Appendix C: Assessment of Environmental Effects of Supplementary Guidance Natural Environment
Key
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ++ | Major benefit. |
| + | Minor - moderate benefit. |
| -- | Major adverse effects. |
| - | Minor - moderate adverse effects. |
| 0 | Neutral effects. |
| ? | Effects uncertain. |
| SEA issue | Scoring pre-mitigation | Notes | Mitigation required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climatic factors Including effects on Soil and Water | +, 0, ? | Overall, effects are likely to be broadly neutral, with potential for moderate localised benefit. Section 2.5 of the SG explains how certain habitats and geomorphological features help protect against coastal erosion and flood risk and can support communities in adapting to climate change and sea level rise. Section 2.7 highlights the role played by peat and soils in storing carbon, purifying water and regulating water storage; it explains the need for all development to avoid or minimise the loss of, or disturbance to peat and carbon-rich soils and to protect their ability to store carbon, filter and buffer pollutants and maintain resilience to high intensity rainfall events. Web links are provided to the national peatland map, as well as the publication Developments on Peatland: Guidance on the Assessment of Peat Volumes, Reuse of Excavated Peat and the minimisation of Waste. Suggestions are also provided for measures that may be taken to restore and protect damaged peatland. Effects on environmental features and processes are important considerations when planning renewable energy developments and implementation of the SG may lead to changes to the siting, scale and design of certain onshore wind energy proposals. | No |
| Biodiversity, flora & fauna | 0, + | Effects are likely to be broadly neutral, with potential for moderate localised benefit, for example where biodiversity enhancement projects are undertaken, in line with the guidance and suggestions included in the SG. The policy protection afforded to internationally, nationally or locally designated natural heritage sites is set out and explained further in Sections 2.2 and 2.3. Section 2.4 provides the policy approach relating to protected species and species licensing requirements are addressed in Section 6. Section 2.5 addresses development which could affect the wider biodiversity, pointing out that certain habitats are identified nationally and/or locally as priorities for conservation. Section 2.8 highlights the provisions of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 in relation to invasive non-native species. A link is also provided to the Scottish Government’s Non-Native Species Code of Practice. Guidance on how to deal with INNS on development sites is also included. Section 3 provides advice on site appraisal and ecological surveys, and includes a calendar outlining the appropriate timing of surveys, as well as links to websites which provide more detailed guidance on survey methods etc. Section 4 provides guidance and suggestions biodiversity enhancement projects that may be incorporated into new developments, providing links to more in-depth guidance, e.g. on the SNH and SEPA websites. Section 5 explains the process that is followed when assessing planning applications affecting natural heritage interests. The Local Nature Conservation Site review was undertaken according to a defined procedure (included as Appendix D of this report) in order to avoid significant impact on biodiversity, flora and fauna. Further details of the review are presented in the main part of the Environmental Report. | No |
| Water | 0, + | Effects are likely to be broadly neutral, with potential for moderate localised benefit, for example where improvement works are carried out in line with the guidance and suggestions included in Section 4. Section 2.6 sets out the Council’s duties in relation to the Water Framework Directive and the Water Environment and Water Services Act 2003, to protect, improve and promote the sustainable use of the water environment, as well as its purpose in ensuring that new development supports the delivery of River Basin Management Planning objectives. The establishment of development-free buffer zones alongside waterbodies is promoted, as well as the need to ensure that private waste water treatment systems are appropriately sited and designed. | No |
| Soil Including effects on Water, Biodiversity and Population & Human health. | 0 | Effects are likely to be broadly neutral. Section 2.7 outlines a number of soil-related issues which can arise during the construction phase of developments and which can impact on waterbodies, public amenity and biodiversity. It explains that these issues may need to be addressed through either a method statement or the preparation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), dependent on the scale of the development. | No |
| Geology | 0 | Effects are likely to be broadly neutral. The policy protection afforded to nationally or locally designated geodiversity sites or Geological Conservation Review sites is outlined in Sections 2.2 and 2.4. Section 2.5 addresses development which could affect the wider geodiversity. Section 5 explains the process that is followed when assessing planning applications affecting natural heritage interests. | No |
| Interrelationships | + | Moderate benefit is likely. Implementation of the SG is likely to lead to an increased awareness of the extent to which there is interrelationship between environmental receptors. It also provides information on the benefits provided by certain habitats and geomorphological features, perhaps most notably in their contribution towards mitigating and adapting to the effects of a changing climate and rising sea levels. By providing information on a range of ways in which development can impact on the natural environment the SG seeks to ensure that appropriate measures can be identified to avoid or at least minimise these impacts. | No |