Core Strategy and Policies for Management and Development ... · 2.2 The Core Strategy and Policies...

Core Strategy and Policies for Management and Development:Focused Review - Broad Locations and Strategic Sites

Interim Sustainability Appraisal Report

January 2013

Prepared forThurrock Council

Sustainability Appraisal – Scoping Report Update

SCOPING REPORT UPDATE

JANUARY 2013

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The conclusions and recommendations contained in this Report are based upon information provided by others and upon the assumption that all relevant information has been provided by those parties from whom it has been requested and that such information is accurate. Information obtained by URS has not been independently verified by URS, unless otherwise stated in the Report.

The methodology adopted and the sources of information used by URS in providing its services are outlined in this Report. The work described in this Report was undertaken between December 2012 and January 2013 and is based on the conditions encountered and the information available during the said period of time. The scope of this Report and the services are accordingly factually limited by these circumstances.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................5

2 WHAT ARE THE PLANS SEEKING TO ACHIEVE? ..............................................................................8

3 AIR QUALITY & NOISE.........................................................................................................................11

4 BIODIVERSITY AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE .............................................................................16

5 CLIMATE CHANGE ...............................................................................................................................26

6 COMMUNITY AND WELL-BEING.........................................................................................................33

7 CULTURAL HERITAGE & LANDSCAPE .............................................................................................47

8 ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT..........................................................................................................53

9 FLOODING.............................................................................................................................................59

10 HOUSING ...............................................................................................................................................64

11 SOIL, CONTAMINATION & SUSTAINABLE LAND USE.....................................................................70

12 WASTE...................................................................................................................................................73

13 WATER QUALITY & WATER RESOURCES........................................................................................76

THE SA FRAMEWORK.........................................................................................................................................79

14 SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL METHODOLOGY ..............................................................................85

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT ....................................................................................................................87

HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT........................................................................................................................88

APPENDIX 1 – SITE ALLOCATION ASSESSMENT CRITERIA.........................................................................91



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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

1.1.1 This Scoping Report is an update of the scoping report published in 2005. It has been revised to update the baseline information, trends and issues for the Borough and includes revisions to the layout of the report to improve the presentation of the information to assist with the sustainability appraisal of the Councils Development Plans. It identifies baseline information on a wide range of topics, bringing together key issues from the evidence base, drawing out key trends and objectives for the area. A key output of the Scoping Report is the proposed ‘sustainability framework’ which will be used to appraise plans and proposals, as they emerge.

1.2 SA explained

1.2.1 It is a requirement that SA is undertaken in-line with the procedures prescribed by the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (which transpose into national law the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive).1

1.2.2 The Regulations require that an SA Report is published for consultation alongside the draft plan that identifies, describes and evaluates the likely significant effects of implementing the plan, and reasonable alternatives.2 The report must then be taken into account, alongside consultation responses, when finalising the plan.

1.2.3 The Regulations prescribe the information that must be contained within the report, which for the purposes of SA is known as the ‘SA Report’. Essentially, there is a need for the SA Report to answer the following four questions:

• What’s the scope of the SA?

– i.e. what’s the plan trying to achieve and what’s the scope of the sustainability issues of which it is the role of SA to consider likely significant effects?

• What has Plan-making / SA involved up to this point?

– Prior to preparing the draft plan there must be (as a minimum) one plan-making / SA iteration at which point alternative approaches to addressing key plan issues are subjected to SA and findings taken on-board by the plan-makers.

• What are the appraisal findings at this current stage? 1 Directive 2001/42/EC

2 Regulation 12(2)

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– i.e. what are the likely effects of the draft plan and what changes might be made to the plan in order to avoid or mitigate negative effects and enhance the positives?

• What happens next?

– In particular, there is a need to think about how the effects of the plan will be monitored once it is adopted and being implemented.

1.2.4 The purpose of this Scoping Report is to answer the first of these questions. In order to do so a series of sub-questions must be answered. These are discussed in detail in Section 1.3 below.

This Scoping Report

1.2.5 The Regulations require that “When deciding on the scope and level of detail of the information that must be included in the report, the responsible authority shall consult the consultation bodies”. In England, the consultation bodies are Natural England, The Environment Agency and English Heritage.3 These authorities were consulted on the scope of this SA in 2005. This consultation was achieved by providing a ‘Scoping Report’ for their comment. The general public were also consulted on the scope at this time. The document was amended to reflect consultation responses (in late 2005).4 This document updates the Scoping Report 2005 and similarly will be subject to consultation with the statutory consultees before adoption.

1.2.6 Given the time that has elapsed between the Scoping Report being adopted by the Council and this assessment, the evidence base has been updated a number of times to reflect changes in policy and baseline data. Furthermore, SA Practice has changed and the approach to scoping with it. This Scoping Report represents a more accessible format with more narrative around the key stages of evidence gathering rather than long, sometimes inaccessible tables.

1.2.7 With this in mind URS has prepared a consolidated Scoping Report Update that will be consulted on. It should be noted that the updated evidence base has not altered the SA Framework from the 2005 Scoping Report.

3 In-line with Article 6(3).of the SEA Directive, these consultation bodies were selected because ‘by reason of their specific

environmental responsibilities,[they] are likely to be concerned by the environmental effects of implementing plans and programmes.’ 4 Thurrock Council (2005) Strategic Environmental Assessment / Sustainability Appraisal of Thurrock Council Local Development

Framework Scoping Report (Adopted) [online[ available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/sc_report_adopted.pdf

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1.3 Structure of this Scoping Report

Scoping questions

1.3.1 The Regulations require that, when considering the question - What’s the scope of the SA? – a number of further sub-questions are answered (see Table 1.1). As such, this Scoping Report presents a draft scope for consultation by answering each of these scoping questions.

Table 1.1: Scoping questions answered

Scoping Question Corresponding Requirement (The Report Must Include…)

What’s the Plan seeking to achieve? • An outline of the contents, main objectives of the plan’

What’s the sustainability ‘context’?

• The relationship of the plan with other relevant plans and programmes’

• The environmental protection objectives, established at international or national level, relevant to the plan

What’s the sustainability ‘baseline’ at the current time?

• The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment

• The environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected

What’s the baseline projection? • The likely evolution of the current state of the environment

without implementation of the plan’

What are the key issues that should be a focus of SA?

• Any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance

Sustainability topics

1.3.2 In both the Scoping Report and the SA Report each of the appraisal questions will be answered for a series of eleven sustainability topics:

• Air Quality & Noise

• Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure

• Climate Change Mitigation

• Community and Wellbeing

• Cultural Heritage & Landscape

• Economy and Employment

• Flooding

• Housing

• Soil, Contamination & Sustainable Land Use

• Waste

• Water Quality & Water Resources

1.3.3 These topics have been selected to reflect:

• A broad understanding of the anticipated scope of plan effects;

• Topics suggested by the SEA Directive;5 and

• Topics that were used as the basis for structuring the 2011 Thurrock Core Strategy SA Report.

5 The SEA Directive is 'of a procedural nature' (para 9 of the Directive preamble) and does not set out to prescribe particular issues that

should and should not be a focus, beyond requiring a focus 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' [our emphasis]

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2 WHAT ARE THE PLANS SEEKING TO ACHIEVE?

2.1.1 The aims and objectives of the plans subject to this Scoping Report Update serve to define the scope of the appraisal of the plans. They define the geographic focus, powers and direction of travel of the plan which in turn informs issues, options and appraisal findings.

2.1.2 Set out in Section 2.2 and 2.3 below are summaries of the plans for which this Scoping Report Update is indented to cover.

2.1.3 Given the strategic nature of these documents, and hence the Scoping Report, it is considered that it is also applicable for the following documents:

• Gypsy Local Plan;

• Layout and Standards SPD6;

• Greengrid SPD;

• Design and Sustainability SPD;

• Developer Contributions SPD;

• Lakeside Implementation and Delivery SPD; and

• Health and Well-being SPD.

2.2 The Core Strategy and Policies for Management and Development: Focused Review: Broad Locations and Strategic Sites

2.2.1 Thurrock Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development (the Core Strategy) is a long-term plan forming the first and most important element of the planning policy ’framework’ for Thurrock. It is about 'spatial planning'; bringing together the aims and actions of the government, local councils, residents, businesses and voluntary groups, by managing land-use and development spatially.

2.2.2 The Core Strategy was adopted in December 2011 following the receipt of the Inspector's binding report on 9th December 2011. The Core Strategy was accompanied by a SA Report as required by the SEA Regulations.

6 Note the Planning Act 2008 removed the automatic requirement for SA of SPDs, therefore some of these documents might be

screened out of requiring an SEA.

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2.2.3 This Focused Review reflects the Council’s view that “current economic conditions and outlook require Local Authorities to be pro-active in seeking out development opportunities that can bring real benefits to local people.” Furthermore, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) “requires local planning authorities to engage with local communities and prospective developers to obtain the maximum community benefits from development schemes to ensure they are acceptable to local people and provide much needed new homes, community facilities and infrastructure in a sustainable manner.”

2.2.4 The Focused Review focuses on the “single issue of whether or not the Core Strategy should be amended to identify and allocate additional Broad Locations and Strategic Sites for housing-led sustainable development including the release of land from the Green Belt. It is also proposed that some additional land is included within the Green Belt.”

2.2.5 The identification of these sites is driven by the NPPFs requirement for authorities to increase the buffer of 5% of housing sites for their five year land supply to 20% where “there has been a persistent under delivery of housing”.7 Given the challenging economic conditions prevalent since 2008, housing under delivery has been prevalent in Thurrock, with only recent signs of abating. The key elements of the review are summarised below:

• The identification of several new broad locations proposed to be released from the Green Belt;

• The identification of several Strategic Sites for sports facilities to be identified within the Green Belt;

• The inclusions of 44.2 ha of land into the Green Belt currently safeguarded as Oil Refinery Expansion Land (there will be a net loss of 51.9 ha from the Green Belt); and

• The consultation on illustrative schemes for delivering infrastructure and facilities.

2.3 Site Specific Allocations and Policies Local Plan: Further Issues and Options Interim Sustainability Appraisal Report January 2013.

2.3.1 Thurrock Council is currently preparing a Site Specific Allocations and Policies Local Plan (Site Allocations Local Plan). The purpose of the Site Specific Allocations and Policies Local Plan is to identify sites and allocate land for different types of uses required to deliver the scale of growth and development set out in the Adopted Thurrock Core Strategy to 2026. This includes sites for housing, employment and transport infrastructure and site designations primarily for environmental protection including open space.

7 NPPF 6.47

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2.3.2 The Site Specific Allocations and Policies Local Plan will also include:

• Policies to guide the way these sites are developed, ensuring that where development takes place, proper provision of necessary community facilities, infrastructure, landscaping and open space and affordable housing is incorporated into the design and development of a scheme; and

• Proposals for the transformation of Lakeside into a Regional Town Centre.

2.3.3 The purpose of the Further Issues and Options document is to allow residents and stakeholders to get involved and have a say to influence the future growth of Thurrock and the location of new housing, employment and other sites. However, it is important to note that many key strategic planning decisions about the future development of the Borough have already been defined in the Adopted Core Strategy, including where major housing growth should take place.

2.4 What’s the plan not trying to achieve?

The Core Strategy and Policies for Management and Development: Focused Review: Broad Locations and Strategic Sites

2.4.1 It is important to emphasise that the Core Strategy is a strategic document. The Core Strategy allocates large sites for development that are considered pivotal for the future of Thurrock (i.e. of ‘strategic importance’), but does not go as far as to allocate smaller sites. This detail will be added in later local plan documents. The strategic nature of the Core Strategy is reflected in the scope of the SA.

Site Specific Allocations and Policies Local Plan: Further Issues and Options Interim Sustainability Appraisal Report January 2013.

2.4.2 The Site Specific Allocations and Policies Local Plan is a strategic plan, and as such does not attempt to address every detailed spatial planning issue. Rather, detailed issues will be considered when planning applications are made for each site allocated within the plan. Allocation within the plan is not a guarantee that a site will be granted planning permission.

2.4.3 The strategic nature of the plan is reflected in the appraisal. SA is a mechanism for drawing upon and integrating evidence-based understanding of sustainability issues, with a view to predicting the impacts of the plan in terms of those issues. However, it would be superfluous to seek to understand detailed sustainability issues where the plan is strategic and hence where its effects on detailed issues will always be inherently uncertain. Best practice dictates that the approach taken to SA should be proportionate to the plan-making context.

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3 AIR QUALITY & NOISE

3.1 What’s the sustainability ‘context’?8

Internationally established objectives

3.1.1 The EU Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution9 aims to cut the annual number of premature deaths from air pollution-related diseases by almost 40% by 2020 (using 2000 as the base year), as well as substantially reducing the area of forests and other ecosystems suffering damage from airborne pollutants.

Key messages from the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

3.1.2 The NPPF identifies one of its Core Planning Principle as: ‘Planning policies should take account of and support local strategies to improve health, social and cultural wellbeing for all’.

3.1.3 There is also a need to prevent ‘both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution or land instability’

3.1.4 Finally, the NPPF identifies that ‘Planning policies should sustain compliance with and contribute towards EU limit values or national objectives for pollutants, taking into account the presence of Air Quality Management Areas and the cumulative impacts on air quality from individual sites in local areas. Planning decisions should ensure that any new development in Air Quality Management Areas is consistent with the local air quality action plan’.

Supplementing the NPPF

3.1.5 In Box 3.1: below, the objectives of the Government’s Air Quality are summarised. This is supplemented by information from Defra on the implications of a changing climate on air quality and the opportunities for addressing both issues simultaneously.

Box 3.1: Further government policy

8 Note that not all topics have applicable objectives at every level. This section captures those contextual documents that are relevant

at this stage. 9 Commission of the European Communities (2005) Thematic Strategy on air pollution [online] available at: http://eur-

lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0446:FIN:EN:PDF (accessed 11/2012)

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The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland10

sets health-based objectives for nine main air pollutants

11. Performance against these objectives is monitored where people are regularly

present and might be exposed to air pollution.

In terms of addressing such pollution, the recent Defra report Action for air quality in a changing climate12

focuses on the synergies between the two issues of air quality and climate change. In particular, it notes the potential for additional health benefits through the closer integration of climate and air pollution policy. It is suggested that co-benefits can be realised through a variety of means, including promoting low-carbon vehicles and renewable energy.

10

Defra (2007) Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland [online] available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/air-quality/approach/ (accessed 08/2012) 11

Benzene; 1,3-butadiene; carbon monoxide (CO); lead; nitrogen dioxide (NO2); ozone; particles (PM10); sulphur dioxide (SO2); and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 12

Defra (2010) Air Pollution: Action in a Changing Climate [online] available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13378-air-pollution.pdf (accessed 08/2012)

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3.2 What’s the sustainability ‘baseline’ at the current time?

Air Quality

3.2.1 Despite the presence of large scale industry in the Borough, the majority of air pollution in Thurrock is caused by road vehicle emissions. These emissions principally create problems in terms of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM10) levels.13

3.2.2 There are currently 15 AQMAs (Air Quality Management Areas) in Thurrock. These have all been declared as a result of road transport related air pollution. All of the AQMAs are declared as a result of NO2 levels, with a further four of them declared due to levels of PM10.

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3.2.3 Action to address air quality issues in the Borough’s AQMAs has been prioritised. This is in order to focus efforts towards those areas with the most severe air quality issues. The top three priority areas are:15

• London Road Aveley, next to the A1306;

• London Road Purfleet, near to Jarrah Cottages; and

• West of Chafford Hundred Visitor Centre.

3.2.4 At present Thurrock Council is investigating whether to declare a new AQMA in Tilbury for NO2 and around the Coryton Refinery for SO2.

16

3.2.5 Thurrock is situated along a number of busy road transport routes, including the M25, A13, A128, A126, A1089 and A1306. The mix of residential and industry areas along these transport routes have resulted in air quality issues.17

3.2.6 Heavy Good Vehicles are a significant source of air pollution in the Borough. These vehicles produce large quantities of NO2 and PM10 from their diesel engines and from brake and tyre wear.18 In order to meet the annual mean objective for NO2 in two of the AQMAs, a 30% reduction in Heavy Goods Vehicles traffic may be required.

13

Kings College London (2011) Essex Air [online] available at: http://www.essexair.org.uk/AQInEssex/LA/Thurrock.aspx (accessed 12/2012) 14


Thurrock Council (2010) Air Quality and Action Plan Progress Report [online] available at: http://www.essexair.org.uk/Reports/Thurrock_Progress_Report_2010.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 16



Kings College London (2011) Essex Air [online] available at: http://www.essexair.org.uk/AQInEssex/LA/Thurrock.aspx (accessed 12/2012)

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3.2.7 Whilst air pollution has fallen in some areas of the Borough in recent years, generally air quality is not improving. Whilst motor vehicles have become cleaner and more efficient, the numbers of them on the road has increased. As a result trends have flattened.19

3.2.8 It is predicted that there will be a deterioration of air quality as result of climate change. This is due to a greater likelihood of prolonged periods of still, dry days.20

Noise

3.2.9 The overall number of noise complaints received by the Council between 1999 and 2006 has increased. In 1999, 943 complaints were received which subsequently fell in 2001 and rose between 2001 and 2003 to 1,197. In 2006, Thurrock received a total of 1682 noise related complaints.

