Sustainability Appraisal of the Sandwell Local Plan 2024-2041

The NPPF includes guidance on promoting sustainable transport, and requires development plans to seek to reduce GHG emissions and congestion, reduce the need to travel, and explore opportunities for the sustainable movement of people and goods. Transport should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals so that:

• the potential impacts of development on transport networks can be addressed;
• opportunities from existing or proposed transport infrastructure, and changing transport technology and usage, are realised – for example in relation to the scale, location or density of development that can be accommodated;
• opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use are identified and pursued;
• the environmental impacts of traffic and transport infrastructure can be identified, assessed and considered – including appropriate opportunities for avoiding and mitigating any adverse effects, and for net environmental gains; and
• patterns of movement, streets, parking and other transport considerations are integral to the design of schemes and contribute to making high quality places.

This report outlines the transition to zero-emission road transport. This includes measures to reduce emissions from vehicles including specific targets for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), promoting low- and zero- emission cars and developing high quality electric vehicle infrastructure networks.

Outlines five national goals for transport, focusing on the challenge of delivering strong economic growth while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It outlines the key components of national infrastructure, discusses the difficulties of planning over the long term in the context of uncertain future demand and describes the substantial investments we are making to tackle congestion and crowding on transport networks. The National Goals for Transport are as follows:

• Goal 1: To reduce transport's emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, with the desired outcome of tackling climate change.
• Goal 2: To support economic competitiveness and growth, by delivering reliable and efficient transport networks.
• Goal 3: To promote greater equality of opportunity for all citizens, with the desired outcome of achieving a fairer society.
• Goal 4: To contribute to better safety, security and health and longer life expectancy by reducing the risk of death, injury or illness arising from transport, and by promoting travel modes that are beneficial to health.
• Goal 5: To improve quality of life for transport users and non-transport users, and to promote a healthy natural environment.

The document describes the government's strategic vision for the railways, and the actions that will be taken to make it a reality. The key priorities include:

1. A more reliable railway
2. An expanded network
3. A better deal for passengers
4. A modern workforce
5. A productive and innovative sector

The 'Gear change: a bold vision for cycling and walking' document sets out a vision for a travel revolution in England's streets, towns and communities. The plan sets out the multiple benefits of increased cycling and walking including health, congestion, the economy and air quality, and the vision that "cycling and walking will be the natural first choice for many journeys with half of all journeys in towns and cities being cycled or walked by 2030". The plan sets out four main themes to achieve this vision:

• Theme 1: Better streets for cycling and people;
• Theme 2: Cycling at the heart of decision-making;
• Theme 3: Empowering and encouraging Local Authorities; and
• Theme 4: Enabling people to cycle and protecting them when they do.

The Movement for Growth Strategy is based on the West Midlands Combined Authority's Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and seeks to create a modern, efficient and reliable transport system. The Movement for Growth document is accompanied by a 10-year delivery plan which outlines key supporting transport projects that will deliver many of the SEP's outcomes over the coming decade.

The vision for transport in the West Midlands Metropolitan Area is: "We will make great progress for a Midlands economic 'Engine for Growth', clean air, improved heath and quality of life for the people of the West Midlands. We will do this by creating a transport system befitting a sustainable, attractive and economically vibrant conurbation in the world's sixth largest economy".

The proposed Core Strategy for the fifth LTP for the West Midlands sets out the overall aims, vision and approach to guide the development and delivery of transport policies until the end of 2041. It seeks to: Sustain economic success; Create a fairer society; Support local communities and places; Become more active; and Tackle the climate emergency.

The emerging fifth Local Transport Plan for the West Midlands will replace the Movement for Growth Strategy, when adopted.

The Congestion Management Plan aims to:

1. Tackle congestion hotspots through further investment in roads;
2. Push for greater traffic management powers, including moving traffic offences;
3. Invest in technology to help monitor performance and manage traffic;
4. Deliver a regional transport coordination centre for all modes in partnership with local authorities, Highways England and West Midlands Police to manage incidents/major events;
5. Invest in road safety and work with the Police and Crime Commissioner to manage road incidents more efficiently;
6. Continue to build capacity into the public transport networks;
7. Invest in communication and information tools and become a trusted source of travel advice;
8. Coordinate the delivery of the transport investment programme and minimise impact through collaboration with the Resilience Partnership;
9. Make better use of the M6 Toll; and
10. Deliver a travel demand action plan to encourage residents and businesses to re-mode, re-route, re-time or remove some journeys.

The strategy aims to encourage and enable young people and school staff across Sandwell to use more sustainable modes (walking, cycling, public transport, car sharing, and 'park and stride' schemes) to travel to and from school. Some specific objectives of the strategy are:

• School Travel Plans: to ensure all schools have School Travel Plans that are regularly monitored, reviewed and kept up to date.
• Awareness: to ensure that all young people and parents are aware of the travel options, particularly when they are making decisions about admissions and their choice of school.
• Travel choice: to ensure that Sandwell builds on its achievements to date and reduces the number of pupils travelling to and from school by car.

Sandwell's Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (SCWIP) carried out audits of existing walking and cycling routes across the borough to identify areas with the greatest opportunity to affect mode shift towards active transport modes, in line with SMBC's aim to increase the number of trips made by foot or bicycle. The SCWIP aims to:

• Assist the implementation of the West Midlands Strategic Cycle Network;
• Identify the local networks within Sandwell with a prioritised plan for delivery;
• Coordinate the plan with existing plans for the Black Country and the West Midlands to ensure a consistent and aligned approach to delivery; and
• Integrate this plan into a clear planning and transport policy document and delivery plan, taking into consideration the overarching West Midlands strategies for planning and transport.

The SCWIP will be integrated with other walking and cycling strategies and used on an ongoing basis to shape the cycling and walking implementation plans. The SCWIP will be refreshed in 2024 incorporating new routes and walking zones, with improved data including school data from the Propensity to Cycle tool, 2021 Census data and more detailed data to support walking interventions.

Aims to improve air quality throughout Europe by controlling the level of certain pollutants and monitoring their concentrations. In particular, the Directive aims to establish levels for different air pollutants; draw up common methods for assessing air quality; methods to improve air quality; and make sure that information on air quality is easily accessible to Member States and the public.

This Clean Air Strategy sets out how the Government will tackle all sources of air pollution, making air healthier to breathe, protecting nature and boosting the economy. The strategy includes targets such as a commitment to reduce PM2.5 concentrations across the UK, so that the number of people living in locations above the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline level of 10 μg/m3 is reduced by 50% by 2025.

The Air Quality Plan represents the statutory air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), setting out how the UK will be reducing roadside NO₂ concentrations. This plan focuses on meeting the legal requirements for reducing nitrogen dioxide set out in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010^[14].

