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

16.63 Current indicator data suggests (see: Table 60 ) that the condition of this environmental
receptor is overall unfavourable. A number of its sustainable development objectives are
considered to be in a severely unfavourable condition, such as SO16 – Air quality
improvement; SO17 – Addressing the causes of climate change. This condition assessment
has also transferred to its SEA Factor status. It is accepted that protecting the quality of air in
the Borough is exceptionally difficult due to the cumulative nature and geographic range of
the stressor.
16.64 The main background air quality in Runnymede is generally considered to be good; however,
Runnymede has declared 2 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) as a result of poor air
quality). One AQMA runs along the entire length of the M25 (north and south of junction 11)
and the second is located in Addlestone town centre (see: Section 9 – ER05 Air Quality above
and Appendix 14). The main air pollutants of concern are nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and
particulate matter (PM 10 ) and potentially (PM 2.5 ). Particulate matter concentrations are
assumed to follow the national decreasing trends, however nitrogen dioxide concentrations
can be of concern close at busy roads and in town centres.
16.65 Results from the roadside nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube network indicate that exceedences
of the annual mean objective has occurred at several sites. The most likely causes are the
cumulative increases in emissions from traffic and energy use from residential and
commercial developments which the Local Plan is proposing to increase. To counter likely
cumulative effects the Local Plan could have included policies that result in the management
of traffic that will actually minimise demand so that the number of vehicles on the local road
network. A positive reduction to ease congestion will in turn improve local air quality. The
Local Plan does not contain a specific policy on Air Quality.
16.66 Road traffic vehicle emissions accounts for a high proportion of air pollution in the Borough.
High levels of car ownership and use within and around Runnymede are therefore generally
associated with poor air quality. Runnymede has high levels of car ownership with
approximately 1.5 cars per household – based on the 2001 Census 75 , which equated to
approximately 45,616 cars/vans in the borough. Between 2001 and 2011 this figure has
increased by approximately 4% to 47,403 cars/vans 76 . Given the fact that the Local Plan
essentially promotes development that can only add to the overall Runnymede car and van
fleet, it is unsurprising that a number of its policies and alternatives are identified as having
potentially adverse effects on receptor ER05.
16.67 The impact the Local Plan could have in terms of air quality on two European sites – Thames
Basin Heaths SPA and Thursley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham SAC was also considered through
a Level 6 HRA assessment. The Council’s HRA considered three particular Local Plan policies –
LP01, LP02 and LP08 and their ability to adversely affect the integrity of the European sites
due to contributions to poor air quality. Based on the information available to it and against
the advice of Natural England, the Council was able to ascertain that implementation of
policies LP01, LP02 and LP03 would not alone or in combination with other plans or projects
adversely affect the integrity of either European site.
16.68 Policy LP01 and its two alternatives are considered will result in significantly adverse effects
on this receptor as all options will result in increased contributions of traffic volume and
increased energy use from buildings and infrastructure once operational. These adverse
effects are less when policy LP01 and its alternatives are considered in terms of the Level 3
SA.
16.69 Policy LP02 and its six alternatives, exhibit some similarity of effects overall where the
alternatives would result in increased volumes of traffic and energy use. Similar to policy LP01
adverse effects are less when the policy and its alternatives are considered in terms of the
Level 3 SA.
75 2001 Census – Key Statistics (Cars or Vans)
76 2011 Census Data (Source: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011‐census/key‐statistics‐for‐local‐authorities‐inengland‐and‐wales/rft‐table‐ks404ew.xls)
Accessed 29/01/2013.
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