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

of urban developments and supporting infrastructure. The Local Plan does not have a specific
policy for materials efficiency and waste.
16.89 Urban development such as promoted by LP01, LP03, LP08, SP01, SP06 and SP08 are
intended to result in development that both generates waste during construction and
increases the requirements for waste handling facilities once in operation. This has been
reflected in the Level 4 SEA were alternatives promoting increased development volume
result in more adverse affects. This assessment consideration again was not replicated in the
more strategic Level 3 SA appraisal.
16.90 It has been determined that cumulative effects are not considered to be significant on this
receptor.
16.91 Overall, the effect of the accepted policies contained within this Local Plan on ER07 is
considered to be uncertain.
ER08 – Built Environment
16.92 The built environment receptor covers the effects on the quality and character of the built
environment the maintenance and restoration of existing structures and the construction of
new developments.
16.93 In Runnymede 172 additional net dwellings were built in 2010/11. In 2009 133 affordable
housing units were completed. In June 2011 there were 2,672 households on the housing
register indicating a demand for housing within the borough is considerably greater than the
supply. A considerable proportion (some 21,603) of its built environment incorporating
existing commercial and residential properties are at risk of flooding.
16.94 Current indicator data suggests (see: Table 80) that the condition of this environmental
receptor is largely favourable. Similar to ER07, one of its sustainable development objectives
SO01 – Housing Provision is considered to be in a severely unfavourable condition. The
favourable condition assessment is transferred to its SEA Factor status.
16.95 Runnymede’s population has increased annually and the positive trend in population growth
is expected to continue 77 . Car ownership is also higher than the national average, at 1.5 cars
per household 78 , and its road network is extensively used for private and business travel, as
well as moving significant volumes of freight and exerts a considerable influence on the built
form. The volume of traffic that makes use of the existing road network and that which
passes through the borough, its towns, and villages is high. This volume of traffic can have
adverse impacts on the condition of buildings and supporting infrastructure. The current
condition of the built environment of a number of towns is considered to be of poor quality,
therefore there is the opportunity to improve the condition of this receptor significantly.
16.96 The population of Runnymede is growing; between 1991 and 2001 there was a growth rate of
8.7%, mainly due to net inward migration rather than natural increase. At the time of the
2001 Census there were around 32,000 households in the borough, accommodating a
population of 78,033. The 2011 Census shows that the population has increased to 80,500 in
32,700 households an increase of some 3.9% in households. By projecting the population
growth rate between the three censuses 1991, 2001 and 2011 and assuming a similar rate of
population increase over the projection period, the population will potentially rise to 86,000
around 2026 (see: Figure 8 above).
16.97 The Local Plan could have brought forward policies to ensure the production of a set of
coherent Area Action Plans to guide the enhancement of the quality and offer of the towns as
well as improve the integration of land use and infrastructure planning at both the strategic
and the local levels. Policies could ensure that supporting infrastructure is brought forward
simultaneously to enable and enhance the towns in terms of access for communities and the
quality of the public realm and townscape.
77 ONS Midyear Population Estimates
78 2001 Census – Key Statistics (Cars or Vans)
Page | 213 Runnymede BC FINAL Sustainability Appraisal Report – Feb 2013