SEA Environmental Report Cover Note

To

SEA.gateway@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

or

SEA Gateway
Scottish Executive
Area 1 H (Bridge)
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

Part 2

An Environmental Report is attached for: The Orkney Local Development Plan Proposed Plan Environmental Report (March 2016)

The Responsible Authority is: Orkney Islands Council

Part 3

Contact name: Eileen Summers

Job Title: Environment Officer (Policy)

Contact address:

Development Planning and Regeneration
Development and Environment Services
Council Offices
School Place
Kirkwall
Orkney KW15 1NY

Contact tel. no.: 01856 873535 ext. 2828

Contact email: eileen.summers@orkney.gov.uk

Part 4

Signature: Eileen Summers

Date: 11 May 2017

IMAGE: The cover note form addressed to the SEA Gateway, identifying the attached Orkney Local Development Plan Proposed Plan Environmental Report, Orkney Islands Council as the responsible authority, Eileen Summers as the contact, and the signature and date of 11 May 2017.

Contents of the Environmental Report

• Non-technical summary — 5
  • Including timescale and address for comments
• Introduction — 16
  • Purpose of this Environmental Report and key facts about The Orkney Local Development Plan
  • SEA activities to date
• Context — 19
  • Outline and objectives of The Orkney Local Development Plan
  • Relationship with other PPS and environmental objectives
  • Relevant aspects of the current state of the environment
  • Environmental problems
  • Likely future of the area without The Orkney Local Development Plan
  • SEA Objectives
• Assessment of environmental effects and measures envisaged for the prevention, reduction and offsetting of significant adverse effects — 47
  • Alternatives considered
  • Assessment methods
  • Assessment of The Orkney Local Development Plan and alternatives
  • Measures envisaged for the prevention, reduction and offsetting of significant adverse effects
• Monitoring — 65
• Next steps — 68
• Appendix A Links to other PPS and environmental objectives
• Appendix B Environmental Baseline
• Appendix C The Assessments
• Appendix D Map of Orkney’s Natural Heritage Sites

List of Tables

• Table 1: Key facts relating to the Orkney Local Development Plan
• Table 2: SEA activities to date
• Table 3: Environmental objectives of other PPS and how these should be taken into account in the Plan
• Table 4: Summary of data collected in compiling the environmental baseline
• Table 5: Establishment of SEA objectives through analysis of environmental issues relevant to the Plan
• Table 6: The assessment methodology
• Table 7: The settlement hierarchy
• Table 8: Likely constraints to development identified through assessment of the Sustainable Settlements
• Table 9: The cumulative effects of development of the Sustainable Settlements
• Table 10: Policy assessments – SEA recommendations
• Table 11: Environmental issues identified through assessment of the MIR and how these are addressed in the proposed Plan
• Table 12: Proposed SEA monitoring programme
• Table 13: Anticipated plan-making and SEA milestones
• Table 14: Summary and analysis of responses to the Environmental Report of the Main Issues Report

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY

Purpose of this Environmental Report

This non-technical summary summarises the process, methods, outcomes and future stages of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) which has been undertaken of the Orkney Islands Council’s Local Development Plan Proposed Plan (2016).

SEA is an environmental assessment of plans, programmes and strategies (PPS) and is undertaken in parallel with the preparation of the PPS to ensure that any environmental effects are considered during its preparation and adoption. It is required under the EC SEA directive (2001/42/EC), which has been transposed into Scottish law via the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

The aim of the non-technical summary is to assist the reader in understanding what the potential environmental effects of implementation of the Local Development Plan are likely to be, if it is adopted by Orkney Islands Council.

The Environmental Report is the main consultation document in the SEA and it provides a description of the environment of Orkney in terms of an environmental baseline and the assessment of potential significant environmental effects, alongside proposed measures to mitigate and monitor environmental effects during the lifetime of the Local Development Plan.

Consultation

Public consultation on the Environmental Report and the Proposed Plan will take place for a 6 week period between Thursday 5th May and Thursday 16th June 2016.

Comments on the Environmental Report may be made by letter or email to:

Development & Marine Planning
Development and Infrastructure Services
Orkney Islands Council
School Place
Kirkwall KW15 1NY

Email: devplan@orkney.gov.uk

Key Stages of Environmental Assessment

SEA is a systematic method for considering the likely environmental effects of the programme and aims to integrate environmental factors into policy preparation and decision-making. It also has an important role to play in increasing public participation and enabling openness and transparency in decision-making.

The key steps of the SEA that have been undertaken so far are:

• A Scoping Report was prepared which set out sufficient information on the Local Development Plan Main Issues Report to enable the Consultation Authorities (Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Historic Environment Scotland) to form a view on the appropriate scope, level of detail and consultation period. A set of SEA environmental objectives was identified, against which the policies and proposals of the Plan would be assessed.
• Environmental Assessment was undertaken of the policy and land allocation options proposed by the Main Issues Report.
• Environmental Assessment was undertaken of minor changes to the boundaries of three settlements that were proposed following consultation on the Main Issues Report. These were Burnside in Harray, Finstown, and Pierowall, Westray. These changes and the associated assessment underwent a period of focused consultation from 7th January until 4th February 2016.
• Environmental Assessment has been undertaken of the final policies and land allocations that are presented in the Orkney Local Development Plan Proposed Plan (2016). The findings of this assessment are included in this Environmental Report.

Context of the Plan

The Proposed Orkney Local Development Plan (the Plan) sets out a vision and spatial strategy for the development of land in Orkney over the next ten to twenty years. The Plan contains the land use planning policies which Orkney Islands Council will use for determining applications. It also contains development proposals for our towns, villages and rural settlements, and establishes settlement boundaries for each of these areas where the principle of development will be accepted.

The Plan replaces the 2014 Orkney Local Development Plan, and will provide the planning framework for the whole of Orkney. The Plan will be kept under review and will be replaced every 5 years.

This Plan is the outcome of extensive research and engagement with the Mainland and Isles communities which has been undertaken since the adoption of the 2014 Local Development Plan. Key agencies including Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Water have also been widely involved in its preparation. In particular, it takes into account the views expressed in response to the Main Issues Report 2015.

Summary of the Proposed Plan Contents

The Proposed Plan consists of an introduction; a section explaining how to use the Plan; The Vision; The Spatial Strategy; a set of fifteen policies; a suite of Settlement Statements for the mainland and linked South Isles settlements; and a suite of Isles Statements for the non-linked Isles. There are also two appendices – Appendix 1 Key for the Settlement Statements and Appendix 2 List of Land Owned by Orkney Islands Council.

