SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL SCOPING REPORT Scoping report final.pdf · Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a valuable process in the creation of local plans. The SA will promote sustainable

South Oxfordshire District Council Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - June 2014 Local Plan 2031

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South Oxfordshire LOCAL PLAN 2031

SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL SCOPING REPORT JUNE 2014

Please share your opinions & help shape ourSouth Oxfordshire www.southoxon.gov.uk/newlocalplan

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South Oxfordshire District CouncilLocal Plan 2031 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - June 2014


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Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The legal context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Relevant plans and programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Collecting baseline data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Sustainability challenges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

The Sustainability Appraisal framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Next steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Consultation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Appendix 1 Review of plans, policies and programmes . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Appenix 2 Baseline information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Appendix 3 Assessment of Habitat Sites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Table of Contents

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3

1. Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a valuable process in the creation of local plans. The SA will promote

sustainable development by assessing the extent to which the emerging plan will help to achieve a set

of environmental, economic and social objectives. It is an opportunity for the council to consider how

the emerging plan can contribute to improvements in environmental, social, and economic conditions,

as well as how it may mitigate any adverse effects the plan might otherwise have.

2. Our fi rst SA scoping report was published in June 2006. It is important to ensure that new plans and

strategies produced by the council are fully refl ected within our SA framework to show how we are

contributing to creating a sustainable South Oxfordshire. We have therefore produced this updated

scoping report to take account of this. Prior to this update, the report was last updated in September

2013.

3. This scoping report and SA framework will be used to assess the social, economic, and environmental

impacts of the policies and plans in the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031 (the local plan). This plan

will review the strategic policies contained within the South Oxfordshire core strategy and identify sites

for new housing and employment across the district. For more information please visit

www.southoxon.gov.uk/newlocalplan

4. We have conducted a full review of relevant plans, policies and programmes contained within

Appendix 1 and made an assessment of their implications for the SA objectives. We also

updated and collected new data in Appendix 2 to identify sustainability issues for the district.

These two processes were carried out to fulfi ll the requirements of tasks A1 and A2 shown in

fi gure 1 and highlighted some small gaps in the SA framework. There has therefore been a

change in the sustainability objectives since the last scoping report.

5. The scope of this plan is similar to that of the core strategy that it is reviewing, meaning that is district

wide, broad in nature, and covers a wide variety of topics. As a result the SA framework needs to

be equally wide ranging and have appropriate sustainability objectives. This review of the local plan

will replace the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and will be part of the development plan for the

district alongside the South Oxfordshire local plan 2011 and any adopted neighbourhood plans. The

objectives for the local plan have not yet been established but it will contain strategic policies for the

entire district and site-specifi c allocations across a number of uses including housing and employment.

The Council publishes a 3-year work programme in its Local Development Scheme giving details of

the parts of the local plan it intends to prepare. The scheme was last updated in February 2014 and

can be viewed on the council’s website: www.southoxon.gov.uk/lds

1. Introduction

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6. This report sets out the procedure that the council intends to

follow when carrying out SA of the local plan. The council

needs to ensure that the local plan is being prepared under the

provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (the

Act), and complies with the statutory requirements for Strategic

Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Sustainability Appraisal. We

have prepared this document in accordance with the guidance

issued by the Offi ce of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2005 and the

National Planning Practice Guidance published in 2014.

7. The guidance states that consulting on the scope of the

sustainability appraisal should come before the consultation on

the scope of the local plan. However the council has decided that

we will consult on the two documents at the same time. Since

there are no objectives contained within the local plan consultation

document there is nothing for the sustainability appraisal to

assess; therefore the sustainability objectives do not need to

be agreed beforehand. Furthermore, by consulting on the two

documents at the same time, the council hopes to raise the profi le

of Sustainability Appraisal and receive useful feedback on it from a

full public consultation.

2. Sustainability Appraisal - the legal context

8. Section 19 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) requires Sustainability Appraisal of plans in the

UK, and the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (in turn based on the Europe

‘SEA Directive’) also require any plans or programmes that have signifi cant effects on the environment to be

subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

9. SA incorporates the requirement of the SEA Directive and is more comprehensive. SA assesses the effects of the

plan on the environment as required by SEA, but also identifi es where the plan can contribute to improvements

in economic and social conditions, and ways to mitigate any potential adverse effects the plan may have.

10. We have highlighted the legal requirements of the SEA Directive in blue and have explained how these

have, or will be, satisfi ed. The Directive also requires the council to produce an Environmental Report that

records the fi ndings of the SEA undertaken on the local plan.

11. The National Planning Practice Guidance suggests a fi ve stage (A-E) approach to SA that we will follow in the

production of our SA. The relationship of the fi ve SA stages to the stages of local plan preparation is shown

in Figure 1 below. This scoping report will set out the fi ndings of Stage A of the SA process set out in fi gure

1, and explain what happens next.


5

12. The European Directive 92/43/EEC - the Habitats Directive, requires

the maintenance or restoration of wildlife habitats and species

of interest to the European Union at a favourable condition.

In South Oxfordshire we currently have four Special Areas of

Conservation (SACs) that are protected in this way. The council

produced an Appropriate Assessment for its core strategy that

showed that the strategy would have no signifi cant impact on any

site of international nature conservation importance. If necessary

however the council will seek to update the assessment as part

of the local plan. www.southoxon.gov.uk/evidence

13. As the new Local Plan will be making additional allocations to the

core strategy we will have to assess the potential impact of the

plan on internationally important habitats and species. At this

stage of the plan we do not have enough information about the

scale and location of the proposed allocations so it is not possible

to produce a comprehensive assessment of their likely impact. We

have however produced an assessment of internationally important

habitat sites as an appendix to this document (Appendix 3).

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Figure 1 Sustainability appraisal process


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3. Task A1 Identifying relevant plans and programmes

14. The guidance states that other plans or programmes may infl uence local plans, as may the sustainability

objectives they contain. The council should identify these objectives and note any targets or specifi c

requirements.

15. This requirement to undertake a ‘context review’ of relevant plans, policies and programmes arises from the

SEA Directive which states that the Environmental Report should include:

“an outline of the contents, main objectives of the plan or programme and relationship with other

relevant plans and programmes

“the environmental protection objectives, established at international, community, or member

state level, which are relevant to the plan or programme and the way those objectives and any

environmental considerations have been taken into account during its preparation”

Annex 1 (a) and (e), SEA Directive, 2001

16. The plans, policies, and programmes reviewed by the council are set out in Appendix 1, but it is important to

recognize the following points:

i. No list of plans, policies and programmes can be exhaustive and the council has selected those

considered to be of particular relevance to the planning system.

ii. Plans, policies and programmes often exist in a hierarchy with local at the lowest tier conforming

with higher tier national and international plans, policies, or programmes.

iii. The context is dynamic and new or revised plans, policies, or programmes emerge on a regular

basis. The council updates Appendix 1 whenever the Scoping Report is produced. This is

normally at the offset of a new document so that we can establish the relevant context for

setting our Sustainability Objectives. If there is a substantial change in relevant plans, policies,

or programmes during the production of the document, then the council may also review

Appendix 1.

Key messages from the review of plans, policies and programmes

17. Table 1 identifi es key objectives that the council will need to take into account in formulating our own

objectives for the local plan and for the SA framework used to assess the plan. The list is not necessarily

exhaustive and there is no priority in the ordering of the list. Appendix 1 notes the possible local plan response

to the objectives derived from the plans, policies, and programmes. In many cases this involves a continuation of

the policy approach that the council has pursued hitherto in the preparation of previous local plans.

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Tabl

e 1.

Wha

t the

loca

l pla

n sh

ould

see

k to

do

Der

ived

from

1 W

here

pos

sibl

e pr

omot

e ‘w

in-w

in-w

in’ s

olut

ions

that

adv

ance

ec

onom

ic, s

ocia

l, an

d en

viro

nmen

tal o

bjec

tives

toge

ther

. In

som

e in

stan

ces

trade

-offs

bet

wee

n co

mpe

ting

obje

ctiv

es m

ay b

e ne

cess

ary.

NP

PF

UK

sus

tain

able

dev

elop

men

t stra

tegy

2 C

onse

rve

and

enha

nce

biod

iver

sity

not

onl

y on

des

igna

ted

site

s bu

t al

so e

lsew

here

in th

e di

stric

t, an

d co

nsid

er th

e pr

ovis

ion

of n

ew

habi

tats

in p

lann

ing

new

dev

elop

men

ts.

Bio

dive

rsity

202

0 S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Sus

tain

able

C

omm

unity

Stra

tegy

3

Red

uce

car d

epen

denc

y in

hou

seho

lds

by fa

cilit

atin

g ho

mew

orki

ng,

mor

e w

alki

ng a

nd c

yclin

g, a

nd b

y im

prov

ing

publ

ic tr

ansp

ort l

inks

an

d el

ectro

nic

com

mun

icat

ions

in p

lann

ing

new

dev

elop

men

ts.

Loca

l Tra

nspo

rt P

lan

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gy

4 P

rom

ote

good

des

ign

in n

ew d

evel

opm

ents

that

is lo

cally

dis

tinct

ive.

Lo

cal P

lan

2011

N

PP

F 5

Pro

ritis

e th

e us

e of

pre

viou

sly

deve

lope

d la

nd a

nd b

uild

ings

. N

PP

F S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Sus

tain

able

C

omm

unity

Stra

tegy

6

Avo

id lo

w-d

ensi

ty d

evel

opm

ents

. C

ore

stra

tegy

7 A

dopt

mea

sure

s fo

r the

redu

ctio

n, re

-use

, rec

yclin

g, a

nd re

cove

ry o

f w

aste

in n

ew d

evel

opm

ents

. O

xfor

dshi

re M

iner

als

and

Was

te L

ocal

P

lan

Oxf

ords

hire

Joi

nt M

unic

ipal

Was

te

Stra

tegy

8

Ado

pt a

seq

uent

ial a

ppro

ach

to th

e lo

catio

n of

maj

or g

ener

ator

s of

tra

vel,

with

firs

t pre

fere

nce

bein

g to

wn

cent

re lo

catio

ns.

NP

PF

Oxf

ords

hire

Loc

al T

rans

port

Pla

n

Pla

nnin

g fo

r Tow

n C

entre

s 9

E

nsur

e th

at jo

bs, s

hopp

ing,

leis

ure

faci

litie

s, m

eetin

g pl

aces

, ed

ucat

ion,

and

ser

vice

s ar

ea a

cces

sibl

e by

sus

tain

able

mod

es o

f tra

vel:

wal

king

, cyc

ling,

and

pub

lic tr

ansp

ort.

Loca

l Tra

nspo

rt P

lan

Cor

e st

rate

gy

NP

PF

10

Ens

ure

that

loca

l ser

vice

s, fa

cilit

ies

and

infra

stru

ctur

e ar

e de

liver

ed

whe

n ne

eded

by

loca

l com

mun

ities

. N

PP

F


9

11

Con

serv

e an

d en

hanc

e th

e hi

stor

ic e

nviro

nmen

t, bu

ildin

gs,

mon

umen

ts, s

ites,

pla

ces,

feat

ures

, or l

ands

cape

s of

his

toric

, ar

chite

ctur

al, a

rcha

eolo

gica

l, or

cul

tura

l int

eres

t, bo

th d

esig

nate

d an

d un

desi

gnat

ed.

NP

PF

Eng

lish

Her

itage

Stra

tegy

201

1-20

15

12

Pro

vide

and

pro

tect

acc

ess

to s

uffic

ient

, hig

h qu

ality

ope

n sp

aces

, sp

orts

, and

recr

eatio

n fa

cilit

ies

of a

ll ki

nd.

NP

PF

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gy

14

Sep

arat

e no

ise

gene

ratin

g fro

m n

oise

sen

sitiv

e la

nd u

ses

Noi

se D

irect

ive

NP

PF

15

Ens

ure

new

dev

elop

men

ts p

rote

ct a

nd e

nhan

ce th

e w

ater

en

viro

nmen

t N

PP

F

16

Ado

pt m

ore

sust

aina

ble

drai

nage

sys

tem

s w

here

app

ropr

iate

N

PP

F Fl

ood

and

Wat

er M

anag

emen

t Act

17

A

void

pla

cing

peo

ple

and

prop

erty

at r

isk

in a

reas

liab

le to

floo

d.

NP

PF

Floo

d an

d W

ater

Man

agem

ent A

ct

18

Reg

ener

ate

area

s of

rela

tive

soci

al d

epriv

atio

n N

PP

F

20

Pro

tect

the

qual

ity a

nd c

hara

cter

of t

he c

ount

rysi

de a

nd c

onse

rve

and

enha

nce

the

natu

ral b

eaut

y of

Are

as o

f Out

stan

ding

Nat

ural

B

eaut

y

NP

PF

Chi

ltern

s an

d N

orth

Wes

sex

Dow

ns

AO

NB

Man

agem

ent P

lans

21

D

evel

op re

new

able

ene

rgy

sour

ces

and

inco

rpor

ate

rene

wab

le

ener

gy te

chno

logi

es in

new

dev

elop

men

ts, t

here

by h

elpi

ng to

mee

t re

gion

al ta

rget

s fo

r ren

ewab

le e

nerg

y ge

nera

tion

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gy

22

Con

side

r the

impa

cts

of p

oten

tially

pol

lutin

g de

velo

pmen

t an

d w

here

app

ropr

iate

app

ly th

e pr

ecau

tiona

ry p

rinci

ple

in a

sses

sing

th

ose

impa

cts

NP

PF

23

Ens

ure

that

new

hou

sing

dev

elop

men

t is

pla

nned

, m

onito

red

and

man

aged

so

as to

mee

t an

obje

ctiv

ely

asse

ssed

nee

d.

NP

PF

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re C

ore

Stra

tegy

24

S

eek

to im

prov

e th

e m

atch

bet

wee

n ho

usin

g ne

eds

(in te

rms

of

affo

rdab

ility

and

siz

e of

new

hom

es)

and

hous

ing

deliv

ered

in n

ew

deve

lopm

ents

.

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re H

ousi

ng S

trate

gy

10


25

Sup

port

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f Oxf

ords

hire

’s e

cono

my

and

busi

ness

es, i

n pa

rticu

lar b

y gr

owin

g ed

ucat

iona

l, sc

ient

ific

and

tech

nolo

gica

l ind

ustri

es a

nd s

ervi

ces

and

smal

l bus

ines

ses.

Oxf

ord

and

Oxf

ords

hire

City

Dea

l S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Sus

tain

able

C

omm

unity

Stra

tegy

S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Cor

e S

trate

gy

26

Sup

port

tour

ism

-rel

ated

dev

elop

men

ts b

ased

on

the

cons

erva

tion

and

enjo

ymen

t of

the

dist

rict’s

inhe

rent

qua

litie

s an

d he

ritag

e.

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re C

orpo

rate

Pla

n

Oxf

ords

hire

203

0 C

omm

unity

Stra

tegy

27

E

nsur

e th

at d

evel

opm

ent

in ru

ral a

reas

is o

f an

appr

opria

te s

cale

an

d ty

pe to

hel

p to

mee

t the

soc

ial a

nd e

cono

mic

nee

ds o

f loc

al

com

mun

ities

to

sust

ain

the

vita

lity

and

viab

ility

of t

own

and

villa

ge

cent

res

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gy

28

Ens

ure

that

dev

elop

men

t is

des

igne

d w

ith th

e ne

eds

of d

isab

led

peop

le in

min

d.

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gy

29

Cre

ate

deve

lopm

ents

tha

t are

saf

e an

d w

here

crim

e, d

isor

der

and

fear

of c

rime

are

redu

ced.

S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Sus

tain

able

C

omm

unity

Stra

tegy

30

C

onsi

der t

he im

plic

atio

ns o

f an

agei

ng p

opul

atio

n S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Sus

tain

able

C

omm

unity

Stra

tegy

31

P

rote

ct a

reas

whi

ch a

re s

afeg

uard

ed f

or m

iner

als

deve

lopm

ent

Oxf

ords

hire

Min

eral

s an

d W

aste

Loc

al

Pla

n

32

Pro

mot

e an

d su

ppor

t eco

nom

ic g

row

th a

roun

d S

cien

ce V

ale

Oxf

ord

and

Oxf

ords

hire

City

Dea

l S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Sus

tain

able

C

omm

unity

Stra

tegy

33

Im

prov

e fa

cilit

ies

for e

lect

roni

c co

mm

unic

atio

n, in

clud

ing

fast

er a

nd

mor

e co

mpr

ehen

sive

bro

adba

nd c

over

age,

for b

oth

hom

e-w

orki

ng

and

busi

ness

to b

usin

ess

com

mun

icat

ion

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gy

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re C

orpo

rate

Pla

n 20

12-

2016


11

4. Task A2 Collecting data to establish baseline

18. The collection of relevant data forms a starting point, or baseline, to measure the effects of the local plan on

sustainability objectives. This helps the council to predict and monitor the effects of policies and programmes

and it also helps to identify sustainability challenges (see Task A3 below).

19. The Directive requires that baseline information should include:

“the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof with

the implementation of the plan or programme

“the environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected”

Annex 1 (b) and (c), SEA Directive, 2001

20. Whilst baseline information should be as comprehensive and up-to-date as possible there are likely to be gaps

in data coverage. Where gaps exist the council should consider how they could improve data coverage for

use in assessments of future plans. We work proactively with the other Oxfordshire local authorities to do

so.

21. The National Planning Practice Guidance recommends that baseline information is collected for identifi ed

social, environmental, and economic objectives, with indicator data to support each objective. If indicators are

monitored over time, then the resulting data can reveal trends and be used to assess whether an objective is

being met or not. The performance of an indicator in one district can also be compared with performance in

another district or wider geographical area, provided that comparable data is available and relevant. Where

targets exist the council can also assess indicator performance against these.

22. Appendix 2 contains an update of the baseline information across a number of themes:

• identifi cation of the indicator

• description of the data for south Oxfordshire and its source, including action the council is taking

to obtain data where it is lack or of poor quality

• description of any relevant comparable county, regional, or national data, including any targets

where formulated

• description of the local trend in historic data, or in relation to other geographical areas or to a

target

• description of the status of the indicator as follows:

• Green: status is good. No action is required other than a continuation of current good practice

• Yellow: status is deteriorating and action is needed to change current practices

• Red: status is already poor and priority action is needed to change current practices

• Grey: status is uncertain. Uncertainty usually occurs where there is no historic data to show

trends or where comparable data is unavailable.

• description of possible action for the local plan in order that the deteriorating or poor status of the

indicator may be improved, or a good a status maintained. Many of these actions are not new but

have been acted upon by the council in the past in previous preparation of previous local plans.

12


23. We are currently aware of a number of issues that will affect the district regardless of the development of our

local plan:

• A rising population and the subsequent demand for housing especially across the South East

will be refl ected not only in the increase in people in South Oxfordshire but also in neighbouring

districts. This growth will be planned for in the local plans of our neighbours on which we will be

consulted on during their production.

• A high speed rail connection is being made between London and Birmingham (and later the

north). This may lead to an increased attractiveness of the capital that would have an impact on

housing requirements in South Oxfordshire as workers commute to London.

• A new east-west rail connection between Oxford and Cambridge may lead to increased

investment in Science Vale as the science parks become better connected to other knowledge

based economies. This may have an impact on other public transport and an increased demand

for supporting infrastructure and housing.

• The electrifi cation of the Great Western mainline will decrease journey times to London and Bristol

from Cholsey, Didcot, and Goring, therefore increasing their attraction as commuter towns.

• The strategic economic plan for the county will contain proposals that the local plan will need to

refl ect.

24. South Oxfordshire is located in an economically successful region with a good environment and consequentially

a high demand for additional housing. Map 1 below shows the key environmental highlights and constraints in

South Oxfordshire. The local plan will seek to ensure that the development that takes place in the district meets

sustainability objectives. Appendix 2 shows that if uncontrolled development takes place, without a local plan

containing a sustainable planning framework, environmental conditions risk deteriorating in the following ways:

• poor air quality in pollution hotspots caused mainly by traffi c emissions could worsen;

• water quality, which is presently good, could worsen;

• stress on diminishing water resources could increase;

• habitats and species of nature conservation importance could be threatened;

• areas of valued countryside and attractive landscape could be harmed or destroyed;

• natural resources could be used imprudently;

• a fi ne heritage of buildings and places of architectural or historic interest and important

archaeological remains could be harmed or destroyed;

• greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and transport could be marginally higher;

• development could take place where there is a dependency on the private motorcar increasing the

risk of environmental degradation and discouraging walking and cycling with subsequent impacts

on human health;

• people and property could be located in places at risk of fl ooding; and

• the amount of waste requiring disposal to landfi ll could be greater.

25. It is clear from the data in Appendix 2 that there is potential for spatial planning to maintain favourable status or

to bring about more benefi cial change in relation to many of the potential problems outlined above.


13

Key messages from the review of the baseline information

26. With regard to the indicators in Appendix 2 requiring priority

action, the local plan has a major role in the delivery of new

general market housing. The extent to which this increased supply

of new homes will reduce house prices, however, is uncertain given

the high levels of demand in this sub-region’s housing markets,

which is likely to continue to outstrip supply. The local plan plays

a signifi cant role in the delivery of affordable housing, but the

level of need is likely to continue to exceed greatly any increase in

supply. Map 1 shows that large parts of the district are covered

by Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and other

designations that act as constraints to development.

27. The need to reduce the growth in road traffi c and its consequent

adverse effects on the environment, the economy, and public

safety can only be infl uenced indirectly and to a limited extent

by the local plan, as described in Appendix 2. The same is true

in relation to the need to reverse declines in wildlife habitats and

species. In these cases, as with several other priorities identifi ed

in Appendix 2, primary responsibility for action rests with other

government or non-government organisations and partnerships

of organisations working together or landowners. The council will

consult with these parties during the production of the local plan.

14


Map 1 Environmental highlights and constraints in

South Oxfordshire


15

5. Task A3 Identifying sustainability challenges

28. The identifi cation of sustainability challenges facing South Oxfordshire in the Scoping Report are derived from

a combination of the review of relevant plans, policies, and programmes and through reviewing the relevant

data. The sustainability challenges for South Oxfordshire are set out in Table 2 below. The identifi cation of

sustainability challenges is required by the SEA Directive which states that an Environmental Report should

include:

“any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan or programme including,

in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance, such as areas

designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC (the Birds Directive) and 92/43/EEC (the Habitats

Directive)”

29. Table 2 is not an exhaustive list of sustainability challenges, but it includes those where in future the

planning system may contribute towards their solution or amelioration. The numbering of the challenges

is for reference purposes only and does not indicate any order of priority. These remain unchanged from

the 2013 scoping report. The review of the evidence shows South Oxfordshire continues to face these

challenges.

