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APPENDIX 3

Discussion Paper on the Strategic Options for Future Growth in Gravesham Borough

Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1

The need to partially review Policy CS02 of the Core Strategy .............................................. 1

The need to consider Alternative Locations for the future Distribution of Residential Development ......................................................................................................................... 2

What are the Reasonable Alternative Strategic Growth Options? ......................................... 3

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

Flood Risk Constraints ................................................................................................... 3

Biodiversity Constraints .................................................................................................. 3

Settlement Hierarchy ..................................................................................................... 4

Major Physical Barriers .................................................................................................. 5

Alternatives .................................................................................................................... 5

Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment ............................................ 5

Infrastructure Provision ......................................................................................................... 6

Preferred Strategic Growth Option ........................................................................................ 6

Appendix 1 Flood Zones 3a and 3b and Sites of Special Scientific Interest ........................... 7

Appendix 2 Settlement Hierarchy .......................................................................................... 8

Appendix 3 Indicative Map of Options A, B and E ................................................................. 9

Appendix 4 Indicative Map of Options C and D ................................................................... 10

Appendix 5 Gravesham Sustainability Appraisal Framework ............................................... 11

Appendix 6 Possible Sustainability Appraisal Criteria .......................................................... 17

Introduction 1. This discussion paper is intended to set out why the Council will need to partially review

Core Strategy Policy CS02 and how it intends to go about this. It includes a number of alternative options for strategic growth in the Borough. This is following the Inspector’s findings that the Council needs to make more provision for residential development over the plan period.

The need to partially review Policy CS02 of the Core Strategy 2. Following the public hearings held by the independent Planning Inspector on the Core

Strategy in September 2013, a public consultation on proposed modifications has taken place from 4 December 2013 to 15 January 2014. The text below reflects these modifications.

3. Policy CS02 and its supporting text set out the scale and distribution of development in

the Borough over the plan period to 2028. 4. The supporting text recognises that some development will be required in the rural area

before the end of the plan period to meet the Borough’s housing needs and sustain rural

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communities. It therefore identifies the Green Belt as a broad location for future growth and states that its boundaries will be subject to a review (paragraph 4.2.7a). This is because it is acknowledged that there is insufficient land supply identified in the current Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA) to meet the total level of housing need over the whole plan period (paragraph 4.2.11).

5. It further states the following:

The identification of land to meet development opportunities in the Green Belt will require a review of its boundaries. This will include the identification of land for safeguarding to meet development needs beyond the plan period. The national and local purposes of including land in the Green Belt, the potential for adding land to the Green Belt and consideration of wider sustainable development principles will all be taken into account in the review process. Any changes to the Green Belt boundary will be included in the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD and shown on the Policies Map (paragraph 4.2.12a).

6. In relation to this matter, policy CS02 states the following:

The extent of the Green Belt is defined on the Policies Map. A strategic Green Belt boundary review will be undertaken to identify sufficient land to meet the housing requirements of the Core Strategy up to 2028 and to safeguard areas of land to meet development needs beyond the plan period, while maintaining the local planning purposes of the Green Belt (para 4.2.28a).

7. Policy CS02 sets out a figure of 6,170 new dwellings being required over the plan period

and sets out the proposed distribution of these. This figure reflects the Borough’s objectively assessed housing need based on current known data. However, the supporting text makes clear that the Council will undertake a new Strategic Housing Market Assessment which may increase the dwelling requirement.

8. There will need to be an early partial review of Policy CS02. This will set out:

• a number of new dwellings which reflects the results of the new Strategic Housing Market Assessment; and

• where the new dwellings will be distributed. 9. It is likely that this will be carried out in conjunction with the Site Allocations and

Development Management Policies Development Plan Document. However, some of the work on the partial review of Policy CS02 will need to come forward in advance of the Site Allocations document as the preferred option for the distribution of development will inform which sites are proposed for allocation.