All of the policies in the Plan will be afforded equal weight in the determination of planning applications; if a proposal is contrary to any single policy, then it does not accord with the Plan. When considering an application planning, officers will not balance specific policies against each other to determine the appropriateness or otherwise of a proposal; rather the potential benefits of the development will be balanced against the impacts on known constraints, policies and other material considerations.

The proposals Map highlights land use allocations, national and international designations and other spatial considerations in Orkney and the detailed proposals for each settlement are contained within the settlement statements. The settlement statements identify sites where particular types of development will be supported. In considering options for these sites, proposals must comply with all relevant policies, as well as any relevant associated supporting planning guidance or advice.

Current Environmental Conditions and SEA Objectives

To enable the assessment to evaluate the environmental effects that could result from implementation of the Proposed Plan, an environmental baseline was prepared along with the Main Issues Report. This baseline describes the environment of Orkney in the context of each of the SEA environmental topics / receptors that are considered by the assessment. The environmental baseline is presented as Appendix B to the Environmental Report. The set of SEA objectives which was identified during the Scoping stage relates closely to the baseline and these objectives were used to assess the potential environmental effects of implementing the policies of the Plan and developing its land allocations.

Environmental Assessment Findings

Assessment has been undertaken of the constituent parts of the Plan and these are presented as Appendix C to the Environmental Report. The overall predicted environmental effect of the Proposed Plan is that the effects of its policies and proposals are likely to be broadly neutral or moderately positive, and that the promotion of increased sustainability lies at its heart.

Climatic factors

Overall, the effects of the Proposed Plan are likely to be moderately beneficial in terms of climatic factors. The spatial strategy continues to focus major development towards the towns, villages and rural settlements where there is ready access to services and facilities and the option to use public transport is generally available, reducing dependency on the private car. With policies that make provision for renewable energy generation and the incorporation of low and zero carbon energy generating technology, as well as design principles to reduce energy usage, it seeks to reduce energy usage and support the change to a low carbon economy.

A number of its policies make provision for development that can help increase Orkney’s resilience to the effects of climate change, in particular its policy on flood risk and Sustainable Drainage Systems. Policy 10 Green Infrastructure makes provision for the creation of green networks in the larger settlements; these have potential to enhance flood risk management. However flood risk continues to be an issue, particularly in parts of Kirkwall and Policy 13 also notes that future Sustainable Drainage Systems will have to ensure that there is a neutral or better risk of flooding from surface water both on and off site.

Biodiversity, flora and fauna

Although the effects on biodiversity, flora and fauna are mainly neutral, policies 9 Natural Environment & Landscape, 10 Green Infrastructure and 13 Flood Risk, SuDS Waste Water all make provision for biodiversity enhancement, for example in the creation of green networks and natural flood management projects.

However there are also risks of localised loss of biodiversity, for example where Policy 4 Housing continues to support infill development; in some instances this is achieved through the subdivision of garden ground and can lead to the loss of mature trees as well as flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants which collectively represent important sources of forage and shelter for certain bird and invertebrate species.

Water

Policies which make provision for the creation of green networks and natural flood risk management schemes have potential to improve the water environment and contribute to River Basin Management Planning objectives.

Soils

Moderate benefits are likely for peat and soils where policy 9 seeks to minimise the loss of and disturbance to peat and carbon rich soils. This policy also benefits climatic factors by seeking to minimise the release to atmosphere of carbon that is stored in these soils and minerals.

Geology

Effects on geology are broadly neutral as the relevant policies are generally protective rather than making provision for enhancement. It should be noted that Policies 9 and 12 recognise that certain natural features and processes provide services to communities. Examples include geomorphological features such as shingle banks, spits and coastal sand dunes which provide protection from coastal flooding.

Landscape

The effects on landscape are mainly protective and neutral; however there is potential for moderate benefit through improved design in new development as well as the creation of green networks.

Cultural heritage

The effects on cultural heritage are also anticipated to be broadly neutral; however Policy 8 Historic Environment and Cultural Heritage makes provision for enhancement.

Population and human health

Moderate benefit is likely for the population and human health receptors from a number of policy areas, not least increased options for housing provision. Design guidance and the requirement for increased energy efficiency in new housing will also help reduce the cost of heating homes.

A continued focus on improving permeability and pedestrian access in new development will enable and encourage active travel and the associated health benefits; the provision of green networks will improve the built environment and offer potential to incorporate shelter, e.g. through woodland planting or new water features which help mitigate flood risk and provide more attractive places in which to live and work.

Support for digital connectivity through Policy 15 is important in enabling increased social inclusion, in particular in more remote areas. Better connectivity also has potential to improve access to health, social and recreational facilities.

Material assets

Moderate benefit is possible where Policy 5 Business, Industry and Employment makes provision for energy from waste development. This would replace the current waste management arrangement whereby Orkney’s waste is shipped to Shetland for incineration in an energy from waste plant.

Areas where environmental effects remain uncertain

In terms of Policy 4 Housing, landscape effects will depend largely on the interpretation and application of Policy 4E Single Houses and Housing Clusters in the Countryside. Supplementary Guidance Housing in the Countryside will provide further guidance on these aspects of the policy.

In terms of Policy 7 Energy, the locations and extent of Strategic Wind Energy Development Areas have yet to be confirmed. A number of potential SWEDAs were included in the Main Issues Report and an initial assessment was undertaken; however these areas were selected on the basis of landscape effects alone and will require further consideration and refinement before a final suite of SWEDAs can be identified. Once finalised and adopted these will be included in Supplementary Guidance Energy.

Potential for significant adverse effects and requirement for mitigation measures

The SEA process is being undertaken in parallel with the Plan making process and, in this way, recommended mitigation is built into the Plan as it is prepared. However, it must be noted that where major development projects are proposed, it is outwith the remit of this SEA to identify specific mitigation measures to address potential adverse environmental effects.

Rather, the assessments identify where adverse effects are likely, and highlight the requirement for the proposed development projects to undergo further determination in the form of Environmental Impact Assessment and, where necessary, Habitats Regulations Assessment.

Policy assessments – SEA recommendations

IMAGE: A three-column policy assessment table comparing policies, SEA recommendations and how the recommendations were incorporated into policy. The table includes recommendations concerning design, housing, waste management, minerals, green infrastructure, coastal development and aquaculture.

