Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management ...

SEA of the review of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan Environmental Report April 2014

Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Management Plan 2014 - 2019

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Environmental Report

April 2014

The Chilterns Conservation Board The Lodge 90 Station Road Chinnor Oxfordshire OX39 4HA


Contents

1. Background Page

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 1

1.3 The Management Plan Review Process and Strategic Environmental Assessment

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1.4 Scoping the Assessment 5

1.5 Assessment and the Policy Development Process 5

1.6 This Environmental Report 5

1.7 Next Steps 6

1.8 Implementing and Monitoring the Plan 6

1.9 Compliance with SEA Directive and Regulations 6

2. Scoping

2.1 The Scoping Report 8

2.2 Consultation Responses 9

3. Review of Policies, Plans and Programmes

3.1 Establishing the Context 10

4. The Environmental Baseline

4.1 Importance of Understanding Environmental Conditions 14

4.2 Sources of Information 14

4.3 Data Limitations 15

4.4 Summary of Environmental Characteristics 15

5. Key Environmental Issues for the Management Plan

5.1 Scoping the Issues 28

5.2 Environmental issues in the Chilterns 28

6. The Assessment Framework

6.1 SEA Objectives 32

6.2 Assessment criteria and indicators 32

7. Reviewing and Revising the Management Plan

7.1 The Review Process 34

7.2 Policy Options 34

7.3 Policy Refinement 35

8. Assessment of Management Plan Aims

8.1 The Management Plan 36


8.2 Assessment of the Aims 36

9. Assessment of Management Plan Policies

9.1 Overall Assessment 48

9.2 Summary Comments and Recommendations by Topic 49

9.3 Assessment of Secondary, Cumulative and Synergistic Effects 57

Annexes (published separately)

A. Responses to Environmental Report Consultation Comments

B. Analysis of Relevant Policies, Plans and Programmes

C. Environmental Baseline

D. Detailed Assessment of the Proposed Policies

Maps

1. The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 2

2. Landscape character 16

3. Designated sites 19

4. Habitat 20

5. Stewardship schemes 22

6. Recreation and access 24

7. Historic Parks and Gardens and Scheduled Monuments 26

Figures

1. The Review Process 4

Tables

1. Compliance with SEA Directive and Regulations 7

2. Environmental issues in the Chilterns 28

3. SEA Objectives for the Chilterns 32

List of Acronyms

ALC Agricultural Land Classification

AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty


CAMS Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

CQC Countryside Quality Counts

CRoW Act Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

CLG (Department for) Communities and Local Government

Defra Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

ELS Entry Level Stewardship (part of the Environmental Stewardship Scheme)

EU European Union

GM Genetically Modified

HLS Higher Level Stewardship (part of the Environmental Stewardship Scheme)

HRA Habitats Regulations Assessment

LNR Local Nature Reserve

NCA National Character Area

NNR National Nature Reserve

NPPF National Planning Policy Framework

ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (as was)

OELS Organic Entry Level Stewardship (part of the Environmental Stewardship Scheme)

PAWS Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites

SAC Special Area of Conservation

SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment

SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest


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1. BACKGROUND

1.1. Introduction

1.1.1. The Chilterns Conservation Board has undertaken a review of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan: A Framework for Action 2008 – 2013, which was published in November 2008. Under Section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000, the Conservation Board must review the Management Plan within five years of the date of publication.

1.1.2. The Conservation Board produced a Project Plan which described the process it proposed to follow in reviewing the Management Plan, in line with the model suggested in the (then) Countryside Agency’s Guidance for the review of AONB management plans (CA221), published in September 2006. This recommends a review process comprising ten broad stages from inception to monitoring the performance of the revised plan, incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) throughout.

1.1.3. The contents of A Framework for Action 2008 – 2013 were reviewed for their continuing relevance to current and expected circumstances in the AONB and to the Conservation Board’s evolving priorities. The range of amendments considered desirable was extensive and the decision was taken to produce a completely revised Management Plan.

1.1.4. The AONB Management Plan exists to provide a common vision and agreed agenda of action to guide the efforts of the many local authorities and other bodies who work with the Conservation Board to secure the long term environmental, social and economic wellbeing of this exceptional countryside

1.2. The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

1.2.1. The Chiltern Hills was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1965. The hills are formed by an outcrop of chalk, overlain by clay with flints, and comprise a steep scarp slope south and east of Aylesbury and a gradual dip slope falling towards the Thames valley. The AONB extends as a continuous area between Reading, at its south-western end, and Luton, and as a separate, detached block between Luton and Hitchin at its north-eastern extremity. It encompasses the most scenically attractive parts of the chalk escarpment, its rolling foothills and the heavily wooded south-east facing dipslope.

1.2.2. The AONB covers an area of 833 sq. kms (324 sq. miles) and includes parts of 13 local authority areas – three County Councils, two Unitary Authorities and eight District and Borough Councils.

1.2.3. The Chilterns were designated as an AONB in order to conserve and enhance those special qualities of the landscape which have long been recognised and appreciated. Of these, the most characteristic elements are:

the dramatic chalk escarpment, with its flower-rich downland and panoramic views;

woodlands, and especially the beech woods that to many people are the epitome of the Chilterns landscape;

hidden valley systems dividing the plateau with their ‘secret’, unspoilt character;


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the rich diversity of landscape pattern and features which provide a constantly changing scene;

the network of ancient, often sunken lanes in tunnels of woodland or over-grown hedgerows;

scattered villages and farmsteads with their vernacular buildings in brick, flint, clay tiles and dark timber;

the wealth of great houses and designed landscapes; elusive chalk streams which make a special contribution to the landscape

when flowing, and the historic environment including hill forts and chalk figures.

1.2.4. These landscape qualities, and the wildlife and cultural heritage which are an intrinsic part of the area’s natural beauty, are subject to intense development and recreational pressures, as well as being threatened by the many profound changes in land management policy and practice over the past century.

Map 1: The Chilterns Area of Outstanding

Natural Beauty

N


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1.3. The Management Plan Review Process and Strategic Environmental Assessment

1.3.1. The Review of the Management Plan must be done in the light of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) prepared in accordance with European Directive 2001/42/EC. The process of SEA is not separate, but an integral part of the review process itself.

1.3.2. The Directive requires that information be provided on the likely significant effects on the environment, including on issues such as: - biodiversity; - population; - human health; - fauna; - flora; - soil; - water; - air; - climatic factors; - material assets; - cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage; - landscape, and - the interrelationship between the above factors.

1.3.3. The SEA of the Management Plan Review has been prepared in accordance with guidance provided by Natural England in Guidance to English AONB Partnerships and Conservation Boards on Strategic Environmental Assessment of AONB Management Plans, which in turn draws on A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive published by ODPM (now CLG) in September 2005. The approach taken has also drawn extensively on those followed for the reviews of other AONB management plans.

1.3.4. The Review must also be subject to a separate formal assessment under another European Directive (92/43/EEC), usually referred to as the Habitats Directive, to establish that its proposals will not have a significant impact on any Natura 2000 site. This process is Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). The HRA has been undertaken to the satisfaction of Natural England and the resultant report concludes that there will be no significant adverse effects on Natura 2000 sites arising from the Management Plan. The HRA report can be found on the Conservation Board’s website at http://www.chilternsaonb.org/conservation-board/management-plan.html.

1.3.5. The process of review incorporating SEA and HRA is illustrated in Figure 1 below.

http://www.chilternsaonb.org/conservation-board/management-plan.html



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Stage Management Plan Review SEA and HRA

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Notify intention to review

Review relevant strategies and plans to establish the policy context

Draw up the evidence base to be used

Scope the SEA – establish sustainability

objectives, issues and assessment framework Screen the Management Plan for continuing

relevance, gaps in coverage etc

Decide on extent and format of revisions

Consult on the SEA Scoping Report and

revise as necessary

Prepare draft Review and revised Delivery

(Engagement) Plan

Develop revised policy responses and actions

Refine in light of assessment process

Assess effects, refine options throughout

review process (SEA)

Prepare Environmental (SEA) Report and

HRA Report

Screen for likely significant effects of plan on

Natura 2000 sites (HRA)

Consultation on draft Review Report and on Environmental and HRA Reports

Publish Review Report and updated Delivery (Engagement) Plan or

Revised Management Plan and the Review Report

Revise and Publish final

Environmental and HRA Reports

Promote the Plan

Implementation and monitoring Monitoring significant effects of

implementing the Plan

Figure 1 – The Review Process


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1.4. Scoping the Assessment

1.4.1. As required by the SEA Regulations, a draft Scoping Report was prepared which set out how the Conservation Board intended to approach the process of assessment. The draft Scoping Report was published for consultation with the statutory environmental bodies, Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency, and with the local authorities and a wide range of local stakeholders in May 2013 for a six week period.

1.4.2. The scoping stage of the assessment comprised:

the identification and analysis of the wide range of policies, plans and programmes already in existence, produced at international, national, regional and local levels, that influence the life and management of the AONB and with which the Management Plan must interact;

information on environmental conditions in the Chilterns was collected to help identify management issues to be addressed and to provide a baseline against which to assess the effects of the proposed policies;

the key issues which the Management Plan review should address were identified from the analysis of policies, plans and programmes and the environmental baseline;

sustainability objectives for the strategic environmental assessment were established and an assessment framework constructed against which the proposed policies would be screened.

1.4.3. Further details of the scoping stage, the consultation process and the changes made as a result of consultation responses are given in Chapter 2.

1.5. Assessment and the Policy Development Process

1.5.1. The Conservation Board reviewed the Aims, Policies and Actions of the existing Management Plan to assess their continuing relevance; to determine whether their importance had grown or declined in the face of the passage of time and whether they should be abandoned, amended or replaced. This process is described in Chapter 7.

1.5.2. New Aims for the revised Management Plan were drafted and assessed against the SEA Objectives, as described in Chapter 8.

1.5.3. The process of Strategic Environmental Assessment is an iterative one. The Policies in the draft Management Plan previously published for consultation were the result of four cycles of assessment, as described in section 7.3 below. The results of the assessment of the consultation draft policies are presented in this report in Chapter 9.

1.6. This Environmental Report

1.6.1. This Environmental Report is published alongside the final version of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan: A Framework for Action 2014 – 2019 which was adopted by the Conservation Board in March 2014. It describes the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the plan, so far as can be established on the basis of the current understanding of environmental conditions and trends in the Chilterns AONB and the policies and proposals of the adopted Management Plan.


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1.6.2. The report focuses on the outcome of the consultation on the Aims, Policies and Actions of the consultation draft plan. It establishes that these are likely to have an overwhelmingly positive impact on the local environment. The process of assessment throughout the policy development process has helped to maximise the benefits and minimise any adverse effects. However, a number of recommendations are made in Chapter 9 on how to improve performance, particularly in the implementation of the Plan.

1.7. Next Steps

1.7.1. After the Revised Management Plan has been adopted, the SEA Regulations require the Board to publish a Post Adoption Statement describing how the environmental considerations arising from the SEA, the Environmental Report and the consultation responses were taken into account in formulating and agreeing the Plan. This statement is available separately and can be found on the Conservation Board’s website at http://www.chilternsaonb.org/conservation-board/management-plan.html.

1.8. Implementing and Monitoring the Plan

1.8.1. The Conservation Board will wish to monitor progress in implementing the actions set out in the Engagement Plan contained in the Revised Management Plan. It will also seek to monitor the state of the AONB and the way it changes over time so as to evaluate the effectiveness of these actions in conserving and improving the AONB. These two processes can be referred to as “performance monitoring” and “condition monitoring”.

1.8.2. The framework for performance monitoring is provided by the Engagement Plan itself, which defines desired outcomes for each of the specified actions. Such monitoring will inform any review and roll-forward of the Engagement Plan. The Conservation Board will lead on this monitoring process, but for many actions will rely on contributions from a number of partner organisations.

1.8.3. Monitoring the evolving condition of the Chilterns AONB will be carried out annually through the State of the Environment Report. This will principally be aimed at informing the quinquennial reviews of the Management Plan. It will be structured around the suite of headline condition indicators that are proposed in the Management Plan and derived from the environmental baseline as set out in Annex C. Again, the Conservation Board will take the lead in coordinating this work, although partner organisations will often be best placed to collect the data required.

1.8.4. It is understood that Natural England is proposing to develop a set of headline condition indicators for use in all AONBs. The Chilterns suite of indicators will incorporate this national set when it becomes available.

1.9. Compliance with SEA Directive and Regulations

1.9.1. The table below sets out the content of the ‘Environmental Report’ required under the SEA Directive and where these can be found within this report, or the earlier Scoping Report.