The need to consider Alternative Locations for the future Distribution of Residential Development 10. It is important that the Council considers all the appropriate strategic growth options for

future development in the Borough. This is a requirement of an EU Directive and the Environmental Assessment Regulations which require that:

“an environmental report should be prepared…, identifying, describing and evaluating the likely significant environmental effects of implementing the plan…, and reasonable alternatives taking into account the objectives and geographical scope of the plan…”

The environmental report is the Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (see also paragraph 29 below). There have been successful legal challenges elsewhere against Councils which have not considered “reasonable

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alternatives” as part of their Core Strategy growth options, e.g. Forest Heath, Greater Norwich.

11. There need to be:

• reasons given for selecting the alternatives;

• an accurate picture given to those consulted what reasonable alternatives there are and why they are not considered to be the best option; and

• clear reasons for rejecting alternatives

What are the Reasonable Alternative Strategic Growth Options?

Introduction 12. Consideration has been given to possible alternative strategic growth options in the rural

part of the Borough. The Sustainability Appraisal will consider environmental impacts in greater detail but it is considered that certain areas, i.e. those subject to the highest flood risk and international/national biodiversity constraints, should be excluded at this initial stage. The reasons for this are set out below. It should be noted that the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is not excluded from the options at this stage because it may be possible for development to take place which meets the policy requirement to conserve and enhance its landscape and natural beauty. The impact on the AONB would be assessed through the Sustainability Appraisal. It is also considered reasonable for the options to focus on areas known to be more sustainable by virtue of their access to services and facilities and to take into account major physical barriers.

Flood Risk Constraints 13. Gravesham has a number of areas at high risk of flooding. The areas at the highest risk

(flood zones 3a and 3b) in the rural area are the broad areas of the Thames marshes and narrow linear areas running along valleys. These are shown on the map in Appendix 1.

14. The National Planning Policy Framework states that “inappropriate development in areas

at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk…Local Plans should apply a sequential, risk-based approach to the location of development to avoid where possible flood risk to people and property…”

15. Policy CS18 of the Core Strategy seeks to direct development sequentially to those

areas at least risk of flooding. 16. Given the likelihood of finding sufficient land outside areas at the highest risk of flooding,

it is suggested that the broad areas at the highest risk of flooding should be excluded from the alternative growth options. The narrow linear areas should be included as these could be included within future strategic growth areas but remain undeveloped (similar to the proposed key site at Land at Coldharbour Road).

Biodiversity Constraints 17. Gravesham Borough has a significant number of areas of national and international

biodiversity interest. They are all designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These are shown on the map in Appendix 1.

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18. The National Planning Policy Framework states that “proposed development on land within or outside a Site of Special Scientific Interest (either individually or in combination with other developments) should not normally be permitted.”

19. Policy CS12 of the Core Strategy seeks to protect sites designated for their biodiversity. 20. In view of the above, it is suggested that Sites of Special Scientific Interest should be

excluded from the alternative growth options. 21. It should be noted that a Habitats Regulations Assessment of the different growth

options will need to be carried out to assess their relative impacts on internationally designated wildlife sites, e.g. Thames Estuary and Marshes Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, North Downs Woodlands Special Area of Conservation.

Settlement Hierarchy 22. The supporting text to Policy CS02 includes a settlement hierarchy. This is based on an

assessment carried out in 2009 of the facilities and services available in the Borough’s settlements to identify which settlements are more sustainable.

See: http://docs.gravesham.gov.uk/webdocs/Environment%20and%20Planning/GLP/OTH-01_Settlement_Hierarchy_Technical_Paper_December_2009.pdf

23. There will be a need to update this assessment. However, it is considered that there are

unlikely to have been significant changes to service provision which would result in a different hierarchy.

24. The settlement hierarchy is as follows:

First Tier Settlements Gravesend/ Northfleet/ Ebbsfleet, i.e. the urban area

Second Tier Settlements Istead Rise, Hook Green Meopham, Higham

Third Tier Settlements Culverstone Green, Meopham Green, Vigo

Fourth Tier Settlements Cobham, Shorne, Sole Street

Other Settlements Harvel, Lower Higham, Luddesdown, Lower Shorne, Shorne Ridgeway

These are also shown on the map in Appendix 2.