Monitoring Programme

The purpose of monitoring is to ensure that the proposed mitigation is effective and that any unexpected effects can be detected at an early stage, so that appropriate remedial action can be put in place. Over time it is expected that environmental benefits will become apparent through the trends in the monitoring indicators. Monitoring will be used to provide essential information upon which to base future development policies. The following monitoring programme includes a set of indicators which relate closely to the SEA objectives.

IMAGE: A monitoring programme table listing SEA receptors, objectives, indicators, data sources, and the officers responsible for annual monitoring.

Next Steps

1 INTRODUCTION

Purpose of this Environmental Report and key facts

As part of the preparation of the Orkney Local Development Plan, Orkney Islands Council is carrying out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). SEA is a systematic method for considering the likely environmental effects of certain Plans Programmes and Strategies (PPS). SEA aims to:

• integrate environmental factors into PPS preparation and decision-making;
• improve PPS and enhance environmental protection;
• increase public participation in decision making; and
• facilitate openness and transparency of decision-making.

SEA is required by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The key SEA stages are:

Screening: determining whether the PPS is likely to have significant environmental effects and whether an SEA is required.

Scoping: deciding on the scope and level of detail of the Environmental Report, and the consultation period for the report. This is done in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Environmental Report: publishing an Environmental Report on the PPS and its environmental effects, and consulting on that report.

Adoption: providing information on the adopted PPS; how consultation comments have been taken into account; and methods for monitoring the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the PPS.

Monitoring: monitoring significant environmental effects in such a manner as to also enable the Responsible Authority to identify any unforeseen adverse effects at an early stage and undertake appropriate remedial action.

The purpose of this Environmental Report is to:

• provide information on the Orkney Local Development Plan Proposed Plan;
• identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant effects of the proposed policies and future development of the identified land allocations;
• provide an opportunity for the Consultation Authorities and members of the public to offer views on any aspect of this Environmental Report.

The key facts relating to the Orkney Local Development Plan are set out in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Key facts relating to the Orkney Local Development Plan

SEA activities to date

Table 2 summarises the SEA activities to date in relation to the Orkney Local Development Plan.

Table 2: SEA activities to date

2 Context

2.1 Outline and objectives of the Orkney Local Development Plan

Schedule 3 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires that the Environmental Report includes “an outline of the contents and main objectives of the plan or programme”. The purpose of this section is to explain the nature, contents, objectives and timescale of the Proposed Plan.

The Proposed Plan

The Proposed Plan is the third step in the process of preparing the Orkney Local Development Plan which sets out the Council’s policy on planning matters for the next five years and beyond.

Introduction

The introductory passages explain that Orkney Islands Council is required by law to produce a Local Development Plan to set out the Council’s policy for assessing planning applications as well as its proposals for the allocation of land for development across Orkney.

The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 has replaced the previous system of a Structure Plan and a Local Plan with a single Local Development Plan (LDP). At the heart of the change is an emphasis on improving engagement and consultation with the public and stakeholders at all stages of the process.

The new Plan establishes a vision for how Orkney will look in 20 years’ time and it will identify an effective land supply for the first five years of the Plan, as well as further sites which are capable of becoming effective by the end of year 10 after adoption of the Plan (2026).

The main stages of the Local Development Planning process are set out:

• Stage 1: The Development Plan Scheme is an important first stage which sets out the timetable and commitment to engaging with the community to develop and deliver the LDP. The Development Plan Scheme (DPS) is reviewed and updated annually. It sets out the programme for the preparation and review of the LDP. In addition to explaining what is likely to be involved at each stage in the review and raising awareness of the planning process, the main elements of the DPS are:
  • The Development Plan Scheme Programme which specifies when the Main Issues Report will be published, when the Proposed Plan will be published and when we aim to submit the LDP to the Scottish Government; and
  • The Participation Statement which sets out the Council’s approach to engaging stakeholders in the planning process, including an account of when, how and with whom it will involve in the process.
• Stage 2: The Main Issues Report (published July 2015)
• Stage 3: The Proposed Local Development Plan for Orkney (published May 2016)
• Stage 4: Submission to and examination of the proposed Local Development Plan by the Scottish Government (Target autumn 2016)
• Stage 5: Adoption of the Orkney Local Development Plan (Target April 2017)
• Stage 6: The Action Programme (Monitoring and Implementation)

What is the Proposed Plan?

The Proposed Plan is the first full draft of the Orkney Local Development Plan and sets out the absolute decisions on the direction of the Council’s future policy and proposals.

The Proposed Plan has been informed by responses received from members of the public and other stakeholders during the MIR consultation phase, along with the results of supporting technical background exercises.

The Plan consists of:

• an introduction;
• a section explaining how to use the Plan;
• The Vision;
• The Spatial Strategy;
• a set of fifteen policies.

There are also two appendices – Appendix 1 Key for the Settlement Statements and Appendix 2 List of Land Owned by Orkney Islands Council.

Settlement Statements have been prepared which highlight issues that should be considered in relation to future development within the towns, villages and rural settlements of the Mainland and Linked South Isles. Likewise a suite of Isles Statements has been prepared for the Non-Linked Isles. The statements are included as Supplementary Guidance and are addressed through the SEA as part of the Plan.

All of the policies in the Plan will be afforded equal weight in the determination of planning applications; if a proposal is contrary to any single policy, then it does not accord with the Plan. When considering an application planning, officers will not balance specific policies against each other to determine the appropriateness or otherwise of a proposal; rather the potential benefits of the development will be balanced against the impacts on known constraints, policies and other material considerations.

The proposals Map highlights land use allocations, national and international designations and other spatial considerations in Orkney and the detailed proposals for each settlement are contained within the settlement statements. The settlement statements identify sites where particular types of development will be supported. In considering options for these sites, proposals must comply with all relevant policies, as well as any relevant associated supporting planning guidance or advice.

A Vision for the next Local Development Plan

The Vision Statement sets out the Council’s aspirations, focusing on sustainable economic growth. In defining this vision, the strategic policy direction and priorities established by Orkney’s community planning partners and the Council in the following documents have been taken into account:

• The Orkney Community Plan 2013–2017
• The Council Plan, Our Plan 2013–2018

The Orkney Community Planning Partnership and Orkney Islands Council have six key values which guide the way they work, both together and independently. These values influence everything they do, and how they do it:

1. Promoting survival to support communities.
2. Promoting sustainability to make sure economic, environmental and social factors are balanced.
3. Promoting equality to encourage services to provide equal opportunities for everyone.
4. Working together to overcome issues more effectively through partnership working.
5. Working with communities to involve community councils, community groups, voluntary groups and individuals in the process.
6. Working to provide better services to improve the planning and delivery of services.