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Table 1 – Compliance with SEA Directive and Regulations

Environmental Report requirements1 Compliance

(a) an outline of the contents, main objectives of the plan or programme and relationship with other relevant plans and programmes

Contents and main objectives – Chapter 8 Other plans and programmes – Chapter 3 and Annex B

(b) the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme

Chapter 4 and Annex C

(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

Chapter 4 and Annex C and in relation to areas designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC – the HRA Report

(e) the environmental protection objectives, established at international, Community or Member State 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

Chapter 3 and Annex B

(f) the likely significant effects on the environment, including on issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the interrelationship between the above factors

Chapter 9 and Annex D

(g) the measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme

Chapter 9 and Annex D

(h) an outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with, and a description of how the assessment was undertaken including any difficulties (such as technical deficiencies or lack of know-how) encountered in compiling the required information

Chapter 7 and, in relation to certain data limitations – Chapter 4

(i) a description of the measures envisaged concerning monitoring in accordance with Article 10


(j) a non-technical summary of the information provided under the above headings

Environmental Report – Non Technical Summary (published separately)

1 As listed in Annex I of the SEA Directive (Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and

programmes on the environment).


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2. SCOPING

2.1. The Scoping Report

2.1.1. The SEA Regulations require consultation with the statutory consultation bodies – Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency - on the scope and level of detail to be contained in the Environmental Report. The draft Scoping Report prepared for this purpose set out how the process of assessment was to be integrated with the Plan review programme and how the assessment was to be done as well as the factors itemised in paragraph 1.4.2 above.

2.1.2. The Regulations do not require a wider circulation of the draft Scoping Report, but established good practice is to consult rather more widely at this stage and the draft Scoping Report was posted on the Conservation Board’s website with a general invitation to comment. The views of the local authorities and other key stakeholders were also invited by letter sent electronically. Consultation took place over a six week period ending on 19th June 2013. The additional bodies consulted were:

National and Regional Organisations

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Regional Tourist Boards

Forestry Commission

Highways Agency

Local Government

Local authorities in the Chilterns AONB

County and/or Local Strategic Partnerships

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Local Nature Partnerships

Town and Parish Council organisations in the Chilterns AONB

Others

Chiltern Woodlands Project

Chiltern Society

National Trust

NAAONB

North Wessex Downs Partnership

Cotswolds Conservation Board

National Farmers Union

Country Land and Business Association

Wildlife Trusts

Campaign to Protect Rural England


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Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Woodland Trust

Ramblers Association

Environmental Records Centres

County Rural Communities Councils

Health and Wellbeing Boards

2.2. Consultation responses

2.2.1. Responses were received from 35 organisations and individuals. The organisations providing detailed comments on the draft were:

Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency

The RSPB

Three local authorities

Two parish councils

2.2.2. The comments received are recorded in Annex A together with the responses made to the points raised. As a result of the consultation a number of changes were made to the Scoping Report in terms of the evidence base, the key environmental issues identified, the appraisal framework and the scoring system employed. These changes have been incorporated in this Environmental Report.


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3. REVIEW OF POLICIES, PLANS AND PROGRAMMES

3.1. Establishing the Context

3.1.1. Activity in the Chilterns is influenced by a very wide range of laws, regulations, policies, priorities and funding programmes emanating from many different bodies operating at European, national, regional and local levels and directed at a range of environmental, social and economic objectives. The challenge for the Management Plan is to bring cohesion to these influences, to resolve any conflicts where possible and optimize their collective outcome for the AONB, including adding the value of the Conservation Board’s contribution. Some issues may already have been dealt entirely adequately by other plans and programmes, and need not be addressed further in the revised Management Plan.

3.1.2. Importantly, the Management Plan must be consistent with statutory requirements, such as those expressed through the land use planning system or environmental protection legislation at international, European and national level.

3.1.3. Analysis of the relationship between the AONB Management Plan and other policy documents will clarify opportunities and issues as well as potential conflicts between objectives or policies that may need to be addressed. The analysis helps to identify:

- environmental objectives that should be included in the environmental assessment framework;

- external factors and sustainability issues that can be addressed by the Management Plan, and

- any cumulative effects arising from Management Plan policies in combination with other plans or programmes.

3.1.4. The analysis of relevant policies, plans and programmes is contained in Annex B. The potential list of such documents is enormous. The analysis does not attempt to cover all the documents that may have some relevance to the Management Plan; only those whose influence is significant. For each, the analysis identifies relevant objectives and targets and highlights implications for the Management Plan and the assessment. Core Strategies and Local Plans are being adopted by local planning authorities and they will provide the local planning policy context.

3.1.5. The key messages that can be drawn from this analysis for the Review as they relate to the SEA topics listed in paragraph 1.3.2 are summarised below.

Landscape

European Landscape Convention - principally directed at the national level, but emphasises the importance of landscape as a cultural as well as aesthetic asset. Calls for improved public involvement in landscape matters. Plan should facilitate integration of landscape considerations into Local Plans etc.

Rural Strategy - emphasises the importance of protecting the natural environment for this and future generations.

The National Planning Policy Framework (Conserving and enhancing the natural environment) - establishes policies for the management of development


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in and affecting AONBs. The Management Plan must acknowledge need for small-scale rural development and support its integration into the landscape.

Statutory spatial and land use plans – the Management Plan should complement Local Plan policies on landscape, townscape, land use and the protection of agricultural land.

Biodiversity, fauna, flora

Habitats Directive – the Management Plan must not promote proposals that are likely to have an adverse effect on the conservation objectives of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Wildlife and Countryside Act - There are 3 NNRs and 54 SSSIs in the Chilterns and a number of plant, bird and animal species that enjoy specific legal protection under this Act. The Management Plan must recognise their statutory importance and strive to ensure they are adequately protected.

Natural Environment White Paper – The White Paper outlines the Government’s vision for the natural environment over the next 50 years, with proposals for actions to deliver the vision. The Management Plan should include consideration of the objectives and actions set out in the White Paper.

The National Planning Policy Framework (Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change) - Enhancing biodiversity and the conservation of the geological landscape are key considerations for the Management Plan.

Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services the Management Plan should seek to contribute to realising Biodiversity 2020 targets.

A Living Landscape for the South East – the Management Plan should realize opportunities to contribute to the development of the regional ecological network.

EU Water Framework Directive - The Management Plan should consider how the water environment can be protected and enhanced, including through encouraging sustainable use of water and good watercourse management.

Population

The Future of Transport White Paper - the Management Plan needs to reflect the Government’s transport vision for delivering improved personal mobility.

The National Planning Policy Framework (Promoting healthy communities) - Stresses the importance of green spaces in underpinning quality of life and as essential contributors to rural renewal, social inclusion and community cohesion, health and well being, and sustainable development.

Human health

Healthy Lives: Healthy People – the Management Plan should promote national priorities to improve the health of all and in particular, the least well-off in


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all relevant policy areas.

Material assets

Making the food and farming industry more competitive while protecting the environment – national policy for agriculture emphasises importance of building further environmental responsibility into farming and producing more sustainable, healthy food within a more market-based approach. The Management Plan should support this policy direction to provide maximum advantage to the Chilterns.

Government Forestry and Woodlands policy and Sustaining and enhancing trees, forests and woodland – the Management Plan has a key role in delivering aims to expand and maintain a network of sustainably managed trees, woods and forests that are resilient to climate change, and to pests and diseases.

Woodfuel Implementation Plan – the Management Plan should promote wood fuel production and marketing as a potentially important component of sustainable woodland management.

The Energy Bill – the Management Plan should promote renewable energy resources compatible with the purposes of designation.

The National Planning Policy Framework (Conserving and enhancing the natural environment and Supporting a prosperous economy) - Establishes policies for the management of development in and affecting AONBs. States that support should be given for development which helps to sustain rural areas. The AONB has a buoyant tourism market that plays a major role in the local economy. The Management Plan should reflect this and where possible, build upon the economic opportunities that tourism can offer the area, while properly considering associated pressures on the landscape.

Cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage

The National Planning Policy Framework (Conserving and enhancing the historic environment) - The AONB contains a number of archaeological and historical sites and features that are of intrinsic importance and provide an attraction for tourists. The Management Plan should include measures or policies for the conservation and enhancement of the historic environment and heritage assets of the AONB.

Climatic factors

The UK Climate Change Programme and the Climate Change Act – the Management Plan must directly address the issue of climate change and its implications for the natural environment, acknowledge the increased likelihood of extreme weather events and localised flooding and promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.


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Soil, geology and hydrogeology

Safeguarding our soils – A strategy for England - Importance of soils in performing a wide range of functions has been generally under-acknowledged. The Management Plan should promote sustainable soils management.

Water

EU Water Framework Directive - The Management Plan should consider how the water environment can be protected and enhanced, including through encouraging sustainable use of water and good watercourse management.

Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies – the Management Plan should acknowledge water resource status and complement actions proposed in the various CAMS.

Air

Air Quality Strategy 2011 - Direct relationship between Management Plan policies and air quality issues are likely to be small, but the Plan should promote appropriate land management practices that acknowledge current conditions and seek to improve same.


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4. THE ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE

4.1. Importance of Understanding Environmental Conditions

4.1.1. Reliable, up to date information is needed to understand the nature of the AONB environment and the attributes which make the area special, how the environment is changing and the forces of change at work, before an assessment of the potential impact of the policies and proposals contained in the Management Plan Review can be made.

4.1.2. More specifically, the SEA Directive says that the Environmental Report should provide information on:

“relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan” and the “environmental characteristics of the areas likely to be significantly affected” (Annex I (b) (c)) and

“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 (Birds Directive) and 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive)” (Annex I (c))

4.1.3. Collating environmental baseline information for the SEA, together with the review of relevant policies, plans and programmes, assists the process of identifying the key environmental issues for the Management Plan and in developing the SEA objectives against which the Plan will be assessed and subsequently monitored.

4.1.4. A proper understanding of the environmental baseline is also of fundamental importance for the Management Plan review itself. The screening of existing objectives and policies for continuing relevance must be done in the context of a clear understanding of current environmental conditions and their likely evolution.

4.1.5. The focus of Strategic Environmental Assessment is to identify and thus avoid if possible, or at least mitigate, any adverse impacts of the Plan on the environment. However, it is recognised that some of the policies and actions of the Management Plan, while directed at safeguarding and improving the environment of the AONB, may have social and economic consequences. The SEA Directive includes among the list of environmental factors against which plans and programmes must be assessed, population, human health and material assets and the intention from the outset has been to develop an SEA Framework to ensure that any significant social and economic impacts of the Management Plan are properly recorded and assessed. This has meant the incorporation of selected socio-economic information in the environmental baseline.

4.2. Sources of Information

4.2.1. A substantial amount of information about the Chilterns is included in or underpinned the current Management Plan. In the process of the initial review of objectives and policies, this has been reviewed, updated and supplemented under each chapter heading or ‘theme’ by the various Task Groups. The Conservation Board regularly undertakes or commissions surveys of environmental condition and land use in the AONB and these have provided information with which to update the information base.


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4.2.2. For the purposes of this SEA, the environmental baseline information has been organised around the topics specified in the Directive: i.e. landscape, biodiversity, fauna, flora, population, human health, material assets, cultural heritage, climatic factors, soil, water and air.

4.3. Data Limitations

4.3.1. While there exists a reasonable evidence base on which to review the current Management Plan and to assess the environmental implications of new proposals, the Conservation Board is anxious to improve its databases. Two issues in particular have been highlighted in assembling the current evidence base.

4.3.2. First, a great deal of information of key importance is held by geographical units that do not coincide with the boundaries of the AONB.

4.3.3. The AONB lies across the boundary between two previous Government Office Regions which were the primary units for the collection of data and the analysis of information, and comprises parts of the administrative areas of three County Councils, two Unitary Authorities and eight District and Borough Councils. Much nationally sourced data is presented by local authority area, and the local authorities themselves hold other data, not necessarily consistent across the AONB.

4.3.4. The ‘lack of fit’ between the AONB boundary and the areas for which much information is held necessitates either some apportionment of the data to the AONB area or taking the wider areas for which information is available as a proxy for the AONB. Neither solution is really satisfactory, but that is the situation.

4.3.5. The second issue concerns the lack of consistent time series data in some areas, making it difficult to track change and identify trends for the future.

4.3.6. In some topic areas, information exists, but up to date information is lacking although it should become available shortly. The historic environment is a case in point. In other areas, more serious gaps exist. No relevant information at all on the health of the Chilterns AONB population is available to the Board. The table in Annex C highlights where information is currently lacking.

4.4. Summary of Environmental Characteristics

4.4.1. Annex C contains an overview of the baseline information collected under these topic headings, together with trend information where available and data sources. The key characteristics of the Chilterns AONB as they relate to the SEA topics are outlined below.

Landscape

4.4.2. Two of the most picturesque and aesthetically pleasing aspects of the Chilterns landscape are its complexity and diversity. The intricate mosaic of woodland, copses, enclosed pastures, arable fields, wooded and open heath and scattered farms and villages, overlying a complex landform of rolling hills and hidden valleys, presents a continually varying landscape. Loss of this variety or a change in scale significantly alters the character of the landscape.

