« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Environmental Assessment of Development Plans: Interim Planning Advice
APPENDICES
Appendix A
Preliminary checklist of environmental information for inclusion in the environmental report of a local plan
This appendix relates particularly to stage 2 of the process ( see paragraphs 44 - 58). With respect to the current state of the environment and likely evolution in the absence of the implementation of the plan, information concerning the following matters should be considered for inclusion.
Some aspects of the environment are particularly relevant to more than one factor, eg air quality is relevant to air and climatic factors and to population and human health, it can affect biodiversity and material assets, however, each aspect of environmental information is listed only once, to avoid considerable repetition.
Biodiversity, flora and fauna, geology/geomorphology
- Areas designated or proposed for their international (Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation and Ramsar sites), national (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) or local nature conservation importance and a description of the relevant interests, including earth heritage interests;
- Species characteristic of the area or likely to be encountered in development that are especially protected by law;
- Species and habitats identified as priorities in national or local biodiversity action plans.
- Relevant aspects of geology
Population and human health
- Areas of particular amenity value, cultural associations, tranquillity or sensitivity to development including those of importance for tourism or outdoor recreation;
- Regional and Country Parks;
- Urban and rural areas of degraded environment needing restoration or enhancement;
- Areas affected by former mineral working and requiring environmental improvement;
- Contaminated land;
- Derelict land;
- Unstable land;
- Land vulnerable to erosion from the sea;
- Operational and closed waste disposal and management sites and any particular environmental problems associated with them
- Proximity to other potential sources of pollution.
Soil
- Areas affected by former mineral working and requiring restoration.
- Prime quality agricultural land
- Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.
Water
- River catchments;
- Watercourses and water quality;
- Aquifers and other important ground water resources;
- Lochs, ponds and other wetlands including peat lands;
- Coasts categorised as developed, undeveloped and isolated coasts
- Areas of fluvial or coastal flood risk
Air and climatic factors
- Areas where renewable energy potential should be safeguarded from sterilisation.
- Locations where air quality thresholds of pollution have been exceeded
- Air Quality Management Areas
Material assets and cultural heritage (including architectural and archaeological heritage)
- Distinctive urban forms and settlement patterns;
- Conservation Areas
- Listed Buildings
- Other areas locally important for their townscape
- Other areas or concentrations of architecturally or historically interesting buildings.
- Important historic gardens and designed landscapes
- Sites of national, regional or local archaeological importance
- Areas with a concentration of archaeological and other cultural heritage interests
- Areas where the archaeological interest is uncertain but potentially significant.
- Railway land and tracks with potential for re-use as linear routes
Landscape
- Landscape character including any particularly rare or distinctive features or associations, based on the Landscape Character Assessment for the area;
- National Parks and a description of the special qualities of the area which were the reasons for designation;
- Other areas designated for their international (World Heritage Sites), national (National Scenic Areas) or local landscape importance (eg Areas of Great Landscape Value) and a description of the special qualities or features or natural beauty and amenity of the area which were the reasons for designation;
- Areas valued for their wild land character;
- Urban parks and open spaces of recreational, amenity or wildlife value;
- Green belts;
- Green corridors or wedges of green land important because they penetrate or separate urban areas;
- Important open areas which contribute to the distinctive setting or identity of settlements.
- Interrelationships between these factors
- Areas sensitive to the cumulative effects of different development types eg single houses in the countryside, mineral workings or windfarms;
- Areas sensitive to an accumulation of different environmental effects, eg noise and visual intrusion;
- The coastal zone including areas of particular sensitivity or under particular pressures for change.
« Previous | Contents | Next »