25. As the aim is to achieve sustainable development in accordance with Policy CS01 of

the Core Strategy, it is suggested that the settlement hierarchy should be used to inform a number of the strategic growth options. It should be noted that the above hierarchy only considers settlements within Gravesham. When the spatial options are being considered, options for expanding settlements abutting Gravesham’s boundary where there is land available in Gravesham Borough will also be considered. This will use an equivalent approach which considers the facilities and services available to determine which settlement tier they would be considered against.

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Major Physical Barriers 26. It is considered that the A2/M2 and the A289 Wainscott Bypass form strong physical

boundaries to development in the Borough. The A2/M2 is 3/4 lanes wide each way and the A289 is a dual carriageway. Therefore, it is suggested that the strategic growth options should reflect the strong physical barrier created by the presence of these roads.

Alternatives 27. Taking account of the flood risk and biodiversity constraints, the settlement hierarchy and

the major physical barriers outlined above, it is considered that there are the following alterative strategic growth options. Where possible, these are shown indicatively on the maps in Appendices 3 and 4.

Option A. Expand urban area to east of Gravesend – There are 3 possible areas for this:

A1: East of Chalk A2: East of Thong Lane A3: South of Riverview Park

Option B. Expand urban area to west of Strood up to the A289 Wainscott Bypass.

Option C. Expand all or some of the second tier settlements – Higham, Hook Green Meopham, Istead Rise.

Option D. Expand all or some of the second, third and fourth tier settlements – Higham, Hook Green Meopham, Istead Rise, Culverstone Green, Meopham Green, Vigo, Cobham, Shorne, Sole Street.

Option E. Create a new settlement through merging existing settlements. There are 5 possible options for merging settlements based on existing second and third tier settlements:

E1: Hook Green Meopham and Sole Street E2: Hook Green Meopham and Meopham Green E3: Hook Green Meopham, Meopham Green and Sole Street E4: Higham and Lower Higham E5: Culverstone Green and Vigo

Option F. Create a freestanding new settlement. There is no obvious location within the Borough for this.

Option G. A combination of the above.

28. It is considered that the Council would undertake an early consultation on these options

as part of the partial review of Policy CS02. The consultation would also ask if there are any other reasonable options which we have not considered.

Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment 29. The Sustainability Appraisal (SA) used for the development of the Core Strategy includes

19 Sustainability Objectives together with decision-aiding questions. These have been developed so that they are specific to Gravesham Borough. They are set out in Appendix 5. In order to compare the sustainability impacts of the different strategic

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growth options, these will need to be developed further. A suggested list of criteria against which the options could be assessed is set out in Appendix 6. The consultants who carry out the SA will need to consider whether these criteria are appropriate and whether there is a need for any additional ones.

30. As set out in paragraph 21 above, a Habitats Regulations Assessment will also need to

be carried out.

Infrastructure Provision 31. At present, the Council has no information on the infrastructure implications of the

different strategic growth options. It is important that this is understood in order to assess which options are most effective in terms of existing and potential infrastructure provision. This would also inform the infrastructure requirements in the Infrastructure Delivery Schedule.

32. There will be a need for an independent transport study to assess the capacity of roads

and junctions to accommodate development and the cost of any upgrades needed for each of the different strategic growth options.

33. It has been difficult to engage some of the infrastructure providers in meaningful

discussions in the past. The intention would be to engage and consult with the relevant infrastructure providers on the different strategic growth options so that the infrastructure implications of each option are clearly understood.

Preferred Strategic Growth Option 34. The Council will then need to decide on its preferred option for future strategic growth in

the Borough. This will take into account:

• the results of the consultation on the different options;

• the results of the Sustainability Appraisal;

• the results of the Habitats Regulations Assessment; and

• existing and potential infrastructure provision. 35. The preferred option will inform the Green Belt review and site selection.