16


Tabl

e 2.

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re’s

sus

tain

abili

ty c

halle

nges

Envi

ronm

enta

l cha

lleng

es

1 La

ndsc

ape

de

terio

ratio

n

• In

som

e ar

eas

of S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

the

cond

ition

of t

he la

ndsc

ape

has

dete

riora

ted

and

isin

nee

d of

repa

ir, re

stor

atio

n or

reco

nstru

ctio

n (S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Lan

dsca

pe C

hara

cter

A

sses

smen

t: S

OD

C, 2

003)

.

• La

rge-

scal

e de

velo

pmen

t on

the

edge

of s

ettle

men

ts is

pot

entia

lly in

appr

opria

te w

ithin

the

rura

l and

uns

poilt

land

scap

e of

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re (S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Lan

dsca

pe

Cha

ract

er A

sses

smen

t 200

3).

2 Lo

ss o

f bio

dive

rsity

•

Cha

lleng

es to

Oxf

ords

hire

’s h

abita

ts a

nd s

peci

es th

at a

re le

adin

g to

con

tinui

ng

biod

iver

sity

loss

incl

ude

incr

easi

ng fr

agm

enta

tion

of h

abita

ts, a

cha

ngin

g cl

imat

e, a

nd th

e m

any

dem

ands

on

our l

and

(bio

dive

rsity

, foo

d, e

nerg

y, re

crea

tion,

and

hou

sing

) (O

xfor

dshi

re’s

Bio

dive

rsity

Act

ion

Pla

n, O

NC

F, 2

01)

3 R

oad

traffi

c co

nges

tion

• O

xfor

dshi

re C

ount

y C

ounc

il’s

10 y

ear t

raffi

c gr

owth

(200

2 to

201

2) s

how

ed a

n ov

eral

l in

crea

se in

the

traffi

c on

the

coun

ty’s

B-r

oads

of 0

.33%

. A

lthou

gh th

is in

crea

se is

ver

y lo

w, t

his

may

hav

e be

en m

uch

high

er w

ithou

t an

econ

omic

rece

ssio

n. T

his

may

incr

ease

as

the

rece

ssio

n ea

ses.

4 Fl

ood

risk

• Th

ere

are

appr

oxim

atel

y 21

,000

pro

perti

es a

t ris

k fro

m ri

ver f

lood

ing

in O

xfor

dshi

re, w

ith

arou

nd 8

,500

at s

igni

fican

t ris

k. O

xfor

dshi

re h

as 1

2% o

f its

land

with

in th

e flo

odpl

ain

(The

E

nviro

nmen

t in

Oxf

ords

hire

, The

Env

ironm

ent A

genc

y, 2

009)

• Th

e fo

llow

ing

key

settl

emen

ts (a

s id

entif

ied

for a

lloca

tions

in th

e co

re s

trate

gy) h

ave

exis

ting

prop

ertie

s th

at a

re in

floo

d zo

nes

2 or

3: B

enso

n, C

halg

rove

, Cro

wm

arsh

Giff

ord,

D

idco

t, G

orin

g-on

-Tha

mes

, Hen

ley-

on-T

ham

es, T

ham

e, W

atlin

gton

, and

Whe

atle

y.

5 R

isk

of d

roug

ht

• Th

e S

outh

Eas

t is

one

of th

e dr

iest

are

as o

f the

cou

ntry

. It

rece

ives

an

aver

age

rain

fall

of

728

mill

imet

ers

a ye

ar, c

ompa

red

to 9

06 m

illim

eter

s a

year

in E

ngla

nd a

nd W

ales

(Sou

th

Eas

t Reg

ion

Dro

ught

Pla

n, T

he E

nviro

nmen

t Age

ncy,

Jan

uary

201

2).


17

6 C

limat

e ch

ange

•

Clim

ate

chan

ge is

a s

igni

fican

t pro

blem

. W

e ne

ed to

act

to re

duce

gre

enho

use

gas

emis

sion

s at

hom

e, a

t wor

k, a

nd w

hen

trave

ling

(Sec

urin

g th

e Fu

ture

: Del

iver

ing

UK

su

stai

nabl

e de

velo

pmen

t stra

tegy

, DE

FRA

, 200

5).

• Li

ttle

prog

ress

is b

eing

mad

e in

redu

cing

CO

2 em

issi

ons.

The

re is

als

o sl

ow p

rogr

ess

bein

g m

ade

in th

e de

velo

pmen

t of d

iver

se re

new

able

ene

rgy

reso

urce

s (A

ppen

dix

2).

• O

xfor

dshi

re’s

mai

n ar

eas

of c

limat

e-re

late

d vu

lner

abili

ty a

re in

crea

sing

inte

nse

dow

npou

rsan

d hi

gher

tem

pera

ture

s (O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le C

omm

unity

Stra

tegy

, Brie

fing

Pap

er 6

: E

nviro

nmen

t 200

7).

• Th

e S

outh

Eas

t is

parti

cula

rly v

ulne

rabl

e to

clim

ate

chan

ge w

ith lo

w ly

ing

coas

tal a

reas

an

d lo

w a

vera

ge le

vels

of r

ainf

all.

The

Sou

th E

ast h

as a

lread

y re

cent

ly e

xper

ienc

ed te

n of

the

hotte

st s

umm

ers

on re

cord

and

als

o so

me

of th

e he

avie

st ra

infa

ll ev

ents

(Sta

te o

f th

e E

nviro

nmen

t - S

outh

Eas

t Eng

land

, Feb

ruar

y 20

10).

7 E

nerg

y co

nsum

ptio

n

and

carb

on e

mis

sion

s

• D

omes

tic e

nerg

y co

nsum

ptio

n an

d C

O2 e

mis

sion

s in

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re a

re h

ighe

r tha

n th

e O

xfor

dshi

re a

vera

ge (L

ocal

aut

horit

y ca

rbon

dio

xide

em

issi

ons,

DE

CC

, Jul

y 20

13).

8 A

ston

Row

ant S

peci

al A

rea

of C

onse

rvat

ion

• Th

e S

AC

is c

lose

to th

e M

40 m

otor

way

and

the

B40

09.

Hig

h le

vels

of d

evel

opm

ent i

n th

e di

stric

t (or

els

ewhe

re) c

ould

lead

to a

n in

crea

se o

f veh

icul

ar tr

affic

on

thes

e ro

ads

with

a

subs

eque

nt d

ecre

ase

in a

ir qu

ality

aro

und

the

SA

C.

9 C

hilte

rn B

eech

woo

ds

Spe

cial

Are

a of

C

onse

rvat

ion

• Th

e S

AC

is c

lose

to th

e M

40 m

otor

way

and

the

B40

09.

Hig

h le

vels

of d

evel

opm

ent i

n th

e di

stric

t (or

els

ewhe

re) c

ould

lead

to a

n in

crea

se o

f veh

icul

ar tr

affic

on

thes

e ro

ads

with

a

subs

eque

nt d

ecre

ase

in a

ir qu

ality

aro

und

the

SA

C.

• Th

e si

te is

als

o cl

ose

to C

hinn

or, a

vill

age

that

has

pre

viou

sly

been

iden

tifie

d fo

r hou

sing

al

loca

tions

. D

evel

opm

ent a

t Chi

nnor

may

hav

e an

indi

rect

impa

ct o

n th

e bi

odiv

ersi

ty o

f th

e S

AC

.

10

Littl

e W

itten

ham

Spe

cial

A

rea

of C

onse

rvat

ion

• Th

e si

te is

nea

rby

the

A40

74 a

nd th

e A

4130

. H

igh

leve

ls o

f dev

elop

men

t in

the

dist

rict (

or

else

whe

re) c

ould

lead

to a

n in

crea

se o

f veh

icul

ar tr

affic

on

thes

e ro

ads

with

a s

ubse

quen

t de

crea

se in

air

qual

ity a

roun

d th

e S

AC

.

18


11

Har

lsto

ck W

ood

Spe

cial

A

rea

of C

onse

rvat

ion

• Th

e si

te is

als

o cl

ose

to G

orin

g, a

vill

age

that

has

pre

viou

sly

been

iden

tifie

d fo

r hou

sing

al

loca

tions

. D

evel

opm

ent a

t Gor

ing

may

hav

e an

indi

rect

impa

ct o

n th

e bi

odiv

ersi

ty o

f the

S

AC

.

Soci

al c

halle

nges

12

Sho

rtage

of a

fford

able

ho

usin

g an

d th

e co

st o

f ge

nera

l mar

ket h

ousi

ng

• H

ousi

ng n

eed

in th

e di

stric

t is

very

hig

h. T

he o

bjec

tivel

y as

sess

ed n

eed

for S

outh

O

xfor

dshi

re is

iden

tifie

d in

the

Oxf

ords

hire

SH

MA

at b

etw

een

725

and

825

dwel

lings

per

an

num

13

Lack

of a

ppro

pria

te s

ize

of

hous

ing

• Th

e m

ain

shor

tfall

in b

oth

the

affo

rdab

le a

nd g

ener

al m

arke

t hou

sing

sec

tors

is fo

r tw

o be

droo

m a

ccom

mod

atio

n (S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Hou

sing

Nee

ds A

sses

smen

t, D

CA

, 201

1).

14

An

agei

ng p

opul

atio

n •

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re’s

pop

ulat

ion

is p

redi

cted

to h

ave

a gr

owin

g pr

opor

tion

of o

lder

peo

ple

and

few

er y

oung

er p

eopl

e (A

ppen

dix

2).

15

Soc

ial e

xclu

sion

due

to th

e re

mot

e lo

catio

n of

som

e re

side

ntia

l dev

elop

men

t an

d se

rvic

es

• In

a ru

ral d

istri

ct s

uch

as S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

acc

ess

to s

ervi

ces

can

be d

iffic

ult o

r peo

ple

who

rely

on

publ

ic tr

ansp

ort (

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re’s

Sus

tain

able

Com

mun

ities

Stra

tegy

20

09-2

026)

.

16

Lack

of i

ndoo

r and

out

door

co

mm

unity

spo

rts fa

cilit

ies

• B

ased

on

iden

tifie

d fu

ture

nee

d, th

e in

dica

tive

tota

l cap

ital i

nves

tmen

t req

uire

d in

the

dist

rict i

s £2

2.9m

. Th

is in

clud

es th

e re

plac

emen

t of t

he D

idco

t Wav

e le

isur

e fa

cilit

y (L

eisu

re a

nd S

ports

Fac

ility

Stra

tegy

, SO

DC

, Mar

ch 2

011)

.

17

Fear

of c

rime

and

anti-

soci

al b

ehav

iour

•

Des

pite

rela

tivel

y lo

w le

vels

of c

rime,

com

mun

ity s

afet

y ha

s co

nsis

tent

ly b

een

a pr

iorit

y fo

rlo

cal p

eopl

e an

d an

ti-so

cial

beh

avio

ur re

mai

ns a

maj

or c

once

rn (S

outh

and

Val

e C

omm

unity

Saf

ety

Par

tner

ship

rolli

ng a

nnua

l pla

n 20

12-2

013)

.

Econ

omic

cha

lleng

es

18

Poc

kets

of d

epriv

atio

n •

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re is

one

of t

he le

ast d

epriv

ed lo

cal a

utho

ritie

s in

the

UK

, ran

king

307

out

of

354

aut

horit

ies

whe

re ra

nk 1

is th

e m

ost d

epriv

ed (I

ndex

of D

epriv

atio

n 20

10).

• Th

e m

ost d

epriv

ed s

uper

out

put a

reas

are

Ber

insf

ield

and

Did

cot (

Nor

thbo

urne

and

Par

k).

Low

inco

me

leve

ls a

re a

sig

nific

ant c

ompo

nent

of d

epriv

atio

n in

thes

e ar

eas

(App

endi

x 2)

.


19

19

Age

ing

resi

dent

pop

ulat

ion

stru

ctur

e •

The

agei

ng p

opul

atio

n w

ill re

sult

in a

fall

in th

e si

ze o

f the

loca

l w

orkf

orce

that

will

impa

ct a

dver

sely

on

recr

uitm

ent b

y bu

sine

sses

(A

ppen

dix

2).

20

Wor

kfor

ce s

kills

•

Ski

lls s

horta

ges

are

an o

bsta

cle

to b

usin

ess

succ

ess,

how

ever

the

num

ber o

f res

iden

ts w

ith A

-Lev

el e

quiv

alen

t edu

catio

n is

hig

her t

han

the

coun

ty a

nd n

atio

nal a

vera

ges

(App

endi

x 2)

(Our

Pla

ce, O

ur F

utur

e,

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le C

omm

uniti

es S

trate

gy 2

009-

2026

). 21

R

oad

traffi

c co

nges

tion

• Th

ere

are

over

4,0

00 k

ilom

eter

s of

road

in O

xfor

dshi

re.

The

maj

ority

of

thes

e op

erat

e sa

tisfa

ctor

ily b

ut th

ere

are

a nu

mbe

r of l

ocat

ions

whe

re

the

netw

ork

is u

nder

stre

ss. (

Oxf

ords

hire

loca

l tra

nspo

rt pl

an 2

011-

2013

). 22

Th

e av

aila

bilit

y an

d af

ford

abili

ty o

f ho

usin

g •

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re’s

ave

rage

hou

se p

rice

is 1

4% a

bove

the

Oxf

ords

hire

av

erag

e, a

nd 3

0% a

bove

the

aver

age

for t

he S

outh

Eas

t. T

his

has

led

to s

ever

e af

ford

abili

ty p

robl

ems

(Oxf

ords

hire

Loc

al A

rea

Agr

eem

ent

2005

, and

App

endi

x 2)

. •

Ther

e is

a s

horta

ge o

f mar

ket a

nd a

fford

able

hou

sing

(app

endi

x 2)

23

In

vest

men

t in

Infra

stru

ctur

e •

The

NP

PF

high

light

s th

e im

porta

nce

of in

frast

ruct

ure

deliv

ery.

It i

s id

entif

ied

as p

art o

f the

eco

nom

ic d

imen

sion

to s

usta

inab

le

deve

lopm

ent.

Par

agra

ph 2

1 of

the

NP

PF

stat

es th

at p

lann

ing

polic

ies

shou

ld s

eek

to a

ddre

ss b

arrie

rs to

inve

stm

ent i

nclu

ding

infra

stru

ctur

e.

24

Thre

ats

to th

e vi

talit

y an

d vi

abili

ty

of to

wn

and

villa

ge c

entre

s •

The

vita

lity

and

viab

ility

of t

own

and

villa

ge c

entre

s in

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

reis

bei

ng c

halle

nged

. Th

e th

reat

s to

thes

e ce

ntre

s in

clud

e ch

angi

ng

patte

rns

of c

onsu

mer

spe

ndin

g an

d tra

vel,

incr

easi

ng c

ompe

titio

n fro

m

larg

er to

wn

cent

res

and

relo

catio

n of

bus

ines

s to

out

-of-c

entre

lo

catio

ns.

The

rise

of in

tern

et s

hopp

ing

is a

lso

a th

reat

to c

ompa

rison

re

tail

units

. (S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Dis

trict

Cou

ncil

Ret

ail a

nd L

eisu

re

Nee

ds A

sses

smen

t, 20

10) (

Our

Pla

ce, O

ur F

utur

e, S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

S

usta

inab

le C

omm

uniti

es S

trate

gy 2

009-

2026

).

25

Ther

e is

a s

horta

ge o

f sui

tabl

e bu

sine

ss p

rem

ises

in a

ppro

pria

te

loca

tions

• Th

e co

unci

l is

com

mitt

ed to

sup

porti

ng b

usin

ess

grow

th in

app

ropr

iate

lo

catio

ns a

cros

s th

e di

stric

t (S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Cor

pora

te P

lan

2012

-20

16)

20


6. Task A4 Developing the SA Framework

30. The potential impacts of a local plan are assessed against predefi ned objectives for sustainable development.

These objectives provide a method for assessing the effects of the local plan. The SA should include

objectives derived from the information emerging from tasks A1, A2 and A3 in the SA process.

31. Table 3 below contains proposed 17 sustainability objectives that we will use in the SA framework and

describes whether each objective addresses social, economic, or environmental matters or a combination of

these. The numbers of objectives on social, economic, and environmental matters refl ect the key issues in the

district and are not evenly matched for this reason. The right-hand column in Table 3 details the main other

plans or strategies from which each objective has been derived and further derivations are shown in Appendix 1.

32. In our fi rst scoping report (2006), the local priorities and aims in the South Oxfordshire Partnership’s South

Oxfordshire Community Strategy 2004-2009 (SOCS) and the strategic objectives in the council’s own South

Oxfordshire Performance Plan (SOPP) 2005/06 were important sources for objectives for the Sustainability

Appraisal of the district. This updated version of the scoping report has taken account of the objectives

contained within the South Oxfordshire Sustainable Community Strategy (SOSCS) 2009 - 2026, the South

Oxfordshire Corporate Plan - The Way Ahead 2012/2016 (SOCP), and the Oxfordshire 2030 Community Strategy

(OCP), along with all other updated plans, policies, and programmes contained within Appendix 1.


21

Tabl

e 3.

Pro

pose

d Su

stai

nabi

lity

Obj

ectiv

es

D

raft

Sus

tain

abili

ty O

bjec

tive

Soc

Env

Econ

Mai

n so

urce

of

obj

ectiv

e

1 To

hel

p to

pro

vide

exi

stin

g an

d fu

ture

resi

dent

s w

ith th

e op

portu

nity

to li

ve

in a

dec

ent h

ome

and

in a

dec

ent e

nviro

nmen

t sup

porte

d by

app

ropr

iate

le

vels

of i

nfra

stru

ctur

e

S

OS

CS

S

OC

P

OC

P

2 To

hel

p to

cre

ate

safe

pla

ces

for p

eopl

e to

use

and

for b

usin

esse

s to

op

erat

e, to

redu

ce a

nti-s

ocia

l beh

avio

ur a

nd re

duce

crim

e an

d th

e fe

ar o

f cr

ime.

S

OC

S

SO

CP

O

CP

3 To

impr

ove

acce

ssib

ility

for e

very

one

to h

ealth

, edu

catio

n, re

crea

tion,

cu

ltura

l, an

d co

mm

unity

faci

litie

s an

d se

rvic

es.

S

OS

CS

S

OC

P

OC

P

4 To

mai

ntai

n an

d im

prov

e pe

ople

’s h

ealth

, wel

l-bei

ng, a

nd c

omm

unity

co

hesi

on a

nd s

uppo

rt vo

lunt

ary,

com

mun

ity, a

nd fa

ith g

roup

s.

S

OS

CS

S

OC

P

OC

P

5 To

redu

ce h

arm

to th

e en

viro

nmen

t by

seek

ing

to m

inim

ise

pollu

tion

of a

ll ki

nds

espe

cial

ly w

ater

, air,

soi

l and

noi

se p

ollu

tion.

SO

SC

S

SO

CP

O

CP

6

To im

prov

e tra

vel c

hoic

e an

d ac

cess

ibili

ty, r

educ

e th

e ne

ed to

trav

el b

y ca

r and

sho

rten

the

leng

th a

nd d

urat

ion

of jo

urne

ys.

Lo

cal T

rans

port

Pla

n 3

7 To

con

serv

e an

d en

hanc

e bi

odiv

ersi

ty

S

OS

CS

O

CP

22


ds

cs

ope

spac

esa

dco

uys

depa

cua

,os

ea

eas

desi

gnat

ed fo

r the

ir la

ndsc

ape

impo

rtanc

e, m

iner

als,

bio

dive

rsity

and

soi

l qu

ality

.

OC

9 To

con

serv

e an

d en

hanc

e th

e di

stric

t’s h

isto

ric e

nviro

nmen

t inc

ludi

ng

arch

aeol

ogic

al re

sour

ces

and

to e

nsur

e th

at n

ew d

evel

opm

ent i

s of

a h

igh

qual

ity d

esig

n an

d re

info

rces

loca

l dis

tinct

iven

ess.

S

OS

CS

O

CP

10

To s

eek

to a

ddre

ss th

e ca

uses

and

effe

cts

of c

limat

e ch

ange

by:

a)

secu

ring

sust

aina

ble

build

ing

prac

tices

whi

ch c

onse

rve

ener

gy,

wat

er re

sour

ces

and

mat

eria

ls;

b)

prot

ectin

g, e

nhan

cing

and

impr

ovin

g ou

r wat

er s

uppl

y w

here

po

ssib

le

c)

max

imiz

ing

the

prop

ortio

n of

ene

rgy

gene

rate

d fro

m re

new

able

so

urce

s; a

nd

d)

ensu

ring

that

the

desi

gn a

nd lo

catio

n of

new

dev

elop

men

t is

resi

lient

to th

e ef

fect

s of

clim

ate

chan

ge.

S

OS

CS

S

OC

P

OC

P

11

To re

duce

the

risk

of ,

and

dam

age

from

, flo

odin

g.

S

OS

CS

O

CP

12

To

see

k to

min

imis

e w

aste

gen

erat

ion

and

enco

urag

e th

e re

use

of w

aste

th

roug

h re

cycl

ing,

com

post

, or e

nerg

y re

cove

ry.

S

OS

CS

S

OC

P


23

13

To a

ssis

t in

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f:

a)

high

and

sta

ble

leve

ls o

f em

ploy

men

t and

faci

litat

ing

inw

ard

inve

stm

ent;

b)

a st

rong

, inn

ovat

ive

and

know

ledg

e-ba

sed

econ

omy

that

del

iver

hi

gh-v

alue

-add

ed, s

usta

inab

le, l

ow-im

pact

act

iviti

es;

c)

smal

l firm

s, p

artic

ular

ly th

ose

that

mai

ntai

n an

d en

hanc

e th

e ru

ral

econ

omy;

and

d)

thriv

ing

econ

omie

s in

mar

ket t

owns

and

vill

ages

.