4.4.3. While the Chilterns as a whole can be identified as a distinctive area, there are variations in landscape character between different parts. Four broad regions


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have been identified: Scarp and Foothills, Plateau and Dipslope, the Arterial Valleys, and the Thames Fringes. The Chilterns Landscape Character Assessment divides these further into characteristic landscape types that have a coherent and recognisable identity (Map 2).

4.4.4. The current Management Plan identifies a range of factors working to influence change in the landscape. Many of these relate to development under the town and country planning system or other statutory controls and are thus outside the direct influence of the Management Plan. But others, such as changes in agricultural and woodland management, management for recreation and tourism and the impacts of climate change are core issues for the Plan.

The Chilterns Landscape - Factors Influencing Change identified in The Framework for Action 2008-2013

Pressure from development Growing population Increasing traffic levels Demands for road improvements and infrastructure, particularly at

Map 2 - Landscape Character


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countryside sites Impacts on scarce water resources through increased consumption Changes in farming and woodland practice Reform of agricultural policy and agri-environment schemes Impacts of global market conditions on agricultural outputs Decline in livestock and dairy farming and impacts on grazing Continued decline in ‘commoning’ Long term decline in market for UK timber leading to lack of

management of Chiltern woodlands Change in emphasis of use of woodlands to recreation Increased use of wood as a renewable fuel Impacts of pests and diseases on woodlands Impacts of urbanisation close to the AONB (for example fly tipping

and loss of tranquillity) Unpredictable impacts of climate change

4.4.5. The Countryside Quality Counts (CQC) project Tracking Change in the Character of the English Landscape, provides information on the scale and direction of change in each National Character Area (NCA) of England for the periods 1990-1998 and most recently, 1999-2003. The Chilterns is one such NCA. The NCA is almost twice the extent of the designated area of the AONB, so the results of the CQC project should be interpreted with some caution insofar as they relate to the AONB - but the AONB forms the core of the NCA.

4.4.6. The overall CQC assessment for the Chilterns JCA for the period 1999 – 2003 is:

“The changes are mixed, and while development continues to erode the character of the area locally, changes in the farmed and wooded landscape seem to have maintained the overall character.”

Consistent with vision Inconsistent with vision

Stable Maintained

Trees and woodland Agriculture Semi-natural habitats

Neglected

Boundary features Historic features River and coastal

Changing Enhancing Diverging

Settlement and development

4.4.7. The CQC Assessment 1990-98 was “Some change inconsistent with character”, noting that:

Both agriculture and development show changes that appear to be inconsistent with aspects of existing character area descriptions. Woodland change appears to be largely consistent with existing character.

The CQC work will be superseded by the Character and Quality of England’s Landscapes (CQuEL) project which will provide evidence about the character and function of landscapes and the provision and quality of selected ecosystem services delivered by England’s natural environment.


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Biodiversity, fauna, flora

4.4.8. Wildlife habitats in the Chilterns vary widely in their species composition and in their condition and nature conservation value. Some are considered to be of European or national significance and these receive statutory protection, while others are of importance in a regional, county or local context and receive recognition but are not statutorily protected.

4.4.9. The Chilterns Beechwoods (a composite of 9 sites), Hartslock Wood and Aston Rowant are designated Special Areas of Conservation and are of European significance. There are 3 National Nature Reserves, 64 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and 7 Local Nature Reserves. Several hundred other sites, known as Local Wildlife Sites have been identified for their importance within the local, county or sub-regional context (Map 3).

4.4.10. Natural England reported that in 2012 64.9% of the SSSIs in the AONB were in ‘favourable’ condition, with 33.8% as ‘unfavourable, recovering’, 1% were ‘unfavourable, no change’ and 0.3% ‘unfavourable, declining’.

4.4.11. The revised Ancient Woodland Inventory for the Chilterns (2012) has shown that there are 11,058 hectares of Ancient Woodland (13.19% of the AONB area). There are also 3,943 hectares of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS – 36% of the ancient woodland) which should be restored to more natural conditions (Map 4).

4.4.12. The Chilterns has a nationally important concentration of high quality chalk grassland, estimated to extend to over 700ha in total, with 1 SAC, 3 NNRs, 28 SSSIs, 5 LNRs and over 100 Local Wildlife Sites based on chalk grassland.

4.4.13. A 2002 survey showed that the Chilterns AONB is of national importance for some farmland bird species, notably corn bunting, linnet, skylark and yellowhammer.

Population

4.4.14. Up to date Census data is not currently available to the Conservation Board and reliance is therefore placed on the 2001 data (as for the current Management Plan). Should data emerge through the review programme relevant changes will be made, however, it is thought that few of the headlines will have changed substantially.

4.4.15. In 2001 the Chilterns had the highest rural, urban and total average income out of all the protected landscapes (National Parks and AONBs) in the South East region. It had the smallest percentage of households below the national average income (39%).

4.4.16. In 2000, the Chilterns had the lowest score in the Index of Multiple Deprivation out of all SE protected landscapes. This does not mean that deprivation was absent but that overall it was scarce.

4.4.17. In general the South East’s protected landscapes had a higher proportion of detached houses (and bungalows) than the regional average and the Chilterns had a particularly high proportion compared to the others. Together with the Surrey Hills, house prices in the Chilterns were amongst the highest. They increased by an average of 24% between 2001 and 2003; below the average AONB and regional rates of increase.


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Map 3 – Designated Sites


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4.4.18. There were relatively high proportions of managers and senior officials and professionals in the Chilterns. There were slightly below average proportions of people in skilled trades and fewer process, plant and machine operatives and also low proportions of manual workers. The banking, finance and insurance sector was an important employer for residents and the Chilterns was notable in its propensity towards larger businesses compared to other protected landscapes in the South East.

4.4.19. Rates of self-employment in the Chilterns were unremarkable for a protected landscape but still higher than the regional average. Employment in agriculture, hunting and forestry (a category in practice dominated by farming) made up a small percentage of total employment in AONBs. In the Chilterns, 0.45% of working residents were employed in this sector, the lowest proportion of any South East protected landscapes but still above the average for the region

4.4.20. Compared to the other SE protected landscapes, the Chilterns had the least households with no or 1 car, and the most households with 2 or 3 cars. 5% of households had 4+ cars, compared to the regional average outside AONBs of 2%. The Chilterns had the highest vehicles/person figure (0.69) out of all the protected landscapes. In terms of journeys to work, the Chilterns had the second highest percentage of car users of SE protected landscapes.

Material assets

4.4.21. Farmland makes up approximately 60% of the land area of the AONB. Of this nearly 60% is arable, the remainder being mainly permanent pasture and farm woodland. The principal crops grown are cereal crops, mainly wheat and barley and oilseed rape with a small amount of oats. Sheep outnumber cattle by more than 2 to 1; the number of cattle has declined, from about 19,000 in 2000 to around 16,000 in 2010. Almost 17,000 pigs are kept, a decrease in numbers from 2008. The number of sheep has decreased over the period from 2000 to 2010 to just under 35,000.

4.4.22. There about 1,100 agricultural holdings in the AONB. The total number of commercial holdings has been decreasing. Numbers of larger holdings (more than 100ha) has remained fairly constant while smaller, less profitable units are sold, amalgamated or switch to contract farming. The numbers of ‘non-commercial’ part-time or hobby farmers continues to increase while numbers of full-time agricultural workers decline.

4.4.23. Environmental Stewardship has been the agri-environment scheme which provides funding to farmers and other land managers who deliver effective environmental management on their land. In 2012 there were 201 Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) agreements (includes 7 Organic ELS agreements) covering 22,337 ha, or 44.7% of the farmed area of the AONB and 72 Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements (includes 8 OHLS) covering 8,102 ha (16.2 % of the farmed area of the AONB). Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is due to be finalised in 2015 with a New Environmental Land Management Scheme (NELMS) being proposed (see Map 5).

4.4.24. The Beech woods of the Chilterns are one of the AONB’s defining features. In total, 21% of the land area of the AONB is wooded; some 17,500 ha. Somewhat over half this area is considered ancient woodland, of which 60% is classified as Ancient Semi-natural Woodland and the remainder as Plantations on Ancient


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Woodland Sites (PAWS). 75% of Chiltern woodlands are in private ownership; charities and local authorities own 15%; The Forestry Commission 10%.

4.4.25. The Chilterns used to support a wide range of woodland industries including chair-making. In recent times the market for Chilterns timber has declined dramatically. Today, the woods are still harvested for timber but management for amenity, recreation and wildlife value has become equally important.

4.4.26. The abundance of the chalk deposits of the Chilterns coupled with the proximity to London gave rise in the past to a significant mineral extraction industry both within the AONB and adjacent to its boundaries. Today, only Kensworth Quarry, supplying chalk by pipeline for cement making in Warwickshire, and Pitstone are operational, whilst Landpark Wood has permitted chalk reserves but is inactive. A number of small brick making operations also continue to exist. Restoration of disused pits remains an issue. On some sites it has been achieved through landfill. Others have developed conservation or recreational value.

4.4.27. Waste arisings or recycling statistics are not available for the AONB as a whole. In England, 43.3% of household waste was recycled in 2011/12. This represents the highest rate of recycling in England, although the rate of increase has levelled off. Rates for the local authorities of the Chilterns AONB were, with few exceptions, generally well above this with the highest rate being nearly 70%.

4.4.28. The scenic countryside of the Chilterns and its proximity to London means that it is enjoyed by millions of visitors every year. Most come on daytrips and their favourite activity is to go on walks and appreciate the stunning views from the Chilterns ridge. Others use the quiet lanes and bridleways to cycle and ride (see Map 6).

4.4.29. There are over 2,000km of public rights of way in the Chilterns. This extensive network includes parts of two National Trails (the Ridgeway and the Thames Path) and a regional route (The Chiltern Way). Current statistics are not available, but a 2007 visitor survey showed that there were then about 55 million leisure visits to the Chilterns in the year, 41 million by local people, 10 million by day visitors and 4 million by people staying in or near the Chilterns.


4.4.30. The Chilterns has a very rich cultural heritage; the product of a long legacy of human influence. It includes buried archaeology, relict sites (surviving as earthworks or ruins) as well as historic buildings and landscapes still in contemporary use such as farms and field boundaries, industrial and military structures, ancient woodlands and commons and country houses with their associated parks and gardens. The Chilterns Historic Landscape Characterisation Project provides a valuable tool for understanding its importance and influence.

4.4.31. There is currently a lack of data on the condition of some elements of the historic environment (principally Listed Buildings of Grade II and non-designated heritage assets), but the publication by English Heritage of the Heritage at Risk Register, provides much valuable information. The Board is seeking to add to this with a proposed project to survey Chilterns Traditional Farm Buildings.

http://www.chilternsaonb.org/sites.asp?type=2

http://www.chilternsaonb.org/site_results.asp?siteCat=11

http://www.chilternsaonb.org/site_results.asp?siteCat=12


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4.4.32. The Countryside Quality Counts Assessment for the Chilterns National Character Area, which, as noted above, is almost twice the extent of the designated area of the AONB, reads as follows:

There have been Countryside Stewardship agreements covering about 90ha for historic landscapes since 1999, however, the extent is limited and this scheme has now ended. However, in 1918 about 8% of the NCA was historic parkland. In terms of the share of the resource the NCA was ranked 4. By 1995 it is estimated that 42% had been lost. About 25% of the remaining parkland is covered by an Historic Parkland Grant, and about 13% is included within an agri-environmental scheme. Only about 67% of historic farm buildings remain unconverted, but about 94% are intact structurally. These data suggest that important aspects of the historic resource remain neglected.

4.4.33. There are 19 Historic Parks and Gardens on the English Heritage register within the AONB. Historic Parks and Gardens are targeted under the Environmental Stewardship HLS option in the Chilterns NCA (Map 7).

Climatic factors

4.4.34. UK Climate Change Programme scenarios for future climatic conditions in the Chilterns indicate likely increases in average daily temperature of between 2-5oC by the end of this century, with a decline in summer rainfall of between 15-40% and an increase in winter rainfall of up to 30%, with increased frequency of stormy episodes. In the longer term these changes will have profound implications for the management of the AONB, but even in the nearer future their influence will be felt, raising issues relating to the landscape, biodiversity and woodland management, agriculture, water resources, the built environment, energy use and generation and visitor management.

Soil, geology and hydrogeology

4.4.35. A range of soil types are present in the Chilterns and have a major influence on land use and the landscape. At the south-western end of the AONB in South Oxfordshire, the chalk soils support an open, rolling landscape of large, unhedged fields and farms. Although classified as Grade 3 land, the shallow chalk soils are retentive of moisture and are relatively productive. On the slightly heavier and deeper soils of the upper greensand and lower chalk at the foot of the scarpface, the average farm size is smaller and the general farming practice centres around the production of cereals, beef and sheep. The rich alluvial soils along the Thames Valley still support concentrations of horticulture. The central plateau, with its complex of valleys, is generally less productive.