The document sets out the background to the issues, including the impacts of air pollution on public health, the natural environment and the economy, and key sources of NO₂ pollution. The document summarises the range of existing actions that have been put in place to tackle pollution from road transport, and sets out additional actions that will be required, including:

• More stringent laboratory testing requirements for type approval of new Light Duty Vehicles;
• New Real Driving Emissions requirements for light passenger and commercial vehicles;
• Support for low emission freight;
• Lorry emission technology checks at roadside;
• Additional funding for new low emission buses and electric taxis, and retrofitting older buses;
• Review of information available to car buyers at the point of sale; and
• Review and update of regulations to support alternative fuels and changed approach to vehicle tax and levies.

The NPPF states that plans should prevent development from contributing to, or being put at risk of, air or water pollution. Plans should consider the presence of Air Quality Management Areas and cumulative impacts on air quality from individual sites in local areas.

The 25YEP sets out Government action to help achieve natural world regain and retain good health, whereby the 2021 Environment Act (2021) aims to embed the following goals of the 25YEP into new legislation:

• Clean air;
• Clean and plentiful water;
• Thriving plants and wildlife;
• A reduced risk of harm from environmental hazards such as flooding and drought;
• Using resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently; and
• Enhanced beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment.

The Plan seeks to achieve clean air by:

• Meeting legally binding targets to reduce emissions of five damaging air pollutants. This should halve the effects of air pollution on health by 2030;
• Ending the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040; and
• Maintaining continuous improvement of emissions by building on existing good practice and the successful regulatory framework.

The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 for England is the first revision of the 25YEP. It builds on the 25YEP vision with a new plan setting out how the government will work with landowners, communities and businesses to deliver each of the goals for improving the environment, matched with interim targets to measure progress. Taking these actions will help to restore nature, reduce environmental pollution, and increase the prosperity of our country. To achieve clean air, the EIP sets out to:

• Cut overall air pollution by tackling the key sources of emissions, including reducing the maximum limits for domestic burning appliances in Smoke Control Areas.
• Tackle specific hotspots by challenging councils to improve air quality more quickly, while supporting them with clear guidance, funding, and tools.
• Reduce ammonia emissions by using incentives in our new farming schemes, investing £13 million in slurry storage infrastructure and considering expanding environmental permitting conditions to dairy and beef farms.

The ASR summarises actions to improve air quality that have been taken, and will be taken, in Sandwell AQMA. This includes:

• Increase and update our monitoring capability of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) – to provide data for the national network as well as supporting the development of local strategies.
• Provide real time, accessible, air quality data including PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 to those living and working in Sandwell.
• Follow the principles of behaviour change theory, to engage people, not through dictatorship or instruction, but by communicating a whole range of choices for individuals and groups to adopt in addressing local air pollution concerns.
• Utilise existing community groups and networks with established interest in their local area and environment and equip these communities with the knowledge and support to help them understand and assist in improving local air quality

In 2018, Sandwell Council had seven priority zones for air quality, as well as two Hotspots. These zones and hotspots are included within Sandwell's Air Quality Action Plan 2020-2025. In 2022, only Zone 3 had an exceedance in annual NO₂ concentrations; this was recorded on the A457 link road to the M5.

The Air Quality Action Plan identifies seven key priorities with the aim to reduce the overall health impacts and burdens of poor air quality; to achieve the national air quality NO₂ annual mean objective across the borough in the shortest possible timeframe; and to reduce PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations to protect human health. The following options are to be considered:

• Review of signaling
• Speed Management & Enforcement
• Traffic calming
• Bus Retrofit to Euro VI & Route Management
• Alternative walking & cycling routes
• Barrier screening
• Driver training
• Travel planning
• Highway upgrades

The aims of the Convention include the conservation of biological diversity (including a commitment to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss), the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

The Convention seeks to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, and to monitor and control endangered and vulnerable species.

The main aim of the Habitats Directive is to promote the maintenance of biodiversity by requiring Member States to take measures to maintain or restore natural habitats and wild species listed on the Annexes to the Directive at a favourable conservation status, introducing robust protection for those habitats and species of European importance. In applying these measures Member States are required to take account of economic, social and cultural requirements, as well as regional and local characteristics.

The provisions of the Directive require Member States to introduce a range of measures, including:

• Maintain or restore European protected habitats and species listed in the Annexes at a favourable conservation status;
• Contribute to a coherent European ecological network of protected sites by designating Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for habitats listed on Annex I and for species listed on Annex II. These measures are also to be applied to Special Protection Areas (SPAs) classified under Article 4 of the Birds Directive. Together SACs and SPAs make up the Natura 2000 network (Article 3);
• Ensure conservation measures are in place to appropriately manage SACs and ensure appropriate assessment of plans and projects likely to have a significant effect on the integrity of an SAC;
• Projects may still be permitted if there are no alternatives, and there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest. In such cases compensatory measures are necessary to ensure the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network (Article 6);
• Encourage the management of features of the landscape that support the Natura 2000 network.

This transposes into national law the Habitats Directive and also consolidates all amendments that have been made to the previous 1994 Regulations. This means that competent authorities have a general duty in the exercise of any of their functions to have regard to the Directive.

The document sets out government action to help achieve natural world regain and retain good health. The main goals of the Plan are to achieve:

• Clean air;
• Clean and plentiful water;
• Thriving plants and wildlife;
• A reduced risk of harm from environmental hazards such as flooding and drought;
• Using resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently; and
• Enhanced beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment.

The Environment Act (2021) embeds several of these aspects into new legislation.

The England biodiversity strategy 2020 ties in with the EU biodiversity strategy in addition to drawing links to the concept of ecosystem services. The strategy's vision for England is: "By 2050 our land and seas will be rich in wildlife, our biodiversity will be valued, conserved, restored, managed sustainably and be more resilient and able to adapt to change, providing essential services and delivering benefits for everyone".

The Strategy's overall mission is: "to halt overall biodiversity loss, support healthy well-functioning ecosystems and establish coherent ecological networks, with more and better places for nature for the benefit of wildlife and people".

The development process should consider ecological potential of all areas including both greenfield and brownfield sites. Local authorities and developers have a responsibility to mitigate impacts of development on designated sites and priority habitats and species and avoid damage to ecosystems.

The 2023 version of the NPPF seeks to streamline the planning system and sets out the government's planning policies and how these should be applied. The NPPF includes guidance on promoting the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment. It requires the planning system to contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by:

• 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 in 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;
• preventing 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 or noise pollution or land instability; and
• remediating and mitigating despoiled, degraded, derelict, contaminated and unstable land, where appropriate.