The six priorities of the Council Plan are:

1. Care and support for those who need it
2. Promote successful, thriving communities
3. Housing to meet the needs of Orkney’s people
4. A low carbon Orkney – renewables, energy and opportunity
5. Orkney’s economic development
6. Orkney’s transport networks

Together these values and priorities have helped shaped the Vision:

• The Local Development Plan for Orkney seeks to ensure that effective planning policies are in place to strengthen and support Orkney’s communities by enabling those developments which will have a positive and sustainable socio-economic impact, and utilise locally-available resources, whilst striving to preserve the rich natural and cultural heritage assets upon which Orkney’s economy and society depends.
• Orkney’s settlements will act as a focus for growth in order to support existing facilities and services such as shops, schools and public transport links. Facilitating active travel will be an integral part of development planning across the county with a commitment to include well-integrated footpaths and cycleways within new developments and to connect any fragmented sections of the existing network to encourage active and healthy living.
• The Development Plan supports ‘positive aging’ with the ambition that environments and places are tailored to allow individuals to retain their independence and quality of life as they grow older. Equally important is the need to attract and retain young families and individuals by creating high-quality settlements and vibrant communities.
• The planning process supports the delivery of affordable housing developments in a variety of locations in order that opportunities exist for as many individuals as possible to live in a safe and comfortable home. Adequate land has been identified to allow business and industry to grow and sufficient housing land, which is free from constraint, has been designated to exceed future demand. The Development Plan supports Orkney’s strong maritime links and guides relevant developments to key land around ports and harbours.
• Policy support has been established to ensure that all appropriate energy generation schemes will be supported in the county and that local solutions to storing energy for alternative uses are encouraged where there is not an opportunity to distribute energy through more traditional routes. Locally-important agricultural land will be safeguarded against unnecessary development to ensure that this important facet of Orkney’s economy is protected and there is policy support for delivering new houses for farmers, crofters and agricultural workers where they are needed.

2.2 Relationship of the Local Development Plan with other Plans, Programmes and Strategies (PPS) and environmental protection objectives

Schedule 3 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires that the Environmental Report includes an outline of the Orkney Local Development Plan’s relationships with other relevant PPS, and how environmental protection objectives have been taken into account in preparation of the Plan. This section covers these issues and describes the policy context within which the Plan operates, and the constraints and targets that this context imposes on the Plan.

Appendix A to this Report highlights how the Orkney Local Development Plan affects, and is affected by, other relevant Plans, Programmes and Strategy (PPS), including national planning policy. Analysis of these PPS identifies the environmental objectives that the LDP should contribute towards and these are summarised in Table 3 below.

Table 3: Environmental objectives of other PPS and how these should be taken into account in the Plan

CLIMATE CHANGE

• Contribute to national climate change targets by enabling Orkney to achieve its full potential for renewable energy generation, subject to relevant environmental and community effects, including cumulative effects.
• Include a spatial framework, identifying areas most appropriate for onshore wind farms, setting out the criteria that will be used to determine wind energy applications, including extensions and re-powering.
• Explain the factors that will be taken account of in determining renewable energy generation applications.
• Support new build developments, infrastructure or retrofit projects which deliver energy efficiency and energy recovery; and aim to ensure the environmental impact of buildings is minimised.
• Use heat mapping to identify potential for co-locating developments with high heat demand with sources of supply and support the development of heat networks.
• Promote sustainable alternatives to car transport as well as settlement patterns which encourage sustainable transport options.
• Align with Orkney’s Sustainable Energy Strategy and Carbon Management Programme.
• Promote policies which increase community resilience and preparedness to the effects of climate change.
• Plan to take account of flood risk and coastal erosion, identifying vulnerable land and infrastructure and making space for habitats.
• Take a precautionary approach to flood risk, confirming that new developments requiring new coastal flooding defences will not be supported without clear justification for a departure from the general policy.
• Take account of flooding from all sources – coastal, fluvial, pluvial, groundwaters, sewers and blocked culverts. The potential additional influence of climate change should also be borne in mind.
• Use the Orkney Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and SEPA flood maps to inform choices about the location of development as well as policies for flood risk management and should be compatible with the emerging Orkney Flood Risk Management Plan.
• Protect land with potential to contribute to managing flood risk, e.g. through natural flood risk management, managed coastal realignment, wash-land or green infrastructure creation or as part of a scheme to manage flood risk.

BIODIVERSITY

• Reflect the Council’s duty to “further the conservation of biodiversity” in exercising its functions.
• Identify all international, national and local natural heritage designations on the Proposals Maps and/or the relevant Supplementary Guidance.
• Include planning policy for areas identified as being of international, national or local natural heritage importance and safeguard areas identified as being of major importance for nature conservation, indicating the criteria against which development affecting a natural heritage designation will be assessed and making clear the requirement to protect the integrity and qualifying interests of Natura 2000 sites.
• Make appropriate provision for Local Nature Reserves and the protection and appropriate enhancement of open space of natural heritage value.
• Include planning policy for protected species, indicating the criteria against which development affecting a protected species will be assessed.
• Provide for the conservation of the wider biodiversity out with designated sites.
• Assist in reversing the decline of important species and habitats by seeking to prevent or minimise further fragmentation or isolation of habitats and enable opportunities to restore links which have been broken.
• Seek to maximise habitat linkage in urban and rural areas and recognise the positive role of planning in achieving appropriate biodiversity enhancement in addition to more protective measures where required.
• Include planning policy to protect trees and woodland, and enhance their condition and resilience to climate change, identifying woodlands of high nature conservation value. Supplementary Guidance may also include information to guide the development of further woodland in Orkney.
• Clearly identify and protect local designations. The reasons for designation should be clearly explained and their on-going relevance and function should be considered when the plan is prepared.
• Reinforce and promote the role of planning in relation to biodiversity, including in terms of raising awareness and appreciation of natural heritage.
• Contribute towards fulfilment of the objectives and actions of the Orkney LBAP.
• Apply the Principles for Sustainable Land Use as set out in Scotland’s Land Use Strategy, ensuring that due regard is given to the public benefits and services provided by ecosystems.

