Final Draft Ipswich Local Plan 2018 - 2036 Sustainability Appraisal Report (SEA and SA)
2. Stage A: Scoping Report
2.1.1 The SA process commenced in August 2017 with an SA Scoping Report prepared by the Council in conjunction with officers from East Suffolk which set out the scope and level of detail of the SA. The Scoping Report was updated in February 2018, in response to comments from the general public and statutory consultees received during the ten-week public consultation period. The Scoping Report:
- Reviews other relevant programmes, plans and strategies that have an influence on sustainability to establish the policy context of the Plan and the SA;
- Details the characteristics of the current environmental baseline in Ipswich;
- Identifies key sustainability issues in the Borough; and
- Sets out a Sustainability Appraisal Framework for assessing policies and policy options and the overall predicted effects of the plan.
2.1.2 The Scoping Report was prepared and consulted on prior to the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (July 2018 and February 2019). References to the NPPF (2012) have therefore been updated to reflect the latest version of the revised NPPF (2019). No additional changes to the Scoping Report or SA are required as a result of the revised NPPF's publication.
2.1.3 The Scoping Report was consulted on between 18th August and 30th October 2017 with, as a minimum, the three statutory consultees of Natural England, the Environment Agency and Historic England. The Scoping Report was finalised for February 2018 in light of responses received during the consultation window.
2.2 Spatial, temporal and technical scope
2.2.1 The spatial scope of the SA is the Borough of Ipswich. Transboundary effects are also accounted for where feasible, particularly with regards to areas in the ISPA. Where necessary, discussions with neighbouring authorities have taken place, to inform the assessments.
2.2.2 Options and proposals being considered for inclusion in the Plan have been appraised to predict and evaluate their likely short-term (0-10 years after Plan adoption), medium-term (10-20 years after Plan adoption) and long-term effects (beyond the lifetime of the Plan). Effects are also noted for their reversibility or their permanence. Whilst the majority of the identified effects will be likely to only last for as long as the emerging new Local Plan is in place for (it is expected that it will be updated or replaced by a new Plan in the future), some effects may remain until long after the Plan is replaced (e.g. new housing).
2.2.3 The technical scope of the SA is limited to the requirements of SA and SEA integrated into one process. All options, policies and their reasonable alternatives have been appraised against all SA Objectives in the SA Framework and this accounts for all topics listed in Annex 1(f) of the SEA Directive (Table 2-1); as well as other elements of social and economic sustainability considered to be pertinent to Ipswich, which were identified during the Scoping Stage.
2.3 Context, Objectives, Baseline and Scope
2.3.1 The Scoping Stage involved completing Tasks A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 and presenting the results in a distinct, accessible and concise Scoping Report. The boxes below summarise the requirements of Stage A for the SA of the Plan. The SA Framework (Table 2-1) is the culmination of this stage of the SA and forms the basis of the scope of the assessment for the next stages.
2.4 A1 Policy context
2.4.1 A comprehensive review of other plans and programmes at a national, regional, county and local level was undertaken. The contents, objectives and relationships of these plans and programmes to the Plan was also reviewed to ensure these are taken into account during the SA Process. An example of a relevant plan/programme includes the National Planning Policy Framework. The full list of the identified plans and programmes, and their relevance to SA, is provided in Appendix A of this report as well as in the February 2018 SA Scoping Report.
2.5 A2 Environmental baseline
2.5.1 Among the important decisions considered during the Scoping Stage was the baseline data, quantity of data and how should it be used in order to carry out SA. Data related to the existing economic, social and environmental characteristics of Ipswich was compiled within the Scoping Report, in order to provide the evidence base from which sustainability issues and opportunities could be identified.
2.6 A3 Key sustainability issues and opportunities
2.6.1 The key sustainability issues and opportunities that were subsequently identified related to the themes of: Population, Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Education, Water, Air, Material Assets, Climatic Change, Flooding, Coasts and Estuaries, Biodiversity, Cultural Heritage, Landscape, Economy, Transport & Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure. The baseline data and key sustainability issues are presented in the SA Scoping Report (February 2018).
2.7 A4 The SA Framework
2.7.1 The SA Framework (Table 2-1) comprises 19 SA Objectives that have been derived from the policy context, baseline data and key sustainability issues and opportunities. Each proposal in the Plan is assessed for its likely effects on each SA Objective, which is largely achieved by using the Guide Questions listed in the SA Framework for each SA Objective. The SA Framework originally prepared in the 2018 SA Scoping report included a column of indicators for each SA Objective. Since February 2018, these indicators have generally become out of date and less relevant to the assessment process. They have also, for their intent and purpose, been replaced by the indicators in the SA Monitoring Framework presented in Chapter 4. To avoid confusion this column of indicators has therefore been removed from the version of the SA Framework presented in Table 2-1. The original indicators can be seen in the February 2018 SA Scoping Report.