3.3 What’s the baseline projection?

3.3.1 The 2011 SA Report21 found that the level of development proposed in the Core Strategy will lead to increased emissions and noise. The Core Strategy seeks to mitigate these effects through the Greengrid, which will improve air quality and mitigate noise; promoting sustainable transport to reduce private car use and lorry traffic; and mitigating emissions through sustainable design. Restricting development in the greenbelt will prevent increased noise outside of the urban area.

3.3.2 Transport is the biggest contributor to emissions in Thurrock, so these measures are likely to improve the baseline situation despite the impact of additional housing and employment land provision. Furthermore, the requirement to produce Travel Plans will assist in achieving a modal shift towards sustainable transport.

3.4 What are the key issues that should be a focus of SA?

3.4.1 Table 3.1 identifies those sustainability objectives established for the purposes of the Thurrock Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal that are relevant to this topic chapter. Table 3.1: Relevant objectives and selected sub-objectives / issues based on the 2005 Scoping Report and the sustainability issues highlighted through the scoping process

SA Objective Selected Sub-Objectives Sustainability Issues

19


Thurrock Council (2010) Planning for Thurrock’s Adaptation to Impacts of Climate Change [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_climate_201010.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 21

URS Scott Wilson (2011) Sustainability Appraisal of the Proposed Submission Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development, Development Plan Document [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/core_strategy_representation_201108_saa.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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To deliver sustainable patterns of location of development including employment and housing.

• Encourage more shops, better services in town centres?

• Encourage more people to live in town centres?

• Encourage alternative uses to the car?

To protect and enhance the environment through reducing the emissions of pollutants.

• Reduce any sources of pollution particularly from HGVs?

• Achieve good air quality, especially in urban areas?

• Reduce noise?

To reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to use the available natural resources in the most efficient and sustainable manner.

• Reduce need for car and road based freight transport?

• Increase renewable share of energy?

• Minimise the demand for raw materials?

• Air pollution remains poor in many parts of the Borough, primarily due to road vehicle emissions

• Despite improvements in some areas, overall air quality is not improving in the Borough

• Climate change may lead to additional deteriorations in air quality

• The number of noise related complaints have remained consistently high

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4 BIODIVERSITY AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

4.1 What’s the sustainability ‘context’?


4.1.1 The EU Sustainable Development Strategy22, adopted in 2006, includes an objective to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. More recently at the European level, a new EU Biodiversity Strategy23 was adopted in May 2011 in order to deliver on the established Europe-wide target to ‘halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020’.


4.1.2 In order to contribute to the Government’s commitment to halt the overall decline in biodiversity, the NPPF states that the planning system should look to minimise impacts on biodiversity, with net gains in biodiversity achieved wherever possible.

4.1.3 The NPPF states that planning policies should promote the ‘preservation, restoration and recreation of priority habitats, ecological networks’ and the ‘protection and recovery of priority species’. The NPPF contains a commitment to ‘plan for biodiversity at a landscape-scale across local authority boundaries’.

4.1.4 The NPPF calls upon local authorities to set criteria based policies for the protection of internationally, nationally and locally designated sites, giving weight to their importance not just individually but as a part of a wider ecological network.

4.1.5 Positive planning for ‘green infrastructure’ is recognised as part of planning for ecological networks. Green infrastructure is defined as being: ‘a network of multi-functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities’.


22

Council of the European Union (2006) The EU Sustainable Development Strategy [online] available at: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st10/st10117.en06.pdf (accessed 11/2012) 23

European Commission (2011) Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 [online] available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/comm2006/pdf/2020/1_EN_ACT_part1_v7%5b1%5d.pdf (accessed 11/2012)

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4.1.6 As well as taking into account the framework established by the NPPF, it is worthwhile taking note of further context established through further Government policy (Box 4.1), by the Wildlife Trusts, who are a leading environmental NGO (Box 4.2), and by the Town and Country Planning Association (Box 4.3), in relation to woodlands and forestry (Box 4.4). This is followed by a summary of the local level policy (Box 4.5).

Box 4.1: Other Government policy

The Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP)24

sets out the importance of a healthy, functioning natural environment to sustained economic growth, prospering communities and personal well-being. It was in part a response to the UK’s failure to halt and reverse the decline in biodiversity by 2010 and it signalled a move away from the traditional approach of protecting biodiversity in nature reserves to adopting a landscape approach to protecting and enhancing biodiversity. The NEWP also aims to create a green economy in which economic growth and the health of our natural resources sustain each other and markets, business and Government better reflect the value of nature. It includes commitments to:

• Halt biodiversity loss, support functioning ecosystems and establish coherent ecological networks by 2020;

• Establish a new voluntary approach to biodiversity offsetting to be tested in pilot areas;

• Enable partnerships of local authorities, local communities and landowners, the private sector and conservation organisations to establish new Nature Improvement Areas; and

• Address barriers to using green infrastructure to promote sustainable growth.

The NEWP recognises that green infrastructure is ‘one of the most effective tools available’ to manage ‘environmental risks such as flooding and heat waves’. With respect to trees and woodlands, an ambition is to create more opportunities for planting woodlands; for more trees in our towns, cities and villages; and a greater proportion of existing woodlands to be in active management in order to ‘enhance the wide range of benefits that woodlands provide’ including ‘new wildlife habitats and green space for people to use and enjoy’ and to help ‘mitigate and adapt to the future changing climate.’

The Government has also published ‘Biodiversity 2020’25

, which builds on the Natural Environment White Paper and sets out the strategic direction for biodiversity policy for the next decade. In relation to planning, it states that the objective should be to: ‘guide development to the best locations, encourage greener design and enable development to enhance natural networks’

The proposals set out in the NEWP are directly linked to the ground breaking research in the National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA)

26, a major project that was able to draw conclusions on the ‘substantial’

benefits that ecosystems provide to society directly and through supporting economic prosperity. The NEA identified development as a key driver of loss and biodiversity offsets as a possible means of increasing ‘private sector involvement in conservation and habitat creation’.

Box 4.2: Wildlife Trusts policy

24

Defra (2012) The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature (Natural Environment White Paper) [online] available at: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm80/8082/8082.pdf (accessed 11/2012) 25

Defra (2011) Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services [online] available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13583-biodiversity-strategy-2020-111111.pdf (accessed 08/2012) 26

12 UNEP-WCMC (2011) UK National Ecosystem Assessment [online] available at: http://uknea.unepwcmc. org/Resources/tabid/82/Default.aspx (accessed 08/2012)

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Wildlife Trust ‘Living Landscape’ initiatives27

focus on the conservation of biodiversity over large areas of land where habitats are fragmented. Within Living Landscapes a spatial approach to ecological restoration is applied with the aim of:

• Protecting and maximising the value of areas that are already rich in wildlife;

• Expanding, buffering, and creating connections and stepping stones between these areas; and

• Making the wider landscape more permeable to wildlife.

It is hoped that this restoration will both provide a healthy environment in which wildlife can thrive and enhance those natural processes that benefit people. It complements the NPPF, which calls for ‘coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures’. A partnership approach is called for, with local government, agencies, the private sector and voluntary bodies required to act together.

The Wildlife Trusts (with the TCPA) have also produced guidance on ‘Planning for Biodiversity’.28

It notes that as well as benefiting biodiversity, green infrastructure can help to ‘deliver and complement some of the services currently provided by hard engineering techniques’. Local authorities are called upon to ‘identify strategic GI within Local Plans’ and also focus on making the built environment permeable for wildlife.

Box 4.3: Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) policy The TCPA suggest that the potential to develop in-line with ‘Garden City’ principles should be considered in order to achieve ‘the best of town and country living’. A recent report entitled Creating Garden Cities and Suburbs Today

29 highlights the provision of green infrastructure in developments as a key area for action

and calls for at least 40% of a new community’s total area to be allocated to green space. This area should ‘consist of a network of well-managed, high-quality green/open spaces linked to the wider countryside’. These spaces should be of a range of types (e.g. community forests, wetland areas and public parks) and be multifunctional, for instance as areas that can be used for walking and cycling, recreation and play, supporting of wildlife, or forming an element of an urban cooling and flood management system.

Box 4.4: Woodland and forestry specific context

The final report of the Independent Panel on Forestry 30

has progressed the woodland conservation and management agenda considerably. It calls for society as a whole to value woodlands for the full range of beneficial ecosystem services that they can provide. It suggests that local authorities should look at the creative, cross boundary use of S106 agreements, biodiversity offsets and the community infrastructure levy as levers to ‘produce green space schemes, including trees and woodland, that make a significant difference to the landscape’.

It also recommended that ‘Local Authorities should use their Local Plans to introduce a “Wood First” policy for construction projects to increase use of wood in buildings. They should create a positive planning environment for sustainable wood and forestry businesses, as well as those based on woodland leisure and tourism, that should always enhance natural capital.’

Earlier policy was established through ‘Seeing the Woods for the trees: A Forestry and Woodlands Framework for the South East’.

31 This document sought to ensure outcomes including:

• Trees and woodlands supporting the development of sustainable communities.

• More people’s health and well-being improved through visiting woodlands.

• Woodlands and trees, especially ancient woodlands and veteran trees, protected from loss.

27 The Wildlife Trusts (2010) A Living Landscape: play your part in nature’s recovery [online] available at: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/alivinglandscape (accessed 08/2012) 28

The Wildlife Trusts & TCPA (2012) Planning for a healthy environment: good practice for green infrastructure and biodiversity [online] available at: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2012/07/06/planning-healthy-and-natural-environment (accessed 08/2012) 29

TCPA (2012) Creating garden cities and suburbs today [online] available at: http://www.tcpa.org.uk/data/files/Creating_Garden_Cities_and_Suburbs_Today.pdf (accessed 08/2012) 30

Defra (2012) The Independent Panel on Forestry: Final report [online] available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/reports (accessed 08/2012) 31

Forestry Commission (2004). Seeing the Woods for the trees: A Forestry and Woodlands Framework for the South East [online] available at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/seeingthewoodforthetrees

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Box 4.5: Local level policy context

Thurrock Council has combined the findings of its Open Space Strategy, Green Infrastructure Framework and Biodiversity Strategy to create the Thurrock Greengrid

32. The vision of the Thurrock Greengrid is to

create a sustainable network of multi-functional greenspace and links within Thurrock’s towns and countryside.

Eleven overarching principles have been outlined that should be applied to all planning, design and management of green infrastructure and open space in the borough. Key principles include the need to promote and enhance the character of Thurrock; deliver multi-functional greenspace to areas of need; create new greenspace that links to other community facilities; seek to mitigate and adapt to climate change; protect the integrity of natural systems and improve it wherever possible; deliver SuDS and natural flood management where possible; and enhance access to existing open space where possible.

Through the Thurrock Core Strategy33

, The Council, with its partners, will look to restore, protect, enhance and where appropriate create its green assets. The Council requires a net gain in green infrastructure in order to address the existing and developing deficiencies, ensuring connectivity and relieving pressure on designated biodiversity sites such as SSSI’s. Furthermore where there is an identified deficit the Council will require the creation of green assets including parks and gardens; natural and semi-natural spaces; amenity greens; children’s play space; and outdoor sports facilities in order to meet adopted open space standards for accessibility to open space. In addition development will be encouraged to include measures to contribute positively to the overall biodiversity in the Borough.

32

Thurrock Council (2006). Thurrock Greengrid Strategy 2006-2011 [online] available at: http://regs.thurrock.gov.uk/online-applications-skin/thurrock-strategic/library/EB.043.pdf 33

Thurrock Council (2011) Core Strategy [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/core_strategy_adopted_20111221_full.pdf?bcsi_scan_E956BCBE8ADBC89F=0&bcsi_scan_filename=core_strategy_adopted_20111221_full.pdf

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Biodiversity

4.2.1 The Essex Biodiversity Action Plan sets out those species and habitats that should be protected and enhanced within the Borough. Priority habitats include woodlands, grasslands, hedgerows and ponds. Priority species include dormice, great crested newts and bats. More locally, key habitats in the Borough include:34

• Estuarine habitats: Coastal areas from Corringham to East Tilbury provide nationally important feeding grounds for a wide variety of over-wintering waders and wildfowl

• Farmland: As the major land use within Thurrock, sympathetic management of farmland is considered to be vital to the conservation of the areas wildlife and landscape.

• Thames Terraces: The Purfleet-Grays ridge rises from the Thames, forming a central belt of sands and gravels across the Borough, where short acidic grassland can develop

• Woodland: There are many small semi-natural broad-leaved woods in the north of the Borough, covering 2% of the land area

4.2.2 Thurrock contains a number of sites of international and national importance for nature conservation including a Ramsar site at Mucking Flats, one Special Protection Area (SPA) and 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covering an area of 1351 hectares. Other designations include 10 ecological corridors, 70 Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), and two Local Nature Reserves.35

4.2.3 The Government target to achieve 95% of SSSI area in favourable or recovering condition by 2010 was achieved. Defra is now seeking to bring an increasing proportion of SSSIs into favourable condition, whilst maintaining at least 95% of SSSI land in favourable or recovering condition.36 Of Thurrock’s 12 SSSIs the following are failing to meet the objective of having 95% of their area in favourable or recovering condition:37

• Basildon Meadows38 (70.4% favourable or recovering)

• Grays Thurrock Chalk Pit (13.5%)

34

Thurrock Council (2007) Biodiversity Action Plan [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/countryside/pdf/biodiversity_action_2007.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 35

Thurrock Council (2011) Annual Monitoring Report [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/monitor_annual_2011.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 36

Defra (2011) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) [online] available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/protected/nationally/sssi/ (accessed 12/2012) 37


Only part of this SSSI lies within the Thurrock boundary

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• Inner Thames Marshes39 (42.4%)

• Purfleet Road, Aveley ‘Jill’s Field’ (23.7%)

• West Thurrock Lagoon & Marshes (0.0%)

4.2.4 Thurrock’s Local Wildlife Sites are considered to support a wide variety of habitats. These include ancient woodland, hedgerows and green lanes, post industrial brownfield sites, reedbeds and chalk grassland. Of the 70 designated LWS’, 33 sites (covering an area of 655 hectares) have positive management plans in place.40

4.2.5 Some brownfield land in the Borough has high biodiversity value. Promoting development on brownfield land that is sympathetic to biodiversity is a key challenge.41

Green Infrastructure & Open Spaces

4.2.6 The creation, protection and maintenance of green spaces and corridors could present an opportunity to enhance the Borough’s green infrastructure network. Establishing a coherent and resilient ecological network can help to both protect wildlife and increase the ability of the natural environment to provide a variety of high quality ecosystem services. Links between ‘core areas’ of green space (

4.2.7 Figure 4.1) are crucial if natural systems are to function properly (e.g. by enabling species migration) and so provide the fullest benefits to society and wildlife. The Thurrock Green Infrastructure Framework Plan has identified the following types of green infrastructure opportunity in the Borough, amongst others:

• Strategic Multi-functional Greenspace: There sites which should be enhanced or created to provide recreation facilities for the Thurrock community and beyond. Opportunity areas are located in urban fringe or rural areas and have the potential to cover a significant area

• Natural Systems: These support various environmental functions, including control of air and water pollution, climate change control, and local climate management. Natural systems opportunities include the management of woodlands in the west of the Borough for fuel.

39

Only part of this SSSI lies within the Thurrock boundary 40


Thurrock Council (2007) Biodiversity Action Plan [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/countryside/pdf/biodiversity_action_2007.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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• Strategic Green Links: Key routes along both existing and desired footpaths/bridleways which link communities to strategic green infrastructure assets. They are designed for informal recreation and sustainable transport use for

walking, cycling and horse riding.

Figure 4.1: The components of ecological networks

42

4.2.8 In 2007/08, just 59% of residents were satisfied with parks and open spaces in the Borough.43 However, in March 2011 the total amount of open space managed to Green Flag Award standard in the Borough was 515.9 hectares. This represents a considerable rise from the 2010 figure of 80.9 hectares.44

42

Defra (2010) Making Space for Nature: A review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network [online] available at: http://bromley-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/cs/csissues?pointId=s1302517270630#section-s1302517270630 (accessed 08/2012) 43

Audit Commission (2009) Comprehensive Area Assessment, Culture Service Assessment for Thurrock [online] available: http://cpa.audit-commission.gov.uk/STCCCulture.aspx?msc=s&taxID=108448&aibID=10000047&lsvt=False&aibName=Thurrock%20Council&faibID=0#ir 44

Thurrock Council (2011) Annual Monitoring Report [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/monitor_annual_2011.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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4.2.9 The Open Space Strategy identifies deficiencies in several types of open spaces. The study reveals that all urban areas of the Borough are deficient in some form of parks (Figure ). The majority of the Borough, with the exception of land surrounding Mucking Flats and Fobbing Marshes is deficient in ‘natural and semi-natural greenspace’.