GEOLOGY

• Identify all national and local geodiversity designations on the Proposals Maps and/or the relevant Supplementary Guidance.
• Include planning policy for the protection of nationally and locally important geological and geomorphological sites and safeguard areas being identified as being of major importance for geodiversity, indicating the criteria against which development affecting a geodiversity designation will be assessed.
• Provide for the conservation of the wider geodiversity outwith designated sites.

WATER

• Include policies to protect and where appropriate improve the water environment.
• Support River Basin Management Planning objectives by ensuring that adverse impacts on the water environment are appropriately mitigated, and contribute towards improving the overall status of water bodies in and around Orkney.
• Take account of the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR).
• Take account of the value of groundwater and protect it from pollution or over abstraction.
• Ensure consistency with SEPA’s policy in relation to the provision of strategic foul water drainage, allocating sites that can be serviced and identifying where new waste water treatment should be provided.
• Bear in mind the principles of collaboration with Scottish Water and consideration of water and waste water infrastructure capacity.
• Incorporate the legal requirement for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), promoting a coordinated approach to SuDS between new developments and set out expectations in relation to the long-term maintenance of SuDS.
• Include policy which addresses the environmental damage that culverting can cause and encourage developers to protect, restore or enhance the natural heritage value of the aquatic environment.
• Identify and seek to minimise the cumulative effects of developments on the coastal and marine environment and its ecosystems.
• Contribute towards the requirements of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, by supporting an integrated approach to coastal planning to ensure that development plans and regional marine plans are complementary.
• Ensure compatibility with the objectives of Scotland’s National Marine Plan and the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan.
• Make positive provision for aquaculture developments, taking account of Marine Scotland’s locational policies when identifying areas potentially suitable for new development and sensitive areas which are unlikely to be appropriate. Set out the issues that will be considered when assessing specific proposals.

SOIL

• Recognise that, as well as providing a platform for construction, soils have other important roles to play and promote the sustainable management and protection of soils, consistent with the county’s economic, social and environmental needs.
• Safeguard existing and potential allotment sites to ensure meeting the statutory duty to provide allotments where there is proven demand.
• Identify mapped nationally important areas of carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat as Areas of Significant Protection within the Spatial Framework for Wind Energy.
• Protect areas of peatland and only permit commercial extraction in areas suffering historic damage through human activity and where the conservation value is low and restoration is impossible.
• Encourage and promote the re-use of brownfield land, including contaminated sites.

LANDSCAPE

• Address the potential effects, including the cumulative effects of incremental changes, of development on landscapes.
• Support development that is sensitive to, and does not harm, the quality and distinctiveness of Orkney’s landscape.
• Identify the Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area (NSA) on the Proposals Maps and afford this area the appropriate level of protection.
• Reasons for any local designation should be clearly explained and their function and continued relevance considered when preparing the Plan.
• Set out the factors which will be taken into account in development management.
• The Plan’s Spatial Framework for wind energy development should make clear that wind farms will not be acceptable in NSAs.
• Identify areas of largely developed coast that are a major focus of economic or recreational activity that are likely to be suitable for further development.
• Identify coastal areas that are subject to significant constraints.
• Identify largely unspoiled areas of the coast that are generally unsuitable for development. Safeguard unspoiled sections of coast which possess special environmental or cultural qualities, such as wild land.
• Identify and safeguard the character of the Hoy Wild Land Area.
• Set out design standards, e.g. through Supplementary Guidance, to enable applicants to comply with the key principles of PAN 72 New Housing in the Countryside.
• Set out the council’s policies on design and the physical form of development, explaining how its priorities are distinctly different from those of other places.
• Support development that is designed to a high quality which demonstrated the six qualities of successful place – distinctive, safe & pleasant, welcoming, adaptable, resource efficient, easy to move around & beyond.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

• Provide a framework for protecting and, where appropriate, enhancing all elements of the historic environment where, as well as addressing the cultural heritage value of individual buildings, links with the wider landscapes and natural heritage should be considered.
• Provide policies for the protection of the following aspects of the cultural heritage:
  • Listed buildings and their settings
  • Conservation Areas
  • Scheduled Monumentss and their settings
  • The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site and its Outstanding Universal Value
  • Gardens and Designed Landscapes
  • Unscheduled and/or as yet undiscovered archaeology and other historic environment assets.
• Designate and review existing and potential conservation areas and identify existing and proposed Article 4 Directions, supporting these by Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans.
• Promote positive development in order to preserve the character and appearance of Conservation Areas, identifying sites of opportunity and areas where the Council and other stakeholders will be taking action.
• Take account of the long-term aims and objectives of the WHS Management Plan and be compatible with their achievement.
• Reconcile the need for development with the interests of archaeology.

POPULATION & HUMAN HEALTH

• Review the need for housing through the settlement strategy, which should be informed by the Housing Land Audit.
• Address the supply of land for all housing needs and provide for a minimum of 5 years effective land supply. Beyond year 10 and up to year 20 the Plan should provide an indication of the possible scale and location of the housing land requirement.
• Support the creation of sustainable mixed communities and successful places.
• Seek to address the issues identified in the Local Housing Strategy.
• Consider the need for specialist provision that covers accessible and adapted housing, wheelchair housing and supported accommodation, including care homes and sheltered housing.
• Set out the scale and distribution of the affordable housing requirement for Orkney and identify any expected developer contributions towards delivery.
• Contribute towards addressing the issues identified in the Homelessness Strategy.
• Address issues relating to disability, equality and social inclusion.
• Ensure full accessibility of the LDP and associated documents to members of the public.
• Consider both positive and negative effects that a broader right of access to land and waterways may have on biodiversity.
• Safeguard access rights and core paths, encouraging new and enhanced opportunities for access linked to wider networks and ensuring consistency between the LDP, open space strategy, core paths plan, local transport strategy and outdoor access strategy.
• Ensure the Plan takes a holistic, integrated and cross-sectoral approach to areas of green infrastructure, reflecting their multiple functions, priorities and spatial implications.
• Safeguard existing and potential allotment sites and encourage opportunities for a range of community growing spaces.
• Set out requirements for the provision of open space as part of new development, ensuring open space and other facilities are accessible on foot and bicycle.
• Encourage the temporary use of unused or under-used land as green infrastructure.
• Identify sites for new indoor or outdoor sports recreation or play facilities where a need has been identified.
• Aim to maintain or form networks of green and civic spaces which contribute to the framework for development; maintain and enhance environmental qualities; provide a range of opportunities for recreation and leisure; link and create wildlife habitats; encourage walking and cycling and reduce car use.