The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 for England is the first revision of the 25YEP. It builds on the 25YEP vision with a new plan setting out how the government will work with landowners, communities and businesses to deliver each of the goals for improving the environment, matched with interim targets to measure progress. Taking these actions will help to restore nature, reduce environmental pollution, and increase the prosperity of our country.

The apex goal of the EIP is to improve nature, achieving thriving plant life and wildlife, building on the Global Biodiversity Framework as agreed at the UN Nature Summit COP15 including a commitment to protect 30% of global land and 30% of global ocean by 2030. To achieve this, the EIP sets out to:

• Launch the Species Survival Fund to create, enhance and restore habitat;
• Create, restore, and extend around 70 areas for wildlife through projects including new National Nature Reserves, and the next rounds of the Landscape Recovery Projects;
• Protect 30% of our land and sea for nature through the Nature Recovery Network and enhanced protections for our marine protected areas. We intend to designate the first Highly Protected Marine Areas this year; and
• Implement the Environment Act 2021, including rolling out Local Nature Recovery Strategies to identify areas to create and restore habitat, and Biodiversity Net Gain to enhance the built environment.

The Making Space for Nature report, which investigated the resilience of England's ecological network to multiple pressures, concluded that England's wildlife sites do not comprise of a coherent and resilient ecological network. The report advocates the need for a step change in conservation of England's wildlife sites to ensure they are able to adapt and become part of a strong and resilient network. The report summarises what needs to be done to improve England's wildlife sites to enhance the resilience and coherence of England's ecological network in four words; more, bigger, better, and joined. There are five key approaches which encompass these, which also take into account of the land around the ecological network:

• Improve the quality of current sites by better habitat management.
• Increase the size of current wildlife sites.
• Enhance connections between, or join up, sites, either through physical corridors, or through 'steppingstones.
• Create new sites.
• Reduce the pressures on wildlife by improving the wider environment, including through buffering wildlife sites.

The Trees Action Plan sets out how the Government will tackle the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, in line with the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan. The plan provides a strategic framework for implementing the Nature for Climate Fund and outlines over 80 policy actions the government is taking over this Parliament to help deliver this vision. Planting vastly more trees in England, and protecting and improving our existing woodlands, will be key to the government's plan to achieve net zero and to create a Nature Recovery Network across the length of England.

Published in June 2011, the Natural Environment White paper sets out the government's plans to ensure the natural environment is protected and fully integrated into society and economic growth. The White Paper sets out four key aims:

• Protecting and improving our natural environment;
• Growing a green economy;
• Reconnecting people and nature; and
• International and EU leadership.

Advises on how to make the most of the potential for biodiversity in urban parks and it shows how the commitment of individuals and employers can make the difference between failure and inspiring success.

The vision for the Birmingham and Black Country Biodiversity Action Plan is to create "A diverse and natural Birmingham and Black Country, where we are connected to our wildlife and landscape; healthy, sustainable communities and local livelihoods, working with nature and securing its future". They key aims of this action plan are to:

• Maintain and increase the biodiversity of key sites and landscapes through appropriate protection and management.
• Restore degraded habitats and key species populations by restoring key areas.
• Link key areas with ecological corridors to reconnect wildlife populations and make them less vulnerable.
• Promote and support the use of the natural environment to mitigate against, and adapt to, the effects of climate change.
• Enable the sustainable use of the natural environment to benefit health and wellbeing of residents, workers and visitors as well as improving the local economy.

The Black Country Local Nature Recovery Strategy encompasses the four Black Country local authorities (Dudley MBC, Sandwell MBC, Walsall MBC and Wolverhampton City Council) to develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and produce an evolving draft Local Nature Recovery Map. The LNRS will help restore ecosystem functions and improve the services upon which society depends; benefitting nature, people and the economy. The live online portal associated with the LNRS aims to encourage:

• Targeted investment in habitat creation and enhancement, helping to create a coherent ecological network across the whole of the Black Country landscape;
• Planning tree planting where it will best mitigate the impacts of climate change, flooding and poor air quality;
• The identification of deficits and investment opportunities in accessible natural green space to support the delivery of improvements to the health and wellbeing of those communities most in need; and
• The provision of guidance on urban green infrastructure needs and supporting investment in the regeneration of built-up areas.

The Ecological Evaluation of the Black Country Green Belt was prepared to inform the review of the former Black Country Plan. Although this is no longer being pursued, the study provides evidence base information relating to the geographic area including the Sandwell Development Plan.

The primary output of the ecological evaluation is a GIS data set which assigns ecological value to individual landscape units through analysis and interpretation of a number of relevant data sets. The evaluation can be used in the following ways:

• Informs the prioritisation of ecological field survey and statutory and non-statutory site assessment.
• Contributes to the defining of the ecological network of the Black Country Green Belt and beyond at a high resolution, and the identification of the component parts of a Black Country Nature Recovery Network.
• Can be utilised to inform more effective nature conservation project targeting and delivery.
• Can be utilised to inform the targeting of future agricultural environmental stewardship schemes.
• Can be utilised to inform the targeting and delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain through the planning system.
• Is a key data set to be analysed (in conjunction with others) as part of the proposed West Midlands Combined Authority Natural Capital Investment Strategy.

The Sandwell Biodiversity Net Gain Strategy fulfils the requirements set out in the Environment Act (2021) requiring all eligible development to deliver at least 10% BNG as of February 2024. This report contains an assessment of a number of council-owned sites in Sandwell to establish their suitability for use as potential habitat banks for the delivery of BNG, using the BNG Metric Calculation Tool 4.0 which was the most up-to-date BNG metric at the time of assessment. The strategy sets out low-intervention recommendations for habitat enhancements at each location to establish their potential for BNG uplift.

The policies (listed below) are aimed to ensure that the council's trees and woodlands are adequately protected and cared for so that their extent, quality, biological diversity and contribution to the character and appearance of the area can be sustained and enriched for the benefit and enjoyment of the residents and visitors to the borough.

• General Tree Management- existing trees
• General Tree Management- new planting
• Specific policies relating to Street Trees
• Specific policies in respect to Parks, Schools, Cemeteries/ Crematoria, Educational Establishments and Woodlands
• Policies in relation to new Housing, Commercial or Industrial Developments
• Tree Preservation Orders
• Policies in relation to damage caused by trees

Sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.

Commits member nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases.

Climate change has been identified as one of four priority areas for Europe. The EAP's main objective is a reduction in emissions of GHGs without a reduction in levels of growth and prosperity, as well as adaptation and preparation for the effects of climate change.

This Strategy identifies key priorities for an enlarged Europe. This includes health, social inclusion and fighting global poverty. It aims to achieve better policy integration in addressing these challenges, and to ensure that Europe looks beyond its boundaries in making informed decisions about sustainability. The Sustainable Development Strategy was review in 2009 and "underlined that in recent years the EU has mainstreamed sustainable development into a broad range of its policies. In particular, the EU has taken the lead in the fight against climate change and the promotion of a low-carbon economy. At the same time, unsustainable trends persist in many areas and the efforts need to be intensified". Sustainable development is a key focus of the EU and the strategy continues to be monitored and reviewed.