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Appendix 1 Flood Zones 3a and 3b and Sites of Special Scientific Interest

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Appendix 2 Settlement Hierarchy

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Appendix 3 Indicative Map of Options A, B and E

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Appendix 4 Indicative Map of Options C and D

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Appendix 5 Gravesham Sustainability Appraisal Framework 1. Balanced Communities SEA topics: Population Objective: Promote thriving and balanced communities Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Close gap between the most deprived areas and other areas and between different social classes?

• Promote mixed tenure and mixed use developments?

• Enable independent lifestyles and cater for the needs of all sections of the community including women, the elderly, those with disabilities and people of different ethnic backgrounds?

• Maintain and provide sites for community services and facilities for example education, health, leisure and recreation, social care?

• Provide sites for business and employment within communities?

• Enable accessibility to the workplace

• Promote social inclusion and community ownership?

• Provides opportunities for young people and children where appropriate?

• Recognise the different roles of urban and rural areas? 2. Integrated Communities SEA topics: Population Objective: Enable interaction between existing and new communities Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Strengthen existing communities?

• Enable growth of a sense of community safety, identity and social cohesion in new and existing development?

• Encourage regeneration and enhancement of existing communities?

• Integrate new and existing communities, where possible through design and planning? 3. Accessibility SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Enhance accessibility to jobs, education, community services and public transport, and be consistent with the emerging Local Transport Plan Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Enhance accessibility to jobs, services and facilities such as shops, schools, banks, health services, community centres, libraries, sports and leisure facilities, open spaces, religious centres, education and training for all sections of the community including women, disabled and elderly people and those of different ethnic backgrounds, in both urban and rural areas and especially in under-served localities?

• Improve quality, capacity and integration of public transport?

• Provide for basic services within walking distance of residencies and employment?

• Reduce poverty and social exclusion?

• Provide public transport to be affordable and available to all, particularly outlying areas?

• Optimise location of facilities to reduce the use of vehicles? 4. Public Health SEA topics: Human Health Objective: Improve the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health

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Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Promote informal recreation by improving and enhancing access to both the urban and rural areas?

• Promote healthy active lifestyles through the provision of facilities that are suitable for all sections of the community, and ensure residents have access to healthy and affordable food?

• Protect and enhance the quality and quantity of green and open spaces?

• Encourage development and participation in culture, sport and the arts?

• Ensure provision of adequate health facilities for all sections of the community and cater to the needs of an ageing population?

5. Phasing of Supporting Infrastructure SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Ensure that the provision of new infrastructure is appropriately phased to facilitate access for existing and new communities Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Take into account the phasing of supporting infrastructure to best meet the needs of existing and new communities?

• Incorporate the specific needs of the small permitted polluting industries and businesses?

• Provide more supporting regulatory services to accompany the increased infrastructure provision?

• Promote sustainable water infrastructure, particularly waste water treatment, flood defence and green infrastructure?

• Promote a quality range of infrastructure, and its management and maintenance? 6. Housing SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Ensure that all have access to a range of good quality housing to meet their needs, particularly key worker and affordable housing for identified local needs Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Provide for an appropriate level of key worker and affordable housing?

• Provide for an appropriate level of housing available for affordable rent?

• Provide for an appropriate mix of dwelling size, type, density and phasing on appropriate sites?

• Provide for a range of housing to meet the needs of specific groups, e.g. the elderly and disabled, people on low incomes?

7. Sustainable Design and Construction SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Promote sustainable design and construction practices Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Ensure new development is located with sustainable principles as far as possible, in particular, focusing development on the urban areas?

• Ensure the incorporation of energy efficiency measures in new development and encourage low and carbon-neutral development?

• Ensure high density in new development where appropriate?

• Insist upon high design quality and respect for local character, distinctiveness and surrounding environment in new development?

• Encourage the reuse of materials in construction

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• Promote the sourcing of locally and sustainably sourced and recycled materials in construction and renovation?

• Ensure use of appropriate sustainable design methods such as the Code for Sustainable Homes, BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and the Kent Design Guide?