4.4.36. Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Maps indicate mostly Grades 3 and 4 on the clay with flints soils of the plateau tops and the steep scarp and valley sides. Higher-grade land occurs only in the dry valley bottoms, where there are deep, well-drained loams. Where the chalk covers a small area near Tring, cereals, sheep and beef are the main enterprises. The geographically discrete northern part of the AONB has a rolling 'downland' character which is not deeply dissected and which supports a complex range of soil types.

4.4.37. Some 75% of the land in the AONB is of ALC Grade 3, with some 8.4% at Grade 2 and 12.5% graded as in non-agricultural use.


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4.4.38. The bedrock underlying the Chilterns is chalk, principally comprising Upper, Middle and Lower Chalk beds, and this highly permeable rock allows relatively free movement of water (and therefore water-borne pollutants) into valuable groundwater resources.

Map 7 – Historic Parks and Gardens and Scheduled Monuments

Water

4.4.39. Fluvial flood risk is generally low in the Chilterns. The Thames Catchment Flood Management Plan identifies two types of flood plain in the AONB; undeveloped natural flood plain along the River Thames at the southern extremity, and the


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valleys of the chalk streams of the dipslope which are characterised as narrow flood plains and mixed land use. In these latter, it notes that relatively small clusters of people and property are at risk from flooding. However, groundwater and surface water flood risk is an issue for some river valley settlements both within (Hambleden) and on the fringe of the AONB (Chesham and High Wycombe).

4.4.40. Chalk is the most significant aquifer in south east England. The Chilterns chalk is a significant aquifer, of regional and national importance, both in terms of the water bodies it supports and for the amount of water that is abstracted from it for public supply. Water resources in the Chilterns are restricted to groundwater sources and are limited. Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies record water resource availability throughout the Chilterns as ‘over-licenced’, ‘over-extracted’ and ‘no water available’. This over-extraction has resulted in low flows in the chalk streams of the dip slope, necessitating remedial action by the Environment Agency. In 2013 the area supplied by Affinity Water (approx 60% of the AONB) had the highest domestic, per capita consumption in the UK.

4.4.41. In addition to being limited across the Chilterns the groundwater resource is variable and vulnerable to pollution from both rural and urban sources. All of the Chilterns’ waterbodies from which groundwater is abstracted are classified as Water Framework Directive (WFD) Drinking Water Protected Areas (DrWPAs). Currently the WFD assessment for the three groundwater units which make up the Chilterns and surrounding area are assessed as poor and are subject to a rising trend in pollutant levels.

4.4.42. Chalk streams are a globally rare habitat. Of around 200 in the world, 161 occur in England and nine have their source within the AONB. They also have considerable wildlife and amenity value. The Conservation Board works with partner agencies to restore and maintain this rare and valuable habitat through the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project.

4.4.43. The majority of water bodies (including all chalk streams) in the Chilterns are currently failing to attain Water Framework Directive quality objectives. Only the Grand Union Canal and its Wendover Arm are currently assessed as attaining Good Ecological Status. The primary reasons for failure are: low flows; poor invertebrate and fish populations, nitrate and phosphate levels.

Air

4.4.44. The Air Quality Strategy establishes the framework for air quality improvements. Measures agreed at the national and international level are the foundations on which the strategy is based. Despite these measures, areas of poor air quality will remain, and these will best be dealt with using local measures implemented through the Local Air Quality Management regime. Local authorities are required to identify, review and assess those areas where the air quality objectives are being, or are likely to be, exceeded. There are two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) designated by local authorities to address identified pollution issues in the AONB. These are within Wycombe District (the M40 throughout the district for Nitrogen Dioxide, NO2) and Three Rivers District (the M25 at Chorleywood for Particulate Matter, PM10, and Nitrogen Dioxide, NO2). Both local authorities have prepared Local Air Quality Action Plans.


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5. KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FOR THE MANAGEMENT PLAN

5.1. Scoping the Issues

5.1.1. Examination of the policy context within which the Management Plan is to be prepared and implemented and of environmental conditions in the Chilterns leads to the identification of the environmental problems and issues that the Plan needs to address and the constraints within which it must operate. This process has also been informed by the Conservation Board’s experience of implementing the current Management Plan.

5.1.2. The SEA Directive requires 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 areas designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC(Birds) and 92/43/EEC(Habitats)”(Annex I (d))

5.1.3. The draft SEA Scoping Report presented a preliminary set of environmental issues that had been identified at that stage. The list was modified as a result of consultation on the Scoping Report and the resulting list of issues is set out in the table below.

5.2. Environmental issues in the Chilterns

5.2.1. Table 2 below summarises the key environmental issues identified to date, by SEA topic.

Table 2 – Environmental issues in the Chilterns

Key Issues / Problems Relationship to SEA Objectives

Landscape

Fragmentation of landscape - especially around towns – harder to buffer agricultural habitats.

1

Effects of climate change – changing cropping patterns, species distribution, and increasing variability and extremes of weather will present challenges and opportunities for the natural beauty of the AONB.

1; 2

Lack of management of landscape features, due to changes in land ownership, decline in availability of skills and availability of funding.

1; 2

Local distinctiveness – the need to consider impacts of new development on wider landscape (especially major growth), increased use of local materials.

1; 4; 7; 8

Biodiversity, flora, fauna

Habitat fragmentation, isolated sites and need for more management at a landscape scale.

2

Decline in availability of advice for land managers e.g. private 2


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owners of local wildlife sites.

Declining livestock industry making small isolated sites increasingly difficult to manage as part of farm business. Shift from graziers paying to being paid on conservation sites.

2

Management of access - high visitor numbers and lack of public awareness making site management difficult in some areas e.g. deer control.

2; 5; 6; 12

Pests and diseases – impacts of non-native invasive species, as well as other pests and diseases on native species.

1; 2; 12

Effects of climate change – implications for site management for example the need for increased grazing on grassland sites in response to longer growing season and increased rate of vegetation growth. Changes in species distribution e.g. less Beech on scarp.

2

Population

Generic issues – increased partnership working, increasing reliance on volunteers; public perceptions e.g. huge confusion re climate change – need for more education/awareness raising.

2; 5; 12

Green Infrastructure/housing growth – will be increase in area of urban fringe, increased interface between people and farming community.

1; 2; 4; 5; 6; 12

Ageing population will have implications for recreation and visitor management.

5; 6

Traffic movements – need to consider wider implications of traffic, especially related to HS2, growth agenda, overflying and airport expansion.

5; 7

Human health

Increasing obesity of the population will have implications for recreation and visitor management.

5; 6

Material assets

Changes in farming community – future impacts of new farming systems and agri-environment schemes unknown – some opportunities for new habitat creation and linkages.

1; 2; 10

Farming – overall decrease in number of holdings, increase in larger holdings. More contractors – traditional farms selling up to non-traditional landowners. Land bought as setting for house.

1; 2; 4; 5; 8; 9; 10; 12

Reduction in livestock numbers 2; 8; 12

Loss of agricultural infrastructure – livestock markets, labour/skills, abattoirs etc.

1; 2; 3; 5

High demand for grain leading to high prices - threats to farmland habitats created/restored through agri-environment schemes, especially buffer strips. Reduction in set aside.

2; 7; 8

Increasing non-food crops such as borage and opium. 1; 2; 7; 8; 10

Increasing focus on local food and more traditional breeds to graze conservation grasslands.

1; 2; 6

Woodland management – pest control still a major issue; Habitat Regulations and Health and Safety issues likely to have

1; 2; 8


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an increasing impact on woodland management; lack of public understanding of woodland management; decline in contractor /skills base; weather extremes likely to make management more difficult.

Trees – decay fungi working for longer could reduce life of veteran trees, leading to more problems with tree safety.

1; 2; 3

Woodland – increase in lotting; wood fuel could be an economic driver but at present marginal.

1; 2; 7

Pests and diseases – impacts of non-native invasive species, as well as other pests and diseases on landscape as well as native flora and fauna.

1; 2; 12

Tranquillity – impacts of increased noise and light pollution arising from greater levels of development and urban intrusion within, and in the setting of, the AONB.

1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 7; 12

Waste – need to consider waste minimisation rather than disposal, and increased re-use and recycling.

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Cultural heritage, including the historic environment, architectural and archaeological heritage

Commons – cultural/economic change – lack of economic relevance affecting their management. Commons not generally owned by people with agricultural interest, so more problems re-introducing grazing.

2; 3; 5

Historic Environment – lack of data about the condition of heritage assets, lack of knowledge including identification of sites, need for appropriate management, shortage of relevant skills.

2; 3; 5

Built environment – need for up to date design advice, to address general issues as well as impacts of permitted development and isolated buildings for example.

1; 4

Increased population – may lead to increased levels of development within the AONB and its setting.

1; 4; 7; 8; 9; 11; 12

Climatic factors

Increased variability in climate (e.g. temperature and rainfall), changes in growing season, increased incidences of extreme weather events will have significant implications for biodiversity, woodland, agriculture, landscape management and the built environment.

1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 10

The need for increasing energy production from renewable sources may present challenges in terms of landscape impact.

1; 7; 8

Sustainable construction – increased use of local building materials as carbon reduction/offset.

1; 3; 4; 7; 8

Land use conflicts – pressure to introduce new crops or management practices may conflict with conservation of landscape character.

2; 7

Water

Increasingly stressed water resources as a result of a changing climate and due to more abstractions arising from increased population.

2; 4; 9

Chalk Streams – low flows, variability of flows, lack of 2; 9


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designation, spread of invasive non-native species e.g. Japanese Knotweed, impact of flooding and need for sustainable drainage systems.

Air

Atmospheric deposition causes nutrient enrichment of habitats. 2


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6. THE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

6.1. SEA Objectives

6.1.1. Although the SEA Directive does not specifically require the use of objectives or indicators in the SEA process, they are a recognised and useful way in which environmental effects can be described, analysed and compared at key stages of the Management Plan’s development.

6.1.2. A framework of objectives covering each of the defined SEA topics was developed. The SEA framework consists of environmental objectives, the achievement of which should be measurable using indicators, and assessment criteria against which judgements can be made. The identification of the SEA objectives was an iterative process, based on the review of relevant plans and programmes, the evolving environmental baseline, the developing analysis of key environmental issues and responses to the Scoping Report consultation.

6.1.3. In accordance with the ODPM guidance, the consistency of the SEA objectives one with another was checked using a compatibility matrix.

6.1.4. The set of SEA Objectives used for the appraisal is set out below.

Table 3 – SEA Objectives for the Chilterns

1. To conserve and enhance landscape character and scenic quality.

2. To conserve and enhance biodiversity.

3. To conserve and enhance the historic and cultural environment.

4. To conserve and enhance the built environment and promote sustainable construction methods.

5. To improve quality of life for those living and working in the AONB.

6. To encourage healthy lifestyles.

7. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage sustainable forms of energy production.

8. To secure sustainable use of natural resources.

9. To secure sustainable water resource management including the conservation and improvement of water quality.

10. To conserve and improve soil quality.

11. To reduce waste and promote high rates of re-use and re-cycling.

12. To increase awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the environment.

6.2. Assessment criteria and indicators

6.2.1. In developing the Objectives further, detailed decision-making criteria were also included, following the approach in the ODPM guidance. The decision-making criteria assist in addressing specific issues within each objective and aid the assessment of potential impacts of any policy option or choice.


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6.2.2. The resultant assessment framework is as used in Annex D.

6.2.3. Assessed impacts are recorded by allocating a score for the adjudged significance of the positive or negative effect and notes explaining how the conclusion has been reached.

Key to scores:

S++ Strongly supports the SEA objective

S+ Supports the SEA objective

N Is neutral in effect

C- Potentially works against the SEA objective

C- - Strongly works against the SEA objective

? Effects uncertain


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7. REVIEWING AND REVISING THE MANAGEMENT PLAN

7.1. The Review Process

7.1.1. The process to be followed in reviewing the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan: A Framework for Action 2008-2013 was established at the outset in the Project Plan. The process followed closely the model set in the Countryside Agency’s (later Natural England’s) guidance.

7.1.2. As with the earlier Management Plans, stakeholder involvement in the review and development of policies has been integral to the process. The technical work of the Conservation Board is informed on a permanent basis by a number of thematic Working Groups, whose membership is drawn from the local authorities, statutory agencies and voluntary organisations.

7.1.3. The first stage of the Review was an examination of the continuing relevance of the existing Management Plan. Each of the Working Groups reviewed the Aims and Policies of the current plan within their area of interest to form judgements on whether the plan, drafted in 2008, was likely to prove adequate to deal with current and expected environmental conditions and developing policy contexts. This screening process was informed by the extensive experience members of the Working Groups had in implementing the current plan over its lifetime.

7.1.4. A template was used for this process:

Review of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008 - 2013

Existing Plan

Still Important

Less/more/same importance

Include in revised plan?

Delete/Revise/ no change

Comment or Proposed amendment

Broad Aim or Policy

7.1.5. Whilst the principal aims of most policies were deemed to remain appropriate, and therefore the policies fit for purpose, in the great majority of cases revisions to policies were considered necessary.