MATERIAL ASSETS – TELECOMMUNICATIONS

• Provide a consistent basis for decision making by setting out the criteria which will be applied when determining planning applications for communications equipment.
• Encourage developers to explore opportunities for provision of digital infrastructure to new homes and business premises as an integral part of development.

MATERIAL ASSETS – MINERALS

• Safeguard all workable mineral resources which are of economic or conservation value and ensure that these are not sterilised by other development.
• Set out criteria against which new mineral extraction proposals will be assessed.
• Support the maintenance of a land bank of permitted reserves for construction aggregates of at least 10 years at all times.
• Protect areas of peatland and only permit commercial extraction in areas suffering historic, significant damage through human activity and where the conservation value is low and restoration is impossible.

MATERIAL ASSETS – WASTE

• Give effect to the aims of the Zero Waste Plan and promote the waste hierarchy, encouraging opportunities for re-use, refurbishment, remanufacturing and reprocessing of high value materials and products.
• For new developments promote resource efficiency and the minimisation of waste during construction and operation.
• Enable investment opportunities in a range of technologies and industries to maximise the value of secondary resources and waste, including composting facilities, transfer stations, materials recycling facilities and anaerobic digestion, as well as mechanical, biological and thermal treatment plants.
• Safeguard existing waste management installations and ensure that the allocation of land on adjacent sites does not compromise waste handling operations.
• Set out spatial strategies which make provision for new infrastructure, identifying appropriate locations and allocating specific sites where possible, and provide a policy framework which facilitates delivery, identifying where masterplans or development briefs will be necessary.
• Address any requirements relevant to development planning with regard to the disposal of non-hazardous and inert waste disposal.
• Require waste management to be incorporated into masterplans or development briefs guiding the development of major sites.
• Consider the need for buffer zones between sensitive receptors and some waste management facilities.
• Identify suitable sites for the processing of construction and demolition wastes.
• Consider requiring the preparation of Site Waste Management Plans as a condition of planning permission.
• Policies should focus on whether the development itself is acceptable rather than on control of the processes or waste streams; consider aspects of operations enforceable under planning control to minimise impacts on the environment, transport network and local communities; and secure decommissioning or restoration to agreed standards.

MATERIAL ASSETS – TRANSPORT

• Support the policies of the National and Local Transport Strategies and ensure consistency with regional transport strategy.
• Take account of the relationship between land use and transport and in particular the capacity of the existing transport network, environmental and operational constraints and proposed or committed transport projects.
• Support development in locations where amenities are accessible by walking, cycling or public transport.
• Identify any required new transport infrastructure or public transport services, including cycle and pedestrian routes and indicate how new infrastructure or services are to be delivered and phased, by whom and whether any developer contributions will be made.
• Support the provision of infrastructure necessary to support positive changes in transport technologies, e.g. charging points for electric vehicles.
• Encourage significant travel-generating uses to be sited at locations which are well served by public transport.
• In rural areas small-scale park and ride facilities at nodes on rural bus routes should be considered.
• Encourage development of significant travel-generating proposals at locations which are key nodes on the public transport route that have potential for higher density development as well as potential for mixed-use development.
• Work with port authorities to address the planning and transport needs of ports.

OTHER / CROSS-SECTORAL POLICIES

• Identify town centres which display a diverse mix of uses, including shopping; a high level of accessibility; qualities of character and identity which create a sense of place and wellbeing; wider economic and social activity; and integration with residential areas.
• Adopt a sequential town centre first approach when planning for uses which generate significant footfall.
• Community, education and healthcare facilities should be located where they are easily accessible.
• Protect against an unsustainable growth in car-based commuting and the suburbanisation of the countryside.
• Make provision for most urban development to take place within or in planned extensions to existing settlements. In remote, fragile and island areas the emphasis should be on maintaining and growing communities by encouraging development that provides sustainable economic activity whilst preserving important environmental assets.
• Set out a spatial strategy which reflects the development pressures, environmental assets and economic needs of the area, with the overall aim of supporting diversification and growth of the rural economy. It should consider the services provided by the natural environment, safeguarding land which is highly suitable for particular uses such as food production or flood management.
• Permit development on locally important agricultural land only where it is essential as a component of the settlement strategy or necessary to meet and established need; or for small-scale development directly linked to a rural business; or for renewable energy generation or minerals extraction subject to other policy objectives and where there is secure provision for restoration.
• Set out the circumstances in which new housing outwith settlements may be appropriate, avoiding the use of occupancy restrictions.
• Reflect the National Planning Framework 3 strategy as well as the following projects that are designated locally as national developments:
  • Establishment of Enterprise Areas at Hatston and Lyness;
  • Establishment of an Energy Hub in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters area;
  • A new energy interconnector linking Orkney with the Scottish mainland;
  • Establishment of a deep-sea transhipment terminal within Scapa Flow.
• A Habitats Regulations Appraisal will be undertaken of the Proposed Local Development Plan.
• The Strategic Environmental Assessment of the LDP should be consistent with guidance provided in PAN 1 (2010) SEA of Development Plans.
• Highlight in the LDP any special locational environmental protection concerns and illustrate these, as appropriate, on the Proposals Maps.
• Help deliver the Scottish Government’s strategic priorities for sustainable economic growth by providing land for housing and employment; better designed homes; adequate provision of infrastructure and services to meet community needs; and access to open space.
• Be guided by the principles of sustainable development.
• Assist in development under the priority themes of the Orkney 2020, the Orkney Community Planning Partnership’s Community Plan, taking guidance from its six values:
  • Promoting survival
  • Promoting sustainability
  • Promoting equality
  • Working together
  • Working with communities
  • Working to provide better services
• The policies and proposals of the LDP should also complement the structure and themes of the Corporate Strategic Plan and contribute towards achievement of its targets.

3 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE AND LOCAL ISSUES

3.1 Background

This section aims to describe the environmental context within which the Proposed Plan operates and the constraints and targets that this context imposes on the Plan. A full environmental baseline is included as Appendix B of this report. Table 4 below summarises the data collected and their source.

A brief description of the Orkney Islands

The following paragraphs give a brief overview of the main characteristics of Orkney. A more comprehensive environmental baseline for Orkney is provided in Appendix B to this Environmental Report.