4.2.10 During a community needs assessment, the residents of Purfleet, Grays and West Thurrock were those voiced least satisfaction with the current open space provision. The residents of Aveley, South Ockendon and rural area meanwhile were the most satisfied. A third of the population visit their park at least once a week. However, 25% of the community never visit any parks.45

Figure 4.2: Potential open spaces (green circles) and areas of open space deficiency (green shading) in Thurrock

46

45

Thurrock Council (2006) Thurrock Greengrid Strategy 2006-2011 [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/countryside/pdf/gg_strategy_2006.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 46

Thurrock Council (2006) Green Infrastructure Framework Plan [online] available at http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/countryside/greengrid/content.php?page=strategy (accessed 12/2012)

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4.3.1 The scale of development set out in the Core Strategy has, through the 2011 SA47 process, been deemed likely to lead to negative effects on biodiversity, especially where biodiversity has settled on brownfield sites that are due to be redeveloped. In addition, transport and access policies could negatively impact biodiversity and habitat corridors.

4.3.2 These negative effects will be countered through the Greengrid, which if delivered as anticipated should improve biodiversity, green infrastructure and open space provision in Thurrock. By restricting development in the greenbelt this will avoid disturbance of biodiversity and prevent the loss of open space land to development.


4.4.1 Error! Reference source not found.4.1 identifies those sustainability objectives established for the purposes of the Thurrock Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal that are relevant to this topic chapter. Table 4.1: Relevant objectives and selected sub-objectives / issues based on the 2005 Scoping Report and the sustainability issues highlighted through the scoping process


To attain sustainable levels of prosperity and economic growth

• Reduce vulnerability to climate change and exploit any benefits?


• Minimise development of Greenfield land?

• Provide opportunities for people to come into contact with and appreciate wildlife and wild places?

To make the best use of land in the borough, including reuse of previously developed land.

• Development land with least environmental / amenity value?

To protect and enhance Thurrock’s

biodiversity and geodiversity, including all designated sites.

• Protect brownfield biodiversity?

• Protect and enhance habitats and wildlife taking account of climate change?

• Restore the full range of characteristic habitats and species to viable levels?

To reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to use the available natural

• Maintain water environment whilst meeting demand from development?

• The Borough is home to a wide range of sites designated for their biodiversity importance

• A number of the Borough’s SSSIs are failing to meet favourable or recovering standards

• Brownfield land in the Borough is of high importance to biodiversity

• Opportunities exist for the creation and enhancement of green infrastructure in the Borough

• There is resident dissatisfaction with parks and open spaces, and deficiencies in some areas

47


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resources in the most efficient and sustainable manner.

• Encourage farming practices sensitive to the character of the countryside; maintain soil quality?

Ensure fairer access to services, focusing on the most deprived areas

• Increase access to leisure facilities (Inc. woodland, parks)?

• Improve the quality & quantity of publicly accessible green space?

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5 CLIMATE CHANGE



5.1.1 In its 2007 strategy on climate change, the European Commission assesses the costs and benefits of combating climate change and recommends a package of measures to limit global warming to 2° Celsius.48 On energy, the Commission recommends that the EU's energy efficiency improves by 20% and the share of renewable energy grows to 20% by 2020.


5.1.2 The NPPF identifies as a 'core planning principle' the need to 'support the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate'. A key role for planning in securing radical reductions in GHG emissions is envisioned, with specific reference made to meeting the targets set out in the Climate Change Act 2008.49 Specifically, planning policy should support the move to a low carbon future through:

• Planning for new development in locations and ways which reduce GHG emissions;

• Actively supporting energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings;

• Setting local requirements for building's sustainability in a way that is consistent with the Government's zero carbon buildings policy;

• Positively promoting renewable energy technologies and considering identifying suitable areas for their construction; and

• Encouraging those transport solutions that support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and reduce congestion

48

Commission of the European Communities (2007) Limiting Global Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond [online] available at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2007:0002:FIN:EN:PDF (accessed 11/2012) 49

The Climate Change Act 2008 sets targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions through action in the UK of at least 80% by 2050, and reductions in CO2 emissions of at least 26% by 2020, against a 1990 baseline.

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5.1.3 The NPPF requires Local Plans to take account of the effects of climate change in the long term, including factors such as ‘flood risk, coastal change, water supply and changes to biodiversity and landscape. Planning authorities are encouraged to ‘adopt proactive strategies’ to adaptation. New developments should be planned so that they avoid increased vulnerability to climate change impacts. Risks should be managed through adaptation measures including well planned green infrastructure.


The role that local authorities can play in reducing emissions is the subject of recent Committee on Climate Change guidance. This is summarised below in Box 5.1, alongside further information on the future of low-carbon district heating networks. Box 5.2 meanwhile highlights the importance of considering the social dimensions of vulnerability to climate change when producing adaptation policy. Finally, Box 5.3 examines the local context in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation.


50

Committee on Climate Change (2012) How local authorities can reduce emissions and manage climate risk [online] available at: http://hmccc.s3.amazonaws.com/Local%20Authorites/1584_CCC_LA%20Report_bookmarked_1b.pdf (accessed 11/2012)

In the guidance document How local authorities can reduce emissions and manage climate risk50

planning functions are described as being a ‘key lever in reducing emissions and adapting localities to a changing climate’, with it considered particularly important that local authorities use these to:

- Enforce energy efficiency standards in new buildings and extensions;

- Reduce transport emissions by concentrating new developments in existing cities and large towns and/or ensuring they are well served by public transport;

- Work with developers to make renewable energy projects acceptable to local communities;

- Avoid increasing the area’s risk to climate change impacts by locating new development in areas of lowest flood risk; and

- Plan for infrastructure such as low-carbon district heating networks, green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems.

With regards to the latter point on low-carbon district heating networks, the DECC report The future of heating

51 provides further guidance. It points out that around half (46%) of the final energy consumed in the

UK is used to provide heat, contributing roughly a third of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable heat currently represents 1% of heat generation in the UK, although this is expected to grow significantly if decarbonisation targets are to be met.

The Government’s vision is of: ‘buildings benefiting from a combination of renewable heat in individual buildings, particularly heat pumps, and heat networks distributing low carbon heat to whole communities…focusing first on the energy efficiency of our buildings.’

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Box 5.2: Joseph Rowntree Foundation policy

The report Climate change, justice and vulnerability’52

calls for greater recognition of the social dimensions of vulnerability to climate change when considering adaptation policy. It notes that how badly a person or group will be affected by an extreme weather event is determined not only by their exposure to the event, but also on their vulnerability. This combination of factors can be described in terms of ‘Climate Disadvantage’. This is a function of:

a. the likelihood and degree of exposure to a hazard; and

b. individual or group vulnerability with regards to such hazards.

Once recognised, these social dimensions of vulnerability require a widening of the scope of climate adaptation policy to take into account a broader set of concerns than has traditionally been the case. These concerns will include a number of areas of social policy which are not specifically concerned with climate change. For instance, a variety of social factors can affect the capacity of households to prepare for, and respond to and recover from flooding:

• Low-income households are less able to take measures to make their property resilient to flooding and to respond to and recover from the impacts of floods

• The ability to relocate is affected by wealth, as is the ability to take out insurance against flood damage.

• Social networks affect the ability of residents to respond to flooding. For example, by providing social support and a response network, and by improving the local knowledge base.

Box 5.3: Local climate change mitigation and adaptation context

The Thurrock Climate Change Evidence Base (2008)53

analysed evidence for climate change in Thurrock and identified strategic priorities to mitigate and adapt to climate change. These include reducing CO2 and N20 emissions from the industrial and commercial sector and road transport; reducing methane emissions from the waste sector (particularly from landfill); increasing renewable energy generation; ensuring that new development incorporates energy and water efficiency into design; ensuring that new development is not at the risk of flooding; and reducing flood risk at existing development. The Thurrock Energy Study (2010)

54 produced the evidence base to support the proposed Core Strategy

Planning Policies and evaluated the feasibility of the renewable energy targets in new residential and non-residential buildings. It recommends a threshold for feasibility studies to be produced for central energy centres on site in residential and non-residential developments; and the threshold distances for households to connect to CHP networks. It notes that there are ‘sufficient renewable energy resources to meet the renewable and low carbon energy requirements of the new developments proposed in the Borough’ although ‘the viability of specific renewable energy systems will likely be determined by restrictions on space, solar access and wind access on specific sites’. Thurrock’s Core Strategy

55 requires climate change adaptation measures and technology to be considered

from the outset in any development proposal and aims for the following minimum reductions in CO2 emissions as an average across all sectors: 19% by 2015; and 23.6% by 2020. Additionally it encourages opportunities to generate energy from non-fossil fuel and low-carbon sources.


Mitigation

51 DECC (2012)The Future of Heating: A strategic framework for low carbon heat in the UK [online] available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/heat/4805-future-heating-strategic-framework.pdf (accessed 11/2012) 52

Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2011) Climate change, justice and vulnerability [online] available at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/climate-change-social-vulnerability-full.pdf (accessed 11/2012) 53

Thurrock Council (2008): Thurrock Climate Change Evidence Base [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_climate_2008.pdf 54

Thurrock Borough Council (2010): Thurrock Energy Study [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_energy_201011.pdf 55


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5.2.1 Emissions of CO2 per capita in the Borough have been falling in recent years. Total emissions per capita have fallen from 12.8 tonnes in 2005 to 8.5 tonnes by 2010. This decline can be broken down as follows: transport emissions have fallen by 0.4 tonnes, domestic emission by 0.3 tonnes and industrial emissions by 3.6 tonnes. Emissions per capita are still considerable higher than the 2010 Essex (6 tonnes), South East (6.1 tonnes) and National (6.6 tonnes) averages.56

5.2.2 Energy consumption in Thurrock is particularly high at 96,600 kWh per capita in 2008. This was three times the regional average. Industrial and commercial energy consumption is regarded as being the cause of disproportionately high energy consumption per capita and related GHG emissions in the Borough.57

5.2.3 In 2008, there was 52.6 MW of installed renewables capacity in the Borough, which represented 54% of the county’s and 11% of the region’s renewable energy generating capacity. The majority of renewable energy in Thurrock (76%) is provided via landfill gas. The remaining 24% is provided by a biomass facility at Tilbury Power Station. There was no additional renewable energy capacity installed in Thurrock during 2007/08.58

5.2.4 Per capita road transport emissions in Thurrock in 2008 were 20% higher than the national average. Due to the Borough’s proximity to London, there are high levels of out and through commuting in the area. Therefore, commuting is likely to be a significant source of road transport’s CO2 emissions. Growth in traffic levels is a long term trend in the Borough, which is likely to continue as a result of further development.59

56

DECC (2010) Local Authority Carbon Dioxide Figures[online] available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/climate_stats/gg_emissions/laco2/laco2.aspx (accessed 12/2012) 57

Thurrock Council (2008) Thurrock Climate Change Evidence Base [online] available at http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_climate_2008.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 58


Thurrock Council (2008) Thurrock Climate Change Evidence Base [online] available at http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_climate_2008.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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5.2.5 The Department for Energy and Climate change (DECC) has produced a set of online maps showing heat demand from buildings across England. These maps can be used to identify priority areas for low carbon heat projects. As Figure 5.1: demonstrates, heat demand for the Borough is concentrated in the West Thurrock, Grays and Thames

Haven areas. There are currently no Combined Heat and Power installations in the Borough.60

Figure 5.1: Concentrations of heat demand in Thurrock61

Adaptation

5.2.6 The issues facing Thurrock in terms of the potential impacts of climate change, and opportunities for adaptation, will be discussed in detail under each of the sustainability ‘topics’ they relate to in this report (e.g. flood risk). Meanwhile, Box 5.4 below summarises climate change projections for Essex in order to provide a broad overview of expected trends.

Box 5.4: Climate change projections for Essex and Thurrock62

60

DECC (2012) National Heat Map [online] available at http://ceo.decc.gov.uk/nationalheatmap/ (accessed 12/2012) 61

ibid 62

Thurrock Council (2008) Thurrock Climate Change Evidence Base [online] available at http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_climate_2008.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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According to the 2009 UK Climate Projections the following climatic changes are likely to occur in Essex by 2080:

• Winter temperatures to increase 2.6-3.7°C; Summer temperatures to increase 2.9-4.7°C

• Winter precipitation tol increase 12.9-21.3%; Summer precipitation to decrease 14.9-27.9%

These changes are likely to result in the following threats to Essex:

• Decrease in water resources exacerbated by a potential increase in demand

• Increase in risk to people, property and the environment from flooding

• Hotter and sunnier summers putting public health and safety at greater risk

• Hotter summers causing greater “heat stress” to buildings, utilities and the transport system

• Decrease in soil moisture (particularly during summer and autumn) affecting agriculture, the natural environment and landscape

The climate related weather events identified as posing the greatest risk to Thurrock and its local communities are:

• Heat wave and drought

• Flooding (including flash, fluvial and tidal flooding); and

• Extreme weather events, including snow and ice and stronger winds


5.3.1 In considering the future trends likely to effect the Borough following the adoption of the Thurrock Core Strategy, the 2011 SA Report63 points out that the high levels of growth set out in the plan will lead to an inevitable increase in the consumption of energy from non-renewable sources, and of natural resources with their associated carbon footprints.

5.3.2 In order to address these potential impacts, the Core Strategy sets out a number of policies addressing the issue of climate change. These include policies relating to the increasing levels of energy efficiency and the promotion of renewable energy production and consumption. As a result, improvements against the baseline may be seen.


5.4.1 Error! Reference source not found.5.1 identifies those sustainability objectives established for the purposes of the Thurrock Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal that are relevant to this topic chapter.

63


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Table 5.1: Relevant objectives and selected sub-objectives / issues based on the 2005 Scoping Report and the sustainability issues highlighted through the scoping process




To reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to use the available natural resources in the most efficient and sustainable manner


• Minimise need for energy?

• Increase energy efficiency?



• Despite recent falls, energy consumption per capita is high, primarily driven by Industrial and Commercial usage

• Road transport related emissions are higher than the national average

• There are opportunities for low carbon heat projects to the west of the Borough

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6 COMMUNITY AND WELL-BEING



6.1.1 The social role of the planning system is defined in the NPPF as ‘supporting vibrant and healthy communities’, with a ‘core planning principle’ being to ‘take account of and support local strategies to improve health, social and cultural wellbeing for all’.

6.1.2 The NPPF advises that planning policies should promote the retention and development of local services and community facilities such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship.

6.1.3 The NPPF states that ensuring ‘sufficient choice of school places’ is of ‘great importance’. To this end, local authorities are called upon to take a ‘proactive, positive and collaborative approach’ to bringing forward ‘development that will widen choice in education’.

6.1.4 Specific protection and promotion of town centres is encouraged. Specifically, local planning authorities should ‘define the extent of town centres’ and set policies that ‘make clear which uses will be permitted in such locations’, and ‘promote competitive town centres that provide customer choice and a diverse retail offer and which reflect the individuality of town centres’.


Further policy background is provided by the ‘Marmot Review’ which discusses the relationship between planning and health and the Health and Social Care Act 2012, which reflects the changing legislative environment relating to local government and health (Box 6.1). This is followed by a summary of recent research on the relationship between the natural world and community well-being and how this can inform policy (Box 6.2), with Box 6.3 considering local food production in particular. Finally, a number of documents reflecting local level objectives in terms of community, transport and outdoor sports are summarised in Boxes 6.4 to 6.6.


Fair Society, Healthy Lives64

(‘The Marmot Review’) investigated health inequalities in England and the actions needed in order to tackle them. Subsequently, a supplementary report was prepared providing additional evidence relating to spatial planning and health. It does so on the basis that that there is: ‘overwhelming evidence that health and environmental inequalities are inexorably linked and that poor environments contribute significantly to poor health and health inequalities’.

64

The Marmot Review (2011) The Marmot Review: Implications for Spatial Planning [online] available at: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12111/53895/53895.pdf (accessed 08/2012)

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It highlights three main policy actions to ensure that the built environment promotes health and reduces inequalities. These should be applied on a universal basis, but with a scale and intensity that is proportionate to the level of disadvantage. Specifically these actions are to:

- ‘Fully integrate the planning, transport, housing, environmental and health systems to address the social determinants of health in each locality’

- ‘Prioritise policies and interventions that both reduce health inequalities and mitigate climate change by: improving active travel; improving good quality open and green spaces; improving the quality of food in local areas; and improving the energy efficiency of housing’

- ‘Support locally developed and evidence-based community regeneration programmes that remove barriers to community participation and action; and reduce social isolation’.

The increasing role that local level authorities are expected to play in producing health outcomes is well demonstrated by recent Government legislation. The Health and Social Care Act 2012

65 transfers’

responsibility for public health from the NHS to local government66

, giving them a duty to improve the health of the people who live in their areas. This will require a more holistic approach to health across all local government functions.

Box 6.2: Influence of nature on and community well-being

The report Natural Solutions from the New Economics Foundation looks to highlight evidence from recent studies that demonstrates the important role that the natural world can play in delivering well-bring and the delivery of key societal goals such as health, education, urban regeneration and crime reduction.

It points to the relationship between access to nature and positive health outcomes, with both physical and mental health benefits on offer through increased physical activity and environmental experience and contact. The natural environment is also described as potentially being a resource to help reduce crime levels and increase community cohesion by providing a neutral space in which people can meet and interact. In addition, green spaces and other outdoor locations can provide key environments for effective learning, with this particularly being the case for children not engaged in formal learning.