The UK has committed to sourcing 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 – an increase in the share of renewables from about 2.25% in 2008. The Renewable Energy Strategy sets out how the Government will achieve this target through utilising a variety of mechanisms to encourage Renewable Energy provision in the UK. This includes streamlining the planning system, increasing investment in technologies as well as improving funding for advice and awareness raising.

This is the second Update to the 2011 Renewable Energy Roadmap. It sets out the progress that has been made and the changes that have occurred in the sector over the past year. It also describes the continuing high ambitions and actions along with the challenges going forward.

The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan sets out how the UK will meet the Climate Change Act's legally binding target of 34 per cent cut in emissions on 1990 levels by 2020. It also seeks to deliver emissions cuts of 18% on 2008 levels. The main aims of the Transition Plan include the following:

• Producing 30% of energy from renewables by 2020;
• Improving the energy efficiency of existing housing;
• Increasing the number of people in 'green jobs'; and
• Supporting the use and development of clean technologies.

This document provides a blueprint of the Government's plans for the future of energy in the UK. It focusses on energy security and the drive to Net Zero. This document was the first to be published by the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The NPPF includes guidance on climate change, flooding, and coastal change. Plans should take account of climate change over the longer term, including factors such as flood risk, coastal change, water supply and changes to biodiversity and landscape. New development should be planned to avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change. When new development is brought forward in areas which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including through the planning of green infrastructure.

To support the move to a low carbon future, planning authorities should:

• plan for new development in locations and ways which reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
• actively support energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings; and
• when setting any local requirement for a building's sustainability, do so in a way consistent with the government's zero carbon buildings policy and adopt nationally described standards.

Local plans should apply a sequential, risk-based approach to the location of development to avoid where possible flood risk to people and property and manage any residual risk, taking account of the impacts of climate change, by:

• applying the Sequential Test;
• if necessary, applying the Exception Test;
• safeguarding land from development that is required for current and future flood management;
• using opportunities offered by new development to reduce the causes and impacts of flooding.

The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 for England is the first revision of the 25YEP. It builds on the 25YEP vision with a new plan setting out how the government will work with landowners, communities and businesses to deliver each of the goals for improving the environment, matched with interim targets to measure progress. Taking these actions will help to restore nature, reduce environmental pollution, and increase the prosperity of our country.

To mitigate and adapt to climate change, the EIP sets out to:

• Update on our progress and plans to reach net zero
• Publish a Land Use Framework in 2023, setting out how we will balance multiple demands on our land including climate mitigation and adaptation
• Publish the third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) in 2023 that will set out our five year strategy to build the UK's climate resilience
• Continue our role as a global leader in tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation and push for an integrated approach to international action

Provides information about the integration of renewable energy sources into new and existing dwellings in urban environments. It covers the basic principles, benefits, limitations, costs and suitability of various technologies.

The document contains a checklist and guidance for new developments to adapt to climate change. The main actions are summarised in a checklist.

The Five Year Plan (FYP) sets out how the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area can start to deliver net zero carbon emissions by 2041. The aim of the FYP is to provide clear guidance on the types of measures that will need to be implemented to achieve this. The FYP identifies key priorities for delivery, working with regional stakeholders across a range of sectors. Priorities include:

• Investment in renewables and to deliver energy efficient homes and low carbon heating;
• Working with local authorities to deliver improvements to active travel and public transport as set out in the existing Local Transport Plan (LTP), Movement for Growth, as well as producing a new LTP aligned to WM2041.
• Implementing the Zero Carbon Homes Routemap which provides clear actions and targets for reducing operational, embodied and whole life emissions for new residential development.
• Establishing a regional natural capital board to produce a natural capital plan for the West Midlands to increase forestry cover.
• Working with colleges, universities and employers to develop the skills and training programmes required to provide the work force for the net zero transition.

A Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) has been carried out for Sandwell to inform SMBC of flood risk across the Plan area from all sources, in the present and in the future. The assessment has identified potential increases in flood risk due to climate change and produced modelled outputs.

The Strategy provides an overview and assessment of local flood risk in the Black Country, setting out objectives and measures for how the LLFAs will manage and reduce local flood risk. It is the document that sets out how flood risk associated with surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses in an area will be managed by the relevant Councils and their partners. It is a statutory duty of the local authorities within the Black Country to produce and maintain a Local Strategy for Flood Risk Management.

The Action Plan sets out the council's priorities and proposed actions to meet 2030 and 2041 targets for reaching net zero. The report is designed to put the council's corporate agenda and sets out priorities to tackle climate change. These priorities are categorised into:

• Council Estates and Operations (corporate building stock, school buildings, street lighting, fleet, etc.);
• Reducing emissions from transport;
• Reducing emissions from existing homes;
• Reducing emissions from new homes;
• Reducing emissions from businesses;
• Reducing emissions from household waste;
• Community Engagement;
• Energy;
• Air Quality; and
• Natural Environment.

Following the declaration of Climate Emergency in March 2020 by SMBC, the document represents a high-level strategy for meeting science-based targets that will enable Sandwell to make its fair contribution to reducing UK emissions. Sandwell has adopted the following overarching targets:

• (1) to reach carbon neutrality across all Council functions by 2030.
• (2) to reach carbon neutrality borough-wide by 2041.

The strategy covers both mitigation of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and also adaptation to the effects of climate change on the area, in order to reduce harm from heatwaves, floods and air pollution among other impacts. The targets set out accompanies the Climate Change Action Plan.

The plan outlines the Council's actions for responding to flooding (river/fluvial, surface water and groundwater) emergencies within Sandwell, ensuring that resources can be mobilised when required. The plan also supports the wider multi-agency response to flooding.

The plan should be read in conjunction with other relevant plans of the emergency services, the local authority, the Environment Agency and any other additional organisation or agency, such as:

• Sandwell's Emergency Plan;
• Sandwell Extreme Weather Plan;
• Sandwell Reservoir Plan;
• Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment;
• Environment Agency Local Flood Warning Plan for the West Midlands; and
• The Black Country Authorities Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment.

The Net Zero Carbon Policy Support document provides an assessment of options available within the local planning system to address climate change, to inform policy development within the SLP. The document sets out opportunities for carbon offsetting to fulfil the legal duty for LPAs to mitigate climate change.

Aims for signatories to protect their architectural heritage by means of identifying monuments, buildings and sites to be protected; preventing the disfigurement, dilapidation or demolition of protected properties; providing financial support by the public authorities for maintaining and restoring the architectural heritage on its territory; and supporting scientific research for identifying and analysing the harmful effects of pollution and for defining ways and means to reduce or eradicate these effects.