• Promote use of sustainable and innovative building construction practices? 8. Environmental Health SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Provide a healthy and safe environment Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Maintain or increase quality of public open spaces and improve access to them?

• Design out crime and fear of crime in local communities by approved methods and standards?

• Contribute to a safe, secure built environment?

• Encourage safe provision for walking and cycling and safe accessible routes suitable for the elderly, those with pushchairs and those that are mobility impaired?

• Prevent unacceptable levels of noise, light, odour and air pollution, through application of the precautionary principle?

9. Economy and Employment SEA topics: Population and Material Assets Objective: Promote a range of quality employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Encourage provision of a range of jobs accessible to local people, including women and those with disabilities, people who are mobility impaired and those of different ethnic backgrounds?

• Reduce local unemployment?

• Assist in addressing any skills deficit between local people and the provision of new employment opportunities?

• Reduce deprivation by delivering economic development appropriate to communities in greatest need?

• Ensure layout and design does not discriminate against disabled people?

• Ensure a range of suitable business premises?

• Provide locations for business startup?

• Promote a number of quality employment opportunities? 10. Landscape SEA topics: Landscape Objective: Ensure that special and distinctive landscapes and townscapes, and the features within them, are conserved and enhanced Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Preserve and where possible enhance diverse landscape and townscape character and value?

• Protect and enhance designated areas (Green Belt, Special Landscape Area)?

• Retain and enhance the quality and diversity of open land/countryside?

• Promote green spaces in new developments?

• Improve the quality of the urban fringe?

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11. Land and Soil Quality SEA topics: Soil Objective: Maintain and improve the quality of land and soil in the region Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Require the re-use of previously developed land in preference to Greenfield sites?

• Protect soil quality?

• Promote high density development where appropriate?

• Remediate contaminated land?

• Protect the best and most versatile agricultural land? 12. Biodiversity SEA topics: Biodiversity, Fauna and Flora Objective: Protect and enhance the biodiversity and abundance habitats and indigenous species Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Protect and enhance valuable flora, fauna, wildlife habitats and species, both those statutorily designated and those of local value?

• Avoid and reverse, where possible, habitat fragmentation, and account for predicted changes due to climate change?

• Result in no net loss in general biodiversity?

• Provide opportunities for new/natural space/open space? 13. Cultural Heritage SEA topics: Cultural Heritage Objective: Protect and enhance cultural heritage resources Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Protect and enhance valued architecture, both buildings (including listed buildings) and their settings?

• Support locally-based cultural resources and activities?

• Protect and improve historical and archaeological environment (landscapes, site, buildings and settings), including resources of local value?

• Protect and enhance Conservation Areas?

• Protect and enhance local peoples’ cultural heritage, including cultural diversity

• Allow for the conservation and interpretation of the areas industrial and maritime heritage?

• Support village life? 14. Minerals SEA topics: Material Assets Objective: Encourage usage of minerals which minimises adverse impact on the environment, and which is consistent with the Minerals Local Development Framework. Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Encourage the Procurement of the most sustainable construction materials: for example, use of recycled/recyclable and renewable resources, and of materials which are energy efficient to manufacture, and which are sourced as locally as possible by sustainable transport?

• Support sustainability objectives of the emerging Minerals Local Development Framework (for example with regard to habitat protection, transport, noise, water, air)?

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15. Climate Change and Energy SEA topics: Material Assets and Climatic Factors Objective: To address the causes of climate change through reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; ensure Dartford & Gravesham are prepared for the impacts of climate change. Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Require the use of renewable energy sources wherever feasible?

• Ensure energy efficiency by locating development in such a way as to minimise the need, number and length of journeys made by private car?

• Require energy efficiency in the design, construction and operational phases of new development?

• Take into account the predicted effects of climate change and require that development proposals are guided by ‘climate proofing’ principles, including allowing for habitat adaptation?

16. Air Quality SEA topics: Air, Climatic Factors and Human Health Objective: Protect and improve local and global air quality Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Assist in improving local air quality, particularly with regard to AQMAs?

• Reduce the number of trips made by private car per household?