Box 6.3: Sustainable food specific context

This Environmental Audit Committees report Sustainable Food67

highlights the lack of government guidance on providing communities with better access to local and sustainable food through Local Plans. It suggests that such guidance should encourage provisions within Local Plans that take account of such access and ‘ensure that communities are provided with open spaces to grow their own produce’.

Box 6.4: Local-level community specific context

The vision for the Thurrock Sustainable Community Strategy (2012)68

sets the strategic framework for Thurrock and its key strategies including the Local Plan. The vision for Thurrock is to be “a place of opportunity, enterprise and excellence, where individuals, communities and businesses flourish”. The strategic objectives set out to achieve this are to:

• Create a great place for learning and opportunity;

• Encourage and promote job creation and economic prosperity;

• Build pride, responsibility and respect to create safer communities;

• Improve health and well-being; and

• Protect and promote Thurrock’s clean and green environment.

66

Upper tier and unitary local authorities 67

Environmental Audit Committee (2012) Sustainable Food [online] available at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmenvaud/879/87902.htm (accessed 11/2012) 68

Thurrock Council (2012). Sustainable Community Strategy [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/i-know/pdf/community_strategy_201209.pdf 69


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The adopted Thurrock Core Strategy69

details the key infrastructure requirements to deliver the levels of growth and meet the strategic sustainability objectives of the strategy. These include requirements to deliver additional provision for road and rail; education; healthcare; culture and leisure and emergency services. In addition to this the Council aims to deliver a total of 87 additional pitches for gypsies, travellers and travelling show persons.

Box 6.5: Local-level transport specific context

The Thurrock Transport Strategy 2008-2170

describes Thurrock Council's intent to deliver transport improvements for the period 2008 to 2021. This document highlights the need to improve accessibility by walking, cycling and public transport to key services including healthcare, education and employment sites in order to help tackle deprivation and promote equality of opportunity. In order to tackle congestion it aims to promote ‘smarter choices’ to reduce the need to travel, encourage modal shift and improve safety for active travel modes. These measures have been targeted in order to improve ambient air quality, help to address climate change and help facilitate regeneration in priority neighbourhoods.

Box 6.6 Local-level outdoor sport specific context The Thurrock Outdoor Sports Strategy

71 provides a strategic approach to playing pitch provision with a

clear direction and a set of priorities for pitch development and other outdoor sports facilities, addressing surpluses or shortfalls, qualitative deficiencies, accessibility and the need to protect existing provision. It sets out an action plan that aims to provide a sufficient number of adult and junior sports pitches and other outdoor sports facilities to meet both current and future demand; ensure that the quality of outdoor sports facilities and ancillary changing accommodation meets the expectations of current and future participants; ensure that outdoor sports facilities and ancillary changing accommodation are easily accessible to participants; and secure improvements in the operational management and maintenance of outdoor sports facilities and changing rooms.


Demographics

6.2.1 In mid-2010 there were 159,700 people residing in Thurrock, of whom approximately 78,500 (49.2%) were male and approximately 81,100 (50.8%) were female. The population of Thurrock rose by 16,400 between 2001 and 2010.72 The population density in the Borough is 977 persons per square kilometre.

Thurrock has a high birth rate and a decreasing death rate which give the Borough the second highest level of natural population change in the Region. Natural change is the biggest driver of population increase in Thurrock.

73 Population projections indicate that Thurrock's population will grow to almost 204,000 by 2031,

representing an increase of 48,700 (31%) over the estimated 2008 population of 155,200 (

70

Thurrock Council (2008) Thurrock Transport Strategy 2008-21 [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/travel/transport/pdf/strategy_2008.pdf 71

Thurrock Council (2010) Thurrock Outdoor Sports Strategy [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_outdoor_sports_201011.pdf 72


Insight East (2009) Thurrock Economic Profile, July 2009 [online] available at: http://insighteast.org.uk/viewResource.aspx?id=17226

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6.2.2 Figure 6.1).74

6.2.3 Thurrock has seen significant migration from east London, driven by the housing market conditions. Between 1999 and 2006 over 22,000 people migrated to Thurrock from east London. This represents a net gain of over 14,000.75

74


NHS (2012) Thurrock Join Strategic Needs Assessment [online] available at: http://www.shapingthurrock.org.uk/health/pdf/jsna_2012_full.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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Figure 6.1: Population projection estimates for Thurrock, 2008

76

6.2.4 Over the long term to 2031, older groups of the population aged 50+, 65+, 75+ and 85+ will increase as a proportion of the population. By 2033, the population group aged 50-64 is projected to increase by 50%, and the population group aged 85 plus is projected to double.77

6.2.5 At present, the over 50s are also underrepresented in the labour market. This trend in conjunction with predicted population growth highlights the need for employment policy that addresses the needs of this age group.

6.2.6 There are a lower proportion of men and women from minority ethnic communities in Thurrock when compared to the national trend. Ethnic minorities made up 6,729 (4.7%) of the Borough’s population in 2001.78 This is in comparison with 9.1% nationally. However, the results of the 2011 census indicate that the Borough’s ethnic minority population has risen to 9.1%.79

76

NHS (2012) Thurrock Join Strategic Needs Assessment [online] available at: http://www.shapingthurrock.org.uk/health/pdf/jsna_2012_full.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 77

NHS (2012) Thurrock Join Strategic Needs Assessment [online] available at: http://www.shapingthurrock.org.uk/health/pdf/jsna_2012_full.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 78


Office for National Statistics (2012) 2011 Census: KS201EW Ethnic group, local authorities in England and Wales [online] available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-286262 (accessed 01/2013)

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Deprivation & Social Equity

6.2.7 The Borough has an overall Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score of 21.31, which ranks it 124th out of 354 across England in 2007 (with 1 being the most deprived). This represents a fall of two places from the 2004 survey (122nd) and so indicates a rise in levels of deprivation.80 Five of the Borough’s 95 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA) are within the 10% most deprived in England and Wales.81 There are 7,335 children living in poverty in the Borough.82

6.2.8 An examination of the IMD 2010 for Thurrock at the Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) level reveals the spatial distribution of deprivation across the Borough (Figure 6.2). This data reveals that: 83

• There is a particular concentration of high deprivation in the vicinity of Tilbury and Chadwell Mary. The most deprived LSOA in the Borough is found here and is ranked 1,156th out of 33,482 LSOAs nationally. This LSOA is highlighted in yellow in Figure 2.

• The least deprived LSOA in the Borough is ranked 31,537th nationally and forms part of a cluster of relatively affluent LSOAs to the north of Grays. This cluster is an exception, in that the majority of the LSOAs in the top two quintiles in Thurrock are located to the east of the Borough in predominantly rural areas.

• There are large areas of deprivation in the west of the Borough. These occur in the vicinity of the towns of Purley, Averley and in central Grays. Rural areas in the north-western corner of the borough appear to be more deprived than those to the

80



Department of Health (2011) Health profile 2011 – Thurrock [online] available at www.healthprofiles.info (accessed 12/2012) 83

Office for National Statistics – Neighbourhood Statistics [online] available at http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination (accessed 11/2012)

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east

Figure 6.2: Indices of Multiple Deprivation by LSOA (2010)for Thurrock – Dark purple shading indicates that a LSOA is in a lower quintile in terms of deprivation

84

6.2.9 As of September 2011, 4.2%85 of the Borough’s population were claiming job seekers allowance. This figure is higher than the Eastern Region level of 3.1%. The number of claimants in Thurrock rose sharply between 2008 and 2009, from 2.3% to 4.0%.86 3% of the total population of Thurrock are claiming disability allowance for a period of five years or more.87

6.2.10 Thurrock has been one of the most affected local authorities in the East of England by the recession in terms of growing unemployment. At the regional level, unemployment is said to be affecting men and young people disproportionately.88

Health & Well-being

6.2.11 Life expectancy for both men (78.3 years) and women (82.2 years) is similar to the average for England (78.3 and 82.3 years respectively)89. However, life expectancy is 8.3 years lower for men and 4.3 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Thurrock than in the least deprived areas (Table 6.3).90

84

Office for National Statistics – Neighbourhood Statistics [online] available at http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination (accessed 11/2012) 85

This percentage is the number of persons claiming JSA as a percentage of resident population of the same age. 86


Thurrock Council Housing Strategy 2012-2017 available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/housing/pdf/housing_strategy_2012.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 88

InsightEast (2009) East of England Recession Impact, September 2009 [online] available: http://insighteast.org.uk/WebDocuments/Public/approved/user_9/recessionreportsep2009_1/Recessionreportsep2009.pdf 89

Thurrock Council (2012) Thurrock Profile Key Facts: [online] accessed at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/i-know/profile/pdf/our_thurrock_201207.pdf 90

Department of Health (2011) Health profile 2011 - Thurrock [online] available at http://www.apho.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=105339 (accessed 12/2012)

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Figure 6.3: Life expectancy at birth in Thurrock for males (M) and females (F) over the period 2005-20, with quintile one being the least deprived and quintile five the most deprived

6.2.12 The health of people in Thurrock is mixed compared to the England average. Over the last 10 years, all cause mortality rates have fallen. Early death rates from cancer and from heart disease and stroke have fallen, although the former is still worse than the England average. The rate of smoking related deaths is higher than average.91

6.2.13 Obesity amongst children is an issue in the Borough, with around 20.3% of Year 6 children classified as obese. The estimated level of adult obesity is worse than the England average. 92

6.2.14 The effects of climate climate could result in a number of health related impacts in the Borough. These include greater hospital admissions of older residents, infants and other vulnerable residents and increased hospital admissions for asthma and other respiratory conditions as a result of deteriorations in air quality.93

91

Department of Health (2011) Health profile 2011 - Thurrock [online] available at http://www.apho.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=105339 (accessed 12/2012) 92

Department of Health (2011) Health profile 2011 - Thurrock [online] available at http://www.apho.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=105339 (accessed 12/2012) 93

Thurrock Council (2010) Planning for Thurrock’s Adaptation to Impacts of Climate Change [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_climate_201010.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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Education

6.2.15 Over 16% of Thurrock’s working age population has no qualifications, compared with over 10% nationally94. The percentage of working age population with the highest qualification (Level 4) is 16.2% in Thurrock; versus 32.9% nationally95 9.8% of adults are in job related training. This is considerably lower than regional and national averages and represents a decline from the 2005 peak of 18.7%.96

6.2.16 Thurrock has some of the best and worst levels of educational affluence and deprivation in England. Thurrock’s most deprived Middle Super Output Areas (MSOA) in terms of education deprivation is within the top 0.01% most deprived; whereas Thurrock’s most affluent MSOA is within the top 20% in the country.97

Community facilities & access

6.2.17 The assessment of baseline infrastructure shows high levels of deficit as compared with the current population. This includes social and community infrastructure, where there are substantial deficits, particularly within education, health and community centres.98 In 2008, Thurrock scored highly in terms of public library services including access and ICT provision.99

6.2.18 There is generally good accessibility by public transport and walking to many services, but poor access to further education facilities and hospitals could exacerbate low skills and health issues, the latter being a particular concern with the ageing population.

94

Thurrock Council (2012) Thurrock Profile Key Facts [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/i-know/profile/pdf/our_thurrock_201207.pdf 95

Thurrock Council (2012) Thurrock Profile Key Facts [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/i-know/profile/pdf/our_thurrock_201207.pdf 96

East of England Regional Economic Atlas: District & Unitary Indicators [online] available: http://www.insighteast.org.uk/WebDocuments/approved/FTPUploads/RES/RESIndicators_SingleMap_District/atlas.html 97

Shaping Thurrock (2012) Thurrock Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 98

Thurrock Council (2006) Infrastructure Deficit Study 2004-2021. 99

Audit Commission (2009) Comprehensive Area Assessment, Culture Service Assessment for Thurrock [online] available at: http://cpa.audit-commission.gov.uk/STCCCulture.aspx?msc=s&taxID=108448&aibID=10000047&lsvt=False&aibName=Thurrock%20Council&faibID=0#ir

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6.2.19 Many of the new jobs created in the borough will be at London Gateway. This is located away from the main urban areas and so is less accessible for employment access by non-car means. This may limit opportunities for many social groups.

Crime

6.2.20 Recorded crime rates in Thurrock have continued to fall but are still above the national and county average100. Conversely, fear of crime has increased in the last few years.101 Figures for 2010/11 for Thurrock show a 5% reduction in crime against the previous year, equating to 317 less victims of these offences102.

6.2.21 There is considerable variation between rates of crime in different Thurrock wards. Grays Riverside, West Thurrock and and South Stifford, Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park, Tilbury St. Chads, Stanford-le-Hope West and Ockendon all have crime rates significantly above the Thurrock mean rate103.

6.2.22 There is deemed to be the potential for an increase in levels anti-social behaviour and crime as a result of future climate change. This is due to a greater likelihood of long hot summers leading to unrest in urban environments.104

Transport

6.2.23 A number of key road transport links pass through the Borough. The M25 London Orbital Motorway passes through the Borough, as does the A13 London to Southend trunk road, which connects with the M25 just north of the Dartford Tunnel and the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.105 Significant improvements in highway capacity will be required by 2021 as well as extensive road improvements.106

100


Thurrock Council (2008) Annual Monitoring Report 2008 [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/monitor_annual_2008.pdf 102





Thurrock Council (2006) Infrastructure Deficit Study 2004-2021.

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6.2.24 In terms of rail links, the Channel Tunnel rail link passes through the Borough. In addition, the C2C Railway links London to Southend, with seven stations in the Borough.107 Improvements to rail infrastructure are deemed to be necessary. To accommodate anticipated levels of development, platforms lengths on both the Ockendon and Purfleet branches will need to be increased and a second track on the Ockendon branch and improved signalling provided.108

6.2.25 There has been a large decrease in the number of local train journeys originating in the authority area undertaken each year. Over the period 2006/07 to 2009/10 the number of journeys by train rose from 7.4 million to 7.9 million. However, the number of journeys undertaken in 2010/11 was just 4.2 million, representing a significant decline.109

6.2.26 Analysis of 2001 census data reveals that 38% of Thurrock’s resident population travel less that 5 km to work, which is considered to be a viable distance for using sustainable means of transport. However, walking and cycling only account for 8% of journeys to work.110

6.2.27 There has been an increase in the number of local bus passenger journeys undertaken in the Borough in recent years. In 2006/07 the total number stood at 3.26 million, with this having risen to 4.22 million in 2010/11 and again to 4.38 million in 2011/12111.

6.2.28 In terms of road safety, Thurrock’s performance has improved on both average number of road accidents resulting in death or serious injury, and average number of accidents resulting in the death or serious injury of a child112.

6.2.29 The Port of Tilbury provides international connections by sea for both passengers and freight.113

107


Thurrock Council (2006) Infrastructure Deficit Study 2004-2021. 109


Thurrock Council (2008) Thurrock Climate Change Evidence Base [online] available at http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_climate_2008.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 111




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6.2.30 The effects of a changing climate are predicted to result in increased disruption to transport infrastructure and services. Possible impacts include the significant deterioration of road surfaces, impacting local transport networks and businesses, and reduced capacity of rail network due to hot track conditions.114

Gypsies & travellers

6.2.31 In Thurrock in 2010 there were three authorised public and private sites for gypsies and Travellers. These were:115

• Gammon Fields, Grays

• Pilgrims Lane, North Stifford

• Ship Lane, Aveley

6.2.32 No counts of caravan numbers have been undertaken since 2008. Of a total of 171 Gypsy Caravans recorded that year, 30 were on unauthorised encampments. This represented decline relative to the previous year’s figure of 52 unauthorised encampments.116 It has been assessed that there is demand for extra pitches for gypsies, travellers and travelling showpersons of the equivalent of two residential sites117.


6.3.1 Through its appraisal of the policies set out in the Thurrock Core Strategy, the 2011 SA Report118 found that the Plan is likely to result in positive effects relative to today’s baseline situation. For instance, the policies should contribute to providing housing for those in need in the Borough. They should also result in an increase in the availability of jobs and result in neighbourhood renewal, so helping to deliver improvements in areas such as crime

6.3.2 The Plan also seeks to provide for the social and physical infrastructure needed to improve the state of communities across the Borough. These key assets include transport, social community infrastructure and emergency services and utilities. Access to services, such as health facilities, is also likely to be improved through the delivery of a network of core walking and cycling routes, and through improved public transport infrastructure.

114




Fordham Research (2007) Thurrock Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson Accommodation Assessment [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_gtta.pdf 118


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Improvements in access to and provision of green spaces, and leisure and sports facilities are also proposed through the Plan. These measures include the Greengrid, which will result in the delivery of multiple community benefits as a result of green infrastructure enhancement. Access to good quality green spaces and sports facilities is likely to be a key factor in reducing health inequalities and increasing well-being in the Borough.





• Ensure everyone can afford a good standard of living?


To deliver sustainable patterns of location of development including employment and housing

• Improve the quality and quantity of publicly accessible greenspace?



To achieve a more equitable sharing of the benefits of prosperity across all sectors of society

• Reduce disparities in income levels?

• Access to services and facilities for all?

• Create opportunities for unemployed, especially long-term disabled?

• Help low income groups / especially children in low income families?

Ensure fairer access to services, focusing on the most deprived areas.