The convention defines archaeological heritage and identifies measures for its protection. Aims include integrated conservation of the archaeological heritage and financing of archaeological research and conservation.

The updated NPPF seeks to streamline the planning system and sets out the government's planning policies and how these should be applied. At the heart of the NPPF is presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The NPPF includes guidance on conserving and enhancing the historic environment. It seeks to ensure local authorities plan recognise heritage assets as an irreplaceable resource and conserve them in a manner that reflects their significance.

Planning authorities should take into account:

• The desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation;
• The wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits that conservation of the historic environment can bring; and
• The desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness; and opportunities to draw on the contribution made by the historic environment to the character of a place.

This Historic England document sets out the framework for the sustainable management of the historic environment. This is presented under the following six headline 'principles':

Principle 1: The historic environment is a shared resource.

Principle 2: Everyone should be able to participate in sustaining the historic environment.

Principle 3: Understanding the significance of places is vital.

Principle 4: Significant places should be managed to sustain their values.

Principle 5: Decisions about change must be reasonable, transparent and consistent.

Principle 6: Documenting and learning from decisions is essential.

This Historic England Advice Note updates previous guidance by Historic England and CABE, produced in 2007. It seeks to guide people involved in planning for and designing tall buildings so that they may be delivered in a sustainable and successful way through the development plan and development management process. The advice is for all relevant developers, designers, local authorities and other interested parties.

Practice Advice note is to provide information to assist local authorities, planning and other consultants, owners, applicants and other interested parties in implementing historic environment policy in the NPPF and the related guidance given in the National Planning Practice Guide (PPG).

The purpose of this Historic England Good Practice Advice note is to provide information in relation to assessing the significance of heritage assets, using appropriate expertise, historic environment records, recording and furthering understanding, neglect and unauthorised works, marketing and design and distinctiveness.

This document sets out guidance, against the background of the NPPF and the related guidance given in the Planning Practice Guide (PPG), on managing change within the settings of heritage assets, including archaeological remains and historic buildings, sites, areas, and landscapes.

The purpose of this Historic England advice note is to support all those involved in the Local Plan site allocation process in implementing historic environment legislation, the relevant policy in the NPPF and the related guidance given in the Planning Practice Guide (PPG). In addition to these documents, this advice should be read in conjunction with the relevant Good Practice Advice and Historic England advice notes. Alternative approaches may be equally acceptable, provided they are demonstrably compliant with legislation and national policy objectives.

The HLC aimed to create a strategic landscape-level understanding of the historic character and environment of the Black Country. The study identified 103 Historic Environment Area Designations (HEADs) within the Black Country Green Belt and 354 HEADs in the urban area. The study also identified a number of Archaeological Priority Areas, which are considered to contain particularly rare or well-preserved remains of high archaeological and historic interest.

Areas of High Historic Townscape Value (AHHTVs) and Designed Landscapes of High Historic Value (DLHHVs) have also been identified within the Historic Landscape Characterisation.

Character Appraisals and/or Management Plans have been prepared for some of Sandwell's conservation areas (CAs) as listed below. These documents provide an assessment of the character and appearance of the CAs, identify and record elements of historic interest, consider the condition of the CAs, and set out guidance and principles for the ongoing management of the CAs alongside future development.

• Oldbury Church Square
• Wednesbury Market Place
• Smethwick Summit Galton Valley
• Tipton Factory Locks
• West Bromwich High Street
• Smethwick Town Centre High Street
• Smethwick High Street and Crocketts Lane
• Smethwick Cape Hill Town Centre

Sets out the government's approach to tackling threats to public health and dealing with health inequalities. It sets out an approach that will:

• Protect the population from health threats – led by central government, with a strong system to the frontline;
• Empower local leadership and encourage wide responsibility across society to improve everyone's health and wellbeing, and tackle the wider factors that influence it;
• Focus on key outcomes, doing what works to deliver them, with transparency of outcomes to enable accountability through a proposed new public health outcomes framework;
• Reflect the government's core values of freedom, fairness and responsibility by strengthening self-esteem, confidence and personal responsibility; positively promoting healthy behaviours and lifestyles; and adapting the environment to make healthy choices easier; and
• Balance the freedoms of individuals and organisations with the need to avoid harm to others, use a 'ladder' of interventions to determine the least intrusive approach necessary to achieve the desired effect and aim to make voluntary approaches work before resorting to regulation.

The strategy sets out priorities within the public health system and areas of focus including addressing health inequalities and narrowing the 'health gap' between poor and wealthy communities, reducing rates of infectious diseases, addressing unhealthy behaviours and ensuring the potential of new technologies is realised.

This sets out the government's response to a review into the health of Britain's working age population conducted by Dame Carol Black.

The vision is to: "create a society where the positive links between work and health are recognised by all, where everyone aspires to a healthy and fulfilling working life and where health conditions and disabilities are not a bar to enjoying the benefits of work".

To achieve the vision three key aspirations have been identified:

1. creating new perspectives on health and work;
2. improving work and workplaces; and
3. supporting people to work.

Through these three aspirations Britain's working population will fulfil their full potential, create stronger communities and help relive the financial burden of health problems on the economy.

Provides detailed examples of how the Woodland Sector (trees, woodlands and green spaces) can significantly contribute to people's health, well-being (physical, psychological and social) and quality of life. Increasing levels of physical activity is a particular priority.

Aims to help Local Authorities develop policies which acknowledge, protect and enhance the contribution natural spaces make to local sustainability. Three aspects of natural space in cities and towns are discussed: their biodiversity; their ability to cope with urban pollution; ensuring natural spaces are accessible to everyone.

The Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework is a commitment in the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan. It supports the greening of our towns and cities and connections with the surrounding landscape as part of the Nature Recovery Network and recognises the multi-functional benefits of GI including for human health. The GI Framework comprises:

• Green Infrastructure Principles: the why, what and how of good Green Infrastructure
• Green Infrastructure Standards: guidance on national standards for Green Infrastructure quantity and quality
• Green Infrastructure Maps: mapped environmental, socio-economic datasets to support the standards
• Green Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide: practical, evidence-based advice on how to design good quality Green Infrastructure
• Green Infrastructure Process Journeys: guides on how to apply all the products in the Green Infrastructure Framework

Active Design focuses on ensuring the places where people live, work, and enjoy can promote regular physical activity in daily life, through walking, cycling, informal or formal sport and other means. Active Design is rooted in Sport England's aims and objectives to promote the role of sport and physical activity in creating healthy and sustainable communities. Active Design provides advice on how plan-makers, health professionals and developers can use Active Design. The ten principles of active design are:

1. Activity for all;
2. Walkable communities;
3. Connected walking & cycling routes;
4. Co-location of community facilities;
5. Network of multifunctional open space;
6. High quality streets and space;
7. Appropriate infrastructure;
8. Active buildings;
9. Management, maintenance, monitoring & evaluation; and
10. Activity promotion & local champions.

