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

Challenge / Opportunity
Details
Insulation • The Council will seek to continue to offer each householder who
has loft or cavity wall insulation installed in their home £60 off
their Council Tax for one year, which is the current agreement
with British Gas. Higher contributions from British Gas towards
Council Tax may also be available for the installation of Solar
Thermal Hot Water and Solar Photovoltaics.
Transport • The policy is to seek to reduce the need to travel and ensure good
accessibility to public and other sustainable modes of transport.
Sustainability and Waste
Management
• It is promoted for new developments to be built to Code for
Sustainable Homes and BREEAM ‘excellent’ standards.
Flood Management • New development will be allocated in sequential order with priority
given to sites of low annual probability of flooding. Development on
other land at higher risk of flooding must demonstrate that
appropriate flood mitigation measures will be implemented and
that any residual risk can be safely managed.
• The use of Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM ‘excellent’
standards are recommended.
Potential Impact Pathways
CC1 Greenhouse gas emissions associated with changes in the total volume and the distribution of
traffic on Runnymede’s roads.
11.38 High levels of car ownership and changes in the number of vehicles travelling on the road
network in Runnymede will affect the volume of greenhouse gas emissions that can be
attributed to road transport. For example a net increase in vehicle number could result in an
increase in emissions of greenhouse gases, although that would be dependent on the types of
vehicles that accounted for this increase.
CC2 Greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction and/or maintenance of transport,
residential and commercial assets / networks and other infrastructure in Runnymede.
11.39 Runnymede contains approximately 32,700 households (2011 Census) as well as commercial
development. Runnymede also contains an extensive variety of infrastructure from built
infrastructure such as motorways and road to social facilities such as libraries. Bringing new
retail and residential development into the town centres may require upgrading or expanding
of the existing infrastructure networks. It would be therefore expected that premises would
require energy use which will increase emissions of greenhouse gases within Runnymede.
CC3 Greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating, electricity use and waste management and
resulting from the proposed residential and commercial property in Runnymede.
11.40 An increase in residential and commercial development will increase the amount of energy
usage which will in turn increase emissions of greenhouse gases. Whilst it may be argued that
new stock will be more likely to be energy efficient in relation to older housing and
commercial stock however increased stock; will still contribute to energy usage and in turn
increased emissions.
11.41 The plan provides for increased development which will contribute to emissions and in turn
climate change. It can be discussed that due to the location of Runnymede it is likely that
contributions to climate change will continue to rise despite the implementation of the plan.
Consideration of Policy and its Alternatives on ER06 Climate Change
Policy LP01: Strategy for the Location of Development
11.42 The policy options have a varied overall impact on the receptor with regard to the SEA
(Appendix 4). However, the individual pathways do have some notable trends. LP01‐A2 has a
significantly adverse impact on CG1‐2, whilst LP01 and LP01‐A1 have an adverse impact. This
Page | 150 Runnymede BC FINAL Sustainability Appraisal Report – Feb 2013