not compromised, and future improvements in habitat connectivity are not prejudiced?	Change in the number and area of designated ecological sites (Natural England) Recorded condition/status of designated ecological sites (Natural England) Recorded visitor numbers on designated European sites (AONB unit, Natural England, Council records) Number of planning approvals that generated any adverse impacts on sites of acknowledged biodiversity importance. Percentage of major developments generating overall biodiversity enhancement. Hectares of biodiversity habitat delivered through strategic site allocations	Cultural heritage Landscape Biodiversity Flora Fauna Water
Cultural heritage
*14 - To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas and assets of historical and archaeological importance*	Will it protect and enhance buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas and landscapes of heritage interest or cultural value (including their setting) meriting consideration in planning decisions? Will it protect and enhance sites, features and areas or archaeological value in both urban and rural areas? Will it enhance accessibility to and the enjoyments of cultural heritage assets? Will it promote high quality design in context with its urban and rural landscape?	Change in the number of designated and non-designated heritage assets (English Heritage, Council records) Number of heritage assets recorded as 'at risk' (English Heritage, Council records)	Cultural heritage
Landscape
*15 - To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscape*	Will it conserve and enhance the AONB? Will it reduce the amount of derelict, degraded and underused land? Will it protect and enhance the settlement and its setting within the landscape? Will it protect and enhance landscape character and townscapes? Will it promote high quality design in context with its urban and rural landscape?	Development brought forward through regeneration projects (Council records) Development granted in AONB or Special Landscape Area designations. (Council records) Amount of new development in AONB/National Coast	Air Material assets Water Cultural heritage Population Biodiversity Climate factors
Economy
*16 - To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and growth throughout the plan area* *17 - To maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of town and retail centres*	Will it improve business development and enhance competitiveness? Will it improve the resilience of business and the economy? Will it promote growth in key sectors? Will it improve economic performance in disadvantaged areas? Will it encourage rural diversification? Will it encourage indigenous business? Will it encourage inward investment? Will it make land available for business development? Will it increase the range of employment opportunities, shops and services available in town centres? Will it decrease the number of vacant units in town centres? Will it enhance the local distinctiveness within the centre?	Estimated new job creation (Council records) Net additional gains in employment land development (Council records) Business formation rate (Suffolk Observatory) Number of business paying business rates (Council records) Numbers employed by industry (Oxford Economics - East of England Forecast Model) % of A1 use class and vacant units in town centres (Council records)	Population Human health Material assets
Transport, Travel and Access
*18 - To encourage efficient patterns of movement, promote sustainable travel of transport and ensure good access to services*	Will it reduce commuting? Will it improve accessibility to work by public transport, walking and cycling? Would it promote the use of sustainable travel modes and reduce dependence on the private car? Will it increase the proportion of freight transported by rail or other sustainable modes? Will it maintain and improve access to key services and facilities for all sectors of the population? Will it increase access to the open countryside? Will it increase access to public open space? Will it improve access to cultural facilities? Will it improve access to community facilities? Will it reduce journey times? Will it help to enhance the connectivity of more remote, rural settlements? Will it avoid impacts on the quality and extent of existing recreational assets, such as formal or informal footpaths?	Loss of key services (council records) Provision of key infrastructure projects (Council records) Travel to work distances (Census) Travel to work modes (Census)	Material assets Climate factors Landscape Population
Digital Infrastructure
*19 - To ensure that the digital infrastructure available meets the needs of current and future generations*	Will it improve digital infrastructure provision? Will it increase opportunities to improve the digital economy?	Average Broadband speeds (County records)	Population Material assets

Table 3-1: SA Framework

SA Objective

Guide question

Indicators

SEA Topics

Population

1 - To reduce poverty and social exclusion

Will it reduce poverty and social exclusion in those areas most affected?

Will it reduce benefit dependency?

Does it support the changing population profile of the area?

Will it encourage engagement/participation in community/cultural activities?

Will it contribute to regeneration activities?

Will it enhance the public realm?

Long term unemployment rate (Suffolk Observatory)

Proportion of the population who live in wards that rank within the most deprived 10% and 25% of wards in the country (Index of Multiple Deprivation)

Human health

Population

Housing

2 - To meet the housing requirements of the whole community

Will it contribute to the supply of housing?

Will it reduce homelessness?

Will it contribute to meeting demand for a range and mix of housing including affordable housing and specialist housing?

Will it reduce the number of unfit homes?

Will it contribute to the delivery of sustainable homes?