At the time of writing, the latest version of the Active Design guidance is being consulted on to gather views from a range of organisations and people to help shape the final version of the guidance.

Green Spaces Strategy and Business Plan aims to achieve four overarching aims:

1. Spaces and Places – influencing the way Sandwell's green spaces are viewed;
2. People and Partnerships – develop a more community-centred approach to rejuvenating green spaces;
3. Resources and Services – improve and maintain the quality and management of open spaces; and
4. Audience Development – develop new audiences to Sandwell's green spaces by holding events and activities and encouraging visits.

Green Spaces Strategy and Business Plan sets out to achieve the following:

• Increase average quality and value scores for green spaces.
• Improve accessibility and use of green spaces for sport and physical activity.
• Improve accessibility and use of green spaces to target health inequalities, loneliness, disability, and mental health.
• Improve stakeholder engagement in the development, management, and maintenance of green spaces.
• Continue to improve the security and safety of green spaces.
• Increase educational activity for children and young people in green spaces, conservation, wildlife management, and access to nature.
• Improve the accessibility and use of green spaces buildings and facilities – achieving maximum utilisation of spaces.
• Improve the provision of allotments and community food production.

The Sandwell Open Space Audit takes into account a number of pieces of research, assessments and consultation, in order to evaluate the quality and quantity of Sandwell's greenspace accessibility. A total of 220 sites were audited for quality and assigned a value score, which has improved since the last audit which took place in 2018. However, the study found there is a deficiency in the quality greenspaces, in particular amenity greenspace.

The Sandwell Health and Wellbeing Strategy seeks to ensure the Sandwell Health & Social Care Partnership and the Sandwell Health & Wellbeing Board work together in partnership to improve the lives and opportunities of people in Sandwell. The partnership will seek to embed cross-cutting themes into their workstreams, including mental health, children, estates management, digital innovation, safeguarding and workforce development.

The strategy describes how the Sandwell Health and Wellbeing Board will work with the people of Sandwell and with partners and providers of services to:

• address the challenges of deprivation and unemployment in Sandwell; and
• help people to stay healthier for longer and reduce the inequalities between Sandwell and the rest of England.

The strategy is based on a wide range of evidence for what influences people's health and how long they live, supported by survey responses about what needs to change in Sandwell.

Aims to promote the protection, management and planning (including active design and creation of Europe's landscapes, both rural and urban, and to foster European co-operation on landscape issues.

Provides advice and guidance on good practice in relation to tall buildings in the planning process and to highlight other related issues, which need to be taken into account, i.e. where tall buildings would and would not be appropriate.

The NPPF sates that development could seek to promote or reinforce local distinctiveness; both aesthetic considerations and connections between people and places should be considered. The NPPF also promotes the protection and enhancements of valued landscapes, giving greatest weight to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 for England is the first revision of the 25YEP. It builds on the 25YEP vision with a new plan setting out how the government will work with landowners, communities and businesses to deliver each of the goals for improving the environment, matched with interim targets to measure progress. Taking these actions will help to restore nature, reduce environmental pollution, and increase the prosperity of our country.

To enhance beauty, heritage, and engagement with the natural environment, the EIP sets out to:

• Work across government to fulfil a new and ambitious commitment that everyone should live within 15 minutes walk of a green or blue space;
• Continue our delivery of the England Coast Path and the Coast to Coast National Trail;
• Green the Green Belt as set out in the Levelling Up White Paper by identifying key areas for nature restoration;
• Invest in a new national landscapes partnership for National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and National Trails;
• Extend the delivery of our Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, using lessons learned to inform future farming schemes; and
• Invest in active travel, with a vision for half of all journeys in towns and cities to be cycled or walked by 2030. £35 million funding has already been committed this financial year.

This design guide illustrates how well-designed places that are beautiful, enduring and successful can be achieved in practice. It forms part of the government's collection of planning practice guidance and should be read alongside the separate planning practice guidance on design process and tools.

The Landscape Sensitivity Study was prepared to inform the review of the former Black Country Plan. Although this is no longer being pursued, the study provides evidence base information relating to the geographic area including the Sandwell Development Plan.

The purpose of this study is to provide an assessment of the extent to which the character and quality of the landscape abutting the West Midlands conurbation within the Black Country and around settlements in South Staffordshire is, in principle, susceptible to change as a result of introducing built development.

The study highlights likely landscape and visual sensitivities within each assessment area and provides a broad landscape character-based assessment rather than a site level assessment as might be required for a planning application.

The Green Belt Study was prepared to inform the review of the former Black Country Plan. Although this is no longer being pursued, the study provides evidence base information relating to the geographic area including the Sandwell Development Plan.

The overall aim of the Study was to undertake an independent, robust and transparent assessment of Green Belt within the Black Country. This includes a comprehensive assessment of the performance of Green Belt land in line with policy set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) good practice guidance, local plan examination inspectors' reports and case law. The Study draws out variations in the contribution of land to the five Green Belt purposes, identifying areas of land whose performance ranges from relatively weak to relatively strong in Green Belt terms.

This document provides detailed design guidance for all aspects of new residential development in Sandwell. The aim of this document is to provide clear design guidance for achieving residential development quality within the Borough so that attractive, high-quality, sustainable living environments are created, thereby improving the desirability of the borough as a place to live and also improve places for new and existing residents.

The vision as presented in the Regeneration Strategy is to "create a wealthier Sandwell, regenerating our place and using the limited amount of new land available to create:

• an inviting place to live, with thriving communities and energy efficient housing in well planned neighbourhoods.
• high quality employment space for decent jobs.
• a convenient and reliable public transport and active travel network, which people prefer to private cars.
• exciting, busy, and green centres where people meet throughout the day, with a thriving cultural and night-time economy."

Placemaking forms one of the seven delivery themes as presented in the strategy, which seeks to transform Sandwell's town centres, high streets and neighbourhoods in the right way for their place and to their full potential.

The NPPF includes guidance on promoting healthy communities. The NPPF requires planning authorities to aim to achieve places which promote:

• Opportunities for meetings between members of the community who might not otherwise come into contact with each other, including through mixed-use developments, strong neighbourhood centres and active street frontages which bring together those who work, live and play in the vicinity;
• Safe and accessible environments where crime and disorder, and the fear of crime, do not undermine quality of life or community cohesion; and
• Safe and accessible developments, containing clear and legible pedestrian routes, and high-quality public space, which encourage the active and continual use of public areas.