7.2. Policy Options

7.2.1. The SEA Regulations specify (S12(2)) that the Environmental Report: “shall identify, describe, and evaluate the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme; and reasonable alternatives taking into account the objectives and the geographical scope of the plan or programme”

7.2.2. For the purposes of this Review, the policy options considered were, as the screening template indicates:

Delete the policy

Continue with the current policy

Revise the policy


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7.2.3. In no substantial policy area was it proposed that policy coverage should be deleted. In the few instances where it was agreed to delete a policy this invariably resulted from a policy becoming out of date or no longer applicable due to administrative processes.

7.2.4. Thus the alternative courses of action actively considered for the Review were to continue with the current policy or to develop a new policy.

7.2.5. For the purposes of assessment, implementation of the current Management Plan is one of the assumptions built into the environmental baseline - which is what would happen in the absence of the Review policies being assessed. Comparison of the effectiveness of the old and new policy approaches is thus implicit in the assessment of the Review policies.

7.2.6. Alternative ‘revisions’ of current policies were not produced for assessment, as this was thought unnecessary. Rather, the intention was to draft the most effective policy from the outset and to refine its focus and wording through the iterative process of policy assessment.

7.2.7. A further set of alternative courses of action may present themselves for consideration and assessment as the Engagement Plan is developed.

7.3. Policy Refinement

7.3.1. New Aims were established for the Review and these were assessed against the SEA objectives as described in Chapter 8.

7.3.2. The process of Strategic Environmental Assessment is an iterative one, as Figure 1 demonstrates. Policies are assessed and suggestions made for improvements to reduce adverse impacts or strengthen positive effects. These are incorporated in redrafted policies, which are assessed again, and so the process continues. The policies in the draft Management Plan published for consultation were the result of a number of cycles of assessment.

7.3.3. A first set of policies was produced in August 2012 and were subjected to assessment against the SEA Objective framework. The results were discussed with Conservation Board staff and a revised set of policies were developed. These were considered by a working group of the Conservation Board in December 2012 for inclusion in the Consultation Draft of the revised Management Plan.

7.3.4. Further amendments were made as a result of the Board’s considerations and the resulting policies were again assessed in April and July 2013 and the results again discussed with Conservation Board staff. As a consequence a number of important refinements to policies were made for the Consultation Draft Management Plan published in September 2013. The draft Environmental Report published to accompany it noted these changes in reviewing the resultant set of policies in Chapter 9 and the policy assessment matrices in Annex D.


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8. ASSESSMENT OF MANAGEMENT PLAN AIMS

8.1. The Management Plan

8.1.1. In the Review of the Management Plan the structure of the earlier Plan has been broadly retained with the chapters grouped around the statutory duties of the Board:

1. To conserve and enhance natural beauty; 2. To promote understanding and enjoyment of special qualities of the

Chilterns; and 3. To promote social and economic well-being of local communities.

To conserve and enhance natural beauty

To promote understanding and enjoyment of special qualities of the Chilterns

To promote social and economic well-being of local communities

Landscape Understanding and enjoyment

Social and economic well-being Farming, forestry and

other land management

Biodiversity

Water environment

Historic environment

Development

8.1.2. In each section there are chapters dealing with specific aspects of management.

Broad Aims are identified under each chapter and a set of policies proposed to achieve these aims.

8.1.3. Throughout the process of plan development the following cross cutting themes have been incorporated:

1. Climate change 2. Social inclusion 3. Health and well-being 4. Lifelong learning 5. Ecosystems services 6. Environmental sustainability

8.2. Assessment of the Aims

8.2.1. The purpose of this part of the assessment process is to carry out a high level assessment of the Management Plan Aims against the SEA Objectives to identify if there are any fundamental inconsistencies between what the Management Plan is trying to do and the conservation of the AONB environment as defined for the purposes of the SEA Directive. Perhaps more relevantly, this assessment can also identify synergies between the two sets of aims/objectives and provides a valuable context for the more detailed assessment of the policies derived to deliver the Management Plan aims which appears in Chapter 9.

8.2.2. The 12 SEA Objectives are as set out in Table 3 in Chapter 6.


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8.2.3. The following tables present the conclusions of this assessment, for each chapter under each of the three themes. Each Management Plan Aim is scored thus:

Conserving and Enhancing Natural Beauty

Management Plan Aims SEA Objectives

Landscape

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(a) Conserve and enhance the outstanding qualities of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of the national landscape heritage.

S+ S+ S+ S+ ? N ? N S+ S+ N N

(b) Maintain those features which make a significant contribution to the character and quality of the area and to regional and local distinctiveness.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N N N S+ S+ N N

(c) Enhance and restore those parts of the landscape which are degraded or in decline.

S+ ? S+ S+ S+ N N S+ S+ S+ N N

(d) Enhance the level of awareness of what makes the Chilterns landscape special and the desire to care for it.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N N N S+ S+ N S+

Commentary

Aim L (a) - Conserve and enhance the outstanding qualities of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of the national landscape heritage.

8.2.1. This aim will have generally positive impacts on the environment, as is to be expected, including important beneficial effects on the quality of life of people living, working and visiting the AONB (SEA Objective 5). However, quality of life also includes access to affordable housing, fulfilling employment and key services and it could be that policies to conserve the character of the AONB could work to restrict the provision of these things unless worded and implemented in an appropriate way. Mitigation of climate change (SEA Objective 7) suggests the exploitation of renewable energy resources in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The development of numbers of commercial-scale wind turbines is unlikely to be compatible with the conservation of local character unless very sensitively handled. Very widespread growing of energy crops or

Key

S+ Supports the SEA objective

N Is neutral in effect

C- Potentially works against the SEA objective

? Effects uncertain


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some biofuel crops such as oilseed rape may also have negative impacts on the landscape.

Aim L (b) - Maintain those features which make a significant contribution to the character and quality of the area and to regional and local distinctiveness.

8.2.2. This aim, in working to maintain existing features of importance, will have particularly beneficial impacts on the landscape and historic environment, biodiversity and the built environment.

Aim L (c) - Enhance and restore those parts of the landscape which are degraded or in decline.

8.2.3. While this aim will also have generally positive or neutral effects, some landscapes which may appear degraded or in decline in visual terms can be rich in biodiversity (SEA Objective 2). Thus there is the potential for this aim to be implemented in a manner that could be harmful to the local wildlife resource. This might be through tree planting on grassland habitats, insensitive scrub clearance or excessive “tidying up” of apparently waste ground. These dangers can be avoided through appropriate site surveys before enhancement work is commissioned.

Aim L (d) - Enhance the level of awareness of what makes the Chilterns landscape special and the desire to care for it.

8.2.4. This aim will have generally positive impacts on the environment including important beneficial effects on the quality of life of people living, working and visiting the AONB as they appreciate and care for the environment (SEA Objective 5).


Farming, forestry and other land management

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(a) Productive forestry and farming

remain the dominant land uses in the AONB.

? ? ? N ? ? ? ? ? ? N N

(b) Natural beauty and biodiversity are maintained by viable and environmentally sustainable farming, forestry and other forms of land management.

S+ S+ S+ N S+ ? S+ S+ S+ S+ N N

(c) Resilience of woodland to threats – including pests, diseases and extreme weather events – is increased.

S+ S+ S+ N S+ N S+ S+ S+ S+ N N

(d) The public acquire a broad level of understanding and appreciation of farming and forestry and how they shape the natural beauty of the

N N N N S+ S+ N N N N N S+


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Chilterns landscape, influence wildlife habitats and contribute to the local economy.

Commentary

Aim FF (a) – Productive forestry and farming remain the dominant land uses in the AONB.

8.2.5. Although it is likely that a continuation of farming and forestry as the dominant land uses is likely to be beneficial, it is not certain. Much depends on the types of agricultural and forestry enterprises and operations that develop. More intensive farming in response to world commodity shortages and prices may be very damaging to landscape character and biodiversity, work against quality of life by reducing the attractiveness and accessibility of the countryside, and require unsustainable use of water, energy and other resources. On the other hand, environmentally–sensitive farming will bring benefit to all these SEA Objectives. Similar considerations apply, if to a lesser extent, to the range of possible approaches to management of the woodland estate.

Aim FF (b) - Natural beauty and biodiversity are maintained by viable and environmentally sustainable farming, forestry and other forms of land management.

8.2.6. “Natural Beauty” is statutorily defined as relating to the conservation of flora, fauna, geological and physiological features, so this Management Plan aim will benefit most of the SEA Objectives. In sustaining landscape character and biodiversity, viable, environmentally-sensitive farming and forestry will also deliver benefits in terms of sustainable use of resources and quality of life for residents and visitors. One doubt that remains relates to the encouragement of healthy lifestyles through the production of food for local consumption, which may or may not occur, depending upon marketing arrangements.

Aim FF (c) - Resilience of woodland to threats – including pests, diseases and extreme weather events – is increased.

8.2.7. Resilient woodland will help contribute to the ecological well-being and natural beauty of the area at the same time as allowing the provision of a natural resource. The conservation of flora and fauna will therefore also benefit most of the SEA Objectives.

Aim FF (d) - The public acquire a broad level of understanding and appreciation of farming and forestry and how they shape the natural beauty of the Chilterns landscape, influence wildlife habitats and contribute to the local economy.

8.2.8. This Management Plan aim has few direct implications for the SEA Objectives. Raising awareness and understanding directly addresses SEA Objective 12, and should have beneficial effects on quality of life (SEA Objective 5), in that greater understanding should improve the quality of experience of peoples’ access to the countryside. It should also have positive benefits for healthy lifestyles (SEA Objective 6) through raising awareness of how food is produced and what is available locally.


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Biodiversity

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(a) Conserve and enhance the wildlife value of all habitats.

? S+ ? ? ? N ? N S+ S+ N N

(b) Enhance ecological networks so that they are bigger, better, more resilient, joined up and dynamic.

S+ S+ ? N S+ N S+ S+ S+ S+ N N

(c) Ensure that the wider benefits of the natural environment are understood and recognised.

N S+ N N S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N S+

(d) Encourage more people to develop a greater understanding of and involvement in wildlife conservation.

N S+ N N S+ S+ N N N N N S+

Commentary

Aim B (a) - Conserve and enhance the wildlife value of all habitats.

8.2.9. The issue here will be one of balance. Measures to enhance the wildlife value of habitats have the potential to benefit a wide range of environmental objectives, if taken in full appreciation of those other objectives. As noted in respect of the landscape aims, however, conflict between biodiversity management and landscape enhancements (SEA Objective 1) may require resolution. It is not clear that the requirements of conserving, and perhaps investigating, archaeological sites and historic buildings (SEA Objective 3) will always be compatible with maximising wildlife value of the site concerned. Similarly, the conservation of buildings (SEA Objective 4), for instance the restoration of traditional barns, may cause disturbance to habitats and species although legal protections do exist.

8.2.10. While enhancing wildlife value will contribute to people’s enjoyment and quality of life (SEA Objective 5), conservation management priorities might further limit public access to certain sites to avoid disturbance. Enhancing the wildlife value of all habitats may also frustrate rural enterprise and development which could provide affordable housing or job opportunities. Efforts to increase the renewable energy resource of the AONB (SEA Objective 7) could involve the growing of bio fuel and energy crops which may be less compatible with wildlife conservation than other types of crops. Conversely, increased conservation management of woodlands may produce an increase in the supply of wood fuel.

Aim B (b) - Enhance ecological networks so that they are bigger, better, more resilient, joined up and dynamic.

8.2.11. This aim will have significant benefits for the conservation of landscape character and biodiversity and the quality of life of residents and visitors to the Chilterns. It should also help in terms of climate change adaptation (SEA Objective 7) and possibly, through an increase in managed woodland area, an increase in carbon-


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neutral wood fuel. There must be some uncertainty about the effect of such land use changes on archaeological sites and areas; this would need careful consideration.

Aim B (c) - Ensure that the wider benefits of the natural environment are understood and recognised.

8.2.12. This Management Plan aim, in seeking to reconcile nature conservation priorities with other sustainability concerns, will address a number of the issues raised above.

Aim B (d) - Encourage more people to develop a greater understanding of and involvement in wildlife conservation.

8.2.13. The aim will clearly have beneficial impacts in terms of SEA Objective 12, and it will also benefit the biodiversity conservation and enhancement (SEA Objective 2) through increasing public support of voluntary organisations and individual volunteering as well as facilitating site management through improving visitor appreciation of management requirements. It will also benefit people’s quality of life (SEA Objective 5) through increasing appreciation of local wildlife and in so doing may encourage more people to explore the countryside on foot or bicycle, to the benefit of their health (SEA Objective 6).


Water Environment

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(a) Conserve and enhance the river valley and wetland landscapes characteristic of the AONB.

S+ S+ S+ N S+ N S+ N S+ S+ N N

(b) Conserve and enhance river and wetland habitats and the biodiversity they support.

S+ S+ S+ N S+ N S+ N S+ S+ N N

(c) Support opportunities for new wetland habitat creation.

