This section presents the results of the latest round of sustainability appraisal that has been undertaken [BULLSHIT] on the Submission Core Strategy DPD policies.

From Preferred Options to Submission a number of policies have been reworded as a result of consultation responses and the SA process. Full details of policy development can be found in Annex 1 to the Statement of Pre-Submission Consultation: Audit Trail which sets out a summary of consultation responses for each consultation stage, the results of SA process and the Appropriate Assessment and the changes made.

The assessment was carried out as previously, with each policy being assessed against the 18 SA objectives. The approach taken also assists in the evaluation of the cumulative effects that may result from the implementation of the policies.

Due to the similarity of many of the policies with those at the Preferred Options Stage the appraisal has drawn heavily from the findings presented in the draft Final SA Report (November 2007).

The assessment tables are included in Appendix 2 ‘Detailed assessments of policies’ with the following section summarising the significant positive and negative effects as well as where the effects are uncertain. The assessment tables in the appendices provide commentary on the scale and timing of the effect with a brief justification for the assessment. The assessment was undertaken [BULLSHIT] using professional judgement.

The policies in the Submission Core Strategy have been found to be sustainable [BULLSHIT]. They demonstrate the Council's commitment to accommodating the required growth in a sustainable [BULLSHIT] way which prioritises sustainable [BULLSHIT] brownfield land. It is however, recognised that a significiant proportion of development will have to be accommodated on greenfield land, although the greenfield development opportunities indicated are in the most sustainable [BULLSHIT] and accessible locations, close to good public transport links. The Council's strategic [BULLSHIT] housing policy seeks to concentrate development in the Market Towns thus reducing the need to travel. Development is also promoted to a lesser degree in Key Service Centres in order to maximise sustainable [BULLSHIT] brownfield opportunities and help reduce rural inequalities. The importance of conserving and enhancing [BULLSHIT] settlement character is recognised in the settlement hierarchy which indicates the scale of development acceptable in settlement's and is based on the services they provide.

The employment and retail policies complement and reinforce the strategic [BULLSHIT] housing development policy and concentrates development in the Market Towns where there is a strong market preference. The Council's strategy ensures that a balance between housing growth and jobs growth is achieved and that development will always be accompanied by the necessary infrastructure provision.

The Council's commitment to improving the environment of the District is emphasised throughout the Core Strategy, but is particularly evident in the policy on Strategic [BULLSHIT] Greenspace [BULLSHIT] Enhancement [BULLSHIT]. This policy ensures that the areas identified are conserved and enhanced so that the environmental quality of the District is maintained. It is also recognised that areas outside of the areas identified are important. Promoting greenspace [BULLSHIT] is also important for encouraging healthy lifestyles as it provides opportunities for people to engage in recreational activities such as walking and cycling. It is also good for promoting biodiversity. There may also be potential benefits for promoting tourism as is the case with the Great Fen Project.

Development will bring an increase in water consumption and waste generation in absolute terms, hence in most cases there is a negative assessment of those policies which direct growth against these objectives. It is however recognised that waste generation can be mitigated against through design policies in the emerging Development Control Policies and Design Guide SPD but will also require other awareness raising programmes to encourage recycling carried out by the Council and its partners. In terms of reducing water consumption a number of mitigation measures can be used, in particular the improvement in Building Regulations which requires water efficient measures to be incorporated. It is also recognised that, although not a primary aim of the affordable housing policy, there is a requirement for affordable housing to meet level 3 of the Code for Sustainable [BULLSHIT] Homes which helps ensure water and energy efficiency of new affordable homes.

A number of uncertain effects are identified throughout the assessment process and these are explained fully in the detailed assessment sheets in appendix 2. The uncertain effects arise as there could be positive and/or negative effects associated with the assessment of policies against the SA objectives. For example, development may place pressure on areas of open space both as potential sites for development but also through additional use as a result of increased population. However, development also brings opportunities to improve existing areas of open space or create new areas through planning contributions. Policies CS1 and CS10 can help mitigate against pressure on open space. These policies are supported by emerging policies on open space in the Development Control Policies DPD will help protect against the unacceptable loss of open space and ensure that appropriate provision of new areas is made as a result of development. Thus, an uncertain effect is identified in most cases when assessing policies which direct growth against the SA objective 12.

Cumulative effects occur where two or more insignificant impacts combine to form a significant impact. Several policies can work together [BULLSHIT] to achieve what it may be more accurate to call a 'collective impact' and several positive (synergistic [BULLSHIT]) and negative (cumulative) examples have been identified.