S

OS

CS

S

OC

P

Oxf

ord

and

Oxf

ords

hire

City

D

eal

14

To s

uppo

rt th

e de

velo

pmen

t of S

cien

ce V

ale

as a

n in

tern

atio

nally

re

cogn

ised

inno

vatio

n an

d en

terp

rise

zone

by:

a)

attra

ctin

g ne

w h

igh

valu

e bu

sine

sses

;

b)

supp

ortin

g in

nova

tion

and

ente

rpris

e;

c)

deliv

erin

g ne

w jo

bs;

d)

supp

ortin

g an

d ac

cele

ratin

g th

e de

liver

y of

new

hom

es; a

nd

e)

deve

lopi

ng a

nd im

prov

ing

infra

stru

ctur

e

acro

ss th

e S

cien

ce V

ale

area

.

O

xfor

d an

d O

xfor

dshi

re C

ity

Dea

l O

xfor

dshi

re

Stra

tegi

c E

cono

mic

P

lan

15

To a

ssis

t in

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f a s

kille

d w

orkf

orce

to s

uppo

rt th

e lo

ng

term

com

petit

iven

ess

of th

e di

stric

t by

rais

ing

educ

atio

n ac

hiev

emen

t le

vels

and

enc

oura

ging

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f the

ski

lls n

eede

d fo

r eve

ryon

e to

find

and

rem

ain

in w

ork.

S

OS

CS

16

To e

ncou

rage

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f a b

uoya

nt, s

usta

inab

le to

uris

m s

ecto

r.

SO

CP

O

CP

17

S

uppo

rt co

mm

unity

invo

lvem

ent i

n de

cisi

ons

affe

ctin

g th

em a

nd e

nabl

e co

mm

uniti

es to

pro

vide

loca

l ser

vice

s an

d so

lutio

ns.

S

OS

CS

S

OC

P

24


33. Table 4 below indicates how these 17 objectives in the South Oxfordshire SA Framework relate to the

environmental issues listed in Annex 1 of the Directive. The objectives in Table 3 are appropriate for the more

general nature of the development management, district wide policies.

Table 4. Links between the SA Objectives and the SEA Directive issues

SEA Directive issue SA objectives

Biodiversity, fauna, and flora

6, 7,13

Population 1,2,3,4,15,17

Human health 1,2,3,4

Soil 5,7,13

Water 5,8

Air 5,10

Climatic factors 5,6,8,10

Material assets 8,9,12

Cultural heritage 9

Landscape 8

34. The objectives in the SA Framework will not always be compatible with each other. The matrix in Table 5

below shows where achievement of an objective may be incompatible with the achievement of one or

more other objectives. For instance, the objectives to provide new homes and to assist the development of

businesses may confl ict with objectives to reduce road congestion and greenhouse gas emissions causing

climate change. Local plan sustainability appraisals should identify whether proposals have sought a ‘win-

win’ or compromise solution, in which case development meeting one objective will proceed in a way which

helps to meet, to some extent at least, a confl icting objective. It is recognized that this may not always be

feasible.

35. The council will also carry out a comparative analysis of sites as a part of the assessment before any allocations

are made in the local plan. Similar to the assessments carried out for the core strategy, these will appear in

background papers for plan. It is anticipated that the site-specifi c criterion will include (although not necessarily

restricted to) the following:

• Landscape sensitivity and character

• Proximity to the AONB

• Historic environment

• Potentially workable mineral deposits

• MAFF / DEFRA provisional agricultural

land classifi cation

• Biodiversity

• Proximity to watercourses

• Flood zone

• Contaminated land

• Archaeology

• Statutory public rights of way

• Permeability / other possible pedestrian

cycle links

• Existing nearby bus routes

• Vehicular accesses to public highways

• Distance from facilities


25

Table 5. Matrix of internal compatibility between objectives

Sustainability objectives

+ compatible / - Incompatible

17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

1 + + + + + - - - - - - - - + + +

2 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

3 + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

4 + + + + + + + + + + + + +

5 + - + - - + + + + + + +

6 + - + - - + + + + + +

7 + - + - - + + + + +

8 + + + + + + + + +

9 + + + - - + + +

10 + - + - - + +

11 + - + - - +

12 + + + - -

13 + + + +

14 + + +

15 + +

16 +

17

26


7. Next steps sustainability appraisal in producing the

local plan 36. A local plan will contain its own planning objectives but the guidance states that these should be tested for

compatibility with the objectives in the SA Framework. The council proposes to do so using the matrix in Table

7 below. A green plus in the matrix cell will indicate that the local plan objective Is potentially consistent with

a SA objective and a red minus will indicate potential inconsistency. Where the relationship between objectives

is uncertain the cell will be unmarked. In cases where there is inconsistency between two objectives, we will

explain in the SA Report why the planning objective has priority over the SA objective.

Table 6. Links between site assessment criterion and SEA Directive Issues

SEA Directive Issue Site assessment criterion

Biodiversity, flora, and fauna Biodiversity

Population n/a

Human health Distance to facilities to promote walking and cycling

Soil Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food / Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs provisional agricultural land classification.

Contaminated land

Water Proximity to watercourses

Air and climatic factors Flood zones

Material assets Potentially workable mineral deposits

Current use

Cultural heritage Historic environment

Archaeology

Landscape Landscape assessments

Proximity to AONB and Green Belt

Interrelations Statutory rights of way

Permeability / other pedestrian links

Existing nearby bus routes

Vehicular access to public highways


27

37. Where a local plan contains a strategic policy or allocates land for housing or other land uses there may be

a choice between two or more strategic alternatives (called ‘options’ in the planning system) for distributing

development. In this case, we shall include the consideration of options for development in the production stage

of local plan preparation.

38. The SA will test each option on the extent to which it assists achievement of the sustainability objective. This will

inform the choice of the preferred option but does not bind the council to choosing the highest scoring option

and will aid in the identifi cation of mitigation measures as appropriate. A public consultation will be carried out

on the draft options to involve the local community and stakeholders. Appraisal information will be published

with the options to assist understanding of the likely signifi cant effects of each option. Any new options

emerging at this stage will be subjected to SA too.

39. We shall then prepare a publication version of the local plan containing the site-specifi c proposals and strategic

policies. We will carry out another formal public participation exercise involving the local community and

stakeholders. Representations received will be submitted along with the local plan and SA to the Secretary of

State before the examination stage.

Table 7. Example matrix for testing local plan objectives

Example local plan objectives

A B C D - - Z

1 + + + - +

2 + - - + +

3 + + + + -

-

-

-

15 - + + - +

16 - + + +

17 + + - - -

Sus

tain

abilit

y fra

mew

ork

obje

ctiv

es

28


40. We will appraise this local plan using the testing matrix in Table 8 below. This matrix is designed to meet the

SEA Directive’s requirements:

“the likely significant effects on the environment, including such issues 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.”

The appraisal of significant effects “should include secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium

and long-term permanent and temporary, positive and negative effects.”

41. The guidance suggests that the SA should only focus on the significant environmental, economic, and social

impacts. Schedule 1 to the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004

defi nes how likely signifi cant effects should be determined. In summary, the most relevant of these to the

production of the local plan are:

• the probability, duration, frequency, and reversibility of options

• the cumulative nature of these options

• cross-boundary issues

• risks to human health or the environment

• geographical scale

• value and vulnerability of the area likely to be affected due to:

• special natural characteristics or cultural heritage

• exceeded environmental quality standards or limit values

• intensive land use

• effects on areas or landscapes which have a recognised national, community, or international

protection status


29

Tabl

e 8.

Exa

mpl

e te

stin

g m

atrix

for d

ocum

entin

g ap

prai

sal o

f a lo

cal p

lan

optio

n ag

ains

t the

SA

Fra

mew

ork

S

usta

inab

ility

Obj

ectiv

e 1

- To

help

pro

vide

exi

stin

g an

d fu

ture

resi

dent

s w

ith th

e op

portu

nity

to li

ve in

a d

ecen

t hom

e

Loca

l pla

n op

tion

O

vera

ll na

ture

of

effe

ct

Sho

rt te

rm

Med

. ter

m

Long

term

A

sses

smen

t of e

ffect

• Li

kelih

ood,

dur

atio

n, fr

eque

ncy

and

reve

rsib

ility

of

effe

ct

• C

umul

ativ

e im

pact

•

Cro

ss-b

ound

ary

issu

es

• R

isk

to h

uman

hea

lth a

nd th

e en

viro

nmen

t •

Geo

grap

hica

l sca

le o

f effe

ct

• Im

pact

on

valu

able

, vul

nera

ble

or d

esig

nate

d ar

ea

• R

ecom

men

datio

ns fo

r miti

gatio

n or

impr

ovem

ent

Opt

ion

1 -

0 +

++

Ass

essm

ent o

f opt

ion

1 us

ing

crite

ria a

bove

.

Opt

ion

2 ++

--

+

++

Ass

essm

ent o

f opt

ion

2 us

ing

crite

ria a

bove

.

Opt

ion

10

? ?

+ -

Ass

essm

ent o

f opt

ion

10 u

sing

crit

eria

abo

ve.

Sum

mar

y of

op

tion’

s ef

fect

s on

th

e ob

ject

ive

Sum

mar

y of

opt

ion’

s im

pact

on

all o

bjec

tives

Con

clus

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

Key

W

ill th

e op

tion

mak

e a

posi

tive

or n

egat

ive

cont

ribut

ion

to th

e ap

prai

sal o

bjec

tive?

++

Maj

or p

ositi

ve +

Min

or p

ositi

ve -

Min

or n

egat

ive

-- M

ajor

neg

ativ

e

0 N

eutra

l ?

Unc

erta

in

30


42. There is an iterative relationship between the SA and the

formulation of options, proposals, or policies in local plan

preparation. The process of tabulating the signifi cant effects of

an option, proposal or policy may reveal a major negative effect

on an SA objective or on several SA objectives. In that event, the

recommendation in the SA testing process may be that the option,

proposal, or policy is not pursued, with the result that it is not

included in the local plan. The council may then choose another

option, proposal or policy to submit to the SA process, which may

perform better than the fi rst and which is carried forward to the

local plan. Such decisions will be recorded in the SA report.

43. In other cases, where negative effects are revealed which might

be overcome by mitigating or compensatory measures, then the

recommendation of the SA testing process may be that an option

should be pursued provided that the planning system can secure

implementations of those measures. The recommendations, too,

will be in the SA report.

44. The SA testing process should also consider whether positive

effects of an option, revealed in the SA testing process need to

be guaranteed by the inclusion or implementation of protection

measures. If so, then the measures should be specifi ed in the SA

recommendation and recorded in the SA report.

45. In other cases an effect may be uncertain because it will depend

on how a developer implements an option and this information

cannot be known at the local plan preparation stage. The

recommendation in this case may be an advisory note for decision-

makers in the development management process to ensure that

detailed development proposals include measures designed to

deliver positive effects for SA objectives or to mitigate possible

negative effects. Such recommendations will be recorded in the

SA report.

46. Undertaking the appraisal

47. Council offi cers in the Planning Policy team will undertake the

appraisals as set out in Stages B and C of Figure 1. Persons or

bodies with acknowledged expertise in SA will be engaged to

scrutinise the process and to assure the quality of all stages of the

work.


31

8. Task A5 Consulting on the scoping report

48. The guidance considers stakeholder consultation at Stage A to be particularly important. A European Directive

sets out certain statutory requirements for formal consultation on this scoping report and this includes seek the

views of the following prescribed bodies:

• The Environment Agency;

• Natural England; and

• English Heritage.

In addition to this we will also consult:

• other groups and bodies that have social, environmental, and economic interests and expertise;

• neighbouring local authorities under the Duty to Cooperate;

• town and parish councils in South Oxfordshire;

• residents;

• development industry and landowners; and

• anyone else who has subscribed to our consultation database.

This consultation will be carried out in conjunction with the “Regulation 18” consultation on the scope of the

local plan. The justifi cation for doing so is set out in paragraph 7.

32

South Oxfordshire District CouncilLocal Plan 2031 APPENDIX 1 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - June 2014

Appendix 1 Review of relevant plans, policies and programmes

South Oxfordshire District Council APPENDIX 1 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - June 2014 Local Plan 2031

33

1. This appendix sets out the list of plans, policies and programmes

relevant to the production of the local plan 2031. In previous

iterations of this scoping report we have provided a table

containing all the plans, policies and programmes from the

international level down to the local level. This updated scoping

report takes a similar approach by listing all the plans at a macro

level before descending into more detailed plans, policies and

programmes with more locally specifi c targets.

2. Relevant international and national plans have been listed in

tables 1 and 2 followed by a summary of their implications on

the production of the local plan. Plans that are established at

a regional, county, or local level have specifi c targets for spatial

areas in South Oxfordshire. These plans have therefore been

examined in more detail, relating each plan to specifi c sustainability

objectives and how the local plan can help to meet their targets

or visions. This was not done at an international or national level

as the objectives contained within these plans are often repeated

in lower tier plans alongside more detailed objectives and visions

relevant to South Oxfordshire. This has avoided the repetition of

work.

34


Tabl

e 1.

Int

erna

tiona

l pla

ns, p

olic

ies

and

prog

ram

mes

D

ate

1 C

onve

ntio

n co

ncer

ning

the

Prot

ectio

n of

the

Wor

ld C

ultu

ral a

nd N

atur

al H

erita

ge (U

NES

CO

) 19

72

2 R

amsa

r Con

vent

ion

on W

etla

nds

of In

tern

atio

nal I

mpo

rtan

ce e

spec

ially

as

Wat

erfo

wl H

abita

t 19

87

3 Eu

rope

an C

ounc

il D

irect

ive

on th

e C

onse

rvat

ion

of H

abita

ts a

nd o

f Wild

Flo

ra a

nd F

auna

19

92

4 R

io D

ecla

ratio

n on

the

Envi

ronm

ent a

nd D

evel

opm

ent

1992

5 Eu

rope

an C

onve

ntio

n on

the

Prot

ectio

n of

Arc

haeo

logi

cal H

erita

ge (r

evis

ed)

1992

6 Eu

rope

an C

ounc

il D

irect

ive

on in

tegr

ated

pol

lutio

n pr

even

tion

and

cont

rol

1996

7 K

yoto

Pro

toco

l 19

97

8 Eu

rope

an B

iodi

vers

ity S

trat

egy

19

98

9 Eu

rope

an S

patia

l Dev

elop

men

t Per

spec

tive

19

99

10

Euro

pean

Uni

on N

oise

Dire

ctiv

e 20

00

11

Euro

pean

Uni

on W

ater

Fra

mew

ork

Dire

ctiv

e 20

00

12

Euro

pean

Uni

on T

he A

sses

smen

t of t

he E

ffec

ts o

f Cer

tain

Pla

ns a

nd P

rogr

amm

es o

n th

e En

viro

nmen

t Dire

ctiv

e (S

EA D

irect

ive)

20

01

13

Wor

ld s

umm

it on

sus

tain

able

dev

elop

men

t 20

02

14

Euro

pean

Com

mis

sion

The

mat

ic S

trat

egy

for S

oil P

rote

ctio

n 20

06

15

Euro

pean

Uni

on W

aste

Dire

ctiv

e 20

08

16

Euro

pean

Uni

on A

ir Q

ualit

y D

irect

ive

20

08

17

Euro

pean

Uni

on s

trat

egy

for s

usta

inab

le d

evel

opm

ent (

upda

te)

2009

18

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Con

fere

nce

on S

usta

inab

le D

evel

opm

ent

2012


35

International plans and our Sustainability Framework

3. The international plans, policies and programmes above are the most relevant to the local plan. Collectively, the

plans listed above have infl uenced every sustainability objective in one way or another since they cover the broad

three themes of sustainable development: economy, environment, and social. The most pertinent objectives,

aspirations and targets derived from international plans are:

• Addressing threats to public health

• Conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity

• Conserving and enhancing wild fl ora, fauna, wetlands and all natural habitats

• Dealing with the economic and social implications of an ageing population

• Economic and social cohesion

• Improving the relationship between town and countryside

• Improving the transport system and land use

• Increasing the use and effi ciency of renewable energy and more sustainable use of traditional

energy resources

• Limiting climate change

• Maintaining good air quality or improve in other cases

• Mitigation of the effects of fl oods and droughts

• Preventing and reducing the production of waste and its impacts

• Preventing the degradation of soil and preserving its functions

• Promoting balanced accessibility

• Protecting and managing natural resources

• Protecting cultural and archaeological heritage

• Reducing UK Carbon emissions by 12.5% between 1990 and 2008 / 2012

• Prevention and reduction of air, water, and land pollution

• Producing noise plans to address noise where necessary

• Special conservation measures in Special Areas of Conservations

• Subjecting plans to Strategic Environmental Assessments

• Sustainable use of water

• Tackling global development issues such as poverty and hunger

• The introduction of River Basin Management Plans by 2009

• The promotion of inclusive and equitable economic growth

• The protection of wild birds

36


Tabl

e 2.

Nat

iona

l pla

ns, p

olic

ies

and

prog

ram

mes

D

ate

1 W

ildlif

e an

d C

ount

rysi

de A

ct

1981

2

Wor

king

with

the

grai

n of

nat

ure:

a b

iodi

vers

ity s

trate

gy fo

r Eng

land

20

02

3 U

K G

over

nmen

t Sus

tain

able

Dev

elop

men

t Stra

tegy

20

05

4 N

atur

al e

nviro

nmen

t and

rura

l com

mun

ities

act

20

06

5 U

K C

limat

e C

hang

e P

rogr

amm

e 20

06

6 C

limat

e C

hang

e A

ct

2008

7

Life

time

hom

es, l

ifetim

e ne

ighb

ourh

oods

20

08

8 U

K C

arbo

n Tr

ansi

tion

Pla

n 20

09

9 P

lann

ing

for t

own

cent

res:

pra

ctic

e gu

idan

ce o

n ne

ed, i

mpa

ct a

nd th

e se

quen

tial a

ppro

ach

2009

10

S

afeg

uard

ing

our s

oils

: A s

trate

gy fo

r Eng

land

20

09

11

Env

ironm

ent A

genc

y w

ater

reso

urce

s st

rate

gy fo

r Eng

land

and

Wal

es

2009

12

Fl

ood

and

Wat

er M

anag

emen

t Act

20

10

13

Loca

l Gro

wth

Whi

te P

aper

20

10

14

Air

Qua

lity

(sta

ndar

ds) R

egul

atio

ns

2010

15

N

atur

al E

nviro

nmen

t Whi

te P

aper

20

11

16

Eng

lish

Her

itage

Stra

tegy

201

1-20

15

2011

17

U

nloc

king

gro

wth

in C

ities

Whi

te P

aper

20

11

18

Dep

artm

ent o

f Bus

ines

s in

nova

tion

and

Ski

lls -

Pla

n fo

r Gro

wth

20

11

19

Layi

ng th

e fo

unda

tions

- A

hou

sing

stra

tegy

for E

ngla

nd

2011

20

Th

e Lo

calis

m A

ct

2011

21

P

lann

ing

polic

y fo

r tra

velle

r site

s 20

12

22

Nat

iona

l Pla

nnin

g P

olic

y Fr

amew

ork

2012

23

E

nviro

nmen

t Age

ncy

GP

3 G

roun

dwat

er P

rote

ctio

n P

olic

y an

d P

ract

ice

2013

24

G

row

th a

nd In

frast

ruct

ure

Act

20

13

25

Pla

nnin

g P

ract

ice

Gui

danc

e fo

r Ren

ewab

le E

nerg

y 20

13

26

Nat

iona

l Ada

ptat

ion

Pro

gram

me

2013

27

N

atio

nal P

lann

ing

Pra

ctic

e G

uida

nce

2014


37

Issues arising from international plans

4. There is substantial overlap between international plans, policies and programmes. The majority focus on issues

of protecting the environment, however some try to promote healthy and sustainable communities through

reducing poverty and hunger. International agreements and European Directives are often aspirational and

beyond the scope of the local plan to deal with in isolation. Nevertheless, the local plan can contribute to

achieving the objectives of these plans through enacting relatively small-scale change at the local level. The

objectives of these plans are often expanded upon and manifested in national policies and legislation which

provide a more detailed and relatable framework for local planning authorities to refl ect in the production of

local plans.

National plans and our Sustainability Framework 5. There are a number of national plans, policies and programmes that have implications for the Sustainability

Framework; the ones above are the most relevant to the local plan 2031. Collectively, the plans listed above

have infl uenced every sustainability objective in one way or another since they cover the broad three themes of

sustainable development: economy, environment, and social. The most relevant spatial objectives, aspirations and

targets derived from national plans are:

38


Tabl

e 3.

Eco

nom

ic o

bjec

tives

of n

atio

nal p

lans

, pol

icie

s or

pro

gram

mes

O

bjec

tive

Plan

, Pol

icy

or P

rogr

amm

e Pl

an p

ositi

vely

for g

row

th w

ith a

pr

esum

ptio

n in

favo

ur o

f sus

tain

able

de

velo

pmen

t

Loca

lism

Act

, NP

PF,

NP

PG

, Gro

wth

and

Infra

stru

ctur

e A

ct, A

Hou

sing

Stra

tegy

for E

ngla

nd,

Nat

iona

l Ada

ptat

ion

Pro

gram

me,

Pla

n fo

r Gro

wth

BIS

, UK

Gov

ernm

ent S

usta

inab

le D

evel

opm

ent

Stra

tegy

, Lift

ing

the

Bar

riers

to G

row

th in

UK

Sm

all B

usin

esse

s, U

nloc

king

Gro

wth

in C

ities

Whi

te

Pap

er, L

ocal

Gro

wth

Whi

te P

aper

R

educ

e bu

reau

crac

y

Loca

lism

Act

, Pla

n fo

r Gro

wth

, Lift

ing

the

Bar

riers

to G

row

th in

UK

Sm

all B

usin

esse

s

Tabl

e 4.