S+ S+ S+ N S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N S+

(d) Protect and improve the quality of the Chilterns’ water resource.

N S+ N N S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N N

(e) Increase public awareness and enjoyment of the water environment.

S+ S+ S+ N S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N S+

(f) Increase local community involvement in caring for the water environment.

S+ S+ S+ N S+ S+ N S+ S+ S+ N S+

Commentary

Aim WE (a) - Conserve and enhance the river valley and wetland landscapes characteristic of the AONB.

8.2.14. Conserving and enhancing the wetland landscapes characteristic of the Chilterns, such as those associated with its chalk streams, will have benefits


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across a range of sustainability objectives, most obviously for landscape character, but also for biodiversity and water management.

Aim WE (b) - Conserve and enhance river and wetland habitats and the biodiversity they support.

8.2.15. Conserving and enhancing the biodiversity of wetland habitats will also deliver benefits for landscape character and water management. Wetland habitats can contribute to the mitigation of climate change through functioning as carbon sinks.

Aim WE (c) - Support opportunities for new wetland habitat creation.

8.2.16. This aim seeks to ultimately bring about the creation of new wetland habitat. The creation of such habitat will generally be positive with benefits for landscape character, biodiversity and water management in particular. The creation of new wetland habitat will need to be undertaken with care to ensure that other habitats are not detrimentally affected. There will also be opportunities for greater public engagement with such work.

Aim WE (d) - Protect and improve the quality of the Chilterns’ water resource.

8.2.17. Good quality water resources are important for biodiversity and soil quality. Good quality local resources also minimise the need for the transfer of water resources from elsewhere, which is an energy-intensive operation, thus contributing to the mitigation of climate change and the sustainable use of natural resources. The aim could deliver a wider range of benefits if it addressed the quantity as well as the quality of resources.

Aim WE (e) - Increase public awareness and enjoyment of the water environment.

8.2.18. This Management Plan aim will bring wide benefits, in terms of conservation of the physical environment as greater understanding of the issues brings modifications of people’s behaviour, for resource conservation and for quality of life as people learn to appreciate more fully the water environment.

Aim WE (f) - Increase local community involvement in caring for the water environment.

8.2.19. Through this aim, and with increased involvement in caring for the water environment, there will be wide benefits in terms of conservation of the physical environment, resource conservation and for quality of life as people actively engage with and learn to appreciate the water environment more fully.


Historic Environment

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(a) The historic environment of the AONB is conserved and enhanced for the benefit of current and future generations.

S+ N S+ S+ S+ N N N N N N N


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(b) The public have a greater appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the historic environment of the AONB.

S+ N S+ S+ S+ S+ N N N N N S+

(c) The public have good access to the historic environment.

N N ? N S+ N N N N N N S+

Commentary

Aim HE (a) - The historic environment of the AONB is conserved and enhanced for the benefit of current and future generations.

8.2.20. This Management Plan aim relates directly to SEA Objective 3, but will also have beneficial impacts for the conservation of landscape character (SEA Objective 1), since the historic dimension is an important component of landscape character, and for the conservation of the built environment (SEA Objective 4) and for the quality of life of residents and visitors (SEA Objective 5) for the same reason. Impacts on other SEA Objectives are likely to be largely neutral.

Aim HE (b) - The public have a greater appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the historic environment of the AONB.

8.2.21. This will have positive effects on a number of the SEA Objectives as greater public understanding and appreciation should facilitate the management of the historic fabric, adding to quality of life (SEA Objective 5) as well relating directly to SEA Objective 12.

Aim HE (c) - The public have good access to the historic environment.

8.2.22. This aim should improve the quality of life of residents and visitors (SEA Objective 5) and direct experience of the historic environment will help to raise environmental awareness (SEA Objective 12). A question mark remains over the direct impacts of “good access” on the historic environment itself, because of uncertainty over what is meant by the phrase. If “good” means untrammelled opportunity – i.e. good from the point of view of the individual – then sites and buildings may suffer from over-use to the detriment of the resource. The quality of the personal experience may also be diminished, reducing quality of life. If “good” refers to the quality of the access experience, then these problems should not occur.


Development

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(a) Ensure that development conserves and enhances the special qualities and characteristics of the Chilterns.

S+ N S+ S+ S+ N ? S+ ? N S+ N

(b) Ensure the distinctive character of the built and natural environment of the Chilterns is improved, especially where it is degraded or subject to any

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N S+ S+ S+ S+ N N


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negative impacts of development.

(c) Ensure that local authority development plans, as they affect the AONB, are compatible with the purposes of AONB designation.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N N S+ S+ S+ S+ N

Commentary

Aim D (a) - Ensure that development conserves and enhances the special qualities and characteristics of the Chilterns.

8.2.23. This Management Plan aim relates directly to important aspects of SEA Objective 4. In terms of climate change mitigation (SEA Objective 7), new development will be relatively more efficient in terms of greenhouse gas emissions than existing development. Thus redevelopment should reduce aggregate GHG emissions, additional development, unless carbon neutral, will increase those emissions. Similar considerations apply to water resource demand and sustainable water management (SEA Objective 9).

Aim D (b) - Ensure the distinctive character of the built and natural environment of the Chilterns is improved, especially where it is degraded or subject to any negative impacts of development.

8.2.24. The impacts of this Management Plan aim are positive for most SEA Objectives, and if not positive, neutral.

Aim D (c) - Ensure that local authority development plans, as they affect the AONB, are compatible with the purposes of AONB designation.

8.2.25. The objectives of designation are the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty, taking account of the needs of agriculture, forestry, other rural industries and the economic and social needs of local communities. The demand for recreation should be met so far as this is consistent with these objectives. By ensuring compatibility between policies in development plans and the objectives of AONB designation, the aim will deliver beneficial impacts on most SEA Objectives. The strength of those benefits will depend on the comprehensiveness and clarity of the guidance provided in the Management Plan.

To promote understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Chilterns


Understanding and Enjoyment

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(a) High quality and enjoyable recreation and access opportunities should be available to all.

? ? ? ? S+ S+ ? ? N ? N S+

(b) Good health and a sense of well-S+ S+ S+ N S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N N S+


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being should be encouraged by promoting activities based on the sustainable enjoyment of the countryside.

(c) Every resident and visitor should be aware of, and enjoy responsibly, the Chilterns’ special qualities.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N S+ S+ S+ N S+

(d) More people are interested in and involved with countryside activities and stewardship.

S+ S+ S+ N S+ S+ N S+ S+ S+ N S+

Commentary

Aim UE (a) - High quality and enjoyable recreation and access opportunities should be available to all.

8.2.26. While this Management Plan aim will have beneficial effects in enhancing peoples’ opportunities to experience and appreciate wildlife and the countryside (SEA Objective 5) and in so doing will encourage walking and other physical exercise (SEA Objective 6), some of its other potential impacts are less clear. “All” is a potentially very large number of people, and providing opportunity for all could have adverse effects on the condition of, particularly the more popular, sites and attractions meaning negative impacts for biodiversity, landscape etc. Thus would reduce the quality of the experience for the visitor. The issue is whether the two ambitions of the aim can be successfully reconciled through appropriate visitor/tourism policies and clever site management. A further concern arises over the movement generated by the realisation of these recreational opportunities. The Chilterns AONB Visitor Survey 2007 showed that visits to popular sites are almost entirely by car. 41% of visits were by people who have travelled (almost certainly by car) at least 11 miles. Intensification of such behaviour would result in increased disturbance in both urban areas and the countryside, with increased carbon emissions and relatively inefficient fuel use.

Aim UE (b) - Good health and a sense of well-being should be encouraged by promoting activities based on the sustainable enjoyment of the countryside.

8.2.27. This aim directly addresses SEA Objectives 5 and 6. Sustainable enjoyment of the countryside will necessitate sustainable transport choices, such as public transport, walking and cycling, with beneficial impacts for SEA Objectives 7 and 8. Enjoyment of the countryside will also require positive management of landscape and biodiversity to at least maintain local character so as to benefit SEA Objectives 1, 2 and 3.

Aim UE (c) - Every resident and visitor should be aware of, and enjoy responsibly, the Chilterns’ special qualities.

8.2.28. Direct benefits will accrue from this Management Plan aim to landscape, biodiversity, heritage, soil and water management (SEA Objectives 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10) as behaviour and management is modified, as well as to SEA Objective 12. Indirect benefits will also be felt as people’s quality of life is enhanced (SEA Objective 5) through experience of this improved environment and as the stock of material assets is improved.


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Aim UE (d) - More people are interested in and involved with countryside activities and stewardship.

8.2.28. Through this aim, and with increased involvement in caring for the wider environment, there will be significant benefits in terms of conservation of the physical environment, resource conservation and for quality of life as people actively engage with and learn to appreciate their environment more fully. Increased activity in the natural environment will also be directly beneficial to health and well-being (SEA Objective 6).

To promote social and economic well-being of local communities


Social and Economic Well-Being

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(a) The natural beauty of the Chilterns is conserved as a result of sustainable social and economic activity.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N

(b) The local economy is based on environmentally sustainable principles.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N

(c) People make the link between social and economic well-being and a high quality environment.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N N

(d) Local people are involved in caring for the local environment.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ ? S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ S+

(e) The natural beauty of the Chilterns is recognised for the economic benefits it brings to the AONB and its surrounding areas.

S+ S+ S+ S+ S+ N N S+ N S+ N S+

Commentary Aim SE (a) - The natural beauty of the Chilterns is conserved as a result of sustainable

social and economic activity.

8.2.29. This is almost the perfect Management Plan aim, bringing benefits across the board.

Aim SE (b) - The local economy is based on environmentally sustainable principles.

8.2.30. This is another almost perfect Management Plan aim, bringing benefits across the board.

Aim SE (c) - People make the link between social and economic well-being and a high quality environment.

8.2.31. This is the obverse of Aim SE (a) above.

Aim SE (d) - Local people are involved in caring for the local environment.


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8.2.32. Again, this Management Plan aim will have beneficial impacts for all the SEA Objectives, with the only question mark relating to healthy lifestyles. However, given that it is likely that “caring for the local environment” will involve a degree of volunteer activity of a physical nature, it seems probable that a positive impact will be achieved against this objective also.

Aim SE (e) - The natural beauty of the Chilterns is recognised for the economic benefits it brings to the AONB and its surrounding areas.

8.2.33. This aim will have generally beneficial impacts for the AONB in connection with most of the SEA Objectives, as well as benefits for surrounding areas.


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9. ASSESSMENT OF MANAGEMENT PLAN POLICIES This chapter summarises the main findings of the SEA for the policies of the draft revised Management Plan. The full assessment results and recommendations are set out, policy by policy, in Appendix D (available separately).

9.1. Overall Assessment

9.1.1. The policies of the draft Management Plan score very well against the SEA objectives and the Plan will be good for the environment of the Chilterns AONB.

9.1.2. In the great majority of cases where likely impacts are recorded against the SEA criteria, the impacts are positive, or very positive. The range of assessment criteria is wide and can be difficult to satisfy totally in every policy area. The number of cases where a potentially negative impact against an assessment criterion is recorded is very small and in every case the policies concerned deliver positive impacts against other sustainability criteria.

9.1.3. Several basic themes which run through the Management Plan are very good for a range of sustainability criteria:

the emphasis on conserving local character and distinctiveness;

improving the management of sites and holdings to deliver multiple benefits wherever appropriate;

addressing the challenges of climate change;

support for local enterprises that will contribute to the conservation and enjoyment of the AONB;

encouraging even greater cooperation among agencies and individuals responsible for the management of the area, and

promoting awareness-raising of the qualities of the area and of management issues amongst the general public with a view to encouraging engagement.

9.1.4. The Management Plan confirms that the Sandford principle will apply. This means that conservation will have priority in the case of any conflict between policy objectives.

9.1.5. The iterative process of drafting and assessment has strengthened the performance of many of the policies in terms of moving towards more sustainable development.

9.1.6. Although the powers available to the Conservation Board to deliver the aims of the Management Plan are considerable, in many important areas, such as the control of development or the provision of affordable housing, the relevant powers rest with partner organisations. The Management Plan recognises this and many key policies are, of necessity, not executive in nature, but supportive of the initiatives of other bodies to deliver the desired results. As such, the environmental impact of these policies will depend to a large extent on how those other bodies implement their own policies. In a number of cases the Conservation Board wisely specifies the environmental parameters within which policies seeking to achieve outcomes that would be good for socio-economic objectives should operate within the AONB.


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9.1.7. In other areas the Conservation Board and its partners must operate within a context established by world markets and international and national policies over which it has no control. It will be important for the Management Plan to make proper provision for monitoring conditions and trends within the AONB (some policies are directed to this end) but also to maintain a capacity for forward-looking review of emerging conditions and legislative proposals on the wider stage so that the Board is well placed to anticipate the implications of changing contexts and modify its actions accordingly.

