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

Protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, geological conservation interests and soils;
Recognising the wider benefits of ecosystem services;
Minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing net gains on biodiversity where possible,
contributing to the Government’s commitment to halt the overall decline in biodiversity,
including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and
future pressures;
Prevent both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at
unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of soil, air, water
noise pollution or land instability; and
Remediating and mitigating despoiled, degraded, derelict, contaminated and unstable land,
where appropriate.
5.12 NPPF paragraph 99 states that Local Plans should take account inter alia of the potential to avoid
increasing the vulnerability importance of biodiversity conservation and enhancement to the
promotion of sustainable development. It prioritises the need to avoid, mitigate and compensate for
harm to biodiversity and incorporate ways to restore and enhance it.
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
5.13 The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act provide legislation for the protection of the
natural environment in Britain. More specifically, it legislates in relation to nature conservation,
wildlife, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Parks and Broads, rights of way and inland
waterways.
5.14 Other relevant legislative include:
Regional
Thames Waterway Plan,
England Rural Development Programme,
Regional Sustainability Framework
The Regional Sustainability Framework (RSF) sets out a common vision, 25 objectives as set out in Table 5, and
four priorities that will help guide development in the South East.
The South East of England Plan Regional Spatial Strategy to 2026 (2009)
5.15 The Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East of England (known as the South East Plan (SEP)) sets
out the long term spatial planning framework for the region over the years 2006‐2026. The plan was to
be a key tool to help achieve more sustainable development, protect the environment and combat
climate change.
County
Surrey Biodiversity Action Plan (2008‐2013)
5.16 The purpose of the Surrey Biodiversity Action Plan is to safeguard and enhance the biodiversity found
in the urban areas of Surrey, and in doing so improve the quality of people’s lives through contact with,
appreciation of and involvement in nature conservation.
Surrey’s Countryside, the Future: Action Plan Rural Strategy (2003)
5.17 This rural strategy, building on the previous countryside strategies, highlights key issues facing rural
Surrey and through partnership working will promote action to deal with these issues, looking at the
following areas: living in the countryside, working in the countryside and countryside conservation and
access.
Local
Runnymede Borough Council Saved Plan (2007)
5.18 The Runnymede Borough Local Plan (Second Alteration) was adopted in April 2001, and a number of
the policies were saved in 2007. These policies are used to assess planning applications, providing they
are conformant with the NPPF. The Local Plan (Second Alteration) will remain relevant until the new
Local Plan is adopted.
Page | 67 Runnymede BC FINAL Sustainability Appraisal Report – Feb 2013