Appendix 2 – Summary of Supporting and Background Evidence Documents

Supporting Documents

Habitats Regulations Assessment - A HRA refers to the several distinct stages of Assessment which must be undertaken in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) and the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) to determine if a plan or project may affect the protected features of a habitats site before deciding whether to undertake, permit or authorise it.

The HRA concludes that the plan review will not result in likely significant effects on any European sites either alone or in combination with other plans and projects.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) - collates information on all known sources of flooding that may affect existing or future development within the plan area.

Sustainability Appraisal (SA) - The role of the SA is to promote sustainable development by assessing the extent to which the emerging plan, when judged against reasonable alternatives, will help to achieve relevant environmental, economic and social objectives. It concludes that the revisions to policies will not result in significant changes to the SA assessments of the policies as originally worded. The exception is WMP27 which now references biodiversity net gain and will likely be more effective at environmental protection.

Although the overall strategy now increases the reliance on marine dredged and imported materials, the impacts are considered to be minimal and controlled by legislation and policy. There may be some localised impacts around wharves and railheads in relation to the transportation of materials but these are likely to be small scale.

New Policy RM0 promotes reductions in the use of materials in construction, and then use of recycled and secondary aggregate. The effect should reduce overall energy and resource use including through a reduced need to transport materials, with a consequent positive effect in addressing climate change.

Background Evidence Documents

Aggregate Data Technical Paper - details how the Authorities have approached estimating the aggregate requirements for the Plan Area to ensure that there will be adequate provision during the plan period (2019-2034) and supports the strategy and policies set out in the RPD.

Safeguarding Mineral Resource Topic Paper – sets out how the safeguarding of minerals resources and infrastructure associated with minerals supply (e.g. wharves, railheads, processing plants) will take place within the Plan Area. It explains how the safeguarding policies in the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Local Plan will be implemented in practice.