Env

ironm

enta

l obj

ectiv

es o

f nat

iona

l pla

ns, p

olic

ies

or p

rogr

amm

es

Obj

ectiv

e Pl

an, P

olic

y or

Pro

gram

me

A lo

w c

arbo

n fu

ture

N

PP

F, N

PP

G, U

K G

over

nmen

t Sus

tain

able

Dev

elop

men

t Stra

tegy

, Clim

ate

Cha

nge

Act

, Nat

iona

l A

dapt

atio

n P

rogr

amm

e, U

K C

limat

e C

hang

e P

rogr

amm

e, U

K C

arbo

n Tr

ansi

tion

Pla

n A

dapt

ing

to, a

nd m

itiga

ting

the

impa

cts

of, c

limat

e ch

ange

N

PP

F, N

PP

G, U

K G

over

nmen

t Sus

tain

able

Dev

elop

men

t Stra

tegy

, Clim

ate

Cha

nge

Act

, Nat

iona

l A

dapt

atio

n P

rogr

amm

e, U

K C

limat

e C

hang

e P

rogr

amm

e, U

K C

arbo

n Tr

ansi

tion

Pla

n, F

lood

and

W

ater

Man

agem

ent A

ct

Con

serv

e an

d en

hanc

e ar

eas

that

hav

e be

en d

esig

nate

d fo

r the

ir si

gnifi

cant

co

ntrib

utio

n to

the

natu

ral e

nviro

nmen

t

Wild

life

and

Cou

ntry

side

Act

, Wor

king

with

the

grai

n of

nat

ure:

a b

iodi

vers

ity s

trate

gy fo

r Eng

land

, N

atur

al E

nviro

nmen

t and

Rur

al C

omm

uniti

es A

ct, N

PP

F, N

PP

G, N

atur

al E

nviro

nmen

t Whi

te P

aper

Con

serv

ing

and

enha

ncin

g bi

odiv

ersi

ty

NP

PF,

NP

PG

, Wor

king

with

the

grai

n of

nat

ure:

a b

iodi

vers

ity s

trate

gy fo

r Eng

land

, Nat

ural

E

nviro

nmen

t and

Com

mun

ities

Act

, UK

Gov

ernm

ent S

usta

inab

le D

evel

opm

ent S

trate

gy

Con

serv

ing

built

her

itage

site

s N

PP

F, N

PP

G, E

nglis

h H

erita

ge S

trate

gy 2

011-

2015

En

cour

age

a m

odal

shi

ft to

pub

lic

tran

spor

t, w

alki

ng, a

nd c

yclin

g N

PP

F, N

PP

G, P

lann

ing

Pol

icy

for T

rave

ller S

ites,

UK

Car

bon

Tran

sitio

n P

lan,

UK

Clim

ate

Cha

nge

Pro

gram

me,

Nat

iona

l Ada

ptio

n P

rogr

amm

e

Goo

d m

anag

emen

t of w

ater

E

nviro

nmen

t Age

ncy

Wat

er R

esou

rces

for t

he F

utur

e, F

lood

and

Wat

er M

anag

emen

t Act

, NP

PF,

N

PP

G, U

K G

over

nmen

t Sus

tain

able

Dev

elop

men

t Stra

tegy

H

igh-

qual

ity d

esig

n of

the

built

en

viro

nmen

t N

PP

F, A

Hou

sing

Stra

tegy

for E

ngla

nd, E

nglis

h H

erita

ge S

trate

gy 2

011-

2015

, Pla

nnin

g fo

r Tow

n C

entre

s Pr

iorit

isin

g th

e us

e of

pre

viou

sly

deve

lope

d la

nd

NP

PF,

NP

PG

, Bio

dive

rsity

202

0, U

K G

over

nmen

t Sus

tain

able

Dev

elop

men

t Stra

tegy

Prot

ectio

n of

gro

undw

ater

E

nviro

nmen

t Age

ncy

GP

3 G

roun

dwat

er P

rote

ctio

n P

olic

y an

d P

ract

ice,

Env

ironm

ent A

genc

y W

ater

R

esou

rces

for t

he F

utur

e, W

orki

ng w

ith th

e gr

ain

of n

atur

e: a

bio

dive

rsity

stra

tegy

for E

ngla

nd

Prot

ectio

n of

nat

ural

reso

urce

s U

K G

over

nmen

t Sus

tain

able

Dev

elop

men

t Stra

tegy

R

educ

ing

pollu

tion

of a

ll ki

nds

NP

PF,

NP

PG

, UK

Gov

ernm

ent S

usta

inab

le D

evel

opm

ent S

trate

gy, C

limat

e C

hang

e A

ct, N

atio

nal

Ada

ptat

ion

Pro

gram

me,

UK

Clim

ate

Cha

nge

Pro

gram

me,

Air

Qua

lity

(Sta

ndar

ds) R

egul

atio

ns

Sust

aina

ble

agric

ultu

ral p

ract

ices

U

K C

limat

e C

hang

e P

rogr

amm

e, U

K G

over

nmen

t Sus

tain

able

Dev

elop

men

t Stra

tegy

, S

afeg

uard

ing

our S

oils

: A S

trate

gy fo

r Eng

land


39

40


Issues arising from national plans6. Since 2010 the Government has placed a presumption in favour of sustainable development at the heart of

the planning system. The Government sees the planning system as a tool for unlocking economic growth,

specifi cally in the construction sector, through the removal of regulations and by supporting schemes that are

unviable through funding and devolved powers to local authorities and partnerships. The local plan will need

to demonstrate a presumption in favour of sustainable development and that the policies and plans contained

within it plan positively for growth. Although there are no specifi c targets for South Oxfordshire at a national

level, the Enterprise Zone at Science Vale and the successful Oxford and Oxfordshire City Deal show that the area

is capable of delivering economic growth.

7. The analysis of national environmental objectives shows that these are generally in line with the aspirations

set out at an international level, but make reference to UK specifi c designations such as Areas of Outstanding

Natural Beauty and Green Belts. Again, there are no specifi c targets for South Oxfordshire as these are generally

created at a regional, county, or district level, but small scale change at the local level can help contribute

towards achieving national aspirations.

8. The Localism Act requires decentralization of Government decision making to local communities. This has led to

new initiatives such as Neighbourhood Planning, Community Right to Build, and Community Right to Bid where

local communities are given the power to shape the development of their area. In South Oxfordshire there are

currently eight neighbourhood plans in production, and two adopted. The devolution of responsibilities also

abolished Regional Spatial Strategies that have in part been replaced by Local Enterprise Partnerships. The LEP

for Oxfordshire is responsible for producing a Strategic Economic Plan and has also been involved in joint spatial

planning discussions across the county.

9. The objectively assessed housing need for South Oxfordshire is set through the Strategic Housing Market

Assessment, and the housing target for the district will be set in the local plan.

10. Accessibility to services in South Oxfordshire is generally lower than the average for Oxfordshire (see Appendix

2). One of the challenges for the local plan in a predominantly rural area will seek to provide new and existing

residents with access to good facilities without being reliant on the private car to meet their day-to-day needs.

Issues arising from regional plans11. The government revoked the regional spatial strategy for the South East (South East Plan) in March 2013. The

South East Plan contained a spatial vision for all of the South East, including policies affecting South Oxfordshire

but this now been removed. However there are other regional strategies relating to the use of water and the

maintenance of nationally designated areas of outstanding natural beauty. Where these have helped to inform

the SA Framework it has been noted on the column on the right hand side of the table.


41

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

42


• • • • • • • •

Oxf

ords

hire

Str

ateg

ic E

cono

mic

Pla

n O

xfor

dshi

re L

ocal

Ent

erpr

ise

Part

ners

hip

Rel

ated

SA

O

bjec

tive

(s)

The

Stra

tegi

c E

cono

mic

Pla

n su

ppor

ts h

igh

leve

ls o

f gro

wth

acr

oss

Oxf

ords

hire

to c

reat

e an

add

ition

al 8

5,60

0 ad

ditio

nal j

obs

in th

e C

ount

y by

20

30. T

he p

lan

iden

tifie

s th

e la

ck o

f con

nect

ivity

am

ongs

t the

var

ious

em

ploy

men

t nod

es in

the

Sci

ence

Val

e ar

ea a

s a

barr

ier t

o ec

onom

ic

grow

th.

It th

eref

ore

com

mits

fund

ing

to a

num

ber o

f sch

emes

sho

wn

on th

e m

ap b

elow

.

13 /

14 /

15

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n w

ill p

lay

an im

porta

nt ro

le in

the

deliv

ery

of th

e as

pira

tions

of t

he S

trate

gic

Eco

nom

ic P

lan,

for e

xam

ple,

thro

ugh

site

-spe

cific

allo

catio

ns o

f em

ploy

men

t lan

d, a

nd s

uppo

rting

hou

sing

and

infra

stru

ctur

e. T

he lo

cal p

lan

will

hav

e to

ens

ure

that

the

econ

omic

gai

ns o

f the

stra

tegi

c ec

onom

ic p

lan

do n

ot

com

prom

ise

envi

ronm

enta

l and

soc

ial c

ondi

tions

and

sho

uld

seek

impr

ovem

ents

to th

ese

whe

re p

ossi

ble.

The

Stra

tegi

c E

cono

mic

Pla

n w

ill b

e pa

rticu

larly

im

porta

nt to

the

Sci

ence

Val

e A

rea

Act

ion

Pla

n w

here

the

maj

ority

of e

mpl

oym

ent g

row

th o

f bot

h S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

’s C

ore

Stra

tegy

and

the

Val

e of

Whi

te H

orse

em

ergi

ng L

ocal

Pla

n 20

31 is

allo

cate

d.

Det

aile

d av

oida

nce,

miti

gatio

n, o

r com

pens

atio

n m

easu

res

for e

cono

mic

pro

posa

ls o

f the

Stra

tegi

c E

cono

mic

Pla

n at

S

cien

ce V

ale

will

like

ly b

e ad

dres

sed

in th

e S

cien

ce V

ale

Are

a A

ctio

n P

lan.


43

Map 1: Infrastructure funding commitments in

Strategic Economic Plan for Science Vale

44

South Oxfordshire District CouncilLocal Plan 2031 APPENDIX 1 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - June 2014 O

xfor

dshi

re 2

030

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gy

Oxf

ords

hire

Par

tner

ship

Re

late

d SA

O

bjec

tive

(s)

A w

orld

cla

ss e

cono

my

• Co

llabo

ratio

n ac

ross

pub

lic, b

usin

ess,

and

vol

unta

ry s

ecto

rs

• Cr

eatin

g th

e co

nditio

ns fo

r eve

ryon

e to

hav

e ac

cess

to jo

bs

• Ac

hiev

ing

a su

stai

nabl

e ba

lanc

e be

twee

n jo

bs, h

ousin

g, a

nd

the

envi

ronm

ent.

• Ta

cklin

g tra

ffic

cong

estio

n •

Redu

cing

the

gap

betw

een

the

best

and

wor

st o

ff

Prot

ectin

g th

e en

viro

nmen

t •

Redu

cing

carb

on e

miss

ions

and

impr

ovin

g en

ergy

and

wat

er

effic

ienc

y

• Re

ducin

g wa

ste

and

incr

easin

g re

-use

and

recy

cling

•

Min

imisi

ng th

e ef

fect

s an

d ris

k of

floo

ding

•

Ensu

ring

new

deve

lopm

ent i

s bu

ilt to

hig

h en

viron

men

tal

stan

dard

s •

Supp

ortin

g re

spon

ses

to c

limat

e ch

ange

•

Keep

ing

Oxf

ords

hire

cle

an a

nd g

reen

•

Prot

ectin

g an

d en

hanc

ing

biod

ivers

ity

All o

bjec

tives

Safe

r com

mun

ities

•

Wor

king

with

loca

l peo

ple

incl

udin

g th

e vo

lunt

ary,

com

mun

ity

and

faith

org

anisa

tions

, and

the

milit

ary

• W

orkin

g to

pre

vent

all f

orm

s of

ext

rem

ism

• Su

ppor

ting

the

achi

evem

ent o

f a h

ealth

y an

d po

sitive

old

age

•

Ensu

ring

ever

y ch

ild h

as th

e op

portu

nity

for a

goo

d st

art i

n life

•

Impr

ovin

g an

d su

ppor

t opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r ind

epen

dent

livin

g •

Prom

otin

g he

alth

y liv

ing

• De

fend

ing

acce

ss to

loca

l ser

vices

Redu

cing

ineq

ualit

y •

Redu

cing

the

gap

betw

een

the

best

and

wor

st o

ff •

Incr

easi

ng e

duca

tiona

l atta

inm

ent a

nd s

kill

leve

l •

Tack

ling

crim

e an

d an

ti-so

cial b

ehav

iour

•

Rege

nera

ting

depr

ived

loca

l com

mun

ities

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n ca

n re

flect

som

e of

the

aim

s of

the

com

mun

ity s

trate

gy, f

or e

xam

ple

by:

• Co

llabo

ratio

n an

d en

gage

men

t acr

oss

sect

ors

in th

e pl

an m

akin

g st

ages

•

Plan

ning

for n

ew h

ousin

g an

d jo

bs

• He

lpin

g to

tack

le tr

affic

con

gest

ion

• Re

ducin

g th

e ga

p be

twee

n th

e be

st a

nd w

orst

off

thro

ugh

plan

ning

for a

fford

able

hou

sing,

jobs

, and

acc

essib

le s

ervic

es a

nd tr

ansp

ort

• M

inim

ising

the

effe

cts

and

risk

of fl

oodi

ng

• Pr

otec

ting

and

enha

ncin

g th

e en

viron

men

t and

bio

dive

rsity


45

Oxf

ords

hire

Min

eral

s an

d W

aste

Loc

al P

lan

1996

-200

6 O

xfor

dshi

re C

ount

y Co

unci

l

Rela

ted

SA

Obj

ectiv

e (s

)

Min

eral

reso

urce

s wi

ll be

con

serv

ed fo

r the

ben

efit

of fu

ture

gen

erat

ions

. De

velo

pmen

ts th

at w

ould

ste

riliz

e or

mak

e th

e ex

tract

ion

of a

m

iner

al s

igni

fican

tly m

ore

diffi

cult

will n

ot b

e pe

rmitt

ed u

nles

s it

can

be s

hown

that

the

need

for t

he d

evel

opm

ent o

utwe

ighs

the

econ

omic

and

sust

aina

bilit

y co

nsid

erat

ions

rela

ting

to th

e m

iner

al re

sour

ce.

5 / 1

0 / 1

2

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n sh

ould

not

see

k to

mak

e al

loca

tions

whe

re a

ny M

iner

als

and

Was

te P

lan

prod

uced

by

Oxf

ords

hire

Cou

nty

Coun

cil s

afeg

uard

s la

nd fo

r min

eral

ex

tract

ion.

The

loca

l pla

n sh

ould

also

refle

ct p

olici

es a

nd a

spira

tions

con

tain

ed w

ithin

any

pla

n fo

r the

man

agem

ent o

f was

te.

46


• • • • • • • • •

Oxf

ords

hire

Joi

nt M

unic

ipal

Was

te S

trate

gy 2

013

Oxf

ords

hire

Was

te P

artn

ersh

ip 2

013

Rela

ted

SA

Obj

ectiv

e (s

) Po

licie

s re

leva

nt to

spa

tial p

lann

ing:

•

Help

hou

seho

lds

and

indi

vidua

ls to

redu

ce a

nd m

anag

e th

eir w

aste

in o

rder

to e

nsur

e ze

ro g

rowt

h or

bet

ter o

f mun

icipa

l was

te p

er

pers

on p

er a

nnum

•

Recy

cle o

r com

post

at l

east

65%

of h

ouse

hold

was

te b

y 31

Mar

ch 2

020

• Re

cycle

or c

ompo

st a

t lea

st 7

0% o

f hou

seho

ld w

aste

by

31 M

arch

202

5 •

Ensu

re th

at re

cycl

ing

faci

litie

s an

d se

rvic

es a

re a

vaila

ble

to a

ll re

side

nts

• En

cour

age

busin

esse

s to

redu

ce, r

euse

and

recy

cle b

y pr

ovid

ing

good

qua

lity re

cycli

ng s

ervic

es, i

nfor

mat

ion

and

advic

e.

• M

inim

ise w

aste

to la

ndfil

l and

reco

ver e

nerg

y fro

m n

on-re

cycl

able

was

te th

roug

h th

e op

erat

ion

of th

e Ar

dley

Ene

rgy

from

Was

te

faci

lity.

See

k to

land

fill n

o m

ore

than

5%

of n

on-re

cycl

able

hou

seho

ld w

aste

. •

Ensu

re th

at w

aste

faci

litie

s ar

e su

itabl

y si

zed

and

dist

ribut

ed w

ith th

e ai

m o

f min

imisi

ng th

e tra

nspo

rt of

was

te.

•

Wor

k to

geth

er w

ith lo

cal c

omm

unitie

s, a

nd w

ith s

ervi

ce p

rovi

ders

to re

duce

the

envi

ronm

enta

l and

fina

ncia

l cos

ts o

f was

te

man

agem

ent.

.

5 / 1

0 / 1

2

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

Th

e lo

cal p

lan

shou

ld c

onta

in p

olic

ies

that

aim

to p

lace

dev

elop

men

t nea

r exi

stin

g re

cycl

ing

and

reus

e fa

cilit

ies,

or v

ice-

vers

a, to

enc

oura

ge n

ew re

siden

ts to

pa

rticip

ate

in th

ese

sche

mes

. Fu

rther

mor

e, th

e lo

cal p

lan

can

aim

to e

nsur

e ne

w de

velo

pmen

t pro

vides

suf

ficie

nt d

evel

oper

con

tribu

tions

for t

he p

rovi

sion

of

wast

e an

d re

cycl

ing

faci

litie

s on

site

on

larg

er s

chem

es, a

nd th

at a

mpl

e st

orag

e sp

ace

is p

rovi

ded

for w

heel

ie b

ins

and

othe

r hou

seho

lder

was

te s

tora

ge.


47

Oxf

ords

hire

Bio

dive

rsity

Pla

n 20

15, O

xfor

dshi

re N

atur

e Co

nser

vatio

n Fo

rum

Re

late

d SA

O

bjec

tives

(s)

The

plan

con

tain

s sp

ecific

Con

serv

atio

n Ta

rget

Are

a ob

ject

ives

for e

ach

CTA

in O

xfor

dshi

re.

For S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

thes

e ar

e:

• Be

rnwo

od

• Bl

ewbu

ry D

owns

Sou

th E

ast

• Ch

iltern

s Di

pslo

pe a

nd P

late

au

• Ch

iltern

s Es

carp

men

t Nor

th, C

entra

l, So

uth

Cent

ral,

and

Sout

h •

Oxf

ord

Heig

hts

East

and

Wes

t •

Shot

over

•

Tham

e Pa

rk

• Th

ames

and

Che

rwel

l at O

xfor

d •

Tham

es C

lifton

to S

hillin

gfor

d •

Tham

es R

adle

y to

Abi

ngdo

n •

Tham

es W

allin

gfor

d to

Gor

ing

Th

e ov

eral

l obj

ectiv

es fo

r Oxf

ords

hire

for U

K Bi

odive

rsity

Act

ion

Plan

hab

itats

are

: •

Lowl

and

Calca

reou

s G

rass

land

: Res

tore

80h

a / C

reat

e 10

0ha

• Lo

wlan

d Dr

y Ac

idic

Gra

ssla

nd:

tbc

• Lo

wlan

d M

eado

ws:

Rest

ore

270h

a / C

reat

e 17

5ha

• Lo

wlan

d Fe

ns: R

esto

re 2

8ha

•

Coas

tal a

nd F

lood

plai

n G

razi

ng M

arsh

: Re

stor

e 17

0ha

/ Cre

ate

715h

a •

Reed

beds

: Cre

ate

100h

a •

Woo

dlan

d - P

lant

ed A

ncie

nt W

oodl

and

Site

s: R

esto

re 6

00ha

•

Nativ

e W

oodl

and

- all:

Cre

ate

1,68

5ha

• W

ood-

Past

ure

and

Park

land

: Re

stor

e 10

2ha

(3 s

ites)

/ 29

ha (1

site

)

4 / 7

/ 8

/ 11

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n ca

n co

ntai

n po

licie

s th

at s

afeg

uard

exi

stin

g sit

es fo

r the

ir sp

ecia

l bio

dive

rsity

val

ue, b

ut th

is w

ill no

t be

enou

gh to

sat

isfy

the

crea

tion

of a

dditi

onal

ha

bita

ts.

The

loca

l pla

n sh

ould

be

proa

ctive

in h

elpi

ng to

cre

ate

new

habi

tats

thro

ugh

allo

catin

g la

nd fo

r thi

s pu

rpos

e. W

hen

deve

lopm

ent t

akes

pla

ce th

at

impa

cts

on b

iodi

vers

ity th

e lo

cal p

lan

can

ensu

re th

at d

evel

oper

s co

ntrib

ute

to th

e m

itiga

tion

of it

s ef

fect

s.

48


Prel

imin

ary

Floo

d R

isk

Ass

essm

ent 2

011

Oxf

ords

hire

Cou

nty

Cou

ncil

Rel

ated

SA

O

bjec

tive

(s)

Obj

ectiv

es:

• B

ring

toge

ther

info

rmat

ion

on p

ast a

nd fu

ture

floo

ding

and

its

cons

eque

nces

to u

nder

stan

d w

here

ther

e ha

ve b

een,

and

may

be,

si

gnifi

cant

har

mfu

l con

sequ

ence

s

• U

se th

e in

form

atio

n as

evi

denc

e to

det

erm

ine

if th

ere

are

any

Floo

d R

isk

Are

as in

Oxf

ords

hire

that

mee

t the

nat

iona

l thr

esho

lds

set b

y D

efra

(201

1) a

nd re

view

the

indi

cativ

e Fl

ood

Ris

k A

reas

pro

vide

d by

the

Env

ironm

ent A

genc

y

• D

evel

op th

e P

relim

inar

y Fl

ood

Ris

k A

sses

smen

t in

such

a w

ay th

at it

con

tribu

tes

to th

e pr

epar

atio

n of

the

Loca

l Flo

od R

isk

Man

agem

ent P

lans

and

can

be

used

in fu

ture

as

an e

vide

nce

base

to in

form

Sur

face

Wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

ns th

at m

ight

be

nece

ssar

y.

11

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

Th

e lo

cal p

lan

can

take

the

resu

lts o

f the

Loc

al F

lood

Ris

k M

anag

emen

t Pla

n in

to a

ccou

nt w

hen

it is

pro

duce

d (if

it is

pro

duce

d be

fore

the

loca

l pla

n).