• Ensure more sustainable transport patterns including public transport, walking and cycling?

• Increase tree cover especially broad-leaved woodland beneficial to air quality?

• Reduce emissions from development activities and contribute positively towards local air quality?

17. Waste SEA topics: Water, Soil, Human Health and Population Objective: Encourage sustainable waste management through the 'waste hierarchy', and be consistent with the emerging Waste Local Development Framework Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Provide provision for local community recycling and waste management facilities, including in new developments?

• Ensure minimisation, reuse, recycling and recovery of construction, commercial, industrial and household materials and waste?

18. Water SEA topics: Water Objective: Protect and enhance the water environment (surface water i.e. rivers and lakes, groundwater, estuarine, wetlands) and manage water resources in a sustainable way Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Contribute to the aims of the Water Framework Directive, in particular the need to ensure all water bodies meet ‘good status’ by 2015?

• Protect river and tidal plains (including wetlands and flood defences), in particular from encroachment?

• Maintain groundwater and river levels?

• Protect and improve freshwater and estuarine water quality?

• Consider the interconnectedness of water quality, quantity and flood risk management?

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• Increase efficient use and reuse of water resources?

• Ensure water demand does not outstrip available supply?

• Require effective Sustainable Drainage Systems for new development? 19. Flooding SEA topics: Water Objective: Reduce the risk of flooding Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Promote sustainable estuary and flood risk management that provides for climate change, where appropriate, in new developments?

• Prevent inappropriate form and layout of development in the floodplain?

• Ensure development located within a floodplain is designed to be flood resilient?

• Ensure development does not increase flood risk and encourages a positive contribution to sustainable flood management and green infrastructure?

• Safeguard access to flood defences?

• Minimise flood-related health risk & protect community assets from flood risk?

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Appendix 6 Possible Sustainability Appraisal Criteria 1. Balanced Communities SEA topics: Population Objective: Promote thriving and balanced communities Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Help to reduce deprivation in the Borough’s most deprived areas? 2. Integrated Communities SEA topics: Population Objective: Enable interaction between existing and new communities Decision-aiding Questions Not assessed – same answers would apply to all options. 3. Accessibility SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Enhance accessibility to jobs, education, community services and public transport, and be consistent with the emerging Local Transport Plan Decision-aiding Questions Is the option:

• Within walkable/cyclable distances (800m and 2-5km) of Gravesend town centre (also Strood/Rochester?). The town centres are taken to be where most facilities are located.

• Within 30 minutes of Gravesend town centre (also Strood/Rochester/Chatham?) by regular public transport?

• Within walkable/cyclable distances (800m and 2-5km) of an employment area? Which ones should we use? Core ones?

• Within 30 minutes of an employment area by regular public transport?

• Within walkable/cyclable distances (800m and 2-5km) of a supermarket?

• Within 30 minutes of supermarket by regular public transport?

• Within walkable/cyclable distances (800m and 2-5km) of a local centre?

• Within a walkable distance (800m) to a primary school?

• Within 30 minutes of a secondary school by regular public transport?

• Within a walkable distance (800m) to a GP surgery?

• Within 30 minutes of a hospital by regular public transport?

• Within walkable/cyclable distances (800m and 2-5km) of a leisure centre (Cascades, Cygnet, Meopham, Strood)?

• Within 30 minutes of a leisure centre by regular public transport?

• Within walkable/cyclable distances (800m and 2-5km) of a college?

• Within 30 minutes of a college by regular public transport? Regular public transport is taken to mean at least an hourly bus/train service during weekdays. N.B. Given the possible scale of development, there may be the opportunity to provide new facilities on or related to the site, e.g. primary school, GP surgery, improved bus services. 4. Public Health SEA topics: Human Health Objective: Improve the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Result in the loss of public open space, common land or countryside right of access land?

