Draft final sustainability appraisal report and habitat regulations assessment screening report

On 28 March 2014, the Local Plan and its supporting documents were submitted for independent examination to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government via the Planning Inspectorate. The supporting documents include the Draft Final Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Report.

Information on what happens next is set out on the Local Plan webpage.  

What are the Draft Final Sustainability Appraisal Report and Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Report?

Sustainability Appraisal is an integral part of the plan making process and the overall aim of this process is to help ensure that the Local Plan makes an effective contribution to the pursuit of 'sustainable development'.

Previous consultations have considered the scope of the appraisal, and initial sustainably appraisals accompanied the issues and options consultations.

The Local Plan is now accompanied by a draft Final Sustainability Report. It consists of three parts:

• Part 1: Introduction - sets out the context for the sustainability appraisal, provides an outline of the contents and main objectives of the Local Plan and identifies where the requirements of the regulations have been met.

• Part 2: Scoping Report - sets out the scope of the sustainability appraisal, the baseline data, the sustainability objectives and targets of other relevant documents, the key sustainability issues and the assessment framework used to assess the Local Plan.

• Part 3: Results of the Sustainability Appraisal and Proposed Monitoring Strategy - this sets out the assessment methodology, the findings of the sustainability appraisal and reasonable alternatives, it identifies the significant environmental effects of the Local Plan and proposes a strategy for monitoring significant effects.

It also includes an audit trail setting out the alternative options considered for each of the policies and site allocations included in the Local Plan and the reasons for the chosen approach.

A Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report has also been prepared, to consider whether there would be any impact on important European nature conservation sites.

Draft Final Sustainability Appraisal (March 2014)

The draft Final Sustainability Appraisal Report was subject to public consultation in July – October 2013 alongside the Proposed Submission Local Plan. 

The draft Final Sustainability Appraisal Report has been updated following the public consultation, and the complete report is available to download:

• Non Technical Summary
• Part 1: Introduction
• Part 2: Scoping Report:
  • Part 2 Appendix 1: Detailed Information on the Sustainability Themes
  • Part 2 Appendix 2: Habitat Regulations Assessment
  • Part 2 Appendix 3: Land and Soil Resources - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 4: Air Quality and Environmental Pollution - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 5: Biodiversity - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 6: Landscape and Townscape - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 7: Climate Change and Renewable Energy - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 8: Healthy Communities - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 9: Inclusive Communities - Housing - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 10: Inclusive Communities - Redressing Inequalities and Involving the Community - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 11: Economic Activity - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 12: Transport - Detailed Review of Plans and Programmes, Information Sources and Evidence Base
  • Part 2 Appendix 13: Habitats Directive Assessment Background Information
  • Part 2 Appendix 14: Equalities Impact Assessment
• Part 3: Results of the Sustainability Appraisal and Proposed Monitoring Strategy:
  • Part 3 Appendix 1: Reviewing the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Cambridge Area
  • Part 3 Appendix 2: Representations on Sustainability Appraisal
  • Part 3 Appendix 3: Summary of Alternatives Tested and Preferred Approach
  • Part 3 Appendix 4: Appraisal of Alternatives Site Packages
  • Part 3 Appendix 5: Sustainability Appraisal Results for Local Plan Submission
  • Part 3 Appendix 6: Sustainability Appraisal Addendum Report to Part 3: Results of the Sustainability Appraisal and Proposed Monitoring Strategy

Annex A: Audit Trail

This sets out the alternative options considered for each of the policies and site allocations included in the Local Plan and the reasons for the chosen approach.

Annex A Cover, Contents and Introduction

Annex A: Audit Tables

• Local Plan Chapter 1: Introduction
• Local Plan Chapter 2: Spatial Strategy
• Local Plan Chapter 3: Strategic Sites
• Local Plan Chapter 4: Climate Change
• Local Plan Chapter 5: Delivering High Quality Places
• Local Plan Chapter 6: Protecting and Enhancing the Natural and Historic Environment
• Local Plan Chapter 7: High Quality Homes
• Local Plan Chapter 8: Building a Strong and Competitive Economy
• Local Plan Chapter 9: Promoting Successful Communities
• Local Plan Chapter 10: Promoting and Delivering Sustainable Transport and Infrastructure
• Local Plan Appendices A and C: Supporting Studies, Evidence Base and Glossary

Annex A Appendix 1: Evidence Paper on Village Frameworks

Annex A Appendix 2: Responding to Representations on Site Options

Annex A Appendix 3: Responding to Representations on Rejected Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Sites

Annex A Appendix 4: Site Options on the Edge of Cambridge - Summary of Representations and Response to Key Issues 

Annex A Appendix 5: Evidence Paper for Local Green Spaces (LGS) and Protected Village Amenity Areas (PVAA)

Annex A Appendix 6: Evidence Paper for Important Countryside Frontages (ICF)

Annex A Appendix 7: Site Assessments of Employment and Retail Sites

Annex A Appendix 8: Responding to Proposed Submission Representations on Sites Not Included in the Plan

Annex B: Site Assessment Matrices

Complete Sites List

Housing and Mixed Use Developments: SHLAA Sites 1 to 50 | SHLAA Sites 51 to 100 | SHLAA Sites 101 to 150 | SHLAA Sites 151 to 200 | SHLAA Sites 201 to 250 | SHLAA Sites 251 to 293 | SHLAA Sites 303 to 331 | SHLAA Sites 334 to 339 | Re-Assessments of Sites to take account of Revised Site Boundaries and Proposals, Green Belt Site Assumptions for Site Packages Review, and LDF Policies Carried Forward

• Open Space and Recreation Sites, Football Stadium at Sawston, Green Separation, Employment and Retail Sites, Residential Moorings, and Parish Council Proposals
• Cambridge Sub Regional Facilities Review

Site Assessments for Edge of Cambridge Sites:

• Site Assessment Form and Site Assessments of Site Options in the Green Belt
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 1
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 2
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 3
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 4
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 5
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 6
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 7
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 8
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 9
• Site Assessments of Rejected Green Belt Sites for Broad Location 10
• Summary of Issues and Options 2012 comments on the Broad Locations in the Green Belt
• Summary Assessments of Sites for Housing, Mixed Use Development, Employment and Retail

Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Report (March 2014)

The Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Report was subject to public consultation in July to October 2013 alongside the Proposed Submission Local Plan.

The Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Report has been updated following the public consultation, and is available to download.