The

coun

cil c

urre

ntly

has

a S

trate

gic

Floo

d R

isk

Ass

essm

ent t

hat w

as la

st u

pdat

ed in

201

3. T

his

will

hel

p in

form

whe

re d

evel

opm

ent s

houl

d ta

ke p

lace

in re

latio

n to

flo

odin

g is

sues

. Th

e se

quen

tial t

est w

ill b

e ap

plie

d w

here

site

s ne

ed to

be

allo

cate

d in

are

as li

able

to fl

oodi

ng.

Oxf

ords

hire

Dra

ft R

ight

s of

Way

Man

agem

ent P

lan

2014

-202

4

Oxf

ords

hire

Cou

nty

Cou

ncil

2014

R

elat

ed S

A

Obj

ectiv

e (s

) Vi

sion

To

reco

rd a

nd m

aint

ain

the

exis

ting

publ

ic ri

ghts

of w

ay a

nd c

ount

rysi

de a

cces

s ne

twor

k fo

r all

user

s an

d w

ould

-be

user

s, a

nd w

here

pos

sibl

e im

prov

e th

e ex

tent

, fac

ilitie

s, u

se a

nd u

nder

stan

ding

of t

he n

etw

ork,

so

that

pub

lic ri

ghts

of w

ay fu

lfil t

heir

role

as

a vi

tal p

art o

f life

in th

e C

ount

y.

Aim

s • P

ublic

righ

ts o

f way

are

reco

rded

, pro

tect

ed, m

aint

aine

d an

d pr

omot

ed

• A

pub

lic ri

ghts

of w

ay a

nd c

ount

rysi

de a

cces

s ne

twor

k th

at a

dapt

s to

bal

ance

the

curr

ent a

nd fu

ture

nee

ds o

f com

mun

ities

and

use

rs,

fam

ers

and

land

owne

rs a

nd th

e na

tura

l env

ironm

ent.

• A

pub

lic r

ight

s of

way

and

cou

ntry

side

acc

ess

netw

ork

whi

ch is

as

acce

ssib

le a

s re

ason

ably

pos

sibl

e to

tho

se w

ith li

mite

d m

obili

ty,

visi

on o

r und

erst

andi

ng.

• C

ount

rysi

de a

cces

s co

ntrib

utes

to a

thriv

ing

loca

l eco

nom

y an

d co

mm

uniti

es a

re a

ble

to b

e ac

tivel

y in

volv

ed in

car

ing

for a

pro

mot

ing

resp

onsi

ble

wal

king

and

ridi

ng in

thei

r are

a.

6 / 8

/ 16

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

Th

e lo

cal p

lan

can

cont

ain

polic

ies

that

pro

tect

, enh

ance

or p

rovi

de p

ublic

righ

ts o

f way

and

see

k de

velo

per c

ontri

butio

ns to

enh

ance

them

.


49

Summary of issues arising from countywide plans, policies, and programmes12. Countywide plans, policies, and programmes contain relevant targets that the local plan can assist in obtaining.

These have been summarised above. It is important to recognise that the local plan is not the only tool that can

be used to achieve these aims and will sometimes only be able to indirectly infl uence them.

50


Sout

h O

xfor

dshi

re L

ocal

Pla

n 20

11

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re D

istri

ct C

ounc

il (a

dopt

ed 2

006)

R

elat

ed S

A

Obj

ectiv

e (s

) Th

e lo

cal p

lan

2011

was

par

tially

repl

aced

whe

n th

e co

re s

trate

gy w

as a

dopt

ed in

201

2. T

he p

lan

still

con

tain

s a

num

ber o

f dev

elop

men

t m

anag

emen

t pol

icie

s an

d re

leva

nt o

bjec

tives

: •

prot

ectin

g an

d en

hanc

ing

the

natu

ral a

nd b

uilt

envi

ronm

ent;

• en

cour

agin

g su

stai

nabl

e an

d hi

gh q

ualit

y de

velo

pmen

t; •

mee

ting

the

soci

al n

eeds

of t

he ru

ral a

nd u

rban

com

mun

ities

; •

supp

ortin

g th

e lo

cal e

cono

my;

•

supp

ortin

g th

e vi

talit

y an

d vi

abili

ty o

f tow

n ce

ntre

s; a

nd

• pr

omot

ing

a su

stai

nabl

e tra

nspo

rt st

rate

gy.

All

obje

ctiv

es

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n w

ill n

eed

to c

onsi

der w

heth

er th

e ob

ject

ives

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

2011

are

stil

l app

ropr

iate

and

if th

ey s

houl

d be

car

ried

thro

ugh

into

the

new

pla

n.

Sout

h O

xfor

dshi

re C

ore

Stra

tegy

S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Dis

trict

Cou

ncil

(ado

pted

201

2)

Rel

ated

SA

O

bjec

tive

(s)

• Tr

ansf

orm

Did

cot i

nto

a liv

ely

thriv

ing

tow

n th

roug

h re

gene

ratio

n of

the

cent

ral a

rea

an c

onst

ruct

ion

of g

reen

field

nei

ghbo

urho

ods.

•

Impr

ove

poor

qua

lity

hous

ing

esta

tes

and

othe

r run

dow

n ar

eas.

•

Pro

vide

for a

rang

e of

hou

sing

dev

elop

men

t acr

oss

the

dist

rict t

hat r

espe

cts

the

scal

e of

exi

stin

g se

ttlem

ents

and

cat

ers

for r

esid

ents

’ ne

eds.

•

Ens

ure

a si

gnifi

cant

pro

porti

on o

f new

hou

sing

falls

with

in th

e ‘a

fford

able

’ def

initi

on.

All

obje

ctiv

es

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n w

ill n

eed

to c

onsi

der w

heth

er th

e ob

ject

ives

for t

he c

ore

stra

tegy

are

stil

l app

ropr

iate

and

if th

ey s

houl

d be

car

ried

thro

ugh

into

the

new

pla

n. A

s th

e co

re s

trate

gy w

as a

dopt

ed re

cent

ly th

ere

may

als

o be

sco

pe fo

r car

ryin

g ac

ross

evi

denc

e st

udie

s an

d po

licie

s in

to th

e ne

w lo

cal p

lan.

Rele

vant

loca

l pla

ns, p

olic

ies

and

prog

ram

mes


51

Sout

h O

xfor

dshi

re S

usta

inab

le C

omm

unity

Str

ateg

y 20

09 -

2026

Rel

ated

SA

O

bjec

tive

(s)

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re’s

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gy is

par

t of t

he O

xfor

dshi

re P

artn

ersh

ip’s

203

0 S

trate

gy a

nd d

eliv

ery

plan

. Th

e pa

rtner

ship

’s v

isio

n is

that

‘Sou

th

Oxf

ords

hire

sho

uld

be a

n at

tract

ive,

suc

cess

ful,

vibr

ant,

and

safe

pla

ce w

here

peo

ple

chos

e to

live

, wor

k an

d vi

sit.

It s

houl

d be

a p

lace

whe

re e

very

one

can

enjo

y a

good

qua

lity

of li

fe a

nd a

stro

ng s

ense

of c

omm

unity

’. T

he a

ims

of th

e st

rate

gy a

re s

plit

acro

ss th

ree

them

es:

All

obje

ctiv

es

Econ

omy

• C

reat

e an

d su

ppor

t vib

rant

and

thriv

ing

econ

omie

s in

mar

ket t

owns

and

vi

llage

s •

Ach

ieve

sus

tain

able

bal

ance

of b

usin

ess

grow

th, n

ew a

nd m

ore

loca

lly-

base

d jo

bs a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal p

rote

ctio

n •

Incr

ease

inw

ard

inve

stm

ent

• D

evel

op a

ski

lled

and

mot

ivat

ed w

orkf

orce

mat

ched

to lo

cal b

usin

ess

need

s an

d op

portu

nitie

s

Envi

ronm

ent

• P

rote

ct a

nd e

nhan

ce th

e qu

ality

of o

ur b

uilt

and

natu

ral

envi

ronm

ent

• P

rote

ct a

nd im

prov

e th

e qu

ality

of o

ur p

ublic

ope

n sp

aces

•

Red

uce

was

te

• C

onse

rve

reso

urce

s an

d re

duce

ene

rgy

cons

umpt

ion

• P

repa

re fo

r and

resp

ond

to th

e ef

fect

s of

clim

ate

chan

ge

Thriv

ing

com

mun

ities

•

Red

uce

crim

e an

d th

e fe

ar o

f crim

e •

Mee

t peo

ple’

s ho

usin

g ne

eds

in S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

•

Bal

ance

hou

sing

dev

elop

men

t with

pro

tect

ing

and

enha

ncin

g th

e en

viro

nmen

t •

Impr

ove

the

supp

ort s

ervi

ce fo

r vol

unta

ry, c

omm

unity

, and

faith

gro

ups

• S

uppo

rt lo

cal p

eopl

e to

dev

elop

incl

usiv

e pl

ans

for t

heir

area

•

Pro

mot

e an

d su

ppor

t opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r peo

ple

of a

ll ag

es to

get

invo

lved

in c

omm

unity

life

and

sup

port

incl

usiv

e an

d co

hesi

ve c

omm

uniti

es

• P

rom

ote

acce

ss to

ser

vice

s

• Im

prov

e pe

ople

’s h

ealth

and

wel

l-bei

ng b

y pr

ovid

ing

qual

ity h

ealth

car

e an

d pr

oact

ivel

y w

orki

ng in

par

tner

ship

to p

reve

nt il

l hea

lth

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

Th

e lo

cal p

lan

can

refle

ct s

ome

of th

e ai

ms

of th

e co

mm

unity

stra

tegy

, for

exa

mpl

e by

: •

Cre

atin

g an

d su

ppor

ting

vibr

ant e

cono

mie

s in

mar

ket t

owns

and

vill

ages

thro

ugh

allo

catio

ns o

f add

ition

al h

ousi

ng, j

obs,

and

reta

il us

es to

sup

port

exis

ting

com

mun

ities

•

Ens

urin

g th

at a

lloca

tions

are

mad

e cl

ose

to e

xist

ing

publ

ic tr

ansp

ort c

onne

ctio

ns o

r loc

al fa

cilit

ies,

or e

nsur

e th

at s

uffic

ient

dev

elop

er c

ontri

butio

ns a

re s

ough

t to

prov

ide

or im

prov

e ne

arby

ser

vice

s to

allo

cate

d de

velo

pmen

t site

s. T

he lo

cal p

lan

can

also

con

tain

pol

icie

s th

at d

isco

urag

e w

indf

all d

evel

opm

ent i

n ar

eas

whe

re p

ublic

tran

spor

t an

d lo

cal f

acili

ties

are

wea

k or

non

-exi

sten

t, an

d w

here

dev

elop

er c

ontri

butio

ns c

anno

t pro

vide

suc

h co

nnec

tions

and

faci

litie

s. C

onta

in p

olic

ies

that

pla

n fo

r a b

alan

ce

betw

een

busi

ness

gro

wth

, loc

al g

row

th, a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal p

rote

ctio

n •

Con

tain

ing

polic

ies

that

pro

tect

and

enh

ance

the

built

and

nat

ural

env

ironm

ent,

and

open

spa

ces

• E

nsur

ing

deve

lopm

ent i

s bu

ilt to

hig

h st

anda

rds

to re

duce

car

bon

emis

sion

s an

d en

ergy

con

sum

ptio

n •

Ens

urin

g th

at th

e co

mm

unity

and

key

sta

keho

lder

s ar

e en

gage

d in

the

prod

uctio

n of

the

loca

l pla

n

52

South Oxfordshire District CouncilLocal Plan 2031 APPENDIX 1 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - June 2014 So

uth

Oxf

ords

hire

Dis

tric

t Cou

ncil

Cor

pora

te P

lan

2012

-201

6 R

elev

ant S

A

Obj

ectiv

e (s

) •

Com

pare

our

yea

r on

year

per

form

ance

•

Com

pare

our

per

form

ance

aga

inst

nat

iona

l ben

chm

arks

•

Take

into

acc

ount

the

view

s of

resi

dent

s, s

ervi

ce u

sers

, and

oth

er k

ey s

take

hold

ers

on th

e qu

ality

of s

ervi

ces

and

cust

omer

ex

perie

nce

• E

ffect

ive

man

agem

ent o

f res

ourc

es

• M

eetin

g ho

usin

g ne

ed

• B

uild

ing

the

loca

l eco

nom

y •

Sup

port

for c

omm

uniti

es

All

obje

ctiv

es

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n w

ill b

e im

porta

nt in

mee

ting

the

hous

ing

need

s, b

uild

ing

the

loca

l eco

nom

y, a

nd w

ill a

lso

be a

ble

to ta

ke in

to a

ccou

nt th

e vi

ews

of re

side

nts,

se

rvic

e us

ers,

and

oth

er k

ey s

take

hold

ers

durin

g its

pre

para

tion.

Sout

h O

xfor

dshi

re H

ousi

ng S

trat

egy

2008

-201

1 S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Dis

trict

Cou

ncil

Rel

evan

t SA

O

bjec

tive

(s)

• In

crea

se th

e ov

eral

l sup

ply

of h

ousi

ng, e

spec

ially

affo

rdab

le h

ousi

ng

• Im

prov

e th

e qu

ality

of t

he e

xist

ing

hous

ing

stoc

k •

Pre

vent

hom

eles

snes

s an

d im

prov

e ho

usin

g op

tions

•

Dev

elop

sus

tain

able

com

mun

ities

•

Mee

t the

hou

sing

nee

d of

vul

nera

ble

grou

ps, i

nclu

ding

old

er p

eopl

e an

d yo

unge

r peo

ple

leav

ing

care

1 / 2

/ 3

/ 4 /

6

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n w

ill b

e im

porta

nt in

pla

nnin

g fo

r the

hou

sing

nee

d fo

r the

dis

trict

and

con

tain

pol

icie

s th

at s

et a

fford

able

hou

sing

requ

irem

ents

. The

loca

l pla

n w

ill

also

be

able

to c

onta

in p

olic

ies

for d

evel

opin

g su

stai

nabl

e co

mm

uniti

es (s

ee p

lans

abo

ve).

So

uth

Oxf

ords

hire

Com

mun

ity S

afet

y St

rate

gy 2

008

- 201

1 S

outh

Oxf

ords

hire

Dis

trict

Cou

ncil

Rel

evan

t SA

O

bjec

tive

(s)

• R

educ

e an

ti-so

cial

beh

avio

ur

• Im

prov

e ro

ad s

afet

y •

Red

uce

drug

and

alc

ohol

pro

blem

s •

Tack

le d

omes

tic a

buse

•

Red

ucin

g ac

quis

itive

crim

e

• B

ehav

iour

man

agem

ent

• E

ngag

ing

and

supp

ortin

g co

mm

uniti

es

2 / 3

/ 4

/ 17

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

The

loca

l pla

n ca

n co

ntai

n po

licie

s th

at e

nsur

e de

velo

pmen

t doe

sn’t

enco

urag

e cr

ime

(for e

xam

ple

thro

ugh

plan

ning

for w

ell-l

it, o

pen

area

s).

Tham

es V

alle

y P

olic

e w

ill b

e co

nsul

ted

as p

ropo

sals

em

erge

in th

e lo

cal p

lan.


53

• •

Com

mun

ity L

ed P

lans

R

elev

ant S

A

Obj

ectiv

es

• Th

ere

are

37 C

omm

unity

Led

Pla

ns in

pla

ce in

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re.

Thes

e do

not

set

pol

icie

s bu

t ref

lect

the

aspi

ratio

ns o

f the

ir co

mm

uniti

es.

A c

omm

on th

eme

emer

ging

from

thes

e do

cum

ents

is a

lack

of a

fford

able

hou

sing

for l

ocal

peo

ple.

How

ever

, som

e C

LPs

do n

ot re

cogn

ise

a de

man

d fo

r new

hou

sing

17

Impl

icat

ions

for t

he lo

cal p

lan

Com

mun

ity le

d pl

ans

do n

ot s

et p

olic

ies,

how

ever

, in

prod

ucin

g th

e lo

cal p

lan

the

coun

cil t

ake

into

con

side

ratio

n th

e vi

ews

of re

side

nts

as e

xpre

ssed

thro

ugh

com

mun

ity le

d pl

ans.

54


Appendix 2 Baseline information


55

In previous iterations of the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report, we have produced a lengthy

table detailing the baseline information that will be used to help monitor how we are meeting our

sustainability objectives. This update will present this information thematically:

Baseline theme Page Relationship to SEA Directive

Housing Material assets

Population Population

Community Safety Material assets

Services and Facilities Material assets

Community well-being Human health

Employment Material assets

Economy Material assets

Education Material assets

Tourism Material assets

River Water Quality Water, biodiversity

Flooding Water

Air Quality and Traffic Human health, climatic factors, air

Biodiversity Biodiversity, flora, fauna,

Natural and Built Environment Cultural heritage

Efficient use of land Soil

Energy, water and waste Water, air, climatic factors

Resident satisfaction Material assets

56


1. Housing

1.1. Meeting housing targets

a. South Oxfordshire is part of the Oxfordshire housing market area (HMA). The objectively assessed need for the

HMA is set through the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) which was published in March 2014 and

commissioned by the Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Partnership for Oxfordshire. The SHMA report can be

read on our website www.southoxon.gov.uk/shma.

b. The Local Plan 2031 will use the objectively assessed need identifi ed in the SHMA to form a housing target for

South Oxfordshire. Our current housing targets are identifi ed in the core strategy.

c. www.southoxon.gov.uk/corestrategy

Key indicators: Housing completions against targets

Key source of information: South Oxfordshire District Council 5 year housing land supply statements

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

2001

/2002

2002

/2003

2003

/2004

2004

/2005

2005

/2006

2006

/2007

2007

/2008

2008

/2009

2009

/2010

2010

/2011

2011

/2012

2012

/2013

Num

ber o

f hom

es

Year

Graph 1 - Housing targets and completions - Didcot

Target

Actual completions


57

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/monitoring

1.2. Housing targets key fi ndings a. Didcot is persistently not meeting the strategic requirement due to long lead in times for the delivery of homes in

major development areas. The remainder of the district is on course to meet the strategic requirement.

b. The local plan should be prepared in good time to identify suffi cient land to meet strategic housing requirements

as set out in the Oxfordshire SHMA. The district’s current housing targets are set out in the South Oxfordshire

Core Strategy: www.southoxon.gov.uk/corestrategy

c. For a detailed breakdown of the information contained in these tables and for information on the Council’s fi ve

year housing land supply, please visit our website: www.southoxon.gov.uk/monitoring

Indicator status amber

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

2001

/2002

2002

/2003

2003

/2004

2004

/2005

2005

/2006

2006

/2007

2007

/2008

2008

/2009

2009

/2010

2010

/2011

2011

/2012

2012

/2013

Num

ber o

f hom

es

Year

Graph 2 - Housing targets and completions - Rest of District

Actual completions

Target

58


1.3. Affordability of our housing stock

a. The council currently requires 40% affordable housing on any development with a net gain of three or more

dwellings through policy CSH3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy. Affordable housing can be delivered

through the acquisition of existing homes or through the completion of new homes.

Key indicators: House price to wage ratio, affordable housing completions

Key sources: DCLG live tables on housing market and house prices, South Oxfordshire District Council Monitoring

Reports

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Rat

io o

f low

er q

uart

ile h

ouse

p

rices

to lo

wer

qua

rtile

ear

ning

s

Year

Graph 3 - Cost of housing compared to income

South Oxfordshire Oxfordshire

England


59

Source: www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-housing-market-and-house-prices (table 576)


1.4. Affordability key fi ndings

a. Affordability is a serious problem for South Oxfordshire. Lower end house prices are over ten times higher than

lower end incomes. This is much higher than both the Oxfordshire and national average. Furthermore, in recent

years, the percentage of affordable housing on new schemes has fl uctuated with only two years (2008-2010)

achieving the policy target of 40% provision.

b. The local plan can assist the delivery of affordable housing by seeking the provision of a proportion of affordable

housing on new schemes. The council will seek to negotiate with developers the delivery of affordable housing.

The negotiating process may result in eligible sites delivering fewer affordable homes, where there is planning

justifi cation for this. The local plan can only be expected to deliver a small proportion of the need for affordable

housing in the district as indicated in the South Oxfordshire Housing Needs Study 2011. The local plan will

increase the supply of housing but this may not have any signifi cant effect on prices in the housing market given

the continuing high level of demand for private housing in the district.

Indicator status Red

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

2005 / 2006 2006 / 2007 2007 / 2008 2008/ 2009 2009 / 2010 2010 / 2011 2011 / 2012 2012 / 2013

Perc

enta

ge

Year

Graph 4 - Percentage of new homes provided as affordable units

60


2. Population2.1. Change in population structure

Key indicators: Age structure

Key sources: Neighbourhood statistics

Source: www.neighbourhoodstatistics.gov.uk

2.2. Population structure key fi ndings

a. The population of South Oxfordshire increased by 5% between 2001 and 2011 which is lower than the growth

for the county, the region, and the country. There has also been a shift in the age structure of the district. There

has been a growth in all age groups over 60 and a large number of residents aged in their 30s in 2001 have

moved into their 40s by 2011. The local plan can help to provide for an ageing population by, for example,

providing specialist and appropriate accommodation and ensuring that new housing is planned near existing

services and facilities.

Indicator status Red

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

0 to

4

5 to

7

8 to

9

10 to

14

15

16 to

17

18 to

19

20 to

24

25 to

29

30 to

44

45 to

59

60 to

64

65 to

74

75 to

84

85 to

89

Num

ber o

f res

iden

ts

Age

Graph 5 - Age Structure of South Oxfordshire 2001 and 2011

2001

2011


61

2.3. Population projections

Key indicators: Demographic and economic based population projections

Key sources: Oxfordshire SHMA

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

Cherwell Oxford South Oxfordshire

Vale of White Horse

West Oxfordshire

Pro

ject

ed p

opul

atio

n in

203

1

Graph 6 - Projected population change 2011 to 2031

Total

Percentage change

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

Cherwell Oxford South Oxfordshire Vale of White Horse

West Oxfordshire

Pro

ject

ed p

opul

atio

n 20

31

Graph 7 - Projected population change 2011 to 2031 factoring in committed economic growth

Total

% change

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/shma

62


2.4. Population projections key fi ndings

a. The population of South Oxfordshire increased by 5% between 2001 and 2011 which is lower than the growth

for the county, the region, and the country. There has also been a shift in the age structure of the district. There

has been a growth in all age groups over 60 and a large number of residents aged in their 30s in 2001 have

moved into their 40s by 2011. The local plan can help to provide for an ageing population by, for example,

providing specialist and appropriate accommodation and ensuring that new housing is planned near existing

services and facilities.


