DRAFT Sustainability Appraisal Report for the Emerging Local Plan ...

the transport sector in Runnymede, the majority of carbon emissions can be attributed to
motorway traffic. Traffic volumes on Surrey’s motorways have been steadily increasing over
the last 20 years and the average traffic flows have been much higher than the national
average. The average daily traffic flow on the M25, between junctions 11 and 12 in 2007
Runnymede was 177,034 (63) vehicles per day as compared to the national average of 77,400
(64) vehicles per day.
11.33 Emissions for Runnymede in 2008 were estimated at 6.6 t per capita (source: NI186), showing
a reduction of 4% since 2005. The above data exclude emissions over which local authorities
do not have direct influence ‐ that is emissions from motorways and diesel railways and
emissions associated with existing lawful land use.
11.34 Table 69 provides a summary of the key environmental issues and challenges that have been
identified as having particular relevance to the Council’s emerging Local Plan on this receptor.
Those issues and challenges have been identified from the baseline environmental
information as well as through discussion with various officers within the Council and
external statutory and non‐statutory consultees.
Table 69 – ER06 Summary Key Environmental Issues and Challenges
Receptor
[ER06] Climate Change
Key Issues, challenges and potential responses for the Local
Plan
Summary: Summary: Road transport is a major source of carbon emissions.
The second largest source is domestic gas and electricity consumption.
Although traffic on principal roads in Surrey has continued to decrease from
2003 levels, traffic volumes on Surrey’s motorways have been steadily
increasing over the last 20 years and the average traffic flows have been
much higher than the national average. Within the transport sector in
Runnymede, the majority of carbon emissions is attributed to motorway
traffic. Meeting the considerable challenges presented by a volatile climate
with a built fabric and infrastructure that has been developed in absence of
this consideration will be difficult. The Local Plan proposals will potentially
modify 4.5% of the residential stock, 95.5% of residential stock will remain
outside the plans range.
Issues and Challenges: Issues of climate change can be divided into two
distinct groups; mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation addresses a 30+ year
time horizon and involves reduction in emissions and improvements in energy
efficiency. Adaptation deals with the ‘locked-in’ climate up to 30 years and
generally involves adaptation measures. Urban development resulting in
energy and transport use is a major source of carbon emissions, and
consequently a significant contributor to climate change for the borough.
Total traffic on major roads within Surrey has remained constant between
2000-2010.The proximity of two major airports is a major draw for road
traffic. The impacts of climate change or the effects that effective adaptation
can reduce are difficult to predict, but for Runnymede is likely to include an
increased risk of flooding and subsidence [see: LCLIP].
Possible LP Response: The LP could bring forward policies to manage energy
use plus traffic levels and demand for transport. It could identify objective
targets to reduce new development and redevelopment carbon emissions.
The LP could bring forward a policy that ensures the Boroughs infrastructure
network capacity is capable of coping with the expected consequences of
climate change. The LP could bring forward a policy that protects the ability of
the main urban centres to install ‘district heating systems’.
How LP Responded: The LP does not have a policy set on Climate Change.
The most relevant is Policy SP10 that deals with flooding.
Evolution of Baseline in Absence of Plan
11.35 A changing climate may lead to hotter drier summers, warmer wetter winters, higher sea
levels and an increase in extreme events such as heat waves, droughts and floods. It has been
projected that this change will affect boroughs such as Runnymede
63 Traffic count data for roads in Runnymede, 2006‐2008 as supplied by Surrey County Council.
64 Surrey County Council (2011) The Surrey Transport Plan (LTP3) Environmental Report.
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