Environmental Report
Tamar Valley AONB Management Plan
Strategic Environmental Assessment and
Sustainability Appraisal
Environmental Report
for Tamar Valley AONB
Clare Reid
Clare Reid Consultancy
Updated February 2014
www.clarereidconsultancy.co.uk
1. Introduction 4
2. Tamar Valley AONB Management Plan 6
3. Methodology 8
4. Review of plans and programmes 10
5. Baseline information 11
6. Potential Issues 16
7. Strategic Alternatives 22
8. Assessment of the draft Management Plan 23
9. Implementation and Monitoring 35
Appendix 1 - SEA Framework 36
Appendix 2 – SEA Directive Requirements 37
Appendix 3 – Review of Relevant Plans and Programmes 38
Appendix 4 - Assessment tables 53
1. Introduction
1.1. This is the Environmental Report for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plan (the Management Plan). The SEA is being carried out to fulfil the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004[1] (the Regulations). The SEA process has been integrated with sustainability appraisal (SA) to achieve a more wide-ranging assessment of sustainability incorporating environmental, social and economic objectives, as accepted practice by government guidance[2].
1.2. SEA is required of all land use plans which may have significant effects on the environment. The purpose of the SEA Directive is to ensure that plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment are subjected to a strategic level (high and overarching) assessment during their preparation, to inform decision-makers and stakeholders of their likely effects. SEA covers options and alternative courses of action and is intended to help avoid or mitigate any adverse effects. Due to the nature of the AONB Management Plan, the Plan itself fulfils many of the requirements of SEA[3]. As the Management Plan is aiming to conserve and enhance the landscape, it is already putting the environment at the heart of the plan-making process, which is a key aim of SEA, and the steps for both processes have strong parallels.
1.3. The Environmental Report fulfils the requirements of the Regulations that plans and programmes are assessed, and that an environmental report is produced which ‘shall identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme; and reasonable alternatives taking into account the objectives and the geographical scope of the plan or programme[4]’.
1.4. This Environmental Report:
· provides the framework for undertaking the SEA (Chapter 3)
· summarises the relationship between the Management Plan and other relevant plans and programmes, including how environment protection objectives will be taken into account in the preparation of the Management plan (Chapter 4).
· provides a summary baseline environmental and socio-economic information about Tamar Valley AONB (Chapter 5)
· identifies potential issues and ‘significant effects on the environment’ (Chapter 6)
· considers the strategic alternatives to implementing the plan (Chapter 7)
· assesses the draft Management Plan and makes recommendations for how potential impacts can be avoided or mitigated (Chapter 8)
· provides information on how the effects of implementing the draft Management Plan will be monitored (Chapter 9)
How to comment on this Report
1.5. This Environmental Report has been prepared for consultation alongside ‘The Tamar Valley AONB Draft Management Plan 2014-19. The AONB Partnership welcomes your views and comments on the Environmental Report. Comments should be directed to:
Tamar Valley AONB
Tamar Valley Centre
Drakewalls
Near Gunnislake
Cornwall
PL18 9FE
Email:
Your comments should reach the AONB Unit by 3rd January 2013.
1.6. All comments on the Environmental Report, received before the end of the consultation period, will be reviewed and taken into account during the preparation of the final Tamar Valley AONB Management Plan. An ‘Adoption Statement’, which will be published alongside the final version, will set out how the SEA findings and the consultation responses have been taken into account in the final Tamar Valley AONB Management Plan.
2. Tamar Valley AONB Management Plan
Map 1 Tamar Valley AONB
Map reproduced with permission from Tamar Valley AONB
2.1 The Tamar Valley AONB covers around 75 square miles (190 square kilometres, 16155.74 hectares) and is home to around 27,000 people. It is located on the border of Cornwall and Devon, and includes the valleys of the Tamar, Tavy and Lynher. The larger section, around the rivers Tamar and Tavy, extends north from the broad estuary at Plymouth to the intricate, deeply incised river meanders just below Launceston and Tavistock. It borders Dartmoor National Park to the east and takes in Kit Hill to the west. The section around the river Lynher extends west from Saltash and Torpoint to St Germans in south east Cornwall. The boundary crosses 5 local authority areas (Cornwall Council, Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council, South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council.)
2.2 The Tamar Valley AONB represents an unspoiled valley and water landscape, a classic English lowland river system. The lower tidal reaches of the estuary have dramatic contrasts between extensive low water mud flats and expansive waterscapes at high water. The middle valleys become dramatic with steep fringing woodlands, high cliffs and rocky outcrops juxtaposed with gently meandering stretches through lush pastureland. The higher areas of the AONB possess a more gently rolling pastoral floodplain.
2.3 The Tamar Valley AONB was designated in 1995 under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act and was the last area to be designated an AONB. The primary purpose of AONB designations is:
· To conserve and enhance natural beauty
· In pursuing the primary purpose, account should be taken of the needs of agriculture, forestry and rural industries as well as the economic and social needs of local communities. Regard should be paid to social and economic development that conserves and enhances the environment.
· Whilst recreation is not an objective of the designation, the demand for recreation should be met insofar as it is consistent with the conservation of natural beauty.
2.4 The Management Plan is a statutory Plan, which is required under Section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000. Whilst the preparation of the Management Plan has been led by the AONB team, it is for the area as a whole, and requires all to work in partnership to deliver the objectives. Section 85 of the CROW Act places a duty on all public bodies to have due regard to the purposes AONB designation and to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB.