2.5. Population distribution

Key indicators: Location of population


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Towns Larger Villages Other areas

Perc

enta

ge

Graph 8 - Population distribution across South Oxfordshire

Percentage of total population 2001

Percentage of total population 2011


63

2.6. Population distribution key fi ndings

a. The spatial distribution of population did not change signifi cantly between 2001 and 2011, however there was

a small percentage change from the rural areas to the towns. The local plan can continue to ensure that the

majority of new housing, and hence population growth, is located near existing town and service centres.


64


3. Community Safety

3.1. Reported notifi able offences

Key indicators: Summary of notifi able offences

Key sources: Thames Valley Police

Source: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/aboutus/aboutus-operf/aboutus-operf-fi gs.htm

3.2. Notifi able offences key fi ndings

a. South Oxfordshire has lower levels of crime than the rest of the Thames Valley Region. Most crimes, with the

exception of sexual offences and theft from a vehicle have declined steadily over the past three years.

b. The local plan should contain a policy framework to ensure that new development is designed in such a way as

to reduce the opportunity for crime and to improve the security of premises. A positive planning framework is

needed for works and measures designed to create safe town and village centres. In major development areas

consideration should be given to the accommodation needs of Thames Valley Police to enable effective policing

of those developments.

Indicator status green

Source: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/aboutus/aboutus-operf/aboutus-operf-fi gs.htmy p p p g

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

South Oxon

Thames Valley

South Oxon

Thames Valley

South Oxon

Thames Valley

2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

Crim

es p

er 1

,000

of t

he p

opul

atio

n

Graph 9 - Notifiable offences 2010 to 2013

Violence against the person

Sexual offences

Robbery of personal property

Domestic burglary

Theft of a vehicle

Theft from a vehicle


65

3.3. Road safety

Key indicators: Road traffi c accidents

Key sources: Oxfordshire County Council

Source: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/road-safety

3.4. Road Safety key fi ndings

a. The level of road casualties in South Oxfordshire has fl uctuated over the years although there has been a general

trend of casualties reducing since 2007. Oxfordshire County Council are currently developing an updated road

safety strategy in line with the national strategy framework for road safety.

b. Land allocations and development management policies in the local plan must ensure that new developments

make provision for safe movements for all transport modes both on site and on the links between the site and

key destinations in the local area.


Table 1. Level of road traffic accident casualties in South Oxfordshire Year Total number of

casualties Total pedestrian casualties

Total cyclist casualties

2004 564 Data not available 2004 - 2010

2005 575 2006 652 2007 568 2008 510 2009 494 2010 476 32 27 2011 518 27 36 2012 469 35 37

66


4. Services and facilities 4.1. Access to services and facilities

Key indicators: Access to services

Key sources: Government statistics on access to facilities and services

Source: www.gov.uk/government/publications/accessibility-statistics-2011

*Reasonable time is defi ned by continuous indicators, for more information please visit

www.gov.uk/transport-statistics-notes-and-guidance-transport-accessibility

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

S

outh

Oxo

n

O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Oxo

n

O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Oxo

n

O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Oxo

n

O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Oxo

n

O

xfor

dshi

re

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Perc

enta

ge o

f use

rs w

ith a

cces

s to

a fa

cilit

y w

ithin

a

reas

onab

le ti

me*

by

publ

ic tr

ansp

ort o

r wal

king

Graph 10 - Access to services

Employment

Primary School

Secondary School Further Education

General Practitioner Hospital

Town centres


67

4.2. Access to services key fi ndings

a. Access to services and facilities continues to be an issue in South Oxfordshire. Less than 10% of the population

has access to a hospital in a reasonable time on foot or by public transport. Furthermore less than 50% of user

can access a primary school, secondary school or town centre.

b. The local plan should have policies that seek to improve access. This could be achieved through locating new

housing near to existing services and public transport, and ensuring suffi cient developer contributions towards

infrastructure provision.

Indicator status red

68


5. Community wellbeing

5.1. Life expectancy and causes of early deaths

Key indicators: Life expectancy and causes of early death

Key sources: Oxfordshire Insight and Nomis

Source: http://insight.oxfordshire.gov.uk

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Eas

t

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Eas

t

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Eas

t

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Eas

t

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Eas

t

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Eas

t

Sou

th O

xfor

dshi

re

S

outh

Eas

t

2002-2004

2003 - 2005

2004-2006

2005-2007

2006-2008

2007-2009

2008-2010

Early

mor

talit

y ra

te p

er 1

00,0

00 a

ged

less

than

75

Graph 11 - Causes of early deaths

Circulatory

Cancer

Road Related

Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2/038431819/report.aspx#tabvat

Table 2. Life expectancy for South Oxfordshire and the South East South Oxfordshire South East Region 2002 - 2004 81.1 79.9 2003 - 2005 80.8 80.1 2008 - 2010 80.9 79.8


69

5.2. Life expectancy key fi ndingsa. Between 2002 and 2010 there has been a slight drop in the average life expectancy of residents by 0.2 years.

This is slightly more than for the South East of England which only dropped by 0.1 years. However, the average

life expectancy in South Oxfordshire is higher than the regional average.

b. There has been a steady decline in the number of premature deaths from circulatory diseases, cancers, and road

injuries between 2002 and 2010. There are more road deaths in South Oxfordshire than the regional average,

this may be due to the rural nature of the district where residents are heavily reliant on the private car to move

around, represented by the high levels of car ownership.

c. The local plan can help to maintain high life expectancy by seeking to ensure that people are provided with

decent homes, jobs, and a healthy living environment.


5.3. Levels of deprivation Key indicators: Deprivation indices

Key sources: Government database on lower super output area deprivation

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Most deprived

Least deprived

Most deprived

Least deprived

Most deprived

Least deprived

2004 2007 2010

Low

er s

uper

out

put a

reas

mee

ting

20%

m

ost a

nd le

ast d

epriv

ed c

riter

ia

Graph 12 - Levels of deprivation in South Oxfordshire

Income

Employment

Health & Disability

Education, skills and training

Barriers to housing and services

Crime

Living environment

Overall

Source: www.data.gov.uk/dataset/index-of-multiple-deprivation

70


5.4. Deprivation key fi ndings

a. According to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2010, overall, South Oxfordshire has no Lower Super Output

Areas in the worst 20% nationally. However, around 26% of LSOAs ranked poorly in the barriers to housing and

services domain.

b. The Local Plan can help to reduce deprivation by:

• increasing the supply of housing and in particular affordable housing;

• maintaining existing services and facilities which are needed by people and which remain

economically viable; and

• facilitating employment generating development which provides jobs and incomes for local

people, particularly those in the most deprived areas.


71

6. Employment

6.1. Out of work benefi ts

Key indicators: Out of work benefi ts

Key sources: Nomis

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

Aug

2003

Au

g 20

04

Aug

2005

Aug

2006

Aug

2007

Aug

2008

Aug

2009

Aug

2010

Aug

2011

Aug

2012

Aug

2013

Perc

enta

ge o

f pop

ulat

ion

aged

16

to 6

4

Graph 13 - Key out of work benefits (JSA, ESA, Incapacity, lone parents, and other income related benefits)

England

South East

South Oxon

Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157325/report.aspx#tabwab

6.2. Out of work benefi ts key fi ndingsa. At 2013, South Oxfordshire has a much lower level of total claimants and key out of work benefi ts when

compared to regional and national trends. Similar to national trends, there has been a local fall in the number

of claimants over the last few years. The Local Plan can assist in helping people to fi nd jobs by providing land

for employment purposes and by allocating both employment and residential uses in accessible locations near

existing public transport connections. It can also assist in helping to create a healthier environment to encourage

quicker recovery times for those out of work due to longer term illnesses.

Indicator status Green

72


6.3. Employment levels

Key indicators: Percentage of workforce in employment

Key sources: Nomis

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Perc

enta

ge

Graph 14 - Percentage of working age population in employment

South Oxfordshire

South East

Great Britain

Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157325/subreports/ea_time_series/report.aspx?

6.4. Employment levels key fi ndings

a. South Oxfordshire has a greater percentage of the workforce in employment than the South East and Great

Britain. The small annual fl uctuations may refl ect changes in the national economy and a reduction in the

size of the local workforce due to demographic and social factors (such as an ageing population). The level of

employment remained healthy during the economic downturn of the late 2000s and has shown steady signs of

improvement since 2010. The allocation of land for employment generation development in the local plan will

increase job opportunities for residents seeking employment, but the greater proportion of such opportunities

will be in existing premises.



73

6.5. Managerial, Technical, and Professional employment

Key indicators: Percentage of workforce in SOC 2010 major group 1-3

Key sources: Nomis

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Perc

enta

ge

Graph 15 - Percentage of workforce in management, professional, or technical employment

South Oxfordshire

South East

Great Britain

Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157325/report.aspx#tabempocc

6.6. Managerial, technical, and professional employment key fi ndings

a. Since 2009 there has been a steep increase in the percentage of workers employed in management,

professional, or technical employment in South Oxfordshire (now nearly at 70%). This is much higher than

the national average of around 45%. The Local Plan can seek to support this growth through supporting the

development of the Science Vale Area Action Plan which contains a number of key science park employment

centres who employ from this pool of workers.


74


7. Economy7.1. Employment fl oorspace

Key indicators: Net gain in employment fl oor space

Key sources: South Oxfordshire Monitoring Reports


7.2. Employment fl oorspace key fi ndings

a. Current targets for providing new employment fl oorspace are set out in the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy,

however these may change as a result of the review of the local plan. Since 2005 the district has experienced a

steady growth in the amount of employment fl oorspace being developed.


-2000

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Graph 16 - Net gain in employment floorspace (m2)


75

8. Education8.1. Grades at GCSE

Key indicators: Percentage of students achieving grade A* to C

Key sources: Oxfordshire County Council performance statistics

Table 3. Percentage of students achieving grade A*-C including English and maths www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance Secondary School in South Oxfordshire 2010 2011 2012 2013 Icknield Community College 50% 52% 54% 55% Wallingford School 58% 61% 76% 76% St Birinus School 59% 61% 59% 61% Didcot Girl’s School 58% 65% 56% 71% Lord Williams’s School 69% 62% 65% 56% Mouslford Preparatory School* 96% 100% 83% 88% Langtree School 61% 64% 51% 62% The Oratory School* 72% 81% 84% 77% Chiltern Edge School 67% 57% 65% 66% Gillotts School 66% 68% 72% 72% Shiplake College* 82% 87% 70% 59% Average for South Oxfordshire all schools

67% 69% 67% 68%

Average for South Oxfordshire (excluding independent schools)

63% 63% 63% 66%

Oxfordshire Average 57.3% 57.4% 57.9% 60.6% England Average 53.5% 59% 59.4% 59.2% *Independent school

76


Source: www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance

8.2. Education key fi ndings

a. The percentage of pupils attainting fi ve grade A* to C GCSEs including English and maths varies from school

to school across the district. Independent schools tend to have a higher pass rate than state schools and

academies, however, the average rate for the district excluding independent schools is still better than county

and national averages.

b. The local plan should contain a policy framework that ensures that school development requirements are met

when allocations are made and planning permissions granted for new housing. The local education authority,

teachers and parents have the primary role in raising the level of achievement.


40%

45%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

2010 2011 2012

Graph 17 - Percentage of students achieving 5 grade A* to C GCSEs

Average for South Oxfordshire all schools

Average for South Oxfordshire (excluding independent schools)

Oxfordshire Average

England Average


77

8.3. Adult levels of education

Key indicators: Percentage of adult population with NVQ3 or above

Key sources: Nomis

Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157325/subreports/quals_time_series/report.aspx?

8.4. Adult levels of education key fi ndings

a. The local working age population is better qualifi ed than the regional and national average, however, the

percentage of residents qualifi ed to NVQ3 or above took a sharp decline in the year 2012.


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Perc

enta

ge

Graph 18 - Percentage of population aged 16 to 64 with NVQ3 and above

South Oxfordshire

South East

Great Britain

78


9. Tourism9.1. Reasons for visiting South Oxfordshire’s Market

Towns

Key indicators: Reasons for visiting our market towns

Key sources: South Oxfordshire tourism reports

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/business/research-reports-and-economic-data

9.2. Reasons for visiting key fi ndings

a. Between 2009 and 2011 there was a decline in people who visited our market towns for leisure and work.

There was an increase in those visiting a specifi c shop.

b. The local plan can seek to help to promote the tourism industry in South Oxfordshire by encouraging economic

growth resulting in more jobs and shopping opportunities in our market towns. Furthermore, the local plan

should seek to protect those assets which make our towns attractive to tourists and visitors.


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Regular shopping

Special shopping

Leisure or holiday

Work or study

Specific shop

Visiting friends or relatives

Perc

enta

ge

Graph 19 - Visitor's reasons for visiting South Oxfordshire's Market Towns

2009

2011


79

9.3. Number of jobs and turnover from tourism industry

Key indicators: Estimated number of jobs and business turnover from tourism

Key sources: South Oxfordshire tourism reports

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/south%20Oxon%20Tourism%20Impact%202011.pdf

9.2 Reasons for visiting key fi ndings

a. South Oxfordshire District Council’s corporate plan 2012-2016 seeks to achieve an increase in fi ve per cent per

year in value of the tourism economy. The number of jobs supported by tourism fl uctuated between 1995 and

2008, but the trend has been a steady increase over the period.


Table 4. Estimated number of jobs and amount of local business turnover supported by tourism activity Year Number of jobs Turnover 2000 2,998 £150 million 2002 3,002 £160 million 2011 3,786 £228 million Estimated volume of overnight and tourism day trips and related expenditure Year Number of trips Spend 2000 2.9 million £124 million 2002 3.4 million £137 million 2009 2.5 million £256.5 million

80


10. River water quality 10.1. River water quality

Key indicators: Ecological, chemical, and overall status of rivers

Key sources: Environment agency

Table 5. River water quality in South Oxfordshire - classifications by the Environment Agency 2011 Ecological Status Chemical Status Overall Status Cholsey Brook and tributaries

Poor Good Poor

Mill Brook and Bradfords Brook system, Wallingford

Good n/a Good

Moor Ditch and Ladygrove Ditch, Didcot

Poor Good Poor

Ginge Brook and Mill Brook

Good n/a Good

Ewelme Stream Moderate n/a Moderate Berrick Stream and Lady Brook

Moderate n/a Moderate

Chalgrove Brook at Watlington

Poor n/a Poor

Chalgrove Brook (Watlington to Thame)


Lewknor Brook Moderate n/a Moderate Haseley Brook (Latchford Brook to Thame)


Haseley Brook (Upper reaches)


Baldon Brook (South of Oxford)

Poor n/a Poor

Latchford Brook at Tetsworth


Upper Cuttle Brook and tributaries


Chinnor Brook and Upper Cuttle Brook


Northfield Brook at Sanford-on-Thames

Poor n/a Poor

Cuttle Brook (lower section) and tributaries at Thame

Good n/a Good

Kingsey Cuttle Brook and tributaries at Thame

Moderate Good Moderate

Scotsgrove Brook (Kingsey Cuttle to Thame)


Thame (Scotsgrove Brook to Thames)

Poor Fail Poor

Scotsgrove Brook (upstream Kingsey Cuttle Brook)

Poor n/a Poor

Thames Wallingford to Caversham


Thames (Leach to Evenlode)


Thames (Evenlode to Thame)


Source: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/125035.aspx


81

10.2. River water quality key fi ndings

a. The majority of water bodies monitored by the Environment Agency in South Oxfordshire are of moderate

standard. A handful of water bodies have achieved good status and some are poor. The chemical status of our

water bodies is a slight problem, with one river receiving a failed status.

b. Land allocations for new development should not be made in the catchment areas of sewage treatment works

which are causing river pollution, unless mitigation measures can be agreed with the Environment Agency and

utility company and costs met in full or in part through planning obligations.

c. Water quality management measures can be implemented on new developments.

d. Information would also be required on existing Waste Water Treatment Works capacity in order to identify

subsequent capacity upgrades that may be required in the short or medium term to accommodate new

development (including non-residential development). Infrastructure upgrades would need to form part of the

Heads of Terms (or Community Infrastructure Levy, depending on the timeframe).

e. However, water quality / management issues are not entirely within local planning authority control. Although

ratings against the Code for Sustainable Homes are sought, this only applies on new development.


82


11. Flooding11.1. Flood risk

Key indicators: Surface water, ground water, and sewer fl ood risk

Key sources: South Oxfordshire Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

Table 6. Flood risk to key settlements in South Oxfordshire Settlement Flood risk 2013: Surface

water Groundwater Sewer

Bayswater Farm Medium Low Low Benson Low High Low Berinsfield Medium Medium Low Chalgrove High Medium Low Chinnor Medium Medium Low Cholsey Medium Low Low Crowmarsh Gifford Medium Medium Low Didcot Medium Low Low Goring-on-Thames Low Medium Low Henley-on-Thames Low High Low Horspath High Medium Low Nettlebed Low Low Low Sonning Common Low Low Low Thame Medium Low Low Wallingford Medium Medium Low Watlington Medium High Low Wheatley High Low Low Woodcote Low Low Low

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/evidence

11.2. Flood risk key fi ndings

a. In the monitoring year 2012 / 2013 there were no new residential developments permitted in fl oodzones two or

three. No planning permission has been granted contrary to Environment Agency advice since March 2004.

b. The cumulative effect of small developments in fl oodzones would have a signifi cant impact on fl ooding in South

Oxfordshire. The local plan should adopt a sequential test to land allocations for development with priority being

given land with little or no risk of fl ooding.



83

12. Air quality and traffi c 12.1. Carbon dioxide emissions

Key indicators: Carbon dioxide emissions per sector and per capita

Key sources: Department for Energy and Climate Change

Source: www.gov.uk/government/publicati ons/local-authority-emissions-esti mates

12.2. Carbon dioxide emissions key fi ndings

a. Carbon dioxide emissions are improving in South Oxfordshire. The per capita emissions have decreased in line

with the average for the county in recent years, but has still remained higher than the Oxfordshire average.

b. The local plan should contain planning policies aimed at strictly controlling developments and transport

infrastructure which are likely to generate polluting emissions having a detrimental impact on the high quality

living and working environment of the district.


84


12.3. Air quality management areas

Key indicators: Nitrogen dioxide emissions in Air Quality Management Areas

Key sources: South Oxfordshire Environmental Health reports

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Duke Street Reading Road

Bell Street High Street Castle Street St Mary’s Street

Shirburn Street

Couching Street

Henley-on-Thames Wallingford Watlington

Ann

ual m

ean

leve

ls (μ

g/m

3)

Graph 20 - Nitrogen Dioxide levels recorded in Air Quality Management Areas

2010

2011

2012

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/environment/air-quality

12.4. Air quality management areas key fi ndings a. South Oxfordshire generally has good air quality but the national air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide is

exceeded within Henley-on-Thames, Wallingford, and Watlington town centres. This pollution is attributed to

vehicular traffi c. Air Quality Management Areas have been declared in these areas with an Air Quality Area

Action Plan produced to try and reduce pollution levels to within national objective levels.

b. The Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 and the Air Quality (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002

require annual mean levels of no more than 40 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per metre cubed (μg/m3). In

all of our Air Quality Management Areas certain recording areas (graph 20) nitrogen dioxide levels exceeded

the standard. Nitrogen dioxide is often associated with exhaust fumes from cars.

c. Air quality hot spots have also been identifi ed within the areas of Thame, Didcot, Little Milton and

Stadhampton. Monitoring and careful management is required in these areas to ensure the air quality

objective levels are not exceeded, as these are potential candidate AQMAs. Developments should not

confl ict with the measures within the council’s Air Quality Action Plan or Low Emissions Strategy.


85

d. The local plan should contain planning policies aimed at strictly controlling developments and transport

infrastructure which are likely to generate polluting emissions having a detrimental impact on the high quality

living and working environment of the district. The levels of main air quality pollutants in the AQMAs will be

worsened by the cumulative effects of emissions from traffi c associated with many small new developments or

nearby larger developments.


12.5. Traffi c growth

Key indicators: Traffi c growth

Key sources: Oxfordshire County Council monitoring

Source: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/transport-monitoring

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

2001 2011 2001 2011

South Oxfordshire England

Perc

enta

ge o

f wor

king

pop

ulat

ion

Graph 21 - Methods of travel to work

Work at home

Underground

Train

Bus

Motorcycle

Car or van

Passenger in car or van

Taxi

Bicycle

On foot

86


12.6. Traffi c growth key fi ndings

a. Over the ten-year period the greatest increase in traffi c was for B Roads. This is particularly relevant to a rural

authority like South Oxfordshire that has many B Roads. Vehicle traffi c has been growing steadily in Oxfordshire

and at a greater rate than in the region as a whole. However, the rate of growth has slowed since 2003 but the

reason for this is unclear.

b. The local plan should ensure that new development is located where the need to travel by car and van is reduced

where more sustainable modes of travel are available or can be provided.


12.7. Methods of travel to work

Key indicators: Methods of travel to work


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

2001 2011 2001 2011

South Oxfordshire England

Perc

enta

ge o

f wor

king

pop

ulat

ion

Graph 21 - Methods of travel to work

Work at home

Underground

Train

Bus

Motorcycle

Car or van

Passenger in car or van

Taxi

Bicycle

On foot

Source: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/transport-monitoring


87

12.8. Methods of travel to work key fi ndings a. In South Oxfordshire nearly 50% of workers travel to work by car either as a driver or passenger. This fi gure has

remained roughly equivalent to the 2001 data, however it is signifi cantly higher than the proportion for England.

Travel to work by foot or bicycle has increased since 2001 and is higher than the average for England.

b. The local plan should ensure that new development is located where the need to travel by car and lorry is

reduced where more sustainable modes of travel are available or can be provided. The effect of such measures

on reducing traffi c growth is likely to be small if not accompanied by other measures introduced by Government

and highway authorities to reduced the present attractions of travel by car and to increase the attraction of using

more sustainable modes of travel.

c. Mixed use developments and designing all new developments to incorporate facilities for walking, cycling

(including the provision of safe, covered, and secure cycle parking), and public transport will enable choice of

more sustainable modes of transport than the private car.