Orkney comprises a group of islands which is located approximately 20 miles off the north coast of Scotland. The largest and most highly populated of the group is the Mainland. The principle centres of population on the Mainland are the towns of Kirkwall and Stromness, and in the rural areas the villages of Dounby, Finstown, St Mary’s and St Margaret’s Hope represent smaller residential and service centres. Outwith these towns and villages the settlement pattern is more dispersed. The smaller inhabited North and South Isles are less densely populated and in certain Isles depopulation is an issue. The dispersed pattern of settlement poses considerable challenges to the provision of transport services within and from the islands.

Historically, agriculture has played a principal role in the economy of Orkney and, although it continues to do so, recent years have witnessed further diversification into areas such as tourism, including related industries such as jewellery manufacture and specialist food production. The establishment in the 1970s of an oil terminal in the island of Flotta brought a significant boost to the islands’ economy, providing employment for many young people who may otherwise have left the County to find jobs elsewhere.

Orkney’s geographic location and cool maritime climate mean that for much of the year the islands experience cool, damp and windy weather and, whereas this has often in the past been regarded as a disbenefit, with the emergence of a rapidly developing renewable energy industry, the advantages are now appreciated of Orkney’s brisk winds, and marine environment which is characterised by Atlantic swell waves and strong tidal currents.

Orkney was at the forefront of the early stages of onshore wind energy development with test turbines located for a number of years on Burgar Hill in Evie. More recently the establishment in Stromness of the European Centre for Marine Energy, which provides testing facilities for both wave and tidal devices, means that Orkney is now at the centre of research and development of the emerging marine renewables industry. A number of Areas for Lease have been awarded by Crown Estate for wave and tidal energy development in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters area and the first of these, the MayGen tidal project, off the coast of Caithness, is underway. Other projects in the area are at earlier stages of planning.

Orkney’s natural and cultural heritages list amongst its finest assets, providing an attractive and stimulating environment in which to live and work - or indeed to visit for a holiday. Although much of the land areas are used for agriculture, many areas are also designated for their natural heritage value. The built environment of the islands portrays a rich and colourful history of human settlement and includes many Scheduled Monuments with many more archaeological records listed in the Sites and Monuments Record. However, probably the most prominent feature of the islands’ past is the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site which includes the remains of settlements dating from 3000BC and plays a major role in the success of the islands’ tourism industry.

Orkney’s distinctive landscapes and seascapes also add to the value of the local environment. A result of the area’s geological past and the effects of human settlement and the physical forces of the weather, the landscapes of Orkney are generally characterised by an undulating profile with moderately low and rounded hills and green fertile lowland areas. Although the County has no large scale rivers, its countryside is crossed by numerous burns which drain either to the sea or into relatively shallow and productive lochs.

With such outstanding local surroundings, The Local Development Plan plays a pivotal role in ensuring that development can take place without adversely affecting the various features of the environment. It must inform the siting and design of development which will address the housing and business/industry needs of the County whilst at the same time, protecting and where appropriate enhancing the valuable natural assets of the Orkney Islands.

Environmental issues

The purpose of this section is to identify existing environmental issues that could affect, or be affected by, the Orkney Local Development Plan.

Environmental issues that are relevant to Orkney have been identified through previous discussions with SEPA, SNH and Historic Environment Scotland, as well as analysis of the environmental baseline data that is presented in Appendix B of this report.

Experience gained from the preparation of other SEA reports also assisted in highlighting the main environmental issues that are likely to affect Orkney during the lifetime of the new Orkney Local Development Plan.

This information, along with analysis of the environmental objectives of other Plans, Programmes and Strategies that are relevant to the LDP, was used to identify a set of SEA Objectives which are presented in Table 5 below.

The SEA objectives represent the criteria against which the policy and proposal options of the Main issues Report were assessed and have also been used to assess the constituent parts of the Proposed Plan. Table 5 includes a range of questions that have been used to interrogate the policies and proposals of the Plan in order to assess how well they are likely to address the environmental issues.

The SEA objectives were included in the Scoping Report which was submitted to the Consultation Authorities on 17 November 2014. The consultation responses received confirmed that these were appropriate objectives.

Likely evolution of the environment without the new Orkney Local Development Plan

Without preparation of the new Orkney Local Development Plan, the policies of the existing Plan would be retained and used to guide and determine future development in Orkney. Whilst these policies have generally performed well and will be used to inform the new Plan, it is accepted that a degree of revision is necessary.

Issues which the new Plan seeks to address more fully include the design quality of new developments, integration of terrestrial planning with the emerging marine planning system, flood risk and coastal erosion. In particular, the new Plan will have an important role in encouraging a greater level of sustainability in new development, helping Orkney meet the anticipated challenges relating to climate change and supporting the move to a low carbon economy. The new Plan will contribute towards future renewable energy developments in Orkney waters.

Assessment of environmental effects and measures envisaged for prevention, reduction and offset of any significant adverse effects

Components of the Local Development Plan to which SEA was applied

SEA has been applied to:

• The Vision;
• The Policies;
• The Town, Village and Rural Settlement land allocations.

This chapter sets out the method used for the environmental assessments.

The SEA process is carried out in parallel with preparation of the Local Development Plan and its purpose is to ensure that natural, historic and social environmental issues are fully considered at all stages of decision making. Evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of the Plan is undertaken in line with good practice, as set out in the following documents:

• Scottish Executive (2006) Strategic Environmental Assessment Tool Kit (and templates);
• Scottish Executive (2003) ‘Environmental Assessment of Development Plans’;
• OPDM (2005) A practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive’;
• Environmental Agency (2007) ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment and Climate Change’;
• SNIFFER (2008) ‘Air, Water and Soil Strategic Environmental Assessment Guidance’.
• Scottish Government (2013) Strategic Environmental Assessment Guidance.

Environmental topics scoped in for assessment

The Scoping Report which was submitted to the Consultation Authorities on 17 November 2015 indicated that all SEA topics should be scoped in for consideration within the environmental assessment. However following consideration of the scoping responses we have opted to scope out Local Air Quality as this is generally not considered to be an issue in Orkney.

Assessment methods

The Environmental Report which was prepared alongside the MIR 2015 included assessments of the land allocation options which were under consideration. The options which were taken forward have now been updated to take account of further information that was provided during consultation on the MIR.

In addition the assessments have also been updated to include the existing allocations that were carried forward from the existing Orkney Local Development Plan. In many of these nothing has changed since they were originally assessed during SEA of the existing Plan; however for a few allocations, additional information has become available, for example in relation to flood risk; it was therefore considered useful to include this information at this stage.