2.5 The draft Management Plan includes a 20 year Vision for Tamar Valley AONB
“The people of the Tamar Valley are stewards of this rare valley and water landscape of high visual quality, a unique wildlife resource with a remarkable heritage, which is a legacy of thousands of years of human occupation. By supporting a thriving community with a sense of belonging and identity, we will ensure the sustainability of the area as a peaceful, tranquil breathing space; at a time of unprecedented change”
2.6 The draft Management Plan describes the special qualities of the AONB. It sets out a number of policies and objectives based on 10 themes:
· Landscape Character
· Historic Environment and Local Distinctiveness
· Biodiversity and Geodiversity
· River Use and Estuary Management
· Farming, Forestry and Land Management
· Access, Recreation and Tourism
· Planning and Development
· Environmental Quality and Climate
· Communities and Culture
· Communication, Education and Awareness
2.7 For each theme, there is an objective, a series of policies, and a number of priorities for action.
3. Methodology
3.1. The SEA has been carried out by an independent consultant, working with members of the AONB team. A separate Habitat Regulations Assessment[5] (HRA) is also being undertaken of the Management Plan (also known as Appropriate Assessment). This process ensures that the Plan will not have adverse affects on ‘European sites’ designated under the Habitats Directive for their exceptional importance in respect of rare, endangered or vulnerable natural habitats and species.
3.2. When deciding on the scope and level of detail of the information that must be included in the environmental report, the responsible authority must consult the consultation bodies. A Scoping Report was produced and consulted on in August-September 2013.
3.3. The response from English Heritage suggested that the SEA objectives should include conservation and enhancement of the historic environment, and these changes have been made. Conservation and archaeology officers from the relevant local authorities have inputted to development of the Plan, and will also be consulted on the draft. The response from Devon County Council suggested that the scope of the SEA objectives should be expanded to include climate change and flood risk, and also that the Environmental Report should set out how the environmental themes stated in the SEA Directive (biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, and landscape) have been covered in the SEA. The SEA objectives offer full coverage of the SEA list of ‘environmental’ factors for which any ‘likely significant effects’[6], should be considered as set out in Appendix 1.
3.4. A framework has been developed for testing the emerging Management Plan against (Appendix 1). This is adapted from the objectives set out in the SEA Scoping Report, taking on board comments from the statutory consultees and to enable the full range of sustainability effects of the Plan to be assessed.
3.5. The SEA is structured around eight objectives:
· E1 To protect and enhance the landscape and tranquillity of the Tamar Valley AONB and its setting
· E2 To protect and where practical enhance biodiversity (habitats and species) and geodiversity within and beyond the AONB
· E3 To conserve and where practical enhance the historic environment and cultural heritage
· E4 To mitigate and adapt to climate change including the impacts of flooding
· E5 To protect and enhance natural resources including water, air and soil
· E6 To sustain vibrant communities and safeguard human health and wellbeing
· E7 To protect the quality and character of individual settlements and material assets
· E8 To promote the development of an economy that supports social and environmental objectives
3.6. The SEA is intended to be strategic and so has focused on the policies within the Management Plan, as recommended in the Natural England guidance. However consideration has also been given to the objectives and actions in providing further detail and understanding of how the policies will be implemented.
3.7. The following scoring system was used in the assessment:
Table 1 – SEA scoring system
S++ / Strongly supports the SEA objectiveS+ / Supports the SEA objective
N / Is neutral in effect
C- (C=conflicts) / Potentially works against the SEA objective
C- - / Strongly works against the SEA objective
X / Effects uncertain
3.8. A summary of all the SEA Directive requirements and how these have been addressed is given in Appendix 2.
4. Review of plans and programmes
4.1. A review of relevant plans and programmes was undertaken to consider the environmental protection objectives established at international, European, national or local level, which are relevant to the Management Plan, and its relationship with other relevant plans and programmes.
4.2. The review of plans and programmes highlights a number of key objectives that have been taken into account in developing the Management Plan:
· Promoting landscape protection, management and planning
· Protecting and enhancing biodiversity, halting losses, working at a landscape scale and building resilient ecological networks
· Conserving and enhancing the historic and built environment
· Enhancing the interaction of people with the landscape, nature and local history
· Taking an ecosystems approach, considering the range of public benefits provided
· Resource protection, including conservation of soil and water resources and improvements in soil, water and air quality
· Minimising carbon emissions and contributing to climate change mitigation through carbon storage and sequestration, energy efficiency and renewable energy
· Adapting to climate change including enhancing the resilience of natural ecosystems and local communities (including in relation to flood risk)
· Promoting access and enjoyment including the health benefits of active pursuits
· Promoting the multiple benefits of woodlands and forests for the economy, wildlife, recreation, resource protection and carbon sequestration
· Supporting sustainable land management and viable farming businesses
· Encouraging greater community engagement and participation and a more local approach
· Promoting sustainable, good quality development
· Encouraging safe, sustainable and low carbon transport choices
· Supporting a partnership approach to the delivery of services
4.3. Appendix 3 lists the full range of plans and programmes reviewed, their main objectives, and how these have been taken into account in the preparation of the Management Plan.
5. Baseline information
5.1. A review of the baseline information has been undertaken for the SEA. The sections below provide a summary of the baseline information relating to the SEA objectives (identified in Chapter 7). The draft Management Plan provides further details and descriptions of the AONB.
5.2. The environmental information required to provide an evidence base for the SEA and the Management Plan has come from three main sources:
· Trends identified from indicator data collected through the existing SWPLF arrangement with the SW Regional Observatory as detailed in part below (SWRO) and other regional data
· Data from AONB National Monitoring Framework
· Baseline Results from the 2008 Tamar Valley Landscape Monitoring Project. (2013 update underway but not available to input to the draft Management Plan)
E1 To protect and enhance the landscape and tranquillity of the Tamar Valley AONB and its setting
- The AONB is classified as a Category V landscape by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- The Tamar Valley AONB represents an unspoiled valley and water landscape, a classic English lowland river system of exceptional visual quality