In order to deliver the social, recreational and cultural facilities and services the community needs, planning policies and decisions should:

• Plan positively for the provision and use of shared space, community facilities (such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship) and other local services to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments;
• Guard against the unnecessary loss of valued facilities and services, particularly where this would reduce the community's ability to meet its day-to-day needs;
• Ensure that established shops, facilities and services are able to develop and modernise in a way that is sustainable, and retained for the benefit of the community; and
• Ensure an integrated approach to considering the location of housing, economic uses and community facilities and services.

The Housing Green Paper outlines plans for delivering homes; new ways of identifying and using land for development; more social housing- ensuring that a decent home at an affordable price is for the many; building homes more quickly; more affordable homes; and greener homes – with high environmental standards and flagship developments leading the way.

Practical guide to designs and layouts that may help with crime prevention and community safety, including well-defined routes, places structured so that different uses do not cause conflict, places designed to include natural surveillance and places designed with management and maintenance in mind.

Sets out an action plan to improve the life chances of those who suffer, or may suffer in the future, from disadvantage. Guiding principles for action include: better identification and earlier intervention; systematically identifying 'what works'; promoting multi-agency working; personalisation, rights and responsibilities; and supporting achievement and managing underperformance.

This 5-year plan spans financial year 2023 to 2024 to financial year 2027 to 2028. It outlines:

• Homes England's mission
• Strategic objectives and aims
• How performance will be measured

The plan seeks to drive regeneration and housing delivery to create high-quality homes and thriving places. This will support greater social justice, the levelling up of communities across England and the creation of places people are proud to call home, in line with the priorities of the government's Levelling Up White Paper.

Objective is the protection of human health and the environment against harmful effects caused by the collection, transport, treatment, storage and tipping of waste. Particular focus is placed on the re-use of recovered materials as raw materials; restricting the production of waste; promoting clean technologies; and the drawing up of waste management plans.

Aims to prevent or reduce as far as possible negative effects on the environment, in particular the pollution of surface water, groundwater, soil and air, and on the global environment, including the greenhouse effect, as well as any resulting risk to human health, from the landfilling of waste, during the whole lifecycle of the landfill.

The Waste Strategy sets out how the government will:

• Preserve our stock of material resources by minimising waste, promoting resource efficiency and moving towards a circular economy;
• Minimise the damage caused to our natural environment by reducing and managing waste safely and carefully; and
• deal with waste crime.

It combines actions to take now with firm commitments for the coming years and gives a clear longer-term policy direction in line with the 25 Year Environment Plan. The strategy promotes a more circular economy (re-use, remanufacture, repair, recycle) to keep resources in use for as long as possible.

The Waste Management Plan for England is an analysis of the current waste management situation in England. The plan does not introduce new policies or change how waste is managed in England. Its aim is to bring current waste management policies together under one national plan.

Sets out government's long term energy policy, including requirements for cleaner, smarter energy; improved energy efficiency; reduced carbon emissions; and reliable, competitive and affordable supplies. The White Paper sets out the UK's international and domestic energy strategy, in the shape of four policy goals:

1. aiming to cut CO₂ emissions by some 60% by about 2050, with real progress by 2020;
2. maintaining the reliability of energy supplies;
3. promoting competitive markets in the UK and beyond; and
4. ensuring every home is heated adequately and affordably.

Acknowledges that local authorities can be pro-active in promoting small-scale, local renewable energy generation schemes through "sensible use of planning policies".

This document seeks to clarify the underlying principles and aims in existing policy documents, legislation and guidance that relate to noise. The key aims of this document are as follows:

• Avoid significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life;
• Mitigate and minimise adverse impacts on health and quality of life; and
• Where possible, contribute to the improvement of health and quality of life.

'Themes for Action' include: re-use existing built assets; design for minimum waste; aim for lean construction; minimise energy in construction; minimise energy in building use; avoid polluting the environment; preserve and enhance bio-diversity; conserve water resources; respect people and their local environment; and set targets (benchmarks & performance indicators).

This practice guidance was intended to support the implementation of town centre policies set out in Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth (PPS4) (now replaced by PPG). It is aimed at helping those involved in preparing or reviewing need, impact and sequential site assessments.

The Strategic Economic Plan outlines three key strategic objectives for delivering economic growth across Greater Birmingham and Solihull:

• Becoming a world leader in innovation and creativity
• Taking full advantage of our global connections
• Creating stronger conditions for growth across our communities

The LEP works across these objectives, building on the scale and diversity of the assets of the GBSLEP area, to enable sustainable economic growth throughout our geography.

The NPPF and the Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to work together through the 'Duty to Cooperate' across the relevant Housing Market Area (HMA) to identify and then meet housing need where it is sustainable to do so. The Birmingham Strategic Growth Study builds on work undertaken by Peter Brett Associates (PBA) who prepared a Strategic Housing Needs Study Stage 2 Report (November, 2014) and Strategic Housing Needs Study Stage 3 Report (August, 2015). These provide a framework and starting point for this Study, which the HMA authorities have jointly commissioned to further consider strategic development options to meet housing need across the HMA. It is intended to identify more specific options and broad locations for addressing the housing supply shortfall.

The aim of the EDNA is to provide an updated objective assessment of economic land needs for the Black Country, including Sandwell Borough, drawing upon an independent assessment of the area's economic development needs. The EDNA Update 2022 establishes the objective assessment of employment land needs to 31 March 2040, building on the findings of the previous EDNA (2017).

The Study provides up-to-date information about the Black Country's mineral resources and current and future demand for minerals and mineral products, which was originally prepared as part of the evidence base to inform the former Black Country Plan. Although this is no longer being pursued, the study provides evidence base information relating to the geographic area including the Sandwell Development Plan. The Minerals Study:

• Estimates the current demand for minerals and mineral products in the Black Country;
• Predicts how demand for minerals and mineral products is likely to change over the plan period and beyond;
• Reviews the capacity and vulnerability of existing mineral production sites and processing facilities in the Black Country;
• Analyses where our mineral supplies are coming from at the moment and whether this is having a significant effect on other areas; and
• Reviews the extent of unworked mineral resources in the Black Country and resource areas that should be safeguarded.

The Study provides up-to-date information about the Black Country's current and future waste management needs, which was originally prepared as part of the evidence base to inform the former Black Country Plan. Although this is no longer being pursued, the study provides evidence base information relating to the geographic area including the Sandwell Development Plan.

The Waste Study:

• Estimates how much waste we produce in the Black Country and how it is managed;
• Predicts how the amount of waste we produce might change over the plan period and beyond;
• Assesses whether the Black Country's existing waste management sites have the capacity to meet our current and future needs;
• Analyses where our waste goes and whether this is having a significant effect on other areas; and
• Provides advice on how we should plan for our future waste management needs.

