Sustainability Appraisal Appendices Volume 1

447 Pages·2013·10 MB·English

by  Megan Pinnell

Newport City Council
Local Development Plan
Revised Deposit Plan

Sustainability Appraisal Report

Appendices: Volume One

January 2015
Newport Local Development Plan
Revised Deposit Plan

Sustainability Appraisal incorporating
Strategic Environmental Assessment

Sustainability Appraisal Report

Appendices: Volume One

January 2015

Notice
This report was produced by Atkins Ltd. for Newport City Council for the specific purpose of the
Sustainability Appraisal of the Newport Local Development Plan.

This report may not be used by any person other than Newport City Council without Newport City
Council’s express permission. In any event, Atkins accepts no liability for any costs, liabilities or
losses arising as a result of the use of or reliance upon the contents of this report by any person other
than Newport City Council.
Document History
JOB NUMBER: 5073226 DOCUMENT REF: Final Newport LDP
SAR_APPENDICES A_F_9.0.doc
9 Final CW CW EB EB 15/01/15
8 Final for submission CW CW CW CW 28/11/13
7 Submission draft for review SD/CW CW CW CW 20/11/13
6 Final for consultation ST AG AG AG 17/03/13
5 Further SA revisions ST AG AG AG 03/05/13
following LDP revisions
4 Further draft following ST AG AG AG 25/02/13
deposit LDP changes
3 Draft following consultation ST AG AG AG 04/01/13
comments
2 Final SM CW CW CW 27/02/12
1 Draft for Review SM/LP/ZG/ AG/CW CW CW 23/02/12
RE
Revision Purpose Description Originated Checked Reviewed Authorised Date
Newport City Council Local Development Plan: Sustainability Appraisal/ Strategic Environmental Assessment

Contents
Appendices Page
Appendix A - Baseline Data 1
A.1 Review of relevant ongoing programmes 2
A.2 Environmental Data 5
A.3 Social Baseline 77
A.4 Economic Baseline 110
Appendix B - Stage A Consultation Responses 136
B.1 Results of the Consultation Workshop 137
B.2 Scoping Report Consultation 167
Appendix C - Strategic Options Appraisal 201
C.1 Housing Numbers 202
C.2 Housing Delivery 211
C.3 Accommodation for Students and Young People 221
C.4 Accommodation for the Elderly 229
C.5 Village Development 236
C.6 Employment 248
C.7 Celtic Manor 260
C.8 Airport 266
Appendix D - Candidate Sites Strategic Assessment 276
D.1 Development of Strategic Sites 277
D.2 Results 310
D.3 Council Responses to the Strategic Site SA Recommendations 313
Appendix E Sustainability Appraisal Framework for Assessment of Preferred Strategy (ISAR)
(January 2010) 349
Appendix F Consultation Responses to the (non-statutory) ISAR (May 2010) 362
F.1 Newport City Council LDP ISAR Consultation Response Table 363
Newport City Council Local Development Plan: Sustainability Appraisal/ Strategic Environmental Assessment

Appendix A - Baseline Data
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Newport City Council Local Development Plan: Sustainability Appraisal/ Strategic Environmental Assessment