• Provide more equal access to opportunities?

• Contribute to local regeneration, help deprived areas?

• Encourage entrepreneurial activity in disadvantaged areas?

To reduce crime and the fear of crime

• Reduce crime rates?

To reduce inequalities in health and ensure

• Promote healthy lifestyles?

• Reduce health inequalities?

• The population of the Borough has been rising and is projected to continue to do so

• Older people are expected to become an increasingly large proportion of the population

• Deprivation has risen in the Borough overall, and there are a number of highly deprived LSOAs

• Life expectancy meets national averages, but is significantly poorer for those in deprived areas

• The health of people in the Borough remains mixed, despite improvements in some areas

• Levels of educational attainment are lower than national averages and there are areas of educational deprivation

• There are deficits in some types of key infrastructure, including social and community facilities

• There is good access to many services, but access is poor to further education facilities and hospitals

• Crime has fallen but remains relatively high, with some areas of the Borough suffering disproportionately

• Transport infrastructure upgrades will be necessary in future

• Sustainable modes of transport are underutilised in the Borough

• Climate change could result in

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all current and future residents have access to health facilities.

increased health problems, crime, and disruptions to transport services

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7 CULTURAL HERITAGE & LANDSCAPE



7.1.1 The NPPF states that local planning authorities should set out in their local plan a ‘positive strategy’ for the ‘conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment’, including those heritage assets that are most at risk.

7.1.2 Heritage assets should be recognised as being an ‘irreplaceable resource’ that should be conserved in a ‘manner appropriate to their significance’, taking account of ‘the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits’ that conservation can bring, whilst also recognising the positive contribution new development can make to local character and distinctiveness.

7.1.3 The NPPF states that the planning system should protect and enhance valued landscapes. Particular weight is given to ‘conserving landscape and scenic beauty’.

7.1.4 According to the NPPF, ‘great weight’ should be given to the conservation of the landscape and scenic beauty of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which have the ‘highest level of protection’ in this regard. The conservation of cultural heritage and wildlife in these areas is also an ‘important consideration’.


7.1.5 Of further interest is the following ‘heritage at risk’ register produced by English Heritage (Box 7.1), which is followed by a summary of the Government’s vision and relevant strategic aims in relation to the historic environment (Box 7.2). Of further interest are the series of local level contextual messages summarised in Box 7.3.

Box 7.1: English heritage policy

Heritage at Risk119

lists every heritage asset currently considered to be at risk in the UK according to local planning authority. Heritage assets are split into a number of categories namely; buildings, places of worship, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields, protected wreck sites and conservation areas. With regards to Thurrock, the English Heritage study considers that there are three buildings and two scheduled monuments with heritage value at risk.


119

English Heritage (2012) Heritage at Risk [online] available at: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/publications/publicationsNew/heritage-at-risk/har-2012-lpa/HAR-entries-lpa-2012.pdf (accessed 11/2012)

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The Government’s Statement on the Historic Environment for England120

sets out its vision for the historic environment. It calls for those who have the power to shape the historic environment to recognise its value and to manage it in an intelligent manner in light of the contribution that it can make to social, economic and cultural life. Also of note is the reference to promoting the role of the historic environment within the Government’s response to climate change and the wider sustainable development agenda.

Box 7.3: Local level context

The Thurrock Landscape Character Study121

assessed the capacity of Thurrock’s landscapes to accommodate development. It involved four stages, understanding the shape of Thurrock’s landscape; characterising the landscapes; evaluating their sensitivity; and finally evaluating their capacity to accommodate development. For each character area the key characteristics that contribute to their value and distinctiveness were listed along with opportunities for green infrastructure and environmental enhancement. The study concludes that much of the Borough’s landscape is highly sensitive to most scales of urban development without substantial investment in green infrastructure provision. If implemented, greater green infrastructure provision would assist in accommodating any new development within a strong landscape framework, offering new benefits for both people and wildlife.

The Thurrock Core Strategy122

requires the retention and enhancement of significant natural, historic and built features which contribute to the character of the Borough as defined by their value, quality, cultural association and meaning or their relationship to the setting and local context. The Council requires the retention and enhancement of heritage assets and the historic environment, and additionally strategic and local views which contribute to a distinctive sense of place. The Council will also maintain, protect and enhance the open character of the Green Belt, recognising the positive role it plays in providing opportunities for access to the countryside, promoting outdoor sport and recreation, improving landscapes, retaining agricultural land and securing nature conservation and biodiversity.


Heritage

7.2.1 Thurrock contains a number of historic assets including seven conservation areas and 241 listed buildings. The Borough’s conservation areas are located in: 123

• Horndon-on-the-Hill

• Corringham

• Orsett

• Fobbing

• Purfleet

• West Tilbury

• East Tilbury

7.2.2 There Borough is also home to 16 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, one park/garden on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Interest and 23 Ancient woodlands.

120

HM Government (2010) The Government’s Statement on the Historic Environment for England [online] available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/6763.aspx (accessed 11/2012) 121

Chris Blandford Associates (2005): Thurrock Landscape Character Study [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_landscape.pdf 122

Thurrock Council (2011) Core Strategy [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/core_strategy_adopted_20111221_full.pdf?bcsi_scan_E956BCBE8ADBC89F=0&bcsi_scan_filename=core_strategy_adopted_20111221_full.pdf 123


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7.2.3 The English Heritage ‘At Risk Register’ identifies 3 Listed Buildings and 2 Scheduled Monuments at Risk in Thurrock. The listed buildings considered to be at risk are:

• The State Cinema, George Street, Grays ;

• The Dovecote to east of High House, London Road, Purfleet; and

• The Coalhouse Fort in Tilbury

7.2.4 The Ancient Monuments considered to be at risk are:

• The causewayed enclosure and Anglo-Saxon cemetery, 500m away from Heath Place, Thurrock; and

• The Crop mark complex at Orsett, Thurrock.124

124

English Heritage (2012) Thurrock Heritage at Risk [online] available at: http://risk.english-heritage.org.uk/register.aspx?rs=1&rt=0&pn=1&st=a&ua=Thurrock+(UA)&ctype=all&crit=

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Landscape

7.2.5 The landscape of the Borough divides roughly into industrial/urban land south of the A13 and mixed urban, village and rural land to the north of the A13. Approximately 60% of the Borough is open countryside, predominately agricultural land and dispersed villages.125 Over 70% of the Borough is Green Belt126.

7.2.6 Thurrock contains a number of distinct landscape types including the coastal marshes, the Thames terrace, the rolling hills in the north and the urban fringe. Over half of the Borough has been designated as Landscape Improvement Area, which are in need of remedial treatment to improve their environmental quality. These include areas of derelict land and former mineral workings.

7.2.7 Landscape Capacity Study (detailed in Box 7.3 above) highlights the sensitivity of the landscape in Thurrock to urban development. The results are shown in Figure 7.1 below.

125

Thurrock Council [online] Landscape and nature conservation, available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/content.php?page=factsheet_05 126


Sensitivity to Small-Scale Urban Development127 Sensitivity to Substantial Urban Development128

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Figure 7.1: Sensitivity of the Borough’s landscape to various levels of urban development


7.3.1 The 2011 SA Report130 notes that as a result of the Core Strategy the majority of future development in the Borough will take place on previously developed land and as such there will be little impact on the landscape, especially so with restrictions on development in the greenbelt. Implementation of the Greengrid will contribute to the quality of the landscape and improve the baseline situation.

7.3.2 A number of the policies within the Core Strategy afford protection to cultural heritage, for instance through measures designed to preserve and enhance local distinctiveness and heritage character as part of the approach to securing the viability and vitality of the Borough’s existing centres




To deliver sustainable patterns of location of development

• Enhance historic character, • The Borough contains a

127

Small-Scale Urban Development: Such as a settlement approximately the size of East Tilbury 128

Substantial Urban Development: Such as a settlement approximately the size of Aveley 129

Very Large-Scale Urban Development: Such as a settlement approximately the size of South Okendon 130


Sensitivity to Very Large-Scale Urban Development129 Definition of Sensitivity Values

H = High Sensitivity: Area unlikely to accommodate the particular type of change without extensive degradation of character and value. Mitigation measures are unlikely to be able address potential landscape / environmental issues.

M = Moderate Sensitivity: Area may be able to accommodate the particular type of change with some degradation of character and value, but mitigation measures would be required to address potential landscape / environmental issues.

L = Low Sensitivity: Area should be able to accommodate the particular type of change with only very limited, if any, degradation of character or value. Mitigation measures may be able to address all potential landscape / environmental issues.

U= Urban Landscape Character Areas: Sensitivity not assessed

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including employment and housing

streetscape and townscape to strengthen sense of place?

• Minimise the development of Greenfield land?

• Improve the quality and quantity of publicly accessible green space?

Protect and enhance landscape character, local distinctiveness and historic built heritage

• Protect designated and undesignated historic sites and areas of significance?

• Recognise and protect historic landscape character?

• Maintain / enhance built and historic character?

• Conserve and enhance regional diversity and local distinctiveness?


• Reduce minerals and resources extracted and imported?


variety of heritage assets, several of which are at risk

• There are a range of landscape character types in the Borough, of varying sensitivity and condition

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8 ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT



8.1.1 In 2010, the European Union published its strategy for achieving growth up until 2020.131 This strategy focuses on smart growth, through the development of knowledge and innovation; sustainable growth, based on a greener, more resource efficient and more competitive economy; and inclusive growth, aimed at strengthening employment, and social and territorial cohesion.


8.1.2 The NPPF highlights the contribution the planning system can make to building a strong, responsive economy by ‘ensuring that sufficient land of the right type is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth and innovation; and by identifying and coordinating development requirements, including the provision of infrastructure’.

8.1.3 In terms of the economy, the NPPF places an emphasis on capitalising on ‘inherent strengths’, and on meeting the ‘twin challenges of global competition and of a low carbon future’. There is a need to support new and emerging business sectors, including positively planning for ‘clusters or networks of knowledge driven, creative or high technology industries’.

8.1.4 Furthermore, the NPPF states that local plans should support the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business and enterprise in rural areas and promote the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses.


8.1.5 In Box 8.1 below, the Government’s Local Growth White Paper is summarised. This is supplemented by information from two reports, the first of which focuses on local parades of shops, and the latter on rural economy (Box 8.2). Finally, the South East LEP and Heart of Essex: Economic Futures Study provides details of regional and local level aspirations (Box 8.3).


The Local Growth White Paper notes that Government interventions should support investment that will have a long term impact on growth, working with markets rather than seeking to create artificial and

131

European Commission (2010) Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth [online] available at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2010:2020:FIN:EN:PDF (accessed 11/2012)

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unsustainable growth. In some cases this means focusing investment at areas with long term growth challenges, so that these areas can undergo transition to an economy that responds to a local demand. Places that are currently successful may also wish to prioritise activity to maximise further growth by removing barriers, such as infrastructure constraints. However, the White Paper also emphasises that: ‘This does not mean that every place will grow at the same rate or that everywhere will, or will want to, become an economic powerhouse. Long term economic trends make differences in economic performance inevitable and these can and do change over time’.

Specific examples of areas where it makes sense for Government intervention to tackle market failures include: investment in infrastructure; tackling barriers such as transport congestion and poor connections; other support to areas facing long term growth challenges where this can help them manage their transition to growth industries; and strategic intervention where it can stimulate private sector investment in new green technology in strategic locations.

Finally, the White Paper identifies that economic policy should be judged on the degree to which it delivers strong, sustainable and balanced growth of income and employment over the long-term. More specifically, growth should be: broad-based industrially and geographically, ensuring everyone has access to the opportunities that growth brings (including future generations), whilst also focused on businesses that compete with the best internationally.

Box 8.2: Local economy specific guidance

Despite their local economic and social importance, shopping parades have been subject to a continued decline. In order to buck this trend, the report Parades of Shops – towards an understanding of performance and prospects highlights the need for appropriate policy responses. It is suggested that:

• The diversity of neighbourhood parades is recognised through flexible policy initiatives. These responses should look to ‘reinforce local distinctiveness and community value, and develop the social function of neighbourhood parades’ with a view to underpinning ‘ongoing commercial viability’.

• The role of local parades in developing local economies by ‘providing a ‘seed-bed’ function for start-up businesses’ could be enhanced through the focused support for their ‘enterprise formation and employment growth potential’.

Another important area of concern for local economic growth is rural areas. The ‘significant untapped potential’ of rural areas to contribute to economic growth and employment is the focus of the report Missing Links.

132 It considers distance to market to be a crucial concern and calls for the improvement of transport

links and the provision of adequate digital infrastructure.

Box 8.3: Regional and local level context

132

Federation of Small Businesses (2012) The Missing Links - Revitalising our rural economy [online] available at: http://www.fsb.org.uk/policy/assets/rural_report_web_final_proof.pdf (accessed 11/2012)

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The South-East LEP133

sets out as its mission the creation of ‘the most enterprising economy in England. In order to achieve this aim, it sets out a number of objectives that are to be achieved over the next twenty years. Of particular relevance in this case are the following:

• Every community across the LEP will be served by super‐fast (100 mbps or greater) broadband

networks; and

• There will be a steady flow of public and private investment in strategic infrastructure, including creating even better connections to key global markets.

In terms of delivering enterprise within the Borough, the Thurrock Employment Land Review 2012134

states that ‘investment to support the quality of place and the range of attractions and amenities available to employees of existing businesses is also essential’ in order to attract and retain businesses.

The Borough’s adopted Core Strategy135

sets a target of 26,000 jobs to be delivered over the period 2001-2026 and beyond. The majority of these will be in the logistics, transport and port sectors.

133

South East LEP (2012) Our Vision online] available at: http://southeastlep.com/about/our-vision (accessed 11/2012) 134

GVA (2012) Thurrock Council Employment Land Review Update [online] accessed at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_empland_2012.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 135

Thurrock Council (2011) Core Strategy [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/core_strategy_adopted_20111221_full.pdf?bcsi_scan_E956BCBE8ADBC89F=0&bcsi_scan_filename=core_strategy_adopted_20111221_full.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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Economy

8.2.1 Gross Value Added (GVA) has remained steady between 2001 and 2007 and remains lower than regional averages.136 However, despite the global economic crisis, regional forecasting indicates that Thurrock’s economy will grow over the long term to 2021. Key growth sectors in this period are likely to be retail, transport and communications, health and public administration.137

8.2.2 Whilst nationally and regionally the number of businesses has been falling, the number of businesses in Thurrock has increased over the period 2008 to 2011; although numbers have dropped since 2009. In 2011 there were around 4,400 active enterprises in Thurrock. However, the ‘birth rate’ of these businesses was 12.3%, compared to a ‘death rate’ of 15.2% for the period 2010-2011, which is higher than the regional and national average on both counts.138

8.2.3 The total amount of additional employment floorspace developed during 2010/11 was 4,662m2, which is a slight decline on 2009/10 (4,817m2). The amount of land considered to be available for industrial / commercial uses in October 2010 was 342ha. This figure has remained constant since 2008. No employment land has been developed for non-employment uses during the last five years.139

8.2.4 The Borough has sufficient available employment land supply to meet projected demand throughout the planning period, although supply is reliant on a number of key sites and use classes. It has been proven that the intensification of existing employment areas provides a good source of potential employment growth and is most likely to meet the market requirements throughout the planning period.140

136

East of England Regional Economic Atlas: District & Unitary Indicators [online] available at: http://www.insighteast.org.uk/WebDocuments/approved/FTPUploads/RES/RESIndicators_SingleMap_District/atlas.html 137


ONS (2012) Business Demography: Enterprise Births & Deaths [online] available at: http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276845&c=thurrock&d=13&e=9&g=405768&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1356084595824&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2087 (accessed 12/2012) 139



East of England Regional Economic Atlas: District & Unitary Indicators [online] available:

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8.2.5 Due to strong communications links, the Borough’s strength is likely to remain in distribution, although interest in manufacturing sites in the Borough will remain steady. There is little demand for large-scale office development. However, there is a need for smaller offices for start-up firms and SMEs.141 Demand for employment space is highest near the M25 particularly in Purfleet, West Thurrock and Lakeside.142

8.2.6 A major port and employment development at the former Shell Haven refinery site has recently been approved. This has now largely been cleared for re-development and is subject to proposals for a Port and business development.143 The developers of the ‘London gateway’ scheme aim to create 16,500 new jobs, with development to take place in phases to meet market demand. It is envisioned that the project will take 10-15 to fully complete.144

8.2.7 Whilst all of Thurrock’s industries have been affected by the recession, the construction, transport and communications, business and financial services and retail and hospitality sectors have seen the greatest declines.145

Employment

8.2.8 In 2012, the economically active population of Thurrock stood at 78.0%146 of the working age population. This represents an increase from 2011 when 73.4% were economically active, however this is lower than in 2009, at which point it stood at 78.9%.147 In 2011 the unemployment figure for Thurrock was 8.8%, greater than the average for the East of England (6.6%) and Great Britain (7.9%)148.