Task A1: Identifying other relevant policies, plans and programmes and SA objectives
SEA Directive (Annex 1) states:
"(a) an outline of the contents, main objectives of the plan or programme and relationship with other relevant plans and programmes; … (e) the environmental protection objectives, established at international (European) community or national level, which are relevant to the plan or programme…and the way those objectives and any environmental considerations have been taken into account during its preparation"
It is therefore an essential requirement, as well as a necessary component of preparing a robust and accurate appraisal, to understand the policy context in which the SA is being prepared. A comprehensive review of plans and programmes at a national, regional, county and local level was undertaken to identify implications for the Final Draft Ipswich Local Plan and the SA. The results of this are set out in full in the SA Scoping report and summarised in Appendix A.
Tasks A2 and A3:Collecting baseline information and identifying sustainability issues and opportunities
SEA Directive (Annex 1) states:
"(b) the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme; (c) the environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected; (d) 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 areas designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC;…"
Baseline information refers to the existing economic, social and environmental characteristics of an area that may be affected by the Final Draft Ipswich Local Plan. It informs the development of a set of objectives, based on the data gathered, to inform the SA and plan preparation. Among the important decisions considered during the Scoping stage was with regards to the data, quantity of data and how should it be used in order to carry out SA. The review of plans and programmes (A1) and the gathering of baseline data (A2) facilitates the identification of key sustainability issues and opportunities (A3) in the Borough.
Baseline information detailing a range of social, economic and environmental data was obtained from a number of sources. Collectively this data was used as the baseline for identifying key sustainability issues and determining objectives for the Final Draft Ipswich Local Plan. The findings this are set out in the SA Scoping Report in full and summarised in Appendix B.
Task A4:Developing the SA Framework
Based on the baseline data and key issues and opportunities for the Plan area, an SA Framework should be prepared comprised of Objectives that are fundamentally linked to the baseline data and issues and opportunities. It is important that the SA Objectives that are to be used are up-to-date, relevant for the plan area and can also provide a consistent approach between strategic level policies and site/area specific policies as part of the Plan.
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. 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. The Framework is comprised of 19 SA Objectives. SEA Topics relevant to each SA Objective are listed in the SA Framework. Every proposal in the Final Draft Ipswich Local Plan, and all reasonable alternatives, will be assessed against every objective of this framework to identify their likely effects on sustainability in relation to the likely evolution of the baseline in the absence of the plan. The SA Framework is set out in Table 2-1.
Task A5:Consulting on the scope of SA
Outcomes of Tasks A1, A2, A3 and A4 should be consulted on with, as a minimum, the three statutory consultees of Natural England, the Environment Agency and Historic England.
The SA Scoping report was consulted on with the three statutory bodies, as well as the general public and other relevant bodies, between 18 August and 30 October 2017. The Scoping report was updated and finalised in light of the responses received from stakeholders and was published in February 2018.
Table 2-1: SA Framework
|
SA Objective |
Guide question |
SEA Topics |
|
Population |
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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? |
Human health, Population |
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Housing |
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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? |
Human health, Population, Material assets |
|
Health and wellbeing |
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3 - To improve the health 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? |
Water, Climate factors, Human health, Fauna, Biodiversity, Flora |
|
Education |
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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 childcare facilities? |
Population, Human health |
|
Water |
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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? |
Soil, Material Assets, Landscape, Flora |
|
Air |
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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? |
Air, Human health, Fauna |
|
Material Assets (including Soil) |
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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? |
Human health, Landscape |
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Climatic change and flooding |
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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? |
Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna, Cultural heritage including architectural & archaeological heritage, Landscape |
|
The Coast and Estuaries |
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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? |
Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna, Landscape, Water |
|
Biodiversity |
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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? |
Cultural heritage, Landscape, Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna, Water |
|
Cultural heritage |
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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? |
Cultural heritage |
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Landscape |
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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? |
Air, Material assets, Water, Cultural heritage, Population, Biodiversity, Climate factors |
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Economy |
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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? |
Population, Human health, Material assets |
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Transport, Travel and Access |
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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 effects on the quality and extent of existing recreational assets, such as formal or informal footpaths? |
Material assets, Climate factors, Landscape, Population |
|
Digital Infrastructure |
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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? |
Population, Material assets |