9.1.8. A welcome feature of the revised Management Plan is the emphasis on the health benefits of countryside recreation and widening the traditional AONB “customer base” through encouraging the less mobile, young, urban based and ethnic minorities to visit the countryside.

9.1.9. Notwithstanding the substantial beneficial impacts of the proposed policies on the range of environmental, economic and social criteria included in the assessment framework, the effect of some of the policies could be improved still further. Recommendations are made to this end, most often with a view to clarifying meaning, ensuring that positive impacts against certain criteria are not won at the expense of damaging impacts against other criteria and in widening the range of potential benefits.

9.1.10. A further qualification must be that the policies of the revised Management Plan are, in the main, expressed in broad, general terms and are intended to apply across the AONB. They often lack spatial focus within the area and the potential impacts of the policies can only be assessed on this basis. Nor are the actions specified in the Plan location-specific, except in the sense that many relate to particular habitat types that may have limited distributions. It has not been possible, therefore, to draw conclusions about specific impacts of the policies in one part of the AONB as opposed to another, except where a policy relates solely to a specified location – e.g. the Thames – or to a specific habitat – e.g., chalk grassland or chalk streams.

9.2. Summary Comments and Recommendations by Topic

Landscape

Overall Comments

9.2.1. The primary purpose of AONB designation is to conserve and enhance natural beauty, so the policies of the Management Plan for landscape conservation will have a particular significance. The baseline highlights the range of factors bringing about changes to the Chilterns landscape, particularly the effects of development and the changes in agriculture, and it follows that there will be policies throughout the Plan, not just in the Landscape chapter, that seek to deliver landscape conservation and enhancement.

9.2.2. The policies in this chapter provide the basic framework for the more sectorally focussed policies elsewhere in the Management Plan. They highlight the importance of conserving landscape character and local distinctiveness and the multidimensional nature of landscape, as a place for living, not simply a visual backdrop.


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9.2.3. All the policies score well against the assessment criteria, although some recommendations for improving their effectiveness have been made.

Strengths

Emphasis throughout on the importance of conserving landscape character and local distinctiveness.

Policies seek to promote awareness of the important components of local landscape character and instill pride in local distinctiveness and sense of place.

The importance of addressing the challenges of climate change is recognised.

The policies seek to deliver landscape management that delivers a range of benefits, e.g. increased recreational capacity close to residential areas, and not simply visual enhancement.

Concerns

The success of Policies L5 and L7 will depend on their endorsement by local planning authorities; the incorporation of appropriate policies in their development plans and sensitive development control decision-making. The Conservation Board will seek to influence this process, but it will be important that LPAs do engage fully with their statutory duty in this area.

Recommendations

Policy L3 is a helpful policy, but in promoting its message the Board should be careful to acknowledge that “conservation” encompasses the need for positive evolution in the local environment, otherwise there is a danger of encouraging unreasonable resistance to change.

Policy L5 is expressed in negative terms – Developments …… should be resisted. While inappropriate development must of course be resisted, it will be important for the Conservation Board to be seen to be taking a positive approach to encouraging high design quality for the development that is necessary to the continued social and economic welfare of the Chilterns communities. As the supporting text makes clear, information and advice, such as the Chilterns Building Design Guide is available and an action to promote the Guide is included in the Engagement Plan.

With Policy L6, aimed at the enhancement of degraded landscapes, care must still be taken that visual gains are not won at the cost of losses in biodiversity.

Farming and Forestry and other land management

Overall Comments

9.2.4. Since farming and forestry are the predominant land uses in the AONB, accounting for the day to day management of almost all its surface area, the management regimes in place are critically important to the conservation and enjoyment of the natural beauty of the AONB. The baseline illustrates this importance and identifies a number of key issues for future management of the AONB arising from current trends and uncertainties in these industries. Most of these uncertainties over the future structure of the industries and future agricultural cropping patterns are outside the direct influence of the Conservation


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Board and are caused by international markets and European and national policies. However, the Board does have an important role in helping to resolve some key management issues, such as those relating to access management, and in working with the industries to support adaptation to new circumstances and new markets.

9.2.5. The policies set out in this chapter describe how the Board intends to work with farmers and woodland owners and managers to ensure that the natural beauty of the AONB is sustained by viable forestry and farming enterprises and to improve public understanding of management issues so as to facilitate the resolution of those issues. Rewording of some of the policies as a result of the appraisal process has removed some ambiguities and clarified intentions. All of the policies now score well against the appraisal criteria, in many cases strongly supporting the SEA objectives. No potentially negative effects were identified.

Strengths

Policy FF2 sets out an unequivocal statement of intent to work with farmers and landowners to achieve AONB objectives - a very important policy that will deliver significant benefits.

Policy FF3 sets out the recognition of the need to provide support to the industries in addressing the challenges of climate change.

Policy FF4 promoting sustainable management of woodland and farmland to provide multiple benefits is an important policy that will deliver significant benefits against a number of SEA objectives

Policies promote cooperative approaches to management of small and fragmented sites, and encourage new forms of diversification and business ventures that will benefit the purposes of designation.

Support is pledged for the marketing of produce resulting from environmentally sensitive production methods with consequent benefits for landscape and biodiversity and potentially the health of the local population.

The direct effects of Policy FF14 will be to raise public awareness – valuable in itself. This should lead to more profound, longer term, secondary benefits as improved public understanding makes agricultural and woodland management easier through reducing disturbance etc. and increasing support for management activities.

Policies to resist the potentially damaging fragmentation of farm holdings and the conversion of farmland to equestrian uses are potentially important.

Recommendations

In support of Policy FF10, concerned with diversification and new businesses that will contribute to the conservation etc. of the AONB, it will be helpful to provide guidance on what sort new enterprises would make significant contributions and how they might be delivered, so that encouragement of local enterprise can be focused to maximum effect.

Biodiversity

Overall Comments

9.2.6. The baseline clearly illustrates how rich the AONB is in habitats and wildlife, with a substantial number of sites designated as being of European or national


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importance and an impressive range of UK BAP Priority Habitats. The baseline also shows that this resource is under stress in key areas. About two thirds of the area of SSSI in the AONB is in Favourable Condition according to Natural England and a number of difficulties in managing wildlife sites of all descriptions are identified, including difficulties in securing appropriate grazing, managing access and addressing the challenges of climate change.

9.2.7. The policies proposed in this chapter comprise a suite of initiatives to promote and support improved management of wildlife sites, whether designated or not, to improve the information base on which management decisions are based and to raise public awareness and involvement in wildlife conservation. These policies will work in conjunction with other policies in the Plan, especially those for Farming and Forestry such as Policy FF4 which is directed at managing farmland and woodland for multiple benefits, including wildlife conservation.

9.2.8. Unsurprisingly, the policies all score well against the SEA objectives, with no potential negative effects identified. In two cases, recommendations are made for actions to accompany the policies to widen the range of benefits delivered and to strengthen implementation.

Strengths

A number of policies aimed at improving management for biodiversity should also deliver important benefits for landscape and for the historic environment.

In particular, the emphasis in Policy B7 on developing landscape scale initiatives to link fragmented sites should produce significant benefits for biodiversity conservation and probably important benefits to the conservation of landscape and the historic environment.

Greater awareness of the issues by the public (which includes farmers and landowners and individuals working for regulatory and funding agencies) can only be helpful in delivering better management and use of sites, with benefits for biodiversity.

Welcome emphasis is placed on the need to improve and share the evidence base.

Recommendations

There is a need to ensure that the landscape-scale approach to nature conservation promoted by Policy B7 helps to achieve other environmental objectives, such as conservation of the landscape, historic environment and improving access to and enjoyment of the countryside. It will also be important to ensure that adaptation to climate change is built into the landscape-scale approach.

Water Environment

Overall Comments

9.2.9. Water resources in the Chilterns are restricted to groundwater sources and are limited, with a history of over-extraction. The baseline highlights the particular issue of the resultant low flows in the chalk streams of the dipslope and the remedial actions that have been taken to address this problem.

9.2.10. The policies in this chapter comprise a comprehensive package of initiatives to conserve the water environment of the Chilterns by promoting the sustainable


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management of water resources, managing flood risk, safeguarding the nature conservation value of wetland habitats and raising public awareness of water-related issues for the AONB. The policies all score well against the SEA objectives, with no potentially negative impacts.

Strengths

The key issues identified in the baseline are addressed.

Most of the policies score well against multiple SEA objectives.

Policy WE1 scores well against objectives of sustainable water management, and for landscape and biodiversity.

Policy WE6 will benefit landscape and wildlife management, water quality and flood risk management.

Policy WE8 scores well in terms of the reduction in flood risk and the maintenance of water quality, but it also offers potential benefits in terms of biodiversity and recreation.

Policy WE9 will bring significant benefits to biodiversity and water resource management, and add to the quality of life of residents and visitors.

Policy WE10 scores well against objectives of sustainable water management, and for landscape and biodiversity.

Policy WE12 will increase environmental awareness and understanding of the implications of climate change water consumption.

Recommendations

To be truly effective, policies WE1 and WE10 will need to operate in conjunction.

Historic Environment

Overall Comments

9.2.11. The Chilterns has a demonstrably rich historic environment, both in terms of the buried archaeological heritage and in the fabric of landscapes, settlements and buildings within which everyday life is conducted. The baseline highlights some current shortcomings in data availability, some of which should be rectified shortly, but also that some important aspects of the historic resource remain neglected.

9.2.12. The suite of policies for the historic environment aims to raise awareness of, and promote good practice in conserving, the area’s assets. The policies generally score well against relevant SEA objectives and have no potentially negative effects. The policies have been more explicitly expressed than previously and it is also helpful that the Actions specified provide extra focus on addressing some of the particular issues identified in the baseline. Earlier recommendations about combining a number of the policies have been acted upon.

Strengths

Several policies aim for improved understanding of the historic environment and related issues, which is a vital foundation for improved management.

Policy HE1 seeks to achieve coverage of all appropriate heritage assets with conservation plans, which would provide an ideal framework for management.

Policy HE2 encompasses actions to adapt to the impact of climate change on individual properties and to mitigate climate change generally. As such it is an


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important policy that should significantly help conserve the historic legacy of the AONB for the long term.

Policy HE3 should ensure the retention of nationally designated and locally important historic assets and their settings.

Policy HE8 should deliver both improved social inclusion and better conservation of the historic environment.

Policy HE11 will support economic and social activity and secure appropriate management of the historic environment.

Recommendations

Policy HE3 is a negative one – about stopping things happening. While it will be essential to prevent damage to important historic assets, the policy should be seen as providing an ultimate sanction. Wider benefits will be achieved by the Conservation Board putting principal emphasis on Policies HE4, HE5 and HE11 which promote good practice.

Development

Overall Comments

9.2.13. The current Management Plan identifies a range of issues relating to the built environment working to change the landscape qualities of the AONB. While control of development is a matter for local planning authorities, not for the Conservation Board, the Board is an influential consultee on planning proposals and it is important that the Management Plan sets out clear principles by which the Board will seek to influence the development management process.

9.2.14. The set of policies proposed do this. Emphasis is placed on the conservation of the natural beauty of the AONB; promoting high standards of development and the use of vernacular styles and locally-sourced materials. There is also recognition of the need to minimise green field development; to adapt to climate change and to seek to minimise greenhouse gas emissions arising from built development. The baseline records that current mineral working activity within the AONB is limited, but that restoration of disused pits remains an issue and the proposed policies reflect this.

9.2.15. All the policies score well against a range of sustainability objectives, with no negative impacts recorded.

Strengths

Policy D1 is a useful overarching policy that will bring benefits to settlement character and to the wider landscape character. It may also encourage use of recycled and locally sourced building materials

Policy D2 should produce particular benefits for local settlement character, resource use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Policy D3 will have very positive effects for local settlement character and will be helpful in conserving landscape and historic landscape character. Promotion of the use of traditional materials will benefit local producers, promote recycling and reduce transport.

Policy D4 will bring significant benefit for conservation of the built environment and landscape character and will help local enterprise. Benefits


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in terms of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are not clear without more detailed analysis.

The promotion of green infrastructure under Policy D8 will bring significant benefits to the quality of life of residents and visitors, will enhance landscape and offers potential benefits to biodiversity.

Policy D11 should result in the removal of eyesores and the restoration of derelict sites and the overall enhancement of landscape character.

Policy D16 relating to workings adjacent to the AONB will deliver benefits for the landscape and quality of life in the AONB, although the number of workings concerned is small.

Policy D17 promotes sensitive restoration of redundant mineral workings and scores well against landscape, biodiversity and historic objectives.

Policy D18 seeks to promote the reduction of waste and will have wide benefits for the AONB, beyond the obvious target objectives.

Concerns

It is possible that Policy D16, in reducing the impact of traffic through the AONB associated with workings adjacent to the AONB, might necessitate longer journeys adding to energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and disturbance elsewhere.

Recommendations

In implementing Policy D11 it will be important to recognise that some ‘intrusive development’ may have other value and that visual gains will not be won at the cost of losses in (e.g.) biodiversity.