141


East of England Regional Economic Atlas: District & Unitary Indicators [online] available: 142


East of England Regional Economic Atlas: District & Unitary Indicators [online] available: 143






Essex Insight (2012) Thurrock Labour Market Profile [online] available at: http://www.essexinsight.org.uk/Resource.aspx?ResourceID=78&cookieCheck=true

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8.2.9 The average gross weekly earnings of residents in the Borough have increased from £467 in 2009 to £470 in 2010.149 Average weekly earnings in 2011 increased to £537, higher than the British average of £503150

8.2.10 In 2011 the percentage of managers and professionals in Thurrock (33.5%) was lower than regional (44.4%) and British averages (43.3%)151. Conversely, the percentage of elementary occupations and process plant and machine operators is higher in Thurrock.152

8.2.11 With regards to employment opportunities, distribution, hotels and restaurants (including retail) provided almost 40% of employment in Thurrock in 2012. This is primarily due to the distribution functions centred at Tilbury and the retail located at Lakeside. The next largest proportion of available employment is in the areas of public administration, education and health at over 16.6%.153


8.3.1 The 2011 Sustainability Appraisal154 of the Borough’s Core Strategy notes that it is likely to lead to significant improvement in the local economy and rates of employment, delivering 26,000 jobs over the plan period. However, the realisation of the plan is dependent on the wider economy and the provision of infrastructure. If the economy as a whole improves and infrastructure is delivered as planned, this will create the conditions for economic growth in Thurrock.


8.4.1 Table 8.1 identifies those sustainability objectives established for the purposes of the Thurrock Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal that are relevant to this topic chapter.

Table 8.1: Relevant objectives and selected sub-objectives / issues based on the 2005 Scoping Report and the sustainability issues highlighted through the scoping process


To attain sustainable levels

• Generate diverse new jobs for the region?

• The Borough’s economy is expected to grow, but GVA levels currently remain

149


Thurrock Council (2012) Key Facts [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/i-know/profile/pdf/our_thurrock_201207.pdf 151

Essex Insight (2012) Thurrock Labour Market Profile [online] available at: http://www.essexinsight.org.uk/Resource.aspx?ResourceID=78&cookieCheck=true 152

Nomis – Official Labour Market Statistics [online] available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431778/report.aspx?town=thurrock 153



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of prosperity and economic growth

• Support and encourage the growth of small and medium size business?

To increase economic diversity and increase the proportion of skills represented

• Encourage innovation?

• Provide a satisfying job or occupation for everyone who wants one?

• Encourage the provision of more locally based skills and facilities?

To encourage investment and to ensure that current and future residents want to live and work within the borough

• Encourage inwards investment?

• Diversity the economy, increase resilience to external shocks?

• Encourage new business start-ups?

• Increase manufacturing?

To achieve a more equitable

sharing of the benefits of prosperity

across all sectors of society.



Ensure fairer access to services, focusing on the most deprived areas.


below regional averages

• The ‘death’ rate of businesses in the Borough is higher than the business ‘birth’ rate

• All of the Borough’s industries have been affected by the economic recession

• The rate of unemployment in the Borough is higher than the rate at the regional level

• Gross weekly earnings are higher than the national average, although the percentage of managers and professionals in the workforce is lower

• Just two sectors, distribution and hotels and restaurants, provide almost 40% of the employment in the Borough

9 FLOODING



9.1.1 The NPPF calls for development to be directed away from areas highest at risk of flooding, with development ‘not to be allocated if there are reasonably available sites appropriate for the proposed development in areas with a lower probability of flooding’. Where development is necessary, it should be made safe without increasing levels of flood risk elsewhere

9.1.2 The NPPF also states that local planning authorities should avoid ‘inappropriate development in vulnerable areas or adding to the impacts of physical changes to the coast’ in order to reduce the risk from coastal change.

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9.1.3 Box 9.1 discusses the new approaches to flood risk management brought about through the 2010 Flood and Water Management Act. This is supplemented with additional information on the benefits of using Sustainable urban drainage Systems (SuDs) in developments. Finally, Box 9.2 highlights the local context in terms of managing flood risk.

Box 9.1: Further Government guidance on flood risk

The Flood and Water Management Act155

highlights that alternatives to traditional engineering approaches to flood risk management include:

- Incorporating greater resilience measures into the design of new buildings, and retro-fitting at risk

properties (including historic buildings)

- Utilising the environment, such as management of the land to reduce runoff and harnessing the ability of wetlands to store water

- Identifying areas suitable for inundation and water storage to reduce the risk of flooding elsewhere

- Planning to roll back development in coastal areas to avoid damage from flooding or coastal erosion

- Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)156

Further guidance is provided in the document Planning for SuDs.157

This report calls for greater recognition of the multiple benefits that water management can present. It suggests that successful SuDS are capable of ‘contributing to local quality of life and green infrastructure’.

Box 9.2: Local level flood risk context

The Thurrock Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment158

includes an appraisal of the differences in extent between Flood Zones 2 & 3 and so highlights areas at potential risk of flooding should climate change result in higher rates of rainfall and/or more intense rainfall in the future.

A number of recommendations are made in the study. These include ensuring that the Sequential Test is undertaken for all land allocations; that site-specific flood risk assessments should be carried out for all developments in Flood Zones 2 and 3, and all sites in Flood Zone 1 greater than 1ha or on sites that have critical drainage problems. In addition, it notes that SuDS should be included in all new developments wherever possible in order to manage surface water.

155

Flood and Water Management Act (2010) [online] available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/29/contents (accessed 11/12) 156

N.B. The government proposes that the provisions of Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 will come into force on the 1st of October 2012 and will make it mandatory for any development in England or Wales to incorporate SuDs. 157

CIRIA (2010) Planning for SuDs – making it happen [online] available at: http://www.ciria.org/service/knowledgebase/AM/ContentManagerNet/ContentDisplay.aspx?Section=knowledgebase&NoTemplate=1&ContentID=18465 (accessed 11/12) 158

Scott Wilson (2010) Thurrock Level 1 SFRA [online] accessed at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_sfra_level1.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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9.2.1 A large proportion of Thurrock’s urban areas are located within Flood Zone 3 (highest risk). In total there are approximately 11,000 properties currently at risk of tidal flooding, with several hundred properties at risk of fluvial flooding.159 The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment160 for the Core Strategy shows the Flood Hazard Ratings (2009) across the Thurrock area (Figure 9.1).

9.2.2 Flooding (including flash, fluvial and tidal flooding) is highlighted as one of the greatest risks to Thurrock resulting from a changing climate. It is anticipated that projected changes in sea levels are likely to impact communities, businesses and local authority services situated in coastal areas. In addition, incidences of heavy rainfall are expected to continue to rise and will present challenges in terms of drainage and flood risk.161

9.2.3 It is predicted that the main risk of future flooding in the Borough will come from tidal and fluvial sources; from storm surges coupled with high spring tides to produce high tidal water levels in the Thames Estuary; and in the northern part of the district from the River Mardyke respectively.162

9.2.4 The Council will seek to ensure that 90% of new housing is delivered on Previously Developed Land (PDL) in the Thurrock Urban Area. As a result, it is likely that a large proportion of development within Thurrock will have to take place on land identified to be at risk of flooding.163

9.2.5 Some of the key areas in the Borough identified for major development and regeneration (e.g. Tilbury, Thames Gateway) are partly located in Flood Zone 3.

9.2.6 The use of SuDS may be constrained in West Thurrock, Grays and East Tilbury as they overlie the Source Protection Zones for the Stifford and Linford Public Water Supplies, and this will need further exploration in site specific Flood Risk Assessments and/or a drainage strategy.164

159


Scott Wilson (2010) Thurrock Level 1 SFRA [online] accessed at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_sfra_level1.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 161


Scott Wilson (2010) Thurrock Level 1 SFRA [online] accessed at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_sfra_level1.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 163

Thurrock Council (2009). Thurrock PPS25 Sequential Test – Broad Regeneration Areas 164

Scott Wilson (2010) Thurrock Water Cycle Study [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_water_outline_2010.pdf (accessed 12/2012)

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9.3.1 The 2011 SA Report165 notes that a large proportion of Thurrock's urban areas are located within Flood Zone 3, and with the Core Strategy requiring 90% of housing to be built on previously developed land it is likely that new development will be built on land that is at risk of flooding.

9.3.2 The Greengrid and green infrastructure policies may help to mitigate the impact of flooding by reducing run-off, and by providing permeable surfaces and flood storage. The Core Strategy also requires new development to incorporate climate change adaptation measures to reduce the impacts of future flooding and requires developers to provide site specific Flood Risk Assessments.

165


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Figure 9.1: Flood Hazard Rating (2009) for Thurrock. Red shading indicates areas of Extreme Hazards; Orange shading indicates Significant Hazard; Yellow shading indicates Moderate Hazard

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Minimise risk of flooding taking account of climate change? • n/a

• A large proportion of the Borough ‘s urban area is at high risk of flooding

• Much of the new housing proposed in the Borough will be in the urban area and so will face higher flood risk

• Climate change will potentially increase levels of flood risk in the Borough

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10 HOUSING



10.1.1 The NPPF states that local planning authorities should meet the ‘full, objectively assessed need for market and affordable housing’ in their area. With a view to creating ‘sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities’ authorities should ensure provision of affordable housing onsite or externally where robustly justified.

10.1.2 Plans for housing mix should be based upon ‘current and future demographic trends, market trends and the needs of different groups in the community’. Larger developments are suggested as sometimes being the best means of achieving a supply of new homes, with these to be developed in accordance with the ‘principles of Garden Cities’.


10.1.3 Of further interest are the objectives of the Government in terms of housing, as laid out in its 2011 housing strategy (Box 10.1). This is supplemented by a summary of recent progress on housing issues. Box 10.2 discusses housing in terms of the local context.

Box 10.1: Other Government guidance and an independent appraisal of progress on housing

The Government’s housing strategy Laying the Foundations166

sets out a number of key objectives, including in relation to the quality of homes. The ‘Housing Report

167 collates the official figures available on

housing in order to establish whether the Government’s approach to housing is succeeding. A challenge identified for the Government is to produce a step change in housing in order to meet the nations needs and aspirations, especially given that: ‘Many of the external pressures on the housing market, ranging from a growing and ageing population to falling incomes, are likely to intensify over the coming years’.

The Government’s performance is analysed under a number of main headings, the following of which are of significance:

- Housing Supply: A small increase of new build is recorded, but this is from a historically low base. The number of completions in 2011 was 38% below the 2007 peak.

- Overcrowding: This situation is worsening, and current measures to tackle under-occupation may not necessarily resolve the problem.

- Homelessness: There has been a large increase in homeless acceptances and rough sleepers, with this problem potentially exacerbated by further cuts to Housing benefit during 2013.

- Empty Homes: Despite 720,000 homes currently being classed as empty, the situation seems to be an improving one. This is particularly the case with long-term empty homes.

- Home Ownership: House prices are relatively steady, sales are up, and affordability is increasing. However, homeownership rates are falling and there is a decline in low cost ownership sales. Home

166

CLG (2011) Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England [online] available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/2033676.pdf (accessed 11/2012) 167

The Chartered Institute of Housing, National Housing Federation & Shelter (2012) The Housing Report: Edition 2 [online] available at: http://england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/435653/Housing_Report_2_-_May_2012.pdf (accessed 11/2012)

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ownership remains out of reach for most people.

Box 10.2: Local level housing context

The Thurrock Local Housing Strategy 2012-17168

provides an analysis of the current housing market and gaps in provision, and also sets out the strategic priorities and the areas that will be addressed through its long term vision and five year delivery plan. It directly links in to the objectives of the Sustainable Community Strategy (Box 6-4) through its four strategic priorities of managing and improving housing supply and choice; meeting and supporting the needs of vulnerable groups; investing in the housing stock and environmental sustainability; and ensuring all services are effective and achieve value for money. The strategy acknowledges the specific pressures on housing in Thurrock and aims to expand the housing offer at both ends of the market in order to meet identified need. Thurrock’s adopted Core Strategy

169 requires Thurrock to deliver a minimum of 18,500 dwellings between

2001 and 2021. The majority of these (10,100 dwellings) will be delivered in the existing Thurrock urban area. The Council requires new residential developments to provide a range of dwelling types and sizes to reflect the Borough’s housing need, in accordance with the findings of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment, any relevant development briefs, the local context, amenity and car parking standards. The Council will seek the minimum provision of 35% of the total number of residential units built to be provided as Affordable Housing.


Existing Housing Stock

10.2.1 In August 2011, the average house price in Thurrock stood at £144,691. This is in comparison to an average of £145,499 in August 2010.170 House prices in the East of England fell further from the January 2008 peak than nationally, but by the second quarter of 2009 they were recovering faster. However, house prices in Thurrock have continued to fall and were about 18% lower in July 2009 than at the peak.171

10.2.2 Demand for good quality affordable housing is high largely due to an increasing population, high property prices, despite the recent price drop, and existing areas of poor quality housing within Thurrock. Home ownership remains unaffordable for many and an underline upward trend in the housing waiting list provides an indication of affordable housing needs.172

Housing Completions

168

Thurrock Council (2012) Thurrock Housing Strategy [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/housing/pdf/housing_strategy_2012.pdf 169

Thurrock Council (2011) Core Strategy [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/core_strategy_adopted_20111221_full.pdf?bcsi_scan_E956BCBE8ADBC89F=0&bcsi_scan_filename=core_strategy_adopted_20111221_full.pdf 170


InsightEast (2009) East of England Recession Impact, September 2009 [online] available: http://insighteast.org.uk/WebDocuments/Public/approved/user_9/recessionreportsep2009_1/Recessionreportsep2009.pdf 172

Thurrock Council Housing Strategy 2012-2017 available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/housing/pdf/housing_strategy_2012.pdf( accessed 12/2012)

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10.2.3 According to the recent projections, the number of households in the Borough will increase from 64,500 in 2008 to 89,100 by 2031. In 2001, 27.4% of households were one person, 10.1% lone parents, 39.3% married couples, 10.7% cohabiting couples and 12.5% other households.173

The rate of new housing developments has slowed post 2008174

. During 2010/11 the number of net additional dwellings was 290. The total number of net additional dwellings since 2001 is 5,326, with the average annual number provided standing at 533. This figure is below the annual average provision of 925 per annum required to meet the LDF dwelling provision targets for 2001-2021 ( Figure 10.1).

175

Figure 10.1: Net additional dwellings in previous years and projected for the next 15 years

176

The housing trajectory in the Borough over the next five years is projected to involve a gradual recovery in the local housing market, with the sector eventually achieving levels of completion

173


Thurrock Council Housing Strategy 2012-2017 available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/housing/pdf/housing_strategy_2012.pdf( accessed 12/2012) 175



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commensurate with those achieved at the height of the previous housing boom. The total supply of deliverable sites over this period is estimated to be 3,768 ( Figure ).

177

10.2.4 The 2008, the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) indicated that 54% of new homes would have to be affordable to meet current housing needs. However, the SHMA recognised that this level is not deliverable and suggested a 35% affordable housing target for the sub-region. For Thurrock, a minimum split of 70:30 between social rented and intermediate provision was suggested.

10.2.5 In 2010/11, 57 affordable houses were completed in the Borough, contributing to a total of 233 units of affordable housing since the period 2007/8.178 The number of affordable housing completions as a percentage of total dwellings on large sites179 rose year on year from just 7.6% in 2005/6 to 100% in 2008/09. However, this figure fell to 64.4% in 2009/10, then to 24.6%180 in 2010/11.181

10.2.6 In terms the density of new housing completions in 2010/11, 100% of the 214 dwellings built on sites of 10 dwellings or more were developed at a density of above 50 dwellings per hectare. In 2009/10 a figure of 100% was also achieved and represented significant improvement on 2008/09, during which time only 57.7% of completions achieved a density of over 50 dwelling per hectare.182


10.3.1 The 2011 SA Report, in its appraisal of the Thurrock Core Strategy notes that housing delivery targets are set out in order to deliver the quantum of housing required to meet national and regional targets. However, the consistent failure in recent years to deliver housing numbers in line with the Plans target means that in future it is likely that the need for housing, particularly affordable, will outstrip supply.

177


Thurrock Council Housing Strategy 2012-2017 available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/housing/pdf/housing_strategy_2012.pdf 179

Large sites are considered to be those incorporating over 30 dwellings 180

N.B. The low percentages of affordable housing during 2010/11 is considered to be mainly due the front end delivery of the affordable housing element of the development at the Former Sports Ground, North Road, Purfleet 181



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To provide housing to all those in the Borough in need

• Increase access to decent and affordable housing?

• House prices fell during the 2008 recession and have yet to recover to their peak levels

• Demand for affordable housing in the Borough is particularly high

• The number of households in the Borough is expected to undergo a large increase

• The rate of new developments has slowed since the 2008 recession and has been consistently below the levels required to meet Plan targets

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11 SOIL, CONTAMINATION & SUSTAINABLE LAND USE



11.1.1 In relation to conserving and enhancing the natural environment, the NPPF calls upon the planning system to protect and enhance soils. It should also prevent new or existing development from being ‘adversely affected’ by the presence of ‘unacceptable levels’ of soil pollution or land instability and be willing to remediate and mitigate ‘despoiled, degraded, derelict, contaminated and unstable land, where appropriate’.