A.1 Review of relevant ongoing programmes
The following outlines a series of programmes that will have a considerable influence on the future of Newport in terms of its sustainability which have
been considered in more detail as part of the review of plans, policies and programmes as well as the baseline data review.
A.1.1 Energy Efficiency Programmes
Newport City Council is working with the South East Wales Energy Agency to improve the energy efficiency of all homes in the city, both private and
social (source: Newport City Council).
 Energy Efficiency Advice Centre - The Advice Centre raises awareness of energy efficiency matters and then provides free and impartial advice to
the public in Newport and the other local authorities across South East Wales on how they can reduce their energy consumption.
 Healthy Homes – This project aims to combat poor health caused through inadequately heated homes. Newport and Merthyr Tydfil councils are the
lead partners with the scheme now having been taken up by four other councils. Heath professionals along with allied staff in local authorities and the
voluntary sector are trained to identify problem homes and with the Advice Centre then taking the referral and finding the solution; and where
possible grant funding. To assist homeowners who do not qualify for the National Assembly’s Home Energy Efficiency Scheme grant or whose
condition is too urgent to wait, the Advice Centre has secured £50,000 of crisis funding from Scottish Power.
 Local Energy Support Programme - Branded as Energy Focus, this programme works with Newport City Council and other Local Authorities and
Housing Associations to develop strategic plans and gain corporate support for energy efficiency in order to meet their own and government targets.
In Newport it delivered a climate change workshop for elected members and has made presentations on the joint work that the Agency is doing with
the council at six Neighbourhood Committee meetings. It has been providing assistance with the LSVT and publishes a quarterly sustainable energy
newsletter, which is sent to all elected members and senior officers.
 EnergyWise - This is a scheme utilising Energy Efficiency Commitment funding from several energy suppliers to provide grants to private
householders and private landlords to assist with the installation of cavity wall and loft insulation. For householders in the Priority Group, being those
in receipt of income or disability related benefits the work is carried out free of charge with prices to others being reduced by around 50%. In the last
year, 344 householders took advantage of the scheme.
 Cosy Homes – This programme aims to improve the insulation standards in all of the City’s social housing stock so that it meets the requirements of
the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. In the first two years of the programme 5,103 homes have been improved. Initially it is concentrating on
traditional build where cavity walls and lofts can be insulated but will then look at ways to improve the insulation of the more difficult “hard to treat”
system built properties.
 Sheltered Housing - Staff visited 10 of the council’s sheltered housing complexes and talked to the residents about how they could reduce their
energy bills. To help with this they were also given two energy saving lightbulbs.
 Energy Kids – The programme aims to educate children on sustainable energy matters. Through a programme of school visits the Advice Centre is
working with the 42 primary schools in Newport and last year made 28 presentations with the remainder being completed in 2007/8. As well as the
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educational aspect it has also lifted many families out of Fuel Poverty as through a Home Energy Check, which pupils complete for homework and
the subsequent information pack received by parents, low income families are made aware of the free heating and insulation measures available
through the Assembly’s Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.
 Affordable Warmth - The Advice Centre is working with Newport City Council to develop and Affordable Warmth Strategy to help eradicate fuel
poverty by linking the activities of statutory, commercial and voluntary agencies. The project commenced in 2006/7 with the final document intended
to be published in 2007/8.
 Home Energy Efficiency Survey – Over 2005/2006 the Agency carried out a postal survey to gather data relating to the energy efficiency of all
private homes in the City. This data is now being used in 2007/8 to target homes that could benefit from improvement measures.
 Partnerships – Working with the Health Service in support of their annual Keep Well This Winter campaign and Trading Standards and the Fire
Service with their Safe & Sound Roadshows. This involves attending several events in Newport advising “over 60’s” households on energy efficiency
measures and grants, as well as distributing free energy saving lightbulbs.
A.1.2 Woodland Access
Mentro Allen: This Sports Council for Wales-led Big Lottery funded project is encouraging hard to reach groups to take part in physical activity in their
local natural environment. This project will assist with some of the aims of Climbing Higher regarding inclusion in sport and active recreation. This
programme will work on 10 - 15 projects across Wales from 2006 to 2010. The proposed projects includea project based in Newport aims to increase

participation in physical activity for black and ethnic minority groups in a range of public green space and other areas including Bettws Woods and
Wentwood Forest, with the emphasis on the social benefits of this activity.