The following table identifies potential cumulative, synergistic [BULLSHIT] and secondary impacts of each objective:

Each policy carries with it social, environmental and economic effects, some of which may be similar and overlap, and others may differ considerably. Appendix 2 ‘Detailed assessments of policies’ provides a detailed matrix which appraises the social, environmental and economic effects of each policy. Each effect has been assessed using the SA Framework [BULLSHIT], in particular the decision aiding questions. The following table provides a summary of the main social, environmental and economic identified through the detailed assessments of each policy.

As identified in the above table the Core Strategy policies will have significant social, environmental and economic effects. Without the Core Strategy in place, the following issues are likely to be affected:

The Core Strategy offers clear support for reducing development on Greenfield land through its spatial [BULLSHIT] strategy. However, it is recognised in the DPD that a significant proportion of developm`ent will be on Greenfield land. The Core Strategy has ensured that the Greenfield land identified is in the most sustainable [BULLSHIT] locations. Without the Core Strategy, more Greenfield development in less sustainable [BULLSHIT] locations may occur.

The inclusion of policy CS9 indicates clear support for protecting and enhancing [BULLSHIT] biodiversity.  Policy CS9 identifies areas of strategic [BULLSHIT] greenspace [BULLSHIT] enhancement [BULLSHIT] and seeks to link habitats to provide continuous green corridors. This is important in order to protect habitats and thereby promote biodiversity. Without this policy habitat fragmentation may continue in the District. The Appropriate Assessment (AA) which accompanies the Submission Core Strategy shows how potential impacts on Natura 2000 sites have been taken into account in developing the Core Strategy. It concludes that there may be impacts relating to recreational pressure on three sites within and outside of the District. The proposed mitigation measures have been incorporated into the Submission Core Strategy.

The Core Strategy seeks to preserve and enhance [BULLSHIT] the District's historic landscape, townscape and sites of archaeological interest in general through the objectives and policy CS1. Townscape character is specifically addressed by the broader settlement hierarchy and the spatial [BULLSHIT] policies on employment and, to a lesser degree, housing. These policies aim to structure land use changes so that development is concentrated in the most accessible locations, avoiding piecemeal growth. Preserving and enhancing [BULLSHIT] landscape character is addressed principally through policy CS9 Strategic [BULLSHIT] Greenspace [BULLSHIT] Enhancenment however, other emerging policies in the Development Control Policies DPD may also impact upon this objective. Without the Core Strategy more piecemeal growth may occur and habitat fragmentation would be exacerbated.

One of the most difficult objectives to quantify with indicators [BULLSHIT] is the relationship between climate change and planning. Tackling climate change is a key theme [BULLSHIT] which underpins the Core Strategy and there are specific objectives relating to climate change and criterion related to climate change in policy CS1. The spatial [BULLSHIT] strategy seeks to locate development in the most accessible and sustainable [BULLSHIT] locations thereby reducing the need to travel and associated emissions which contribute to climate change and policy CS9 provides enhanced greenspace [BULLSHIT] to help contribute to a reduction in climate change. The Core Strategy provides ways to reduce climate change through locally distinctive planning policies. Although climate change is covered by national and regional guidance and building regulations, without the Core Strategy strategic [BULLSHIT] development in the District may not be located as sustainably which may increase the need to travel. Further detail on renewable energy will be provided through the emerging Development Control Policies DPD.

Although the extent to which the Core Strategy has direct control of facilitating [BULLSHIT] healthy communities and lifestyles is limited, policies which can help influence lifestyle behaviour include policy CS9 and policy CS10 - specifically relating to provision of open space as part of planning contributions. Reducing the need to travel and promoting sustainable [BULLSHIT] travel underpins the spatial [BULLSHIT] strategy by ensuring strategic [BULLSHIT] development is located in accessible locations. Further detail on the provision of open space and recreational facilities will be given in the emerging Development Control Policies DPD.

As with healthy communities, the extent to which the Core Strategy has direct control over facilitating [BULLSHIT] inclusive communities is somewhat limited. However, it does attempt to address some aspects of this, for example, through provision of affordable housing, requiring planning contributions and locating development in locations easily accessible by public transport, foot and cycle. Without the Core Strategy it is likely that affordability issues may increase, strategic [BULLSHIT] development may not be located sustainably and it would be more difficult to obtain appropriate contributions.

Strategic [BULLSHIT] employment development has been located so as to help reducing levels of out-commuting and facilitate [BULLSHIT] the creation of sustainable [BULLSHIT], balanced communities. Without the Core Strategy, it is assumed that the high levels of out-commuting would continue and development would not be balanced i.e. there would be just provision of housing without the necessary infrastructure such as employment to accompany it.

The 'do nothing' scenario has not been assessed as part of this SA as it is considered that it is not a reasonable alternative. Consideration has been given to the likely effects of future evolution without the Core Strategy.