Understanding and Enjoyment

Overall Comments

9.2.16. This chapter proposes policies to make high quality recreational opportunities available to all sections of the community; to promote the health benefits of outdoor recreation and to increase understanding and appreciation of the special qualities of the AONB. It is thus particularly pertinent to the purposes of AONB designation and to the duties of the Conservation Board and to three of the cross-cutting themes established by the Board for this Review; - encouraging lifelong learning; - encouraging social inclusion; - promoting health and well-being.

9.2.17. The Chilterns is extremely popular as a place to visit, as the baseline information demonstrates. Visits to popular sites are almost entirely by car, and the number of visitors to sites with facilities has been at least maintained. The baseline also records emerging problems caused by increasing numbers of visitors for the management of the biodiversity interest of some sites. Visitor pressures are likely to increase as a result of the proximity of growth points such as Luton, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury in particular.

9.2.18. Many issues raised in the assessment of earlier drafts of the policies in this section have been successfully addressed in the final version.

9.2.19. Overall, the policies score well against the assessment criteria.


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Strengths

The policies should lead to improved access opportunities for, and increased enjoyment of the countryside by, currently under-represented groups and, potentially healthier lifestyles through increased exercise.

The need for high quality countryside management and the coordination of the range of organizations involved in its delivery is recognized.

Encouragement is given to accessing the countryside by non-car modes of transport, through development of opportunities and networks for walking, cycling and riding, whose health benefits are promoted.

Emphasis is placed on the importance of tranquility in the AONB.

Policies seek to improve visitors’ understanding of the special qualities of the area so as to improve their enjoyment of it and engender a sense of shared responsibility for its conservation.

Policies UE1, UE6 and UE18 propose measures to resolve some of the potential conflicts between increasing access opportunities and managing the environmental resource.

Concerns

A small concern remains, in connection with Policies UE4 and UE10, over the encouragement for people to make more use of the countryside without complementary measures being put in place to increase public transport provision and its use.

Recommendations

Policy UE4 should be explicitly linked to relevant policies to improve provision of non-car access to services and the wider countryside, e.g. Policy SE1.

Social and Economic Well-being

Overall Comments

9.2.20. The baseline shows that the area enjoys high average household incomes and a low index of multiple deprivation. House prices are high, not least because of the quality of the local environment, and while no evidence specific to the AONB is available, there is a strong demand for affordable housing in the general area. Car ownership rates are also very high, implying high usage, but a significant minority of households has access to just one car, suggesting that a need for alternative transport provision exists.

9.2.21. Policies in this chapter seek to address these issues and to promote the diversification of rural enterprise and a sustainable tourism industry and the engagement of local communities in caring, healthy lifestyles. Generally, they will bring significant benefits and will have few adverse effects on any of the SEA objectives.

9.2.22. Given the scope of the duties of the Conservation Board, many of the policies are not executive, but supportive of the initiatives of other bodies – such as local authorities and registered social landlords in the case of provision of affordable housing – and, as such, their environmental impact will depend to a large extent on how those other bodies implement their policies. Policies now reflect earlier advice that it would be wise for the Conservation Board to specify


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the environmental parameters within which policies seeking to achieve outcomes that would be good for socio-economic objectives are to operate within the AONB.

9.2.23. One of the key concerns relates to the potential roll out of high speed broadband. Though this is welcome in its own right, it is recognised that to achieve greater coverage there may be instances where overhead wires, poles and ground mounted equipment are sought.

Strengths

Virtually all the policies will significantly improve aspects of the quality of life of sections of the resident population and/or visitors and will have beneficial effects for the local economy.

Policy SE1 will be especially helpful for the 40% of households which do not have access to a second car, and could have wider environmental benefits if it succeeds in achieving a reduction in car use in favour of public transport.

Policy SE5 will have positive effects on local economies and will help to strengthen the role of market towns as service centres. It should also help with the conservation of settlement character.

Policy SE7 will bring benefits in encouraging healthier lifestyles. Increased engagement in volunteer work will help countryside management with benefits for landscape and biodiversity.

Recommendations

Clarify that Policy SE5, to develop the visitor appeal of local settlements, is to work in conjunction with Policy SE4 promoting sustainable tourism.

Ensure, in connection with Policy SE10, that full account is taken of the purpose of the AONB in connection with development proposals that bring about the roll out of high speed broadband.

9.3. Assessment of Secondary, Cumulative and Synergistic Effects

9.3.1. The key impacts of particular policies have been identified above, and in more detail in Annex D, together with recommendations to mitigate potentially negative impacts and strengthen potentially beneficial effects. However, many environmental problems result from the accumulation of multiple small and often indirect effects, rather than a few large and obvious ones. Examples include loss of tranquility, changes in the landscape, loss of heathland and wetland, and climate change. Annex I of the SEA Directive requires that the assessment of effects include secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects.

9.3.2. The ODPM Guidance A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive explains these terms thus:

9.3.3. Secondary or indirect effects are effects that are not a direct result of the plan, but occur away from the original effect or as a result of a complex pathway. Examples of secondary effects are a development that changes a water table and thus affects the ecology of a nearby wetland; and construction of one project that facilitates or attracts other developments.


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9.3.4. Cumulative effects arise, for instance, where several developments each have insignificant effects but together have a significant effect; or where several individual effects of the plan (e.g. noise, dust and visual) have a combined effect.

9.3.5. Synergistic effects interact to produce a total effect greater than the sum of the individual effects. Synergistic effects often happen as habitats, resources or human communities get close to capacity. For instance a wildlife habitat can become progressively fragmented with limited effects on a particular species until the last fragmentation makes the areas too small to support the species at all.

9.3.6. These terms are not mutually exclusive. Often the term cumulative effects is taken to include secondary and synergistic effects.

9.3.7. The assessments of the draft Management Plan objectives in Chapter 8 and of the individual policies summarised in this chapter have noted a range of cumulative effects, largely synergistic, where different policies of the Plan work together to strengthen positive impacts or neutralise a potentially adverse impact of a particular policy.

9.3.8. The table below summarises the cumulative effects of the plan on each of the SEA topics listed in paragraph 1.3.2 above.

Cumulative effects of the Management Plan policies

Landscape

The cumulative effects upon landscape are very positive. The strong suite of policies in the landscape chapter of the Plan is complemented by many other policies throughout the Plan that will have beneficial effects on landscape character and quality. In some cases these policies, while principally directed at other objectives, also explicitly seek to enhance landscape and natural beauty. Policies D1, D3, FF2, FF4 and FF13 are cases in point. Many other policies aimed at conserving biodiversity, the historic environment, supporting agriculture and forestry and promoting understanding of the special qualities of the Chilterns will also contribute to conserving landscape. In a number of cases, such as Policy D5 which specifically mentions affordable housing, where there is potential for the policy to work against landscape conservation objectives, qualifying clauses are inserted into the policies, emphasising that they are to be implemented with due regard to the conservation of the natural environment.

Biodiversity, fauna and flora

The cumulative impacts of the draft Plan’s policies on biodiversity are strongly positive. The policies in the Biodiversity chapter all score well in this regard and policies in the Water Environment chapter are particularly helpful in also contributing to biodiversity conservation. The same is true of several of the policies in the Farming, Forestry and other land management chapter: Policies FF2-4, FF9 and FF13 score particularly well. Synergies of this sort are powerful and capture the true aim of sustainable development. There are some potential conflicts in policy ambitions apparent, however. As noted in the previous section, some of the policies promoting tourism and access to the countryside, such as UE3 do not specify any limits or criteria and care will need to be taken that visitor numbers do not exceed the capacity of the resource to absorb visitors without detriment to local character, biodiversity or quiet enjoyment. Other policies, such as SE4 promoting the tourism industry, specify that their objectives should be met in a sustainable way respecting environmental quality. Policies such as Policies SE2-4, aimed at promoting social and economic wellbeing, also successfully


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deliver biodiversity gains.

Population and human health

The objectives here are to improve quality of life for those living and working in, and visiting, the AONB; to encourage healthy lifestyles and to increase environmental awareness and understanding. As is to be expected, policies in the Understanding and Enjoyment and Social and Economic Wellbeing chapters score well, but the cumulative impact of the Management Plan in this area is strengthened by the contributions of a wide range of policies aimed principally at other objectives. Increased recreational opportunities are likely to flow from a number of policies for landscape improvement, such as L1, L8 and L9 and policies such as D8 and FF4 will also be helpful. Increased employment opportunities may well arise in association with a number of policies for landscape and nature conservation and particularly for the built environment, e.g. D2 and D3 promoting the use of locally-sourced building materials. Several of the policies for Farming and Forestry directly encourage rural enterprise, of course. Many policies seek to promote conservation objectives through improving and widening understanding of the resource and the issues at stake. Examples here include L2, L3, B6 and several policies in the Historic Environment section.

Material assets

The cumulative impacts of the Plan’s policies on material assets are positive. Several policies advocate the sustainable use of local materials, e.g. Policies D2, D3, and D4. Policy SE3 encourages buying policies which reduce or minimise the impact on the environment generally, and the Chilterns in particular. Many of the policies for Farming and Forestry are particularly helpful in promoting sustainable management. Maintenance of the physical fabric of the area in good order maximises the potential of the land to deliver economic and social services and hence the value of businesses based upon the use of these assets. Policy FF10 encouraging diversification and new business ventures that contribute to the conservation, enhancement and enjoyment of the AONB is case in point.


The Plan contains several policies expressly aimed at conservation of the historic environment, which are complemented by many others that have beneficial effects for this SEA objective. The cumulative impact of the Plan’s policies on the cultural heritage of the Chilterns is very positive. Policies aimed at conserving the landscape character and the biodiversity of the area are directed at key components of the historic and cultural heritage of the Chilterns. Several of the policies in the Development chapter emphasise the need to conserve settlement character and respect traditional architectural styles, Policies D1, D2 and D5 being good examples. Policies D3, D4 and D17 encourage the production and use of traditional building materials. Policies FF2 and FF4 promote sustainable land management to conserve the historic heritage and archaeological attributes. Policy SE5 promotes the special distinctiveness of local towns and villages to help develop their visitor appeal. As previously noted, Policy SE4 promoting the tourism industry, specifies that the objectives should be met in a sustainable way respecting environmental quality.

Climatic factors

The cumulative effect of the Plan policies on climatic factors is positive. Policies B11 and HE2 are expressly aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change and a number of others will be helpful in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by encouraging


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energy efficiency e.g. D2 or in reducing motor vehicle use, Policy D6 on density of development, D3 on the use of locally-sourced building materials and SE6 promoting local centres. Several policies promote the enjoyment of the countryside without the use of the car. Increased use of renewable energy is promoted by Policy D13 and several policies for biodiversity management, such as B1 and B2, and for farming and forestry, FF4, FF8 and FF10, are likely to lead to increased production of local wood fuel resources. Policies throughout the Plan emphasise the need to adapt to climate change; Policies L13, B11, D12 and FF3 being cases in point. Set against this strong performance, the potential for a number of policies which encourage recreational access and an increase in numbers of visitors to the area to increase the number of car journeys made and thus greenhouse gas emissions must be considered. More prominence might be given to Policy UE4 which encourages visits to the countryside and local villages without travelling by car.

Soil

The cumulative effects of the Plan for soil conservation in the Chilterns are positive. Landscape and wildlife conservation policies emphasise the importance of appropriate land management and the retention of the distinctive character of the Chilterns. Soil quality has a large part to play in determining that character, so soil conservation will be fundamental. Policies for Development encourage the use of previously developed land (D5) and development at appropriate densities (D6) which should help to minimise the take-up of green field sites, although this is unlikely to be significant in the AONB in any case. Policies for the conservation of the water environment, such as WE1, WE4 and WE6 are likely to be helpful in conserving soil quality, as are several policies for Farming and Forestry.

Water

The policies of the Plan have a positive cumulative effect for the water environment. There are several policies explicitly directed to this end and many of these score very strongly against the objective. In addition, some of the landscape and wildlife conservation policies will contribute e.g. L10, B1 and B2. Policy FF4 promotes sustainable management of woodland and farmland to provide benefits in terms of water resources. A number of policies (e.g. SE3, D4) are aimed at minimising demand upon the natural resources of the Chilterns, which would include its water resources. Policy UE18 seeks a reduction in the level of pollution caused by transport, which will benefit water quality.

Air

The cumulative effects of the Plan policies for air quality will be good. We have little information on current air quality in the Chilterns. Only one policy (UE18) seeks directly to reduce pollution from transport, likely to be a principal cause of air pollution where it occurs in the Chilterns. Several policies aim to reduce the need to travel and promote the use of public transport and non-motorised means of travel. These will be helpful. As noted above, there is potential for a number of policies encouraging recreational access and an increase in numbers of visitors to the area to increase the number of car journeys made, although Policy UE4 encourages visits to the countryside and local villages without travelling by car. Policies to conserve landscape character and wildlife are likely to be good for air quality in encouraging new planting and high quality management of woodlands.

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