11.1.2 The NPPF calls for planning policies and decisions to ‘encourage the effective use of land’ through the reuse of land which has been previously developed, ‘provided that this is not of high environmental value’. Whilst there is no longer a national requirement to build at a minimum density, the NPPF requires local planning authorities to ‘set out their own approach to housing density to reflect local circumstances’. The value of best and most versatile agricultural land should also be taken into account.


11.1.3 In Box 11.1 below, further guidance on soils and their protection is provided through Defra’s strategy for soils in England.

Box 11.1: Further Government policy

In Safeguarding our Soils: A strategy for England183

, a vision is set out for the future of soils in the Country. An element of this vision is the condition of soils in urban areas, which are to be ‘sufficiently valued for the ecosystem services they provide and given appropriate weight in the planning system’. Good quality soils in urban areas are recognised as being ‘vital in supporting ecosystems, facilitating drainage and providing urban green spaces for communities’. That planning decisions take sufficient account of soil quality is a concern of the report, in particular in cases where’ significant areas of the best and most versatile agricultural land are involved’. Preventing the pollution of soils and addressing the historic legacy of contaminated land is another element of the reports vision.

In terms of future trends, the report notes that pressures on soils and competition for land is likely to increase in future as a result of population growth, As a result, the effects of these trends and the ‘changing demands on our soils’ needs to be better understood and it must be ensured that ‘appropriate consideration is given to soils in the planning process’.


Sustainable Land Use

183

Defra (2009) Safeguarding our Soils: A strategy for England [online] available at: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/land/soil/documents/soil-strategy.pdf (accessed 11/2012)

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11.2.1 Over 70% of Thurrock’s land area is Greenbelt land. Some of the Borough’s Greenbelt land is considered to have significant nature conservation and landscape value.184

11.2.2 During 2010/11, 74.8% of the dwelling completions that took place were on previously Developed Land (PDL). This represents a considerable decline, with over 90% of completions having been on PDL since 2003/4. All of the change in employment floorspace in the Borough recorded during the year 2009/10 was on previously developed land.185

11.2.3 The majority of agricultural land in Thurrock is Grade II and III. There is a small area of Grade I land which is in the west. 'Thurrock Council directly manages two allotment sites, one in Corringham, and one in Stanford-le-Hope. There are also 22 self-managed sites throughout the Borough.186


11.3.1 The 2011 SA Report187 in its assessment of the Thurrock Core Strategy states that the Plan will perform well against objectives for sustainable land use and should improve the baseline situation. Development will be high density and concentrated on previously developed land which will reduce pressure on greenfield land including the best quality agricultural land and the greenbelt. The spatial policies put forward in the Plan also offer an opportunity for the remediation of brownfield land and sites that could be contaminated.






To make the best use of land in • Development land with least

• A large proportion of the Borough’s land is designated as greenbelt

• The amount of development taking place of previously

184



Thurrock Council (2012) Allotment Sites [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/environment/allotments/ (accessed 01/2013) 187


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the Borough, including reuse of previously developed land.

environmental / amenity value?

• Reduce vacant buildings and derelict land?

To protect and enhance the environment through reducing the emissions of pollutants




developed land has fallen

• There is a small area of Grade I agricultural land in the Borough, with the majority classed as Grade II and III

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12 WASTE



12.1.1 The EU’s Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste is long-term strategy which aims to ensure that Europe becomes a recycling society that seeks to avoid waste and which uses waste as a resource.188 The strategy proposes that approaches to waste management are modernised and that they promote more and better recycling.


12.1.2 The NPPF does not contain any specific waste policies. Nonetheless, local authorities who are preparing waste related plans should have regard to the policies within the framework so far as they are relevant.


12.1.3 The case for action and the steps required to move towards more sustainable waste management system is set out in a recent Government review of waste policies. This document is summarised below in (Box 12.1) in conjunction with local level policy.

Box 12.1: Government and local level policy

The Government Review of Waste Policy in England189

recognises that environmental benefits and economic growth can be the result of a more sustainable approach to the use of materials. As such, it sets out a vision to move beyond our current ‘throwaway society’ to a ‘zero waste economy’. The report recognises that planning will play a critical role in delivering this ambition. In terms of planning for waste the report notes that local authorities should consider the infrastructure needs of their community from the earliest stages of developing their local policies and plans. It also states that local communities should benefit from the hosting of waste facilities.

The Borough’s Core Strategy190

seeks to drive waste management up the waste hierarchy by ensuring developments minimise waste at source and maximise use of recycled materials; reduce the level of biodegradable waste going to landfill by increasing recycling and composting; and treat waste as a resource to drive forward local energy objectives.

188

European Commission (2011) Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste [online] available at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0013:FIN:EN:PDF (accessed 11/2012) 189

Defra (2011) Government Review of Waste Policy in England [online] available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13540-waste-policy-review110614.pdf (accessed 08/2012) 190


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12.2.1 Estimates of the waste collected and managed by local authorities in England over the last financial year (2011/2012) have been compiled by Defra. The national headline results are as follows:191

• 43% of household waste recycled (the highest percentage on record but the lowest annual increase in ten years)

• 22.9 million tonnes of household waste generated equal to 431kg of waste per person (continuing the pattern of annual reductions seen since 2007/2008)

• 10.7 million tonnes of waste collected recycled, composted or reused by local authorities (for the first time on record this figure was greater than the amount landfilled)

12.2.2 During 2010/2011 there were 68,760 tonnes of municipal waste arising in Thurrock. There has been a steady decline in municipal arisings over the past three years, with the figure standing at 74,247 tonnes in 2008/09 and 72,501 tonnes.192

12.2.3 Of the total municipal waste arising in the Borough in 2010/11, 46.2% was sent for reuse, recycling or composting, with 32.6% sent to landfill. This represents a considerable decline in the amount of waste going to landfill, which in 2008/09 was the destination for 69.3% of waste. This is a result of a sharp increase in the amount of waste sent to energy recovery (from 0.1% to 21.3%, 2008-10) and a gradual increase in recycling rates (from 30.6% to 46.2%. 2008-10).193

12.2.4 The 2010 Thurrock Waste Management Capacity Needs Assessment notes that there is a gap in terms of recycling and composting capacity; there is no operational recovery capacity in Thurrock; landfill capacity is set to be exhausted in 2014/15; and therefore Thurrock is expected to require Municipal Solid Waste and Commercial & Industrial recycling and recovery capacity immediately; and Construction, Demolition and Excavation recycling capacity from approximately 2014 onwards. 194

191

Local Authority Collected Waste Management Statistics for England – Final annual Results 2011/12 192



Environmental Resources Management (2010) Thurrock Waste Management Capacity Needs Assessment Update [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_waste_needs_201011.pdf

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12.3.1 In its appraisal of the Thurrock Core Strategy, the 2011 SA Report195 noted that, without mitigation measures, increasing waste arisings were likely to occur in the Borough as a result of an increasing population and related housing and employment growth. However, the appraisal also pointed to the mitigation measures set out in the Plan, such as waste minimisation and improvements in recycling rates, plus the promotion of good design and construction practices. As such, an improvement against the baseline is predicted.




To reduce the amount of waste

produced and the amount of waste being imported.

• Reduce waste generated, reuse / recycle / use recycled?

• Minimise the production of waste?

• Reduce the amount of waste imported?

To reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to use the available natural resources in the most efficient and sustainable manner.


• There has been a steady decline in municipal waste arisings, plus an increase in the recycling rate, although improvements could be made

• There is a need for investment in recycling and composting capacity in order to manage the Borough’s waste in future

195


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13 WATER QUALITY & WATER RESOURCES



13.1.1 The EU’s ‘Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources’196 highlights the need for Member States to reduce pressure on water resources, for instance by using green infrastructure such as wetlands, floodplains and buffer strips along water courses. This would also reduce the EU’s vulnerability to floods and droughts. It also emphasises the role water efficiency can play in reducing scarcity and water stress.


13.1.2 In relation to water resources, the NPPF states that local planning authorities should produce strategic policies to deliver the provision of a variety of infrastructure, including that necessary for water supply.


13.1.3 The recent Government White Paper on Water provides further key background on the issues of water quality and resources (Box 13.1).

Box 13.1: Further Government policy

The Water White Paper197

sets out the Government’s vision for a more resilient water sector, where water is valued as the precious resource it is. It states the measures that will be taken to tackle issues such as poorly performing ecosystems, and the combined impacts of climate change and population growth on stressed water resources.

Commitments are made in the White Paper to ‘encourage and incentivise water efficiency measures’ at the demand side. Through these measures and the demand management measures set out in Water Resource Management Plan’s for water companies, the Government aspires to reduce average demand to 130 litres per head, per day by 2030.

The avoidance of pollution is also a consideration. As an element of this the Government will ‘consult on a national strategy on urban diffuse pollution in 2012’. This will focus on a number of key sources, including runoff from roads and industrial estates.


Water Resources

196

European Commission (2012) A Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources [online] available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/pdf/COM-2012-673final_EN_ACT-cov.pdf (accessed 11/2012) 197

Defra (2011) Water for life (The Water White Paper) [online] available at http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm82/8230/8230.pdf (accessed 11/2012)

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13.2.1 The East of England is the driest region in England and is one of the fastest growing in terms of development. Water resource availability is limited, with supply-demand issues in parts of the region. In some catchments, winter abstraction is not reliable during dry winters. Additionally, under predicted scenarios for climate change more frequent drought conditions are expected, along with increased demands on water resources, for instance to water gardens.198

13.2.2 There is little or no water available from existing sources within Thurrock and therefore future development will be served by water supplied from the increase in storage at Abberton Reservoir which is due to be completed in 2014.199

13.2.3 Essex and Suffolk Water have indicated that proposed development up to 2025 is unlikely to require strategic level investment in the water supply network and it should be able to connect to all proposed development areas via the existing strategic mains, though site specific connections will still be required. Meanwhile, Anglian Water is undertaking work to improve the wastewater network to accommodate projected growth.200

Water Quality

13.2.4 Water quality within the lower stretches of the River Mardyke which flows through Thurrock urban area is currently of moderate to poor quality and fails to meet ‘good ecological status’ under the WFD.201

13.2.5 Poorly managed surface water runoff occurs from development areas bordering the River Mardyke. This should be mitigated to ensure there is no deterioration in the existing water quality.202


13.3.1 The 2011 Sustainability Appraisal203 notes that the level of development proposed in the Core Strategy will put pressure on water quality and supply in Thurrock. Nonetheless, with regards to supply, the Water Cycle Study confirms that there should not be any shortage of water after 2014 with the expansion of Abberton Reservoir.

198


Thurrock Council (2009). Water Cycle Study [draft]. 200

Scott Wilson (2010) Thurrock Water Cycle Study [online] available at: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/pdf/ldf_tech_water_outline_2010.pdf (accessed 12/2012) 201




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13.3.2 Water quality is currently at moderate to poor status and is currently failing the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. However, the Core Strategy makes provision for the Greengrid and also requirements for SuDS and wider green infrastructure, which should increase water quality.







• Improve the water quality of rivers and groundwater supplies?

• Maintain ‘good’ water quality whilst accommodating new development discharge?

Ensure that water consumption and

water sources can accommodate future development

• Limit water consumption to levels that continue to support wetland habitat and rivers?


• Reduce water use, maintain water security despite climate change?

• Limit water consumption to levels supportable by natural processes and storage systems, taking into account the impact of climate change?


• The Borough lies within an area of limited water availability, with future supplies potentially vulnerable to climate change

• Waterways in the Borough are failing to reach targets set in terms of quality

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THE SA FRAMEWORK

13.4.2 Drawing on the review of the sustainability context and baseline, the SA Scoping Report Update has able to identify a range of sustainability issues that should be a focus of SA. Sustainability issues are listed in Table 14.1 below for each of the sustainability topic headings that have been used as the basis for scoping. Taken together, these sustainability topics and issues will provide a methodological framework for the appraisal of alternatives and the draft plan.

Table 14.1: Sustainability topics and issues (i.e. the SA framework)


Air Quality and Noise

4a. To deliver sustainable patterns of location of development including employment and housing.


• Encourage more people to live in town centres?


7. To protect and enhance the environment through reducing the emissions of pollutants.



• Reduce noise?

10. To reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to use the available natural resources in the most efficient and sustainable manner.




• Air pollution remains poor in many parts of the Borough, primarily due to road vehicle emissions

• Despite improvements in some areas, overall air quality is not improving in the Borough

• Climate change may lead to additional deteriorations in air quality

• The number of noise related complaints have remained consistently high

Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure

1. To attain sustainable levels of prosperity and economic growth



• Minimise development of Greenfield land?

• Provide opportunities for people to come into contact with and appreciate wildlife and wild places?

5. To make the best use of land in the borough, including reuse of previously developed land.


6. To protect and enhance • Protect brownfield biodiversity?

• The Borough is home to a wide range of sites designated for their biodiversity importance

• A number of the Borough’s SSSIs are failing to meet favourable or recovering standards

• Brownfield land in the Borough is of high importance to biodiversity

• Opportunities exist for the creation and enhancement of green infrastructure in the

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Thurrock’s biodiversity and geodiversity, including all designated sites.

• Protect and enhance habitats and wildlife taking account of climate change?

• Restore the full range of characteristic habitats and species to viable levels?




12. Ensure fairer access to services, focusing on the most deprived areas

• Increase access to leisure facilities (Inc. woodland, parks)?

• Improve the quality & quantity of publicly accessible green space?

Borough

• There is resident dissatisfaction with parks and open spaces, and deficiencies in some areas

Climate Change



10. To reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to use the available natural resources in the most efficient and sustainable manner


• Minimise need for energy?

• Increase energy efficiency?



• Despite recent falls, energy consumption per capita is high, primarily driven by Industrial and Commercial usage

• Road transport related emissions are higher than the national average

• There are opportunities for low carbon heat projects to the west of the Borough

Community and Well-Being


• Ensure everyone can afford a good standard of living?


4a. To deliver sustainable patterns of location of development including employment and housing

• Improve the quality and quantity of publicly accessible greenspace?



11. To achieve a more equitable sharing of the benefits of prosperity across all sectors of society


• Access to services and facilities for all?

• Create opportunities for unemployed, especially long-term

• The population of the Borough has been rising and is projected to continue to do so

• Older people are expected to become an increasingly large proportion of the population

• Deprivation has risen in the Borough overall, and there are a number of highly deprived LSOAs

• Life expectancy meets national averages, but is significantly poorer for those in deprived areas

• The health of people in the Borough remains mixed, despite improvements in

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disabled?

• Help low income groups / especially children in low income families?

12. Ensure fairer access to services, focusing on the most deprived areas.

• Provide more equal access to opportunities?

• Contribute to local regeneration, help deprived areas?


14. To reduce crime and the fear of crime • Reduce crime rates?

15. To reduce inequalities in health and ensure all current and future residents have access to health facilities.

• Promote healthy lifestyles?

• Reduce health inequalities?

some areas

• Levels of educational attainment are lower than national averages and there are areas of educational deprivation

• There are deficits in some types of key infrastructure, including social and community facilities

• There is good access to many services, but access is poor to further education facilities and hospitals

• Crime has fallen but remains relatively high, with some areas of the Borough suffering disproportionately

• Transport infrastructure upgrades will be necessary in future

• Sustainable modes of transport are underutilised in the Borough

• Climate change could result in increased health problems, crime, and disruptions to transport services

Cultural Heritage and Landscape

4a. To deliver sustainable patterns of location of development including employment and housing

• Enhance historic character, streetscape and townscape to strengthen sense of place?


• Improve the quality and quantity of publicly accessible green space?

8. Protect and enhance landscape character, local distinctiveness and historic built heritage

• Protect designated and undesignated historic sites and areas of significance?

• Recognise and protect historic landscape character?

• Maintain / enhance built and historic character?

• Conserve and enhance regional diversity and local distinctiveness?

10. To reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to use the available natural resources in the most efficient

• Reduce minerals and resources extracted and imported?

• Encourage farming practices

• The Borough contains a variety of heritage assets, several of which are at risk

• There are a range of landscape character types in the Borough, of varying sensitivity and condition

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and sustainable manner sensitive to the character of the countryside; maintain soil quality?

Economy and Employment


• Generate diverse new jobs for the region?

• Support and encourage the growth of small and medium size business?

2. To increase economic diversity and increase the proportion of skills represented

• Encourage innovation?

• Provide a satisfying job or occupation for everyone who wants one?

• Encourage the provision of more locally based skills and facilities?

3. To encourage investment and to ensure that current and future residents want to live and work within the borough

• Encourage inwards investment?

• Diversity the economy, increase resilience to external shocks?

• Encourage new business start-ups?

• Increase manufacturing?

11. To achieve a more equitable sharing of the benefits of prosperity

across all sectors of society.



12. Ensure fairer access to services, focusing on the most deprived areas.


• The Borough’s economy is expected to grow, but GVA levels currently remain below regional averages

• The ‘death’ rate of businesses in the Borough is higher than the business ‘birth’ rate

• All of the Borough’s industries have been affected by the economic recession

• The rate of unemployment in the Borough is higher than the rate at the regional level

• Gross weekly earnings are higher than the national average, although the percentage of managers and professionals in the workforce is lower

• Just two sectors, distribution and hotels and restaurants, provide almost 40% of the employment in the Borough

Flooding



4b. Minimise risk of flooding taking account of climate change?