A.1.3 Waste
Newport City Council launched its city wide Rethink Rubbish public awareness campaign in July 2002. This campaign is based on the National Rethink
Rubbish brand and supports both the Council’s and Newport Wastesaver’s initiatives. Since the launch of the campaign there has been a marked
increase in the level of recycling in Newport. Recent research shows that 65% of citizen panel members have heard of the Rethink Rubbish Campaign.
The council will continue to develop and promote initiatives in order to achieve exemplar status.
In 2004-2005 it was apparent that the statutory landfill reduction target would not be achieved unless residents recycled more of their waste. It was,
therefore, decided to trial a scheme whereby approximately 9,000 homes would have their refuse collected fortnightly. At the same time all houses were
given weekly Newport Wastesaver collections.
In terms of increasing recycling the scheme has been especially successful, generating between 38-44% extra recycling monthly for Newport
Wastesavers, an equivalent throughout the City of a 5% increase on the Council’s current recycling rate of 25% in 2004- 2005.
Introduction of the scheme has revealed that not all people are prepared to recycle, some increased illegal deposit of waste occurred, although this was
generally of mixed waste whereby had the householder undertaken the recycling, there would have been room for their waste. Some adverse publicity
also occurred, which on investigation of headline cases, was due to non-recycling of plastic bottles, aluminium cans or paper. Had the materials been
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recycled, space for waste would have been within the bin. In view of the significant increases in recycling and public support, it is recommended that the
scheme be extended to the entire City except initially those places with communal bin stores where recycling capacity is limited.
Strategy for Alleviating Flood Risk along the River Usk East Bank
The Strategy, recommended by Environment Agency Wales, is based upon the whole scale raising of the UDP allocated sites along the East Bank
through the importation of clean inert fill material. This may also provide a suitable ‘cap’ on any contaminated sites, thereby making them suitable,
depending on the proposed housing type, for a residential use. Formal flood defence walls (set to a minimum height of 9.15mAOD) will be constructed,
where land behind existing development is too narrow to allow levels to be effectively raised. These walls will tie into the higher ground formed on the
development sites. The TAN15 Flood Risk Zone map for this area is provided in Figure A.11 in the baseline description.
A.1.4 Newport Unlimited
In March 2003, Newport City Council along with the Welsh Assembly Government formed the Newport Unlimited partnership. Its remit is to take forward
key aspects of regeneration and shaping of the city, enabling it to develop into a thriving centre for business, leisure and living. Across the city there are
now many visible signs of the extensive programme of regeneration. Experian Business Strategies recently identified Newport as one of the top ten
business growth locations in the UK.
The regeneration programme has already delivered significant redevelopment with many major schemes now complete, underway or in the planning
stage. These include improvements to the railway station, a landmark foot and cycle bridge, redevelopment of the Kingsway shopping centre and work on
the new £200 million retail led city centre redevelopment called Friars Walk. A third major shopping centre and residential mixed development is also
planned known as City Spires. Work is now underway on the new city centre university campus, which will be a key feature of the regenerated riverfront
area.
The scale and ambition of the regeneration programme is considerable.
A.1.5 Sustainability Appraisal Criteria: Newport Unitary Development Plan 2nd Proposed Changes
The Newport Unitary Development Plan is the current land use planning document in the county borough. This will be replaced with the forthcoming LDP,
which this SA seeks to assess. Similar to this process then, the UDP also undertook as process of Sustainability Appraisal, using sustainability criteria.
These previous criteria were drawn solely from a review of relevant plans and programmes forming the International, National and Local context for the
Sustainable Development of Newport. The table below integrates the Sustainability Criteria used to assess the Newport Unitary Development Plan 2nd
Proposed Changes with the addition of the review of additional Policies, Plans and Programmes reviewed through this SA process.
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A.2 Environmental Data
Table A.1 - SEA topics: Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna, Air
Indicator Quantified data (Newport) Comparators Targets Trends Issue Source
(Quantified data identified
for South Wales
and
Wales/England)
Numerous rare and declining species are present,
Important Stated in main Nature
Species: including: grass vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia), Report Conservation
Coastal hairlike pondweed (Potamogeton trichoides), SPG
Levels dittander (Lepidium latifolium), hairy dragonfly
(Brachytron pratense) and great diving-beetle
(Hydrophilus piceus).
Important bird species such as shelduck (Tadorna
tadorna), snipe (Gallinago gallinago), grasshopper
(Locustella naevia) and reed warblers
(Acrocephalus scirpaceus) also occur, as do the
otter and water vole (Arvicola terrestris).
Broad  Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland Stated in main
Habitat  Coniferous woodland Report
Types
 Boundary and linear features
which occur
in Newport  Arable and horticulture
 Improved grassland
 Neutral grassland
 Calcareous grassland
 Acid grassland
 Bracken
 Dwarf shrub heath
 Fen, marsh and swamp
 Standing open water and canals
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Newport City Council Local Development Plan: Sustainability Appraisal/ Strategic Environmental Assessment

Indicator Quantified data (Newport) Comparators Targets Trends Issue Source
(Quantified data identified
for South Wales
and
Wales/England)
 Rivers and streams
 Inland rock
 Built up areas and gardens
 Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh
 Supralittoral rock*
 Littoral sediment*
 Inshore sublittoral sediment*
 *maritime broad habitat types
Examples of important associated species include
Important Stated in main Nature
Species: otter, water vole, Daubenton’s bat (Myotis Report Conservation
Riverine daubentonii), kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), marsh SPG
Habitats warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), yellow wagtail
(Motacilla flava), twaite (Alosa fallax) & allis shad
(Alosa alosa), bullhead (Cottus gobio) and white-
clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes).

Important species associated with this habitat
Important Stated in main Nature
Species: include burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella exceedence), Report Conservation
Neutral pepper-saxifrage (Silaum silaus), tuberous thistle SPG
Grasslands (Cirsium tuberosum) and yellow-rattle (Rhinanthus
minor). Others are the skylark (Alauda arvensis),
short-winged conehead cricket (Conocephalus
dorsalis) which is found in coastal areas, the
common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus), small
copper butterfly (Lyceana phlaeas) and numerous
bees and wasps.
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