88


13. Biodiversity13.1. Farmland bird population

Key indicators: Change in the population of farmland birds

Key sources: Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre

Source: www.tverc.org.uk

Table 9. Change in the area of UK Biodiversity Acton Plan priority habitats 2011-2013 UK BAP priority habitat

Area (hectares) 2011-2012

Area (hectares) 2012-2013

Percentage of Oxfordshire 2012-2013

Arable field margins

Not known Not known Not known

Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh

504 470 11%

Eutrophic standing water

120 121 17%

Hedgerows Not known Not known Not known Lowland beech and yew woodland

758 764 97%

Lowland calcareous grassland

259 271 36%

Lowland dry acidic grassland

10 11 25%

Lowland fens 32 45 31% Lowland heathland 4 4 100% Lowland meadows 95 88 8% Lowland mixed deciduous woodland

1008 1006 23%

Mesotrophic lakes Not known Not known Not known Oligotrophic and dystrophic lakes


Open mosaic habitats on previously developed lands


Ponds Not known Not known Not known Purple moor grass and rush pastures

2 2 13%

Reedbeds 2 2 8% Rivers Not known Not known Not known Traditional orchards

89 94 29%

Wet woodland 20 20 15% Wood pasture and parkland

453 419 18%

Improvement No Improvement Decline


89

13.2. Farmland bird population key fi ndingsa. Since the baseline of 2003 the number of farmland birds has been steadily increasing in South Oxfordshire,

although the year-to-year fi gure has fl uctuated.

b. It is generally accepted that any decline in farmland birds is driven by change in agricultural practices, but the use

of land for agriculture is beyond the control of the planning system and the local plan cannot therefore infl uence

this process.

c. The local plan should contain a policy framework that ensures that when farmland is developed, then there is a

requirement for developers to put into effect appropriate mitigation measures designed to maintain and enhance

bird populations.


13.3. Priority habitats

Key indicators: Change in the area of UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitats


Table 10. Number of UKBAP priority species in South Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire 1991-2011 1992-2012 South Oxfordshire 175 176 Oxfordshire 232 248 Improvement No Improvement Decline


13.4. Priority habitats key fi ndingsa. Since 2011 BAP priority habitat remains largely unchanged in South Oxfordshire. The reduction in mapped

habitat for coastal and fl oodplain grazing marsh and wood pasture and parkland is due to more accurate

mapping of boundaries, rather than a loss of habitat.

b. The local plan should not allocate land for development where there would be signifi cant harm caused to one or

more priority habitats or species located on or in the vicinity of the site. Where no alternative land is available,

then the local plan should require developers to make provision for mitigation measures to be put into effect.

Where adequate mitigation is not possible, then appropriate compensation measures should be put into effect

(either on site or off site) to maintain and where appropriate enhance the habitat(s) and or species.


90


13.5. Priority species

Key indicators: Change in the number of UK Biodiversity Action Plan species



13.6. Priority species key fi ndingsa. Since 2011 BAP priority species has slightly increased in South Oxfordshire.

b. The local plan should not allocate land for development where there would be signifi cant harm caused to one or

more priority habitats or species located on or in the vicinity of the site. Where no alternative land is available,

then the local plan should require developers to make provision for mitigation measures to be put into effect.

Where adequate mitigation is not possible, then appropriate compensation measures should be put into effect

(either on site or off site) to maintain and where appropriate enhance the habitat(s) and or species.


13.7. Sites of Special Scientifi c Interest

Key indicators: Sites if Special Scientifi c Interest in favourable condition

Key sources: Natural England

Source: www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk

Table 10. Number of UKBAP priority species in South Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire 1991-2011 1992-2012 South Oxfordshire 175 176 Oxfordshire 232 248 Improvement No Improvement Decline

Table 11. Change in the percentage of land designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest in favourable condition South Oxfordshire Oxfordshire England 2005 53.5% 47.8% 45.0% 2006 53.5% 48.1% 45.1% 2007 53.5% 50.3% 44.4% 2013 57.6% 59.3% 37.5% Improvement No Improvement Decline


91

13.8. Sites of Special Scientifi c Interest key fi ndings

a. The trend shows a gradual improvement in the overall condition of SSSIs in South Oxfordshire, bucking the

national trend that has seen a steep decline since 2005.

b. The local plan should not allocate land for development where there would be signifi cant harm caused to a Site

of Special Scientifi c Interest. Where no alternative land is available, then the local plan should require developers

to make provision for mitigation measures to be put into effect. Where adequate mitigation is not possible, then

appropriate compensation measures should be put into effect (either on site or off site) to maintain and where

appropriate enhance the habitat(s) and or species.


92


14. Natural and built environment

14.1. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Green Belt

Key indicators: Number of major developments in AONB or Green Belt

Key sources: South Oxfordshire Monitoring Reports


14.2. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt key fi ndings

a. The council currently seeks to conserve and enhance of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the special

character and landscape setting of Oxford protected by the Oxford Green Belt (South Oxfordshire Core Strategy).

The council’s monitoring reports indicate that developments permitted in AONBs or in the Oxford Green Belt

caused no demonstrable harm.

b. The local plan should contain policies with a negative presumption towards major development in the designated

areas.


Table 12. Number of major developments permitted in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt in South Oxfordshire Year Area of Outstanding

Natural Beauty Green Belt

2005 / 2006 2 2 2006 / 2007 3 1 2007 / 2008 2 1 2008 / 2009 2 1 2010 / 2011 2 3 2011 / 2012 2 1 Improvement No Improvement Decline


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14.3. Listed Buildings

Key indicators: Listed buildings at risk of decay

Key sources: English Heritage

Source: www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/heritage-at-risk

14.4. Listed buildings key fi ndings

a. The number of listed buildings in South Oxfordshire at risk of decay has increased signifi cantly since 2007.

b. The local plan should contain policies that seek to protect listed buildings and their setting. However the

restoration and maintenance of listed buildings is normally the responsibility of their owner. Developer

contributions could be sort to improve listed buildings providing this is relevant to the development.


0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2001 2005 2006 2007 2011 2012 2014

Graph 23 - Number of listed buildings at risk of decay in South Oxfordshire

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14.5. Conservation areas

Key indicators: Number of conservation areas with up to date character appraisals and management plans

Key sources: South Oxfordshire District Council conservation team

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/conservation

14.6. Conservation areas key fi ndings

a. The local plan should include policy provision for new development proposals in conservation areas to

demonstrate that they further and do not adversely affect proposals for the preservation or enhancement of the

areas contained in character appraisals and management plans. The plan should also ensure that allocations

do not have an adverse impact on, and where possible, seek to improve the setting of, listed buildings.

Conservation areas are also protected through character appraisals and management plans, however, this is

outside the scope of the local plan.


Table 13. Conservation area management and monitoring in South Oxfordshire

2005 2011 2014

Percentage of conservation areas with an up-to-date character appraisal

20% 30% 15%

Percentage of conservation areas with published management proposals

0% 30% 11%


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15. Making effi cient use of land

15.1. Brownfi eld development Key indicators: Number of homes built on previously developed land

Key sources: South Oxfordshire District Council monitoring reports


15.2. Brownfi eld development key fi ndings

a. The percentage of new homes built on previously developed land in recent years has been above the regional

and national averages and targets. The percentage is likely to fall because the major strategic housing

allocations contained within the core strategy at Didcot and Wallingford, and the allocations made in the Thame

and Woodcote Neighbourhood Plans are not made on previously developed land.

b. The local plan should allocate land for housing giving the fi rst preference to the development of previously

developed land if possible.


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2002 - 2003

2003 - 2004

2004 - 2005

2005 - 2006

2006 - 2007

2010 - 2011

2011 - 2012

Graph 24 - Percentage of homes built on previously developed land

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15.3. Density

Key indicators: Density of new developments



15.4. Density key fi ndings

a. The higher rate of densities of less than 30 dwellings per hectare in 2011 - 2012 period was due to completions

on key lower density developments in the district at Great Western Park, Chinnor Cement Works, and Fairmile

Hospital.

b. Generally, higher density development is more acceptable as it minimises the amount of greenfi eld land that is

needed for new homes. Furthermore, if located in the correct location, higher densities can help to sustain and

improve existing services and facilities, and reduce the need to travel by car.


15.5. Agricultural land quality

Key indicators: Agricultural land quality

Key sources: Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs

Table 14. Densities of new development Year Less than 30

dwellings per hectare

Between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare

More than 50 dwellings per hectare

2005 - 2006 38% 30% 32% 2006 - 2007 43% 24% 33% 2011 - 2012 63% 9% 28%


97

98


15.6. Agricultural land quality key fi ndingsa. The majority of agricultural land quality in South Oxfordshire is Grade 3 (good to moderate agricultural quality).

b. The local plan should seek to protect high quality agricultural land where suitable, lower quality land, is available

to develop.

16. Energy, water and waste

16.1. Energy

Key indicators: Average domestic electricity consumption

Key sources: Department for Energy and Climate Change

Source: www.gov.uk/government/collections/sub-national-electricity-consumption-data

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

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Sou

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2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Kilo

wat

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r (kW

h)

Graph 25 - Average domestic energy consumption


99

16.2. Energy consumption key fi ndingsa. South Oxfordshire’s average energy consumption of electricity and gas is signifi cantly higher than for the region

as a whole. In 2012, the energy consumption rates were 20% higher for electricity in South Oxfordshire than

the regional average. The national average consumption rate per household for the UK is 4,226 kWh for

electricity.

b. The local plan should reduce energy consumption in new homes. Existing planning policies contained within

the core strategy require new residential development to meet code level four of the code for sustainable

homes. The plan should also policies that promote and encourage the development of renewable resources, and

ensure policy provisions that ensure that works and measures are installed in new developments to facilitate the

temporary storage and collection of waste for recycling and composting.


16.3. Renewable energy

Key indicators: Installed renewable energy capacity



Table 15. Installed renewable energy capacity in South Oxfordshire (2011) Electricity generating technology

Installed capacity (kWe)

Indicative target 2010 (kWe)

Percentage target attained

Biogas or sewage gas

680 366 186%

Wind 51 3,531 1% Biomass 0 7,669 0% Solar PV 7,720 28 2,641% Hydro 160 n/a n/a Total 8,311 11,847 70% Heat generating technology

Thermal (kWth) No targets for heat generating technology

Biogas or sewage 0 Biomass 2,272 Solar thermal 82 Ground source heat

298

Total 2,652

100


16.4. Renewable energy key fi ndings

a. As of 2011 South Oxfordshire has achieved 70% of its total 2010 targets for installing renewable energy

technology. However generation of wind and biomass electricity is well behind the targets.

b. The plan should also policies that promote and encourage the development of renewable resources, and

ensure policy provisions that ensure that works and measures are installed in new developments to facilitate

the temporary storage and collection of waste for recycling and composting. However the district is mostly

covered by landscape designations: the Oxford Green Belt and the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs Areas

of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Planning Practice Guidance on renewable energy requires that careful

consideration is given to renewable energy sites in these areas.


16.5. Water

Key indicators: Water supply and demand Key sources: Thames Water

Source: www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/5392.htm

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

2011 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Mili

litre

/ da

y

Graph 26 - Water supply-demand balance

Swindon and Oxfordshire

Henley


101

16.6. Water key fi ndings

a. Thames Water draft water resource management plan (2013) shows that the Thames Valley Region is seriously

water stressed. By 2020 demand for water will outstrip supply from the Swindon and Oxfordshire catchment

area meaning that more water will have to be imported from adjoining water resource management areas.

This has knock on implications for the carbon footprint of supplying water to our residents as it is pumped or

transported from further afi eld. Furthermore, the proposals in the draft water resource management plan do

not contain the most up to date housing projections for Oxfordshire contained within the Strategic Housing

Market Assessment 2014.

b. The housing planned for in this local plan (and of other Oxfordshire authorities) may have an even larger impact

on the supply and demand for water than predicted in the draft water resource management plan.


16.7. Waste and recycling

Key indicators: Percentage of household waste recycled

Key sources: South Oxfordshire waste team

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/boardreport

Table 16. Percentage of total tonnage of household waste recycled Year Percentage of domestic waste recycled 2002 / 2003 19.9% 2003 / 2004 22.7% 2004 / 2005 23.5% 2005 / 2006 25.2% 2006 / 2007 33.3% 2007 / 2008 39.7% 2008 / 2009 42.5% 2009 / 2010 63.6% 2010 / 2011 68.8% 2011 / 2012 68.3% 2012 / 2013 65.2%

102


16.8. Waste and recycling key fi ndings

a. The amount of household waste being recycled in South Oxfordshire is high, however, in recent years the

percentage of waste being recycled has dropped by several percent.

b. The plan should also policies that promote and encourage the development of renewable resources, and

ensure policy provisions that ensure that works and measures are installed in new developments to facilitate the

temporary storage and collection of waste for recycling and composting.



103

17. Resident participation17.1. Resident’s perception of their infl uence

Key indicators: Resident perception of infl uence

Key sources: South Oxfordshire District Council residents’ survey

Source: www.southoxon.gov.uk/about-us/have-your-say/past-consultations/resident-survey-2011

17.2. Perceptions of involvement key fi ndings

a. The number of residents who believed that they can infl uence decisions is low; and has dropped from over 40%

in 2009 to under 35% in 2011.

b. The local plan can help to improve residents’ perception of their ability to infl uence decisions by engaging in

meaningful consultation and engagement during the production of the plan. It will also provide the most

effective vehicle for communities producing neighbourhood plans.


0

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10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

2009 2011

Perc

enta

ge

Graph 27 - Percentage of residents who believe they can influence decisions

104


Appendix 3 Assessment of Habitat Sites


105

Introduction1. This report is an appendix to the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report.

It can be read independently of the SA Scoping Report but informs it by undertaking an assessment of

internationally designated habitat sites in and around South Oxfordshire.

2. The Local Plan 2031 is at a very early stage of production and therefore the full scope and content of the

document is not yet known. However, we know that the document will contain a review of the South

Oxfordshire Core Strategy and seek to make new housing targets and allocations to accommodate the housing

need set out in the Oxfordshire SHMA published in March 2014.

3. This appendix therefore undertakes an assessment of the current status of internationally designated sites in

and around the district, their conservation objectives, potential actions for the local plan, potential impacts on

the sites from other plans, and implications for the sites without a new local plan in place. This is not a HRA

Screening Report as we do not currently have enough information on the scope of the plan to produce such a

report. However, the information contained here will help to inform the HRA Screening Report when enough

information is available.

4. The Habitats Regulation Assessment (the assessment) allows the council to assess the potential impact of our

plan on areas that are protected for their special wildlife features. The assessment must cover all sites that have

been designated at an international level. These are Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas,

European marine sites, and Ramsar wetland sites. A full description of these is given paragraph 8.

5. South Oxfordshire is rich in biodiversity and is very popular for its attractive green spaces, open countryside and

areas of outstanding natural beauty. The council therefore has a high commitment to conserving and enhancing

our natural environment. Within South Oxfordshire there are four Special Areas of Conservation, 44 Sites of

Special Scientifi c Interest, and a number of other designated national and local nature reserves.

6. The purpose of the assessment is to identify where the plan may have a signifi cant effect upon the internationally

designated sites given in paragraph 4. The assessment should ensure that it considers the cumulative effect of

our proposed plan with any other proposals contained in other policies, plans, or programmes. If the proposed

plan is found to have a signifi cant effect upon these sites then the proposals must be in accordance with the

European Directive on Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (the Habitats Directive). .

7. This assessment sets out the following:

a. identifi cation of any international sites within our district and within 20 km of our district

boundary;

b. the reasons for why these international sites were designated;

c. the conservation status and objectives of any international sites;

d. the potential actions for our new local plan;

e. the potential impact on sites from other plans or projects; and

f. a prediction of the future status of sites without our new local plan.

106


The local plan 20318. Following the publication of the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment in April 2014 the council

has committed to a review of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy to assess this new housing evidence and

incorporate it into a new plan. This new plan will be called the Local Plan 2031 and will likely include the

following:

a. Strategic policies for the entire district

b. Site specifi c allocations

c. The strategic context for a Science Vale Area Action Plan

d. The strategic context for a development management policies plan

9. As of May 2014 we are unsure as to what the Local Plan 2031 will contain since we are at the very early stages

of the plan production. An issues and options consultation on the scope of the local plan was launched in May

2014 and asked what the plan should contain. It also specifi ed that the plan will cover a variety of land uses

such as new homes, jobs, shops, transport, community facilities, and green infrastructure. It will also contain a

vision for the district in the years to 2031, objectives showing how the council will achieve this vision, new land

allocations, and new policies that will be used to assess planning proposals.

10. The local plan and project timetable can be read on our website

The Local Plan 2031 www.southoxon.gov.uk/localplan2031

The project timetable www.southoxon.gov.uk/lds

Identifying relevant international sites

11. There are four different international wildlife site designations that the HRA must cover. These are as follows:

a. Special Areas of Conservation are areas that have been given special protection under the

European Union Habitat’s Directive. Special Areas of Conservation provide increased protection to

a variety of wild animals, plants, and habitats and are a vital part of global efforts to conserve the

world’s biodiversity.

b. Special Protection Areas are areas of land, water, or sea that have been identifi ed as being

of international importance for the breeding, feeding, wintering or the migration of rare and

vulnerable species of birds found within the European Union. Special Protection Areas are

European designated sites, classifi ed under the European Wild Birds Directive.

c. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar convention.


107

d. European Marine Sites covers Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas that are

covered by tidal waters and protect some of our most important marine and coastal habitats and

species of European importance.

12. Map 1 shows the internationally designated sites within South Oxfordshire and any site within 20km of the plan

(district) boundary. Within South Oxfordshire there are only Special Areas of Conservation. These are:

a. Aston Rowant

b. Chiltern Beechwoods

c. Hartslock Wood

d. Little Wittenham

e. A full analysis of these sites is given below.

108


13. This report also identifi es any site within 17 km of the plan boundary. This 17km buffer has been identifi ed as

this takes account of the where the likely impacts of development will arise. A 17km buffer has been chosen for

the following reasons:

a. The average travel to work distance for South Oxfordshire is 17km (compared to the Oxfordshire

average of 16km1). This distance will account for the majority of car journeys to work and

therefore the majority of localised air pollution associated with it.

b. The South Oxfordshire Leisure and Recreation review states that residents are willing to travel up

to 10km by car to access natural and semi-natural green space2. This is within the 17km buffer.

c. The South Oxfordshire Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment identifi ed the main destinations

for retail and leisure activities for South Oxfordshire residents. For leisure activities (eating out,

drinking, and cultural activities) the prominent destinations are Oxford and Reading which are

both well within the 17km buffer zone. For retail the main centres are Oxford, Reading, High

Wycombe and Aylesbury, all these centres fall within the 17km buffer zone.

14. The European sites falling within the 17km buffer around the district are:

a. Oxford Meadows Special Area of Conservation

b. Cothill Fen Special Area of Conservation

c. Hackpen Hill Special Area of Conservation

1 2011 Census ,table QS702EW - Distance travelled to work

2 South Oxfordshire open space, sport and recreation facility assessment summary 2008, p.10


109

Map 1 – Internationally designated sites within

South Oxfordshire and within 20km Buffer

110


1. Aston Rowant Special Area of Conservation

Site description Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve and SSSI is one of the largest surviving complexes of beech woodland, mixed scrub, juniper and chalk grassland habitats once widespread in the Chilterns but now largely fragmented by agricultural improvement, the cessation of traditional grazing systems and afforestation. Protected species H5130 Juniper on heaths or calcareous grassland H9130 Beech forests on neutral to rich soils Site Status* 100% in favourable condition Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant

disturbance to them, ensuring the integrity of the site is maintained and makes a full contribution to achieving Favourable Conservation Status for the qualifying features on this site.

2 Subject to natural change, maintain or restore: • the extent and distribution of natural habitats, and habitats of protected

species; • the structure and function of habitats, and habitats of protected species • the supporting processes on which protected species and their habits rely; • the population of protected species; and • the distribution of protected species within the site.

Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Regular management to keep vegetation open and allow seedlings to establish 2. Prevention of rabbit grazing on seedlings 3. Minimal air pollution


111

Potential actions for the local plan The local plan should contain policies that seek to protect or enhance the quality of SACs. Any development for recreational or access purposes on this site should also be carefully managed to ensure that it does not damage the SAC. This site is located near Chinnor which is a larger village in the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy identified for additional housing allocations. It has been preliminarily identified for an allocation of 159 new homes, although the exact site of this is yet to be established. The number of homes proposed at Chinnor may increase depending on the distribution strategy that the new local plan adopts. Potential impacts from other plans

• The proposed Wycombe Local Plan is investigating whether the town of Risborough (roughly 5km to the east of Chinnor) can accommodate an additional 2,000-2,500 new homes. Increased usage of the M40 motorway or B4009 resulting from development within our or other authorities’ plans may also impact on the status of the site through increased air pollution.

• Oxfordshire County Council have unveiled a vision for their emerging Local Transport Plan 4 which outlines potential improvements to Junction 9 (Oxford) of the M40; funding for this project is earmarked in the Oxford and Oxfordshire City Deal and Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan. Improvements to this junction may increase the attractiveness of the M40 as an access point to Oxford and therefore may bring more traffic along the motorway near Aston Rowant SAC / SSI. This could lead to increased noise and decreased air quality on the site.

• Network rail are also proposing a new East-West Rail link that will provide direct rail connections between London Marylebone and Oxford. This will mean that commuters may be able to access direct services to Oxford from Princes Risborough railway station that is around 7km from Chinnor.

• The draft Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 contains policies to promote and support action to enhance the condition of priority habitats and protected sites (SSSIs and SACs) within the AONB. This plan should help to improve the condition of the site.