New homes completed in the monitoring year (council records) New homes approved in the monitoring year (council records) Recorded homeless rates (ONS)

Net additional dwellings – size, type, affordable (Council records)

Human health

Population

Material assets

Health and wellbeing

3 - To improve thehealth of the population overall and reduce health inequalities

4 - To improve the quality of where people live and work

Will it improve access to health facilities and social care services?

Will it encourage healthy lifestyles?

Will it support the diverse range of health needs within the community?

Will it contribute to a healthy living environment? (noise, odour etc?)

Will it reduce crime/ fear of crime and anti-social activity?

Will it promote design that discourages crime?

Will lit avoid locating development in locations that could adversely affect people's health?

Will it support those with disabilities?

Will it protect and improve air quality?

Will it avoid exacerbating existing air quality issues in designated AQMAs?

Condition of resident's general health (Census - QS302EW)

Change in the amount of Accessible Natural Greenspace (Natural England)

Level of recorded crime and antisocial behaviour (Suffolk Observatory)

Percentage of the borough's population having access to a natural greenspace within 400 metres of their home

Length of greenways construction

Hectares of accessible open space per 1000 population

Water

Climate factors

Human health

Fauna

Biodiversity

Flora

Education

5 - To improve levels of education and skills in the population overall

Will it improve qualifications and skills of young people and adults?

Will it support the provision of an adequate range of educational and child care facilities?

GCSE and equivalent results for young people (Department for Education)

% of working age population with NVQ level 4+ or equivalent qualification (Census 2011 - QS501EW)

Population

Human health

Water

6 - To conserve and enhance water quality and resources

Will it support the achievement of Water Framework Directive Targets?

Will it protect and improve the quality of inland waters?

Will it protect and improve the quality of coastal waters?

Will it promote sustainable use of water?

Will it maintain water availability of water dependent habitats?

Will it support the provision of sufficient water supply and treatment infrastructure in a timely manner to support new development?

Will it improve ground water quality?

Recorded water quality in rivers, estuaries and groundwater from River Basin Management Plans (Environment Agency)

Recorded Water Resource Availability Status (Environment Agency, Anglian Water, Essex & Suffolk Water)

Bathing water quality (EA)

Soil

Material Assets

Landscape

Flora

Air

7 - To maintain and where possible improve air quality

Will it protect and improve air quality?

Will it avoid exacerbating existing air quality issues in designated AQMAs?

Will it contribute to a healthy living environment?

Number of designated AQMAs (Council records)

Estimated district CO₂ emissions (Department of Energy and Climate Change)

Air

Human health

Fauna

Material Assets (including Soil)

8 - To conserve and enhance soil and mineral resources

9 - To promote the sustainable management of waste

Will it encourage the efficient use of land?

Will it minimise the loss of open countryside to development?

Will it minimise loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land to development?

Will it maintain and enhance soil quality?

Will it promote sustainable use of minerals?

Will it encourage the use of previously developed land and/or the reuse of existing buildings?

Will it prevent land contamination and facilitate remediation of contaminated sites?

Will it reduce household waste generated/ head of population?

Will it reduce commercial and industrial waste generated/ head of population?

Will it increase rate/head of population of waste reuse and recycling?

Percentage of development recorded on greenfield / brownfield land (Council records)

Change in recorded soil quality (Environment Agency)

Allocations recorded on best agricultural land quality (1,2,3) (Council records/DEFRA)

Estimated household waste produced (Council records)

Estimated quantity of household waste recycled (Council records)

Human health

Landscape

Climatic change and flooding

10 - To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from energy consumption

11 - To reduce vulnerability to climatic events and flooding

Will it ensure suitable adaptation to climate change?

Will it reduce emission of greenhouse gases/head of population by reducing energy consumption?

Will it increase the proportion of energy needs being met by renewable sources?

Will it minimise the risk of flooding from rivers and watercourses?

Will it minimise the risk of flooding on the coasts/estuaries?

Will it reduce the risk of coastal/ estuarine erosion?

Will it reduce the risk of damage from extreme weather events?

Estimated district CO₂ emissions (Department of Energy and Climate Change)

Installed Megawatts (MW) of commercial scale renewable energy schemes (Council records)

Estimated number of properties at risk from flooding (Environment Agency)

Number of schemes incorporating SUDs mechanisms (Suffolk County Council)

Biodiversity

Flora

Fauna

Cultural heritage including architectural & archaeological heritage

Landscape

The Coast and Estuaries

12 - To safeguard the integrity of the coast and estuaries

Will it support sustainable tourism?

Will protect environmentally designated sites?