The Sandwell Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) is a comprehensive study of sites within Sandwell which have the potential to accommodate new housing development. The Council is required to produce a SHLAA by national planning policy set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The SHLAA will be updated annually, and forms part of the evidence base to inform the Sandwell Development Plan and will help to ensure the timely delivery of new housing to meet government targets.

The vision as presented in the Regeneration Strategy is to "create a wealthier Sandwell, regenerating our place and using the limited amount of new land available to create:

• an inviting place to live, with thriving communities and energy efficient housing in well planned neighbourhoods.
• high quality employment space for decent jobs.
• a convenient and reliable public transport and active travel network, which people prefer to private cars.
• exciting, busy, and green centres where people meet throughout the day, with a thriving cultural and night-time economy."

The strategy encompasses the different aspects of Sandwell's built environment. Alongside the Inclusive Recovery Action Plan for Businesses, the Regeneration Strategy seeks to set out the framework for meeting the needs of local people and businesses, improving quality of life and creating a wealthier Sandwell. The strategy sets out a number of priorities for action, with key themes including: housing; education; placemaking; education and skills; transport; digital; and sustainability.

Big Plans for a Great Place sets out what the Council will do to deliver the 'Sandwell Vision 2030' and key priorities for the borough, including six strategic outcomes:

• The best start in life for children and young people.
• People live well and age well.
• Strong, resilient communities.
• Quality homes in thriving neighbourhoods.
• A strong and inclusive economy.
• A connected and accessible Sandwell.

The Soil Strategy for England outlines the government's approach to safeguarding our soils for the long term. It provides a vision to guide future policy development across a range of areas and sets out the practical steps that are needed to take to prevent further degradation of our soils, enhance, restore and ensure their resilience, and improve understanding of the threats to soil and best practice in responding to them. Key objectives of the strategy include:

• Better protection for agricultural soils;
• Protecting and enhancing stores of soil carbon;
• Building the resilience of soils to a changing climate;
• Preventing soil pollution;
• Effective soil protection during construction and development; and
• Dealing with our legacy of contaminated land.

This document establishes a legal framework for dealing with contaminated land in England. This document provides guidelines for how local authorities should implement the regime, including how they should go about deciding whether land is contaminated land in the legal sense of the term.

Key aims are as follows:

• To identify and remove unacceptable risks to human health and the environment.
• To seek to ensure that contaminated land is made suitable for its current use.
• To ensure that the burdens faced by individuals, companies and society as a whole are proportionate, manageable and compatible with the principles of sustainable development.

The NPPF states that plans should prevent development from contributing to, or being put at risk of, air or water pollution.

The NPPF states that planning should protect and enhance soils, particularly those recognised as best and most versatile agricultural land (Grades 1, 2 and 3a).

This provides an overarching strategy, including a requirement for EU Member States to ensure that they achieve 'good ecological status' by 2015. River Basin Management Plans were defined as the key means of achieving this. They contain the main issues for the water environment and the actions we all need to take to deal with them.

Encourages the construction industry to adopt a more sustainable approach towards development; identifies eleven themes for targeting Action, which includes conserving water resources.

Requires all inland and coastal waters to reach 'good' status by 2015. It mandates that:

• Development must not cause a deterioration in status of a waterbody; and
• Development must not prevent future attainment of 'good status', hence it is not acceptable to allow an impact to occur just because other impacts are causing the status of a water body to already be less than good.

This is being done by establishing a river basin district structure within which demanding environmental objectives are being set, including ecological targets for surface waters.

Guidance on addressing key environmental issues through the development process (focusing mainly on the issues dealt with by the Environment Agency), including managing flood risk, surface water management, use of water resources, preventing pollution.

The document sets out Government action to help achieve natural world regain and retain good health.

The main goals of the Plan are to achieve:

• Clean air;
• Clean and plentiful water;
• Thriving plants and wildlife;
• A reduced risk of harm from environmental hazards such as flooding and drought;
• Using resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently; and
• Enhanced beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment.

The Plan seeks to achieve clean and plentiful water by:

• Reducing the damaging abstraction of water from rivers and groundwater, ensuring that by 2021 the proportion of water bodies with enough water to support environmental standards increases from 82% to 90% for surface water bodies and from 72% to 77% for groundwater bodies;
• Reaching or exceeding objectives for rivers, lakes, coastal and ground waters that are specially protected, whether for biodiversity or drinking water as per our River Basin Management Plans;
• Supporting OFWAT's ambitions on leakage, minimising the amount of water lost through leakage year on year, with water companies expected to reduce leakage by at least an average of 15% by 2025; and
• Minimising by 2030 the harmful bacteria in our designated bathing waters and continuing to improve the cleanliness of our waters. We will make sure that potential bathers are warned of any short-term pollution risks.

The 2021 Environment Act (2021) embeds several of these aspects into the new legislation.

Looks at the steps needed, in the face of climate change, to manage water resources to the 2040s and beyond, with the overall aim of improving the environment while allowing enough water for human uses.

RBMPs presents the ecological, chemical and quantitative status of the surface and groundwater bodies present in the river basin. In accordance with the RBMP, new development should not lead to deterioration of the water body. Objectives, according to the Water Framework Directive, are as follows:

• To prevent deterioration of the status of surface waters and groundwater;
• To achieve objectives and standards for protected areas;
• To aim to achieve good status for all water bodies or, for heavily modified water bodies and artificial water bodies, good ecological potential and good surface water chemical status;
• To reverse any significant and sustained upward trends in pollutant concentrations in groundwater;
• The cessation of discharges, emissions and loses of priority hazardous substances into surface waters; and
• Progressively reduce the pollution of groundwater and prevent or limit the entry of pollutants.

The Plan sets out how Severn Trent Water and South Staffs Water maintain the balance between supply and demand for water. Their priorities for the future include keeping bills for customers at a minimum, taking affair and balanced approach for all stakeholders and delivering long term environmental benefits.

This study assesses the potential issues relating to future development within the Black Country Councils and the impacts on water supply, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment. The Water Cycle Study (WCS) is required to assess the constraints and requirements that will arise from potential growth on the water infrastructure.

The WCS aims to assist the Local Planning Authorities to identify development locations where there is minimal impact on the environment, water quality, water resources, infrastructure, and flood risk. This will be achieved by identifying areas where there may be conflict between any proposed development, the requirements of the environment and by recommending potential solutions to these conflicts.

The Level 2 update to the Water Cycle Study (WCS) is being prepared to inform the SLP, building on the Phase 1 Scoping Study prepared as part of the evidence base for the former Black Country Plan. This report suggests there will be no significant constraints on water supply and wastewater as a result of the proposed SLP development.