Where adverse or uncertain adverse effects were identified, mitigation measures were suggested. Re-assessment of the options was then undertaken, taking into consideration any accepted suggestions for mitigation.

The methodology for assessments included the identification of the type of effect (beneficial, adverse or uncertain) and their significance (minor, moderate major or uncertain).

Significance is a function of impact magnitude (the degree to which it affects a receptor) and receptor sensitivity or importance. In judging the significance, consideration is given to the probability, duration frequency and reversibility of the predicted effects and a commentary of key findings is provided.

When considering significance, a cautionary approach is taken. Where an effect has two differing magnitudes recorded, the overall assessment of that effect will be considered to be the greater of the two. However where both positive and negative effects are identified, both have been indicated.

Table 6: The assessment methodology

The assessment also considers and describes effects in terms of the period over which they could occur (i.e. short- or long-term), the spatial scale (i.e. international, national, regional and local) and whether the effect will have a direct or indirect influence.

Temporality – Short term effects are identified where they are transient in nature. Long-term effects are those that are expected to last over the life-span of the Local Development Plan.

Spatial scale – Effects can act over a range of spatial scales from small scale localised effects to large-scale national effects. In terms of this assessment, local effects have been considered to be those that would affect the local community or town; regional effects would be those that would have potential to affect all of Orkney. National effects in terms of this SEA would cover Scotland.

In some instances there will be an element of uncertainty, either because there is insufficient information available, there is limited understanding about the likely effects or environmental resource, or because the effect largely depends on the detailed design issues.

The Local Development Plan will set out the policy which will guide development throughout Orkney for the next five years. For this reason, the effects identified in this SEA are assumed to be long term and regional unless otherwise stated.

The assessments of potential effects of the Local Development Plan have been undertaken by applying informed professional judgement. For ease of understanding, a matrix is used to display the results of the assessment.

Alternatives, Mitigation and Residual Effects

In the Main Issues Report, a preferred option and, in many instances, an alternative option was identified for the issues and land allocations under consideration. These options were assessed, allowing the relative merits of each to be evaluated.

Where necessary and appropriate, the assessments sought to make recommendations (mitigation) that would fully integrate environmental considerations into the LDP, to reduce potential adverse effects and to enhance those of a beneficial nature. This has informed the nature of the LDP policy issues to be taken forward for development, refinement and further assessment.

Any residual adverse effects on the environment (after accepted mitigation) from the implementation of the proposed policy direction of the Main Issues Report were documented in the MIR Environmental Report.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

A Strategic Flood risk Assessment which is specific to Orkney was prepared alongside the Proposed Plan stage of the Orkney Local Development Plan 2014. In the meantime the SEPA Flood Maps have been updated and the SFRA has yet to be revised to take account of changes to the national maps.

SEPA’s Flood Maps were therefore used to assess flood risk to the proposed settlement allocations. Considering flood risk early in the development of the LDP will ensure that inappropriate development can be directed away from locations at risk of flooding, and development will not materially increase the risk of flooding in other areas.

Cumulative Effects Assessment

The aim of cumulative effects assessment is to identify, describe and evaluate cumulative (including synergistic) residual effects in order that they may be avoided, minimised or enhanced as appropriate. The potential for cumulative effects needs to be identified in the early stages of the SEA. Schedule 3 of the SEA Act refers to secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects.

Secondary: Effects that are not a direct result of the PPS but occur away from the original effect, or as a result of a complex pathway.

Additive: Effects arise, for instance, where several developments each have insignificant effects, but together have a significant effect.

Synergistic: Effects interact to produce a total effect which is greater than the sum of the individual effects, so that the nature of the final impact is different to the nature of the individual impacts.

The cumulative assessment will include the likely significant residual effects on the environment, including those on climatic factors, air quality, biodiversity, water, soil, geology, landscape, cultural heritage, population, human health and material assets and the interrelationship between these environmental receptors.

Assessment of the Settlements identified through the Spatial Strategy

The Spatial Strategy proposes a 3-tier settlement hierarchy.

The proposed hierarchy was developed by assessing the level of service provision in each of the settlements:

• Towns feature a wide range of services, such as shops, health services, a church, a hotel, school and hairdresser.
• Villages are settlements which include a shop and some also feature additional services, e.g. a school, a church or a pub.
• The Rural Settlements may include a shop, e.g. Hillhead and Madras; a school, e.g. Evie School; or a community hall, e.g. Lyron and Burnside. Scapa Brae includes a garage and car showroom and a restaurant.

The following new rural settlements have been identified following consultation on the Main Issues Report:

• Herston is a small cluster of houses which originally developed during the 19th century to support the herring fishing industry.
• Scorradale is a loose cluster of houses surrounding the site of the former Orphir School.
• Dalespot is a cluster of houses adjacent to a car repair garage and a horticulture business.
• Lighthouse Corner is an existing loose cluster of housing.

All settlements apart from Herston are located on a scheduled bus route.

Assessment was undertaken of the likely environmental effects of future development within the settlements and the findings are reported in the following appendices:

• Appendix C.2: Assessment of the Stromness allocations
• Appendix C.3: Assessment of the Kirkwall allocations
• Appendix C.4: Assessment of the East Mainland & Linked South Isles allocations
• Appendix C.5: Assessment of the West Mainland allocations

The assessments which were undertaken of the settlements of the non-linked Isles during SEA of the Orkney LDP 2014 have not been updated and are not included in this report. As no formal land allocations have been identified in any of these, it was considered unnecessary to revisit them. Any development proposed in these settlements would be undertaken on infill sites; however the policy on new housing development in these Isles is more open to development in the countryside and there is therefore less focus on directing development towards the settlements.

Monitoring

Monitoring Programme

The purpose of monitoring is to ensure that the proposed mitigation is effective and that any unexpected effects can be detected at an early stage, so that appropriate remedial action can be put in place. Over time it is expected that environmental benefits will become apparent through the trends in the monitoring indicators. Monitoring will be used to provide essential information upon which to base future development policies.

The proposed SEA monitoring activities are set out in Table 12 and it should be noted that the indicators identified will be monitored for the duration of the Local Development Plan 2017.

Next steps

Table 13 lists future milestones in the development of the PPS and its SEA, and the dates when these are expected to be completed.

Table 13: Anticipated plan-making and SEA milestones

Table 14: Summary and analysis of responses to the Environmental Report of the Main Issues Report