Will it protect the special character and setting of the coast and estuaries?

Recorded visitor numbers on designated European sites (AONB unit, Natural England, Council records)

Biodiversity

Flora

Fauna

Landscape

Water

Biodiversity

13 - To conserve and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity

Will it maintain and enhance European designated nature conservation sites?

Will it maintain and enhance nationally designated nature conservation sites?

Will it maintain and enhance locally designated nature conservation sites?

Will it avoid disturbance or damage to protected species and their habitats?

Will it help deliver the targets and actions in the Biodiversity Action Plan?

Will it help to reverse the national decline in at risk species?

Will it protect and enhance sites, features and areas of geological value in both urban and rural areas?

Will it lead to the creation of new habitat?

Does it ensure current ecological networks are not compromised, and future improvements in habitat connectivity are not prejudiced?

Change in the number and area of designated ecological sites (Natural England)

Recorded condition/status of designated ecological sites (Natural England)

Recorded visitor numbers on designated European sites (AONB unit, Natural England, Council records)

Number of planning approvals that generated any adverse impacts on sites of acknowledged biodiversity importance.

Percentage of major developments generating overall biodiversity enhancement.

Hectares of biodiversity habitat delivered through strategic site allocations

Cultural heritage

Landscape

Biodiversity

Flora

Fauna

Water

Cultural heritage

14 - To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas and assets of historical and archaeological importance

Will it protect and enhance buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas and landscapes of heritage interest or cultural value (including their setting) meriting consideration in planning decisions?

Will it protect and enhance sites, features and areas or archaeological value in both urban and rural areas?

Will it enhance accessibility to and the enjoyments of cultural heritage assets?

Will it promote high quality design in context with its urban and rural landscape?

Change in the number of designated and non-designated heritage assets (English Heritage, Council records)

Number of heritage assets recorded as 'at risk' (English Heritage, Council records)

Cultural heritage

Landscape

15 - To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscape

Will it conserve and enhance the AONB?

Will it reduce the amount of derelict, degraded and underused land?

Will it protect and enhance the settlement and its setting within the landscape?

Will it protect and enhance landscape character and townscapes?

Will it promote high quality design in context with its urban and rural landscape?

Development brought forward through regeneration projects (Council records)

Development granted in AONB or Special Landscape Area designations. (Council records)

Amount of new development in AONB/National Coast

Air

Material assets

Water

Cultural heritage

Population

Biodiversity

Climate factors

Economy

16 - To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and growth throughout the plan area

17 - To maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of town and retail centres

Will it improve business development and enhance competitiveness?

Will it improve the resilience of business and the economy?

Will it promote growth in key sectors?

Will it improve economic performance in disadvantaged areas?

Will it encourage rural diversification?

Will it encourage indigenous business?

Will it encourage inward investment?

Will it make land available for business development?

Will it increase the range of employment opportunities, shops and services available in town centres?

Will it decrease the number of vacant units in town centres?

Will it enhance the local distinctiveness within the centre?

Estimated new job creation (Council records)

Net additional gains in employment land development (Council records)

Business formation rate (Suffolk Observatory)

Number of business paying business rates (Council records)

Numbers employed by industry (Oxford Economics - East of England Forecast Model)

% of A1 use class and vacant units in town centres (Council records)

Population

Human health

Material assets

Transport, Travel and Access

18 - To encourage efficient patterns of movement, promote sustainable travel of transport and ensure good access to services

Will it reduce commuting?

Will it improve accessibility to work by public transport, walking and cycling?

Would it promote the use of sustainable travel modes and reduce dependence on the private car?

Will it increase the proportion of freight transported by rail or other sustainable modes?

Will it maintain and improve access to key services and facilities for all sectors of the population?

Will it increase access to the open countryside?

Will it increase access to public open space?

Will it improve access to cultural facilities?

Will it improve access to community facilities?

Will it reduce journey times?

Will it help to enhance the connectivity of more remote, rural settlements?

Will it avoid impacts on the quality and extent of existing recreational assets, such as formal or informal footpaths?

Loss of key services (council records)

Provision of key infrastructure projects (Council records)

Travel to work distances (Census)

Travel to work modes (Census)

Material assets

Climate factors

Landscape

Population

Digital Infrastructure

19 - To ensure that the digital infrastructure available meets the needs of current and future generations

Will it improve digital infrastructure provision?

Will it increase opportunities to improve the digital economy?

Average Broadband speeds (County records)

Population

Material assets

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Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal (includes Non-Technical Summary)

Stage A: Scoping Results