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

Section 14.
Introduction
[ER09] Historic Environment and Archaeology
14.1 The historic environment can be defined as archaeological assets (both known and unknown)
alongside sites, structures, and features of historic significance and value. This receptor
captures the factor of ‘cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage’ as
required by the SEA Directive and UK SEA Regulations and incorporates a number of SA
sustainable development objectives as outlined in Table 85.
14.2 The historic environment and archaeology receptor is at risk from land take, disturbance, and
adverse air quality.
Applicable SA/SEA Objective/Factor
Table 85 – Applicable SA/SEA Objective/Factor to ER09
Objective/Factor
Relevant SA Objective(s)
No. Title Status
SO08
To encourage increased engagement in cultural activity across all sections of the
community in Runnymede and promote sustainable tourism
G
SO20 To protect and enhance the borough’s countryside and historic environment G
Relevant SEA Factor(s)
FA11 Cultural Heritage including Architectural and Archaeological Heritage G
Current Policy Context
14.3 There is a range of policies relevant to welfare, health and well being at the international,
national, regional and local level. The key policy documents are set out below and
summarised in Table 86 – ER09 Policy Context Summary.
Table 86 – ER09 Policy Context Summary
Strategic Context – Sources of relevant objectives and
goals
Local Plan Relevant
objectives and
comment
[ER09] Historic Environment and Archaeology
International Policy: Valetta Convention (Archaeological)
UK Policy: Biodiversity Strategy for England, Good Practice
Guide on Planning for Tourism, UK Climate Change
Programme, White Paper: Planning for a Sustainable Future,
The Historic Environment: A Force for our Future, Thames
Waterway Plan and Sustainable Communities: Building for the
Future
Regional Policy: South East Plan, South East Regional Minerals
Strategy, Regional Minerals Strategy for Waste and Minerals
Surrey Policy: The Surrey Waste Plan, Surrey Urban Habitat
Action Plan, Surrey’s Countryside The Future Action Plan Rural
Strategy, Surrey Woodland Habitat Action Plan, Surrey
Biodiversity Action Plan, Surrey Wetland Habitat Action Plan,
Surrey Climate Change Strategy, Surrey Local Transport Plan,
Surrey Heritage Strategy.
Runnymede Policy: Runnymede Sustainable Community
Strategy and Corporate Plan
European Law: European Directive EIA, European Directive
SEA, European Water Framework Directive
Objective: ‘Once it is gone – it is gone for good’
protecting historic environments are key policy
objectives across a number of geo-political
regimes. The Council’s SCS objective to ‘Put
Runnymede on the Map’ potentially captures the
historic sealing of the Magna Carta event in
Runnymede. These objectives are captured in
the Local Plan Objective 10.
Comment: There are a number of
archaeologically and historically valuable assets
in Runnymede, none of which are intended to be
impacted by the Local Plan. There is potential to
facilitate the founding of a Magna Carta Visitor’s
Centre, but this is not a Local Plan Policy.
Development in Chertsey (LP06) along with
impacts of other policy objectives such as
minerals extraction coupled with the effects of
climate change all with the potential to affect
efforts to protect this resource.
Page | 181 Runnymede BC FINAL Sustainability Appraisal Report – Feb 2013