Implications for the site without South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan Without a local plan and up to date five year housing land supply, the council may be in a weak position to refuse development in areas we consider inappropriate. Although applications are unlikely to be granted permission at appeal where there is a significant impact on an SAC, there may be indirect effects such as traffic generation, domestic pet disturbance, and increased leisure and recreation use. Without a local plan and accompanying infrastructure delivery plan, it may also be difficult to justify developer contributions to improve the site. This area may be particularly vulnerable to speculative development since it is close to excellent travel links to London and Oxford (M40 and Princes Risborough / Haddenham & Thame railway stations) and is adjacent to an area of outstanding natural beauty,. Increased car use associated with residential development in this area may contribute to air pollution and a decline in air quality on the site. *Site status is an assessment by Natural England of the status of the Site of Special Scientific Interest within the SAC

112


2. Chilterns Beechwood Special Area of Conservation

Site description Aston Rowant Woods complex is of national importance as a large, unfragmented area of ancient semi-natural woodland characteristic of the Chilterns scarp. The rich flora includes no fewer than 52 species indicative of old woods. Over a hundred species of fungi are recorded. Paths, rides and glades are numerous, and the presence of boggy hollows and standing and fallen dead timber provide diverse niches for invertebrates. Protected species H6210 Dry grasslands and scrublands on chalk or limestone H9130 Beech forests on neutral to rich soils S1083 Stag beetle Site Status* 100% in favourable condition Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Minimal air pollution 2. Managed public access 3. Appropriate management of grasslands 4. Absence of direct fertilisation


113

Potential actions for the local plan The local plan should contain policies that seek to protect or enhance the quality of SACs. Any development for recreational or access purposes on this site should also be carefully managed to ensure that it does not damage the SAC. This site is located near Chinnor which is a larger village in the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy identified for additional housing allocations. It has been preliminarily identified for an allocation of 159 new homes, although the exact site of this is yet to be established. The number of homes proposed at Chinnor may increase depending on the distribution strategy that the new local plan adopts. Potential impacts from other plans

• The proposed Wycombe Local Plan is investigating whether the town of Risborough (roughly 5km to the east of Chinnor) can accommodate an additional 2,000-2,500 new homes. Increased usage of the M40 motorway or B4009 resulting from development within our or other authorities’ plans may also impact on the status of the site through increased air pollution.

• Oxfordshire County Council have unveiled a vision for their emerging Local Transport Plan 4 which outlines potential improvements to Junction 9 (Oxford) of the M40; funding for this project is earmarked in the Oxford and Oxfordshire City Deal and Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan. Improvements to this junction may increase the attractiveness of the M40 as an access point to Oxford and therefore may bring more traffic along the motorway near Aston Rowant SAC / SSI. This could lead to increased noise and decreased air quality on the site.

• Network rail are also proposing a new East-West Rail link that will provide direct rail connections between London Marylebone and Oxford. This will mean that commuters may be able to access direct services to Oxford from Princes Risborough railway station that is around 7km from Chinnor.

• The draft Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 contains policies to promote and support action to enhance the condition of priority habitats and protected sites (SSSIs and SACs) within the AONB. This plan should help to improve the condition of the site.

Implications for the site without South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan Without a local plan and up to date five year housing land supply, the council may be in a weak position to refuse development in areas we consider inappropriate. Although applications are unlikely to be granted permission at appeal where there is a significant impact on an SAC, there may be indirect effects such as traffic generation, domestic pet disturbance, and increased leisure and recreation use. Without a local plan and accompanying infrastructure delivery plan, it may also be difficult to justify developer contributions to improve the site. This area may be particularly vulnerable to speculative development since it is close to excellent travel links to London and Oxford (M40 and Princes Risborough / Haddenham & Thame railway stations) and is adjacent to an area of outstanding natural beauty. Increased car use associated with residential development in this area may contribute to air pollution and a decline in air quality on the site. *Site status is an assessment by Natural England of the status of the Site of Special Scientific Interest within the SAC

114


3. Hartslock Wood Special Area of Conservation

Site description Hartslock contains a mixture of semi-natural habitats which are characteristic of the Chiltern scarp. It includes an area of species-rich chalk downland and one of the few examples of ancient yew wood in the Chilterns, as well as semi-natural broadleaved woodland, chalk scrub and riverine fen. Protected species H6210 Dry grasslands and scrublands on chalk or limestone H91J0 Yew dominated woodland Site Status* 88% in favourable condition Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Appropriate management of grazing 2. Minimal air pollution 3. Absence of direct fertilization


115

Potential actions for the local plan The local plan should contain policies that seek to protect or enhance the quality of SACs. Any development for recreational or access purposes on this site should also be carefully managed to ensure that it does not damage the SAC. This site is located near Goring which is a larger village in the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy identified for additional housing allocations. It has been preliminarily identified for an allocation of 105 new homes, although the exact site of this is yet to be established. The number of homes proposed at Goring may increase depending on the distribution strategy that the new local plan adopts. Potential impacts from other plans • The draft Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 contains policies to

promote and support action to enhance the condition of priority habitats and protected sites (SSSIs and SACs) within the AONB. This plan should help to improve the condition of the site.

• Any development upstream on the River Thames (or its tributaries) may affect the amount or quality of water that reaches the site.

Implications for the site without South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan Without a local plan and up to date five year housing land supply, the council may be in a weak position to refuse development in areas we consider inappropriate. Although applications are unlikely to be granted permission at appeal where there is a significant impact on an SAC, there may be indirect effects such as traffic generation, domestic pet disturbance, and increased leisure and recreation use. Without a local plan and accompanying infrastructure delivery plan, it may also be difficult to justify developer contributions to improve the site. This area may be particularly vulnerable to speculative development since it is close to excellent travel links to London and Oxford (Goring railway station) and is within an area of outstanding natural beauty. Increased car use associated with residential development in this area may contribute to air pollution and a decline in air quality on the site. *Site status is an assessment by Natural England of the status of the Site of Special Scientific Interest within the SAC

116


4. Little Wittenham Special Area of Conservation

Site description Little Wittenham is located beside the River Thames and consists of an area of woodland with ponds, as well as grassland and scrub on the slopes of a prominent hill. The underlying geology is made up by Lower chalk, Greensand and Gault Clay. The overlying clay soils are for the most part moderately calcareous. Great crested newts have been found throughout the site in a range of different habitats but the population is concentrated around one of the larger ponds in the woodland. Great crested newts are dependant on both terrestrial habitats (for foraging and refuge) and aquatic habitats (for breeding). Protected species S1166 Great crested newt Site Status* 100% in favourable condition Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Suitable foraging and refuge habitat within 500 metres of the pond 2. Relatively unpolluted water of neutral PH 3. Some ponds deep enough to retain water throughout February to August at least

one year in three


117

Potential actions for the local plan The local plan should seek to preserve or enhance the biodiversity of the site. The site is on the edge of the proposed Science Vale Area Action Plan; if high levels of development are planned for in Science Vale this may impact on the SSSI / SAC at Little Wittenham. However, at this time there are no proposals for development near Little Wittenham. The nearest strategic site is roughly 2.5 km away at Slade End Farm in Wallingford which is already part of an adopted development plan (the core strategy). The local plan should seek to preserve the key environmental conditions supporting the site by ensuring no potentially polluting development is allocated nearby. Potential impacts from other plans

• Potential impact from development in the Science Vale Area Action Plan (see above)

• The draft North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan 2014-2019 aims to ensure that the characteristic habitats and species of the North Wessex Downs are conserved and enhanced.

• The Thames Water Resource Management Plan 2015-2040 predicts an increase residential demand for water. Thames Water are therefore proposing demand management measures be implemented across the Thames Valley region including leakage reduction, progressive metering, enhanced water efficiency, and tariffs and behaviour change. The forecasted increased demand may threaten groundwater sources, but Thames Water is planning to mitigate this.

Implications for the site without South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan Without a local plan and up to date five year housing land supply, the council may be in a weak position to refuse development in areas we consider inappropriate. Although applications are unlikely to be granted permission at appeal where there is a significant impact on an SAC, there may be indirect effects such as traffic generation, domestic pet disturbance, and increased leisure and recreation use. Without a local plan and accompanying infrastructure delivery plan, it may also be difficult to justify developer contributions to improve the site. *Site status is an assessment by Natural England of the status of the Site of Special Scientific Interest within the SAC

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5. Cothill Fen Special Area of Conservation

Site description Cothill Fen supports outstanding examples of nationally rare calcareous fen and moss-rich mire communities together with associated wetland habitats. Protected species H7230 Alkaline Fens; Calcium-rich springwater-fed fens H91E0 Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior; Alder

woodland on floodplains Site Status* 65% in favourable condition Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. High water table 2. Calcareous base rich water supply

Potential actions for the local plan The SAC is outside the boundary of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan. It is roughly 2.5km from its closest point to the A34, which may have increased traffic pressures if the local plan allocates land near Didcot or in the Science Vale Area. However, this site is not particularly sensitive to air quality issues that would be associated with additional traffic. The likely impact of the local plan on this site is therefore minimal.


119

Potential impacts from other plans • The draft Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 is seeking to allocate a total of

1,210 new homes within 5km of the SAC. This may lead to a drawn down on groundwater and potential water quality issues arising from waste water disposal.


Implications for the site without South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan Without a local plan and up to date five year housing land supply, the council may be in a weak position to refuse development in areas we consider inappropriate. Although applications are unlikely to be granted permission at appeal where there is a significant impact on an SAC, there may be indirect effects on this site such as an increased pressure on the water table and water quality issues arising from waste water disposal. As this site is outside the plan boundary and downstream from the site, the likely effects of development by appeal in South Oxfordshire would be minimal. *Site status is an assessment by Natural England of the status of the Site of Special Scientific Interest within the SAC

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6. Oxford Meadows Special Area of Conservation

Site description This site is an amalgamation of three discrete, adjacent tracts of unimproved chalk grassland. Together they represent an extensive area of a habitat now uncommon in the Berkshire Downs. Protected species H6510 Lowland hay meadows S1514 Apium repens; Creeping marshwort Site Status* 100% in favourable condition Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Maintenance of traditional hay cut 2. Maintenance of appropriate grazing regime 3. Minimal air pollution 4. Absence of direct fertilization 5. Balanced hydrological regime 6. Absence of excessive nutrient enrichment of floodwaters


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Potential actions for the local plan The SAC is outside the boundary of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan. The site is bisected by the A34 that connects the M40 in the north to the M4 in the south. It passes the town of Didcot in South Oxfordshire and is an important connection for Southern Oxfordshire with the city. Although the local plan will not directly affect the status of the SAC it is likely to have indirect effects through traffic generation on the A34 through any residential and commercial allocations around the Didcot area. Increased traffic on the A34 is likely to decrease air quality in the SAC. Potential impacts from other plans

• The draft Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 is seeking to allocate a total of 1,210 new homes within 5km of the SAC. This may lead to a drawn down on groundwater and potential water quality issues arising from waste water disposal.


• The Oxford Core Strategy allocates land at the Northern Gateway for 55,000m2

of B-Class related job development, 200 dwellings, an emergency services centre, a hotel, and small retail units. A HRA Screening Report produced to support the Northern Gateway Area Action Plan did not predict any problematic cumulative air or water quality effects associated with the Cherwell, Oxford, and West Oxfordshire Local Plans. However, since the publication of the HRA Screening report, fundamental evidence supporting the housing numbers of all local authorities (Oxfordshire SHMA) has been published which may increase the significance of the impact on the SAC.

Implications for the site without South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan Without a local plan and up to date five year housing land supply, the council may be in a weak position to refuse development in areas we consider inappropriate. Although applications are unlikely to be granted permission at appeal where there is a significant impact on an SAC, there may be indirect effects on this site such as an increased pressure on the water table and water quality issues arising from waste water disposal, and traffic generation on the A34. As this site is outside the plan boundary and downstream from the site, the likely effects of development by appeal in South Oxfordshire would be minimal. There may also be indirect effects on this site such as an increased pressure on the water table and water quality issues arising from waste water disposal, although as this site is outside the plan boundary and downstream from the site, the likely effects of development by appeal in South Oxfordshire on water quality would be minimal. *Site status is an assessment by Natural England of the status of the Site of Special Scientific Interest within the SAC

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7. Hackpen Hill Special Area of Conservation

Site description The site lies on the Middle Chalk and has all aspects and a wide range of slope-gradients represented. It has we;;-drained, silty soils of the Wantage 1 Series, with the thinner soils of the upper slopes containing a high propotion of large chalk nodules. Protected species H6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies: on calcareous

substrates; dry grassland and scrublands on chalk or limestone S1654 Early gentian Site Status* 100% in favourable condition Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Maintenance of appropriate grazing regime 2. Controlling rabbit numbers on the site


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Potential actions for the local plan The SAC is outside the boundary of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan. The site is not dependent on any water sources that originate or flow downstream from South Oxfordshire. Furthermore, the site is not located on a main traffic route. The site may be affected by additional visitors generated from new residential development allocated in the local plan. Potential impacts from other plans

• The draft Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 is seeking to allocated 200 new homes at East Challow, around 3km from the SAC. This may lead to an increase in visitors to the site.

Implications for the site without South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan Without a local plan and up to date five year housing land supply, the council may be in a weak position to refuse development in areas we consider inappropriate. Although applications are unlikely to be granted permission at appeal where there is a significant impact on an SAC, there may be indirect effects on this site such as an increased visitor numbers from new residential developments in South Oxfordshire. *Site status is an assessment by Natural England of the status of the Site of Special Scientific Interest within the SAC

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8. River Lambourne Special Area of Conservation

Site description The River Lambourn is a classic example of a lowland chalk river. It rises 152 metres above sea level in Lynch Wood, north of Lambourn and flows down to a confluence with the River Kennet east of Newbury. The catchment that the River Lambourn drains is almost entirely chalk which results in a predominantly gravelly river bed. A key feature of this river is the tendency for the upper section to only flow during late autumn, winter and early spring. This is known as a 'winterbourne' and is a natural characteristic of chalk rivers. Any flora or fauna occurring in these stretches must be adapted to wide variations in flow, thus winterbourne sections tend to be less species-rich than the lower reaches which hold water all year round. Protected species H3260 Rivers with floating vegetation often dominated by water-crowfoot S1096 Brook Lamprey S1163 Bullhead Site Status* 100% unfavourable; no change Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Water quality 2. Water quantity 3. Habitat quality


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• The West Berkshire Core Strategy has allocated 2 new housing sites in and around Newbury where the River Lambourn flows. This may lead to a drawn down on groundwater and potential water quality issues arising from waste water disposal.

• The West Berkshire Housing Site Allocations DPD is allocating sites for 10,500 new homes in the district. However, the spatial distribution of this number is not yet known.

Implications for the site without South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan Without a local plan and up to date five year housing land supply, the council may be in a weak position to refuse development in areas we consider inappropriate. Although applications are unlikely to be granted permission at appeal where there is a significant impact on a SAC, there may be indirect effects on this site such as an increased visitor numbers from new residential developments in South Oxfordshire. *Site status is an assessment by Natural England of the status of the Site of Special Scientific Interest within the SAC

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9. Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain Special Area of Conservation

Site description The catchment of the River Kennet forms a major stronghold in England for the nationally rare and declining Desmoulin's whorl snail Vertigo moulinsiana. This species is listed in the British Red Data Book and is scheduled on Annex II of the European Habitats and Species Directive. It is confined to calcareous river valleys, fens and lake margins. It is thought to be rare throughout Europe and that the British Isles now support a large proportion of the European population. Protected species S1016 Desmoulin’s whorl snail Site Status* 69% Favourable; 30% unfavourable recovering; 1% unfavourable no

change Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Open, unshaded areas 2. Adequate supply of high quality water


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• The West Berkshire Core Strategy has allocated 2 new housing sites in and around Newbury where the River Lambourn flows. This may lead to a drawn down on groundwater and potential water quality issues arising from waste water disposal.

• The West Berkshire Housing Site Allocations DPD is allocating sites for 10,500 new homes in the district. However, the spatial distribution of this number is not yet known.


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10. Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation

Site description An extensive area of the Burnham Plateau where Thames gravels and underlying Reading Beds give rise to acid soils supporting mature and developing woodland, old coppice, scrub and heath. There are ancient oak and beech pollards of which the latter are a celebrated feature of international renown. Fragments of wet heath and bog, as well as an alder wood and a number of ponds coincide with springs and wet flushes, and with a small stream which in places cuts down to the Chalk producing swallowholes. This complex of habitats, of which none are widely represented in Buckinghamshire and one (the ancient pollards) is virtually unique, harbours numerous plants, birds and invertebrates of regional importance, as well as several nationally rare species. Protected species H9120 Beech forests on acid soils Site Status* 63% Favourable; 37% unfavourable recovering Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Air quality related to neighbouring extraction site 2. Water supply 3. Growth of secondary woodland


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• The South Bucks Core Strategy identifies the village of Farnham Common, immediately to the east of the SAC, as a secondary service centre, with a capacity of 857 additional dwellings shared with 4 other villages. The core strategy does not make specific allocations but suggests the village will grow between 2006 and 2026.

• City of London Burnham Beeches Local Management Plan 2010-2020 contains objectives for the direct management of the site.


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11. Windsor Forest and Great Park Special Area of Conservation

Site description A range of habitats are represented, from coniferous and mixed plantations through mature and over-mature broadleaved woodland to wood pasture and parkland Relicts of the primary forest still survive as ancient oak pollards scattered throughout the Park and Forest. Veteran trees occur with a mosaic of unimproved and semi-improved grassland and grass-heath. Many of these ancient trees are over 500 years old and some reputed to be up to 800 years. Of equal importance, although not reaching such a great age, are numerous over-mature beech trees. Being partially hollow and decayed, the oaks and beech afford habitats for a number of extremely rare and specialised insects, particularly beetles, some of which are unknown elsewhere in the British Isles, as well as nesting sites for several species of hole-nesting birds. Groves of hornbeam are favoured by hawfinches including one of the largest wintering flocks of this species in Britain. Protected species H9120 Beech forests on acid soils H9190 Dry oak-dominated woodland S1079 Violet click beetle Site Status* 52% Favourable; 42% unfavourable recovering Special area of conservation objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant





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Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Continuous supply of old and decaying trees 2. Water quality 3. Maintenance of a high and stable water table 4. Maintenance of an appropriate grazing regime 5. Threat of non-native / invasive species 6. Scrub encroachment 7. Good air quality Potential actions for the local plan The SAC is outside the boundary of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan. The site is not dependent on any water sources that originate or flow downstream from South Oxfordshire. The site may be affected by additional visitors generated from new residential development allocated in the local plan. Potential impacts from other plans

• The Airport Commission’s plans for a new runway, potentially at Heathrow Airport, could increase noise pollution and decrease air quality on the site. A decision on the preferred option is expected to be reached in 2015.

• The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s emerging Local Plan is seeking to allocate 750 dwellings nearby the SAC. This may lead to a drawn down on groundwater and potential water quality issues arising from waste water disposal. Additional homes may also result in an increase in road traffic with associated air and noise pollution.


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12. Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area

Site description The site comprises extensive areas of conifer plantation together with a series of shallow acidic ponds within relic wet heathland and a small unimproved grassland area adjacent which provides habitat for the nationally rare small fleabane Pulicaria vulgaris. Protected species A224 European nightjar (breeding) A246 Woodlark (breeding) A302 Dartford warbler (breeding) Site Status* 99% unfavourable recovering; 1% unfavourable no change Special protection area objectives 1 Avoid the deterioration of the qualifying natural habitats and significant




Key environmental conditions supporting the site 1. Water quality 2. Maintenance of a high and stable water table 3. Maintenance of an appropriate grazing regime 4. Good air quality (nitrogen impact)


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Potential actions for the local plan The SAC is outside the boundary of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan. The site is not dependent on any water sources that originate or flow downstream from South Oxfordshire. The site may be affected by additional visitors generated from new residential development allocated in the local plan. Potential impacts from other plans

• The Airport Commission’s plans for a new runway, potentially at Heathrow Airport, could increase noise pollution and decrease air quality on the site. A decision on the preferred option is expected to be reached in 2015.

• The Bracknell-Forest Site Allocations DPD has allocated a total of 3,896 dwellings within the authority’s boundary. They predict, through their appropriate assessment this will lead to an additional 69,000 visits to the Heaths each year. Associated problems with this include vandalism, fly-tipping, cat and dog predation, fragmentation, dog waste, disturbance, trampling, loss of supporting habitats, noise, lighting, and air pollution.


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Summary of fi ndings

1. The four SACs in South Oxfordshire are of good quality, with only Hartslock Wood near Goring being less than

100% in favourable condition.

2. The local plan can play an important role in ensuring that the status of these sites is maintained or enhanced by

ensuring that only appropriate development takes place near them. Applying a tiered approach to identifying

sites for development and creating policies for decision making that fi rst; avoid harm, then mitigate it and as a

very last resort compensate for any loss will be the key to this process.

3. All four SACs are in areas susceptible to indirect effects of new development. Aston Rowant, Chiltern

Beechwoods, and Hartslock Wood are all located near larger villages that have been identifi ed in previous plans

for housing allocations. Little Wittenham is close to Wallingford and is on the edge of the proposed Science Vale

AAP boundary.

4. The majority of the assessed European Sites lie outside the boundary of South Oxfordshire and therefore cannot

be directly impacted by proposals in the local plan. However, the plan could give rise to indirect effects such as a

decline in the amount and quality of water available for these sites, impacts on air quality due to increase traffi c

on the road network, and the generation of additional recreation pressure.

5. This document can only provide an initial assessment on the potential impacts of the local plan on European

Sites. At this stage, the Council does not know the location of any additional land use allocations and can

only speculate on potential effects and mitigation measures. This document will be followed by a full Habitat

Regulation Assessment Screening Report alongside the preferred options publication of the local plan. The

timetable for the local plan can be found online:

www.southoxon.gov.uk/lds

6. The local plan will support the conservation of SACs through setting policies designed to secure additional

funding through legal agreements (and/or the Community Infrastructure Levy should it be adopted). The

work undertaken to directly improve the status of these sites is, however, beyond the remit of the local plan.

Management and maintenance of the site is the responsibility of the owners of the site.

7. Existing and emerging plans have been identifi ed in the analysis above, and this shows that the plans most likely

to have an effect on important habitats are local plans and local transport plans. Therefore the council will need

to carefully consider the potential cumulative effects of the local plan, alongside the potential impacts of other

plans being produced.

www.southoxon.gov.uk/newlocalplan

Alternative formats of this publication are available on request. These include large print, Braille, audio, email, easy read and alternative languages.

Please contact Planning Policy on 01491 823725

Documents

SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL SCOPING REPORT Scoping report final.pdf · Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a valuable process in the creation of local plans. The SA will promote sustainable