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5. Phasing of Supporting Infrastructure SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Ensure that the provision of new infrastructure is appropriately phased to facilitate access for existing and new communities Decision-aiding Questions Not possible to assess this – will be reliant on the responses of infrastructure providers to the consultation. 6. Housing SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Ensure that all have access to a range of good quality housing to meet their needs, particularly key worker and affordable housing for identified local needs Decision-aiding Questions Not assessed – same answers would apply to all options. 7. Sustainable Design and Construction SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Promote sustainable design and construction practices Decision-aiding Questions Not assessed – same answers would apply to all options. 8. Environmental Health SEA topics: Population and Human Health Objective: Provide a healthy and safe environment Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Result in development in tranquil areas (use the 2007 Tranquil Areas Map by the Countryside Commission and CPRE)?

• Create an unacceptable level of light pollution (use XXX)?

• Create an unacceptable level of air pollution, particularly with regard to the Air Quality Management Areas?

9. Economy and Employment SEA topics: Population and Material Assets Objective: Promote a range of quality employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth Decision-aiding Questions Not assessed – same answers would apply to all options. 10. Landscape SEA topics: Landscape Objective: Ensure that special and distinctive landscapes and townscapes, and the features within them, are conserved and enhanced Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Preserve and where possible enhance landscape character (use the Gravesham Landscape Character Assessment May 2009 to assess this)?

• Preserve and where possible enhance townscape character (use the Gravesham Townscape Appraisal June 2008 to assess this)?

• Protect and enhance the AONB and its setting?

• Improve the quality of the urban fringe? 11. Land and Soil Quality SEA topics: Soil

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Objective: Maintain and improve the quality of land and soil in the region Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Result in the development of contaminated land (use historic landfill site information for this)?

• Protect the best and most versatile agricultural land? 12. Biodiversity SEA topics: Biodiversity, Fauna and Flora Objective: Protect and enhance the biodiversity and abundance habitats and indigenous species Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Have a potential adverse impact on a Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)?

• Have a potential adverse impact on a Local Wildlife Site (LWS)?

• Have a potential adverse impact on ancient woodland and other BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) habitats?

13. Cultural Heritage SEA topics: Cultural Heritage Objective: Protect and enhance cultural heritage resources Decision-aiding Questions Does the option/policy:

• Protect and enhance statutorily listed buildings, scheduled monuments and historic parks and gardens and their settings?

• Protect and enhance conservation areas and their settings?

• Affect an area with archaeological potential? 14. Minerals SEA topics: Material Assets Objective: Encourage usage of minerals which minimises adverse impact on the environment, and which is consistent with the Minerals Local Development Framework. Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Affect an area safeguarded for minerals in the adopted Minerals Local Plans? 15. Climate Change and Energy SEA topics: Material Assets and Climatic Factors Objective: To address the causes of climate change through reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; ensure Dartford & Gravesham are prepared for the impacts of climate change. Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Include opportunities for on-site renewable energy generation (use the Kent Thameside Eco Assessment Sept 2010 to assess this)? Other information from AONB Unit/KCC?

• Refer also to the answers to section 3 Accessibility for the assessment of this. 16. Air Quality SEA topics: Air, Climatic Factors and Human Health Objective: Protect and improve local and global air quality

• Decision-aiding Questions

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• Refer to the answers in Sections 3 Accessibility and 8 Environmental Health for the assessment of this.

17. Waste SEA topics: Water, Soil, Human Health and Population Objective: Encourage sustainable waste management through the 'waste hierarchy', and be consistent with the emerging Waste Local Development Framework Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Affect an area safeguarded for waste facilities in the adopted Waste Local Plan? (N.B. This is not relevant as there are none in GBC)

18. Water SEA topics: Water Objective: Protect and enhance the water environment (surface water i.e. rivers and lakes, groundwater, estuarine, wetlands) and manage water resources in a sustainable way Decision-aiding Questions Does the option

• Affect a groundwater source protection zone? 19. Flooding SEA topics: Water Objective: Reduce the risk of flooding Decision-aiding Questions Does the option:

• Result in development in areas at the highest risk of flooding (flood zones 3a and 3b)?

• Result in development likely to be affected by an increased risk of flooding in the future (use the TE2100 plans to assess this)?