• n/a

• A large proportion of the Borough ‘s urban area is at high risk of flooding

• Much of the new housing proposed in the Borough will be in the urban area and so will face higher flood risk

• Climate change will potentially increase levels of flood risk in the Borough

Housing

13. To provide housing to all those in the Borough in need

• Increase access to decent and affordable housing?

• House prices fell during the 2008 recession and have yet to recover to their peak levels

• Demand for affordable housing in the Borough is

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particularly high

• The number of households in the Borough is expected to undergo a large increase

• The rate of new developments has slowed since the 2008 recession and has been consistently below the levels required to meet Plan targets

Soil Contamination and Sustainable Land Use



5. To make the best use of land in the Borough, including reuse of previously developed land.


• Reduce vacant buildings and derelict land?

7. To protect and enhance the environment through reducing the emissions of pollutants


10. To reduce consumption of non-renewable energy sources and to use the available natural resources in the most efficient and sustainable manner


• A large proportion of the Borough’s land is designated as greenbelt

• The amount of development taking place of previously developed land has fallen

• There is a small area of Grade I agricultural land in the Borough, with the majority being Grade II and III

Waste

16. To reduce the amount of waste

produced and the amount of waste being imported.

• Reduce waste generated, reuse / recycle / use recycled?

• Minimise the production of waste?

• Reduce the amount of waste imported?



• There has been a steady decline in municipal waste arisings, plus an increase in the recycling rate, although improvements could be made

• There is a need for investment in recycling and composting capacity in order to manage the Borough’s waste in future

Water Quality and Water Resources




• Improve the water quality of rivers and groundwater supplies?

• Maintain ‘good’ water quality whilst accommodating new development

• The Borough lies within an area of limited water availability, with future supplies potentially vulnerable to climate change

• Waterways in the Borough are failing to reach targets

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discharge?

9. Ensure that water consumption and water sources can accommodate future development.

• Limit water consumption to levels that continue to support wetland habitat and rivers?


• Reduce water use, maintain water security despite climate change?

• Limit water consumption to levels supportable by natural processes and storage systems, taking into account the impact of climate change?


set in terms of quality

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14 SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL METHODOLOGY

14.1.1 It is a requirement that SA is undertaken in-line with the procedures prescribed by the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, which transpose into national law the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive.204

14.1.2 The Regulations require that a report is published for consultation alongside the draft plan that ‘identifies, describes and evaluates’ the likely significant effects of implementing ‘the plan, and reasonable alternatives’.205

The report must then be taken into account, alongside consultation responses, when finalising the plan.

14.1.3 The Regulations prescribe the information that must be contained within the report, which for the purposes of SA is known as the ‘SA Report’. Essentially, there is a need for the SA Report to answer the following four questions:

1. What’s the scope of the SA?

− This is an opportunity to present a review of sustainability issues that exist in relation to the plan and identify those that should be a particular focus of the SA (given that issues are potentially numerous, and SA should be focused and concise)

2. What has Plan-making / SA involved up to this point?

− Prior to preparing the draft plan there must be (as a minimum) one plan-making / SA iteration at which point alternative approaches to addressing key plan issues are subjected to SA and findings taken on-board by the plan-makers.

3. What are the appraisal findings at this current stage?

− i.e. what are the predicted sustainability effects of the draft plan and what changes might be made to the plan in order to avoid or mitigate negative effects and enhance the positives.

4. What happens next?

− In particular, there is a need to think about how the effects of the plan will be monitored once it is adopted and being implemented.

14.1.4 These ‘SA questions’ are derived from Schedule 2 of the Regulations, which present the information to be provided within the report under a list of ten points.

Table 15.1: Questions that must be answered (sequentially) within the SA Report

SA QUESTION SA SUB-QUESTION

CORRESPONDING REQUIREMENT (THE REPORT MUST INCLUDE…)

204

Directive 2001/42/EC 205

Regulation 12(2)

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SA QUESTION SA SUB-QUESTION

CORRESPONDING REQUIREMENT (THE REPORT MUST INCLUDE…)

What’s the Plan seeking to achieve?

• An outline of the contents and main objectives of the plan

What’s the sustainability ‘context’?

• The relationship of the plan with other relevant plans and programmes

• The environmental protection objectives, established at international or national level, relevant to the plan

What’s the sustainability ‘baseline’ at the current time?

• The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment

• The environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected

How would the baseline evolve without the plan?

• The likely evolution of the current state of the environment without implementation of the plan

Part 1: What’s the scope of the SA?

What are the key issues that should be a focus of SA?

• Any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance

Part 2: What has Plan-making / SA involved up to this point?

• An outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with (and thus an explanation of why the alternatives dealt with are ‘reasonable’)

• The likely significant effects on the environment associated with alternatives / an outline of the reasons for selecting preferred alternatives / a description of how environmental objectives and considerations are reflected in the draft plan.

Part 3: What are the appraisal findings at this current stage?

• The likely significant effects on the environment associated with the draft plan

• The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any significant adverse effects of implementing the draft plan

Part 4: What happens next (including monitoring)?

• A description of the measures envisaged concerning monitoring

14.1.5 It is important to note that effects are predicted taking into account the criteria presented within Regulations.206 So, for example, account is taken of the duration, frequency and reversibility of effects as far as possible. The potential for ‘cumulative’ effects is also considered.207 These effect ‘characteristics’ are described within the appraisal as appropriate.

14.1.6 The SA has been conducted in an integrated manner through the inclusion of Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) and Health Impact Assessment (HIA).

206

Schedule 1 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 207

In particular, there is a need to take into account the effects of the Core Strategy acting in combination with the equivalent plans prepared for neighbouring authorities.

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14.1.7 EqIA and HIA are increasingly being undertaken and good practice is beginning to emerge. We have incorporated these assessments into the SA process through the inclusion of equality and diversity and health as well as health equality objectives in the SA framework.

14.1.8 Whereas SA considers the impacts of a plan on the population as a whole, EqIA and aspects of HIA are concerned with ensuring that a plan

• addresses the specific needs of particular groups of people; and

• does not have a disproportionately negative impact - particularly in combination with past impacts and the likely future impacts of other policies, plans etc. - on any sector of the population.

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

14.1.9 Guidance on EqIA suggests a six-stage process of screening, scoping / defining, information gathering, making a judgement, action planning, and publication and review208. This very closely matches the SA process, but focuses on the needs of, and impacts on, specific groups and the proportionality of impacts.

14.1.10 There are six identified equality target groups, or equality strands, that are central to the equality agenda:

• race;

• gender;

• disability;

• sexual orientation;

• age; and

• religion and or belief.

14.1.11 In order to undertake the EqIA, we have included a specific objective in the SA (see Section 16) and other aspects of equality (e.g. access to services) have been considered under the corresponding SA objective. We have then followed the same process for the EqIA as we followed for the SA, that is we have asked how equality issues will be impacted on.

208

Improvement and Development Agency (2008). The EqIA process: six-step guide [online] available at: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=8017502 (accessed 21 January 2010).

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HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT

14.1.12 Part of HIA involves considering a plan’s impacts on the overall health of the population as a whole, and part focuses on identifying and managing health inequalities (often linked with deprivation). The former takes an approach similar to that of any SA topic; the latter is more like EqIA, using health as a specific dimension of equality.

14.1.13 Considerable guidance on health impact assessment exists, including Department of Health screening questions for HIA209, draft guidance on health and SEA210, information on healthy communities211, and an ‘HIA Gateway’ run by the Association of Public Health Authorities.212 This guidance mostly focuses on the former aspects of HIA.

14.1.14 We have covered both aspects of HIA in the SA framework. This has been achieved through the inclusion of a specific SA objective dealing with health inequalities and also through several other SA topics. This is because it should be recognised that many determinants of health straddle other SA topics such as access to open space, good air and water quality, being employed and living in good quality housing.

14.2 Core Strategy Focused Review: SA Assessment

14.2.1 The appraisal will identify ‘significant effects’ on the baseline / likely future baseline associated with the draft plan, drawing on the sustainability issues and indicators identified through scoping as a methodological framework. The indicators used in this Scoping Report are contextual i.e. they allow us to identify issues in the borough. They are useful to use as a benchmark against which the plan is appraised. They may also be useful for monitoring the performance of the plan in sustainability terms. However, they should not be confused with outcome indicators that are linked to the significant effects identified as part of the appraisal process (although there may be some overlap).

14.2.2 Every effort is made to predict effects accurately; however, this is inherently challenging given the high level nature of the policy measures under consideration. The ability to predict effects accurately is also limited by understanding of the baseline and (in particular) the future baseline.

209

Department of Health (2007). Screening questions for health impact assessment [online] available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Legislation/Healthassessment/DH_4093617 210

Department of Health (2008). Draft guidance on health in strategic environmental assessment [online] available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Closedconsultations/DH_073261 211

Cave, B., P. Molyneux and A. Coutts (2004). Healthy sustainable communities [online] available at: http://www.mksm.nhs.uk/FileAccess.aspx?id=148 212

APHO (no date). HIA Gateway [online] available at: http://www.apho.org.uk/default.aspx?QN=P_HIA

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14.2.3 Because of the uncertainties involved, there is a need to exercise caution when identifying effects.213 In light of this, where significant effects are predicted this is done with an accompanying explanation of the assumptions made. In many instances it is not possible to predict significant effects, but it is possible to comment on the merits of the draft plan in more general terms.

14.3 Sites

14.3.1 Thurrock are proposing through the consultation on both the Core Strategy Focused Review and the Site Allocations and Policies document to allocate Broad Locations and sites. In order to appraise these sites, we will use a Geographic Information System (GIS) based method for capturing the sustainability performance of the sites proposed.

14.3.2 It is likely that alternative sites will be considered for each settlement; however, it may be the case that all potential development sites across the district are considered against one another as alternatives.

14.3.3 Either way, a significant number of alternatives will be appraised and so there is a need to ensure consistency / avoid potential for criticism by site objectors (who may be unhappy if a site is shown to perform favourably relative to alternatives) and promoters (who may be unhappy if a site is shown to perform poorly relative to alternatives).

14.3.4 There may be some potential for professional judgement (drawing on a qualitative analysis of issues / baseline understanding identified through SA scoping) to inform the appraisal of significant effects for site alternatives. This will to a large extent be dependent on the number of alternatives that are under consideration.

14.3.5 However, to ensure consistency, there will primarily be a need to apply quantitative analysis with significant effects identified the basis of strict decision-rules.

14.3.6 Set out in Appendix 1 is a series of criteria for which the performance of sites can (given the data-sets available) and, it is suggested, should be quantified with a view to identifying significant effects. The criteria are grouped under ‘sustainability topic’ headings and have been developed to reflect the sustainability issues identified through SA scoping as far as possible.

213

As stated by Government Guidance (The Plan Making Manual, see http://www.pas.gov.uk/pas/core/page.do?pageId=156210): "Ultimately, the significance of an effect is a matter of judgment and should require no more than a clear and reasonable justification."

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14.3.7 For each criteria, significant effect ‘decision rules’ are suggested. It is suggested that a simple traffic light system be used to categorise effects as either significant adverse (red), adverse (amber) or non-adverse (green).

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APPENDIX 1 – SITE ALLOCATION ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Site

Introduction

Size (ha)

Proposed use Map

Accessibility to existing centres and services

Criteria Performance categories Performance

1a How far is the nearest town or regional centre?

R = >3km

A = 1 - 3km

G = <1km; or allocation is greenspace.

Distance =

RAG category =

1b How far is the nearest local centre,

town or regional centre?

R = >800m

A = 400-800m

G = <400m; or allocation is greenspace

Distance =

RAG category =

1c How far is the nearest health

centre or GP service?

R = >800m

A = 400-800m

G = <400m; or allocation is greenspace.

Distance =

RAG category =

1d How far is the nearest secondary

school?

R = >5km

A = 2 - 5km

G = <2km; or allocation is not housing.

Distance =

RAG category =

1e How far is the nearest primary

school?

R = >800m

A = 400 - 800m

G = <400m; or allocation is not housing

Distance =

RAG category =

Accessibility to outdoor facilities and greenspace


2a How far is the nearest outdoor

sports facilities?

R = >3km

A = 1 - 3km

G = <1km; or allocation is not housing

Distance =

RAG category =

2b How far is the nearest children’s

play space (local)?

A = >400m from ‘local’ children’s play space


Distance =

RAG category =

2c How far is the nearest children’s

play space (neighbourhood)?

A = >1200m from ‘neighbourhood’ children’s play space


Distance =

RAG category =

2d How far is the nearest parks, open

space or multifunctional greenspace

(>2ha in size)?

R = >400m


Distance =

RAG category =

Supporting economic growth and regeneration


3a How far is the nearest employment hub or industrial area (primary or secondary)?

R = > 5km

A = 2 - 5 km

G = <2km; or allocation is not for housing or employment

Distance=

RAG category =

3b Will allocation result in loss of employment space?

R = Allocation will lead to significant loss of onsite employment

A = Allocation will lead to some loss of onsite employment

RAG category =

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G = Loss of employment space is not a problem

3c Will allocation result in development in deprived areas?

A = Not within the 40% most deprived Super Output Areas within the borough, according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2010.

G = Within the 40% most deprived Super Output Areas within the borough; or allocation is greenspace.

RAG category =

Supporting a shift to more sustainable modes of travel


4a How far is the nearest bus stop?

R = >800m

A = 400 - 800m

G = <400m

Distance=

RAG category =

4b How far is the nearest train station?

R = >800m

A = 400 - 800m

G = <400m

Distance =

RAG category =

4c How far is the nearest cycle route?

R = >800m

A = 400 - 800m

G = <400m

Distance=

RAG category =

Making efficient use of land


5a Will allocation lead to loss of high quality agricultural land?

R = Includes Grade 1 or 2 agricultural land

A = Includes Grade 3 agricultural land

G = Does not include 1, 2 or 3 agricultural land

RAG category =

5b Will allocation make use of

previously developed or

contaminated land?

R = Does not include previously developed or contaminated land

A = Partially within previously developed or contaminated land

G = Entirely within previously developed or contaminated land

PDL, contaminated or both?

RAG category =

Supporting the achievement of air quality objectives


6a Is the allocation near to an AQMA?

R = Within or adjacent to an AQMA

A = <1km of an AQMA

G = >1km of an AQMA; or allocation is greenspace

Distance=

RAG category =

Protecting groundwater


7a Will allocation lead to development within a Source Protection Zone?

A = Within Source Protection Zone 1

G = Not within Source Protection Zone 1; or allocation is greenspace

RAG category =

Protecting and enhancing the historic environment


8a Will allocation impact upon a Scheduled Ancient Monument?

R = On a SAM OR Allocation will lead to development adjacent to a SAM with the potential for negative impacts

A = Adjacent to a SAM that is less sensitive / not likely to be impacted

G = Not on or adjacent to a SAM; or allocation is greenspace

RAG category =

8b Will allocation impact upon a listed R = Contains or is adjacent to a listed building RAG category =

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buildings? and there is the potential for negative impacts.

A = Contains or is adjacent to a listed building but there is not thought to be potential for negative impacts.

G = Not on or adjacent to a listed building.

8c Will allocation impact upon a

historic park / garden?

R = Within or adjacent to a historic park / garden and there is the potential for negative impacts.

A = Within or adjacent to a historic park / garden but there is not the potential for negative impacts.

G = Not on or adjacent to historic park / garden; or allocation is greenspace.

RAG category =

8d Will allocation impact upon a

Conservation Area?

R = Within or adjacent to a Conservation Area and there is the potential for negative impacts.

A = Within or adjacent to a Conservation Area but there is no potential for negative impacts.

G = Not within or adjacent to a Conservation Area

RAG category =

Protecting and enhancing the borough’s green infrastructure


9a Will allocation impact upon an Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW)?

R = Includes ASNW

A = <400m

G = >400m; or allocation is greenspace

Distance =

RAG category =

9b Will allocation impact upon a Site

of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)?

R = <400m

A = 400 - 800m

G = >800m; or allocation is greenspace

Distance =

RAG category =

9c Will allocation impact upon a locally designated wildlife site?

R = Contains or is adjacent to an existing site

A = Contains or is adjacent to a proposed site

G = Does not contain and is not adjacent; or allocation is greenspace

RAG category =

9d Will allocation impact upon an

ecological corridor?

R = Within an ecological corridors

G = Not within an ecological corridors; or allocation is greenspace

RAG category =

9e Will allocation impact upon

designated open space?

R = Contains open space

G = Does not contain open space; or allocation is greenspace

RAG category =

9f Will allocation impact upon

allotment space?

R = Contains allotment space

G = Does not contain allotment space RAG category =

9g Will allocation impact upon public

and commercial access to the River

Thames?

R = Will restrict access.

A = May restrict access.

G = Will not restrict access

RAG category =

Avoiding flood risk


10a Is allocation within a flood zone?

R = Flood risk zone 3b.

A = Flood risk zone 2 or 3a

G = Flood risk zone 1; or allocation is greenspace

Flood Zone =

RAG category =

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Core Strategy and Policies for Management and Development ... · 2.2 The Core Strategy and Policies...

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Transcript of Core Strategy and Policies for Management and Development ... · 2.2 The Core Strategy and Policies...