supplementary planning document external artificial lighting · 1 introduction 1.1 the external...

Braintree District CouncilLocal Development Framework

Adopted September 2009

Supplementary Planning Document

External Artificial LightingSustainability Appraisal

Contents

21 Introduction

32 Appraisal Methodology

43 Background

64 Objectives, Baselines and Context

95 The Sustainability Appraisal

106 Sustainability Effects of the SPD

117 Monitoring

12Appendix 1: Sustainability Indicators

SEA Screening Statement

171 Introduction

182 External Artificial Lighting Draft Supplementary Planning Document


214 The Screening Process

225 Conclusions

| External Artificial Lighting SPD Sustainability Appraisal: September 2009

1 Introduction

1.1 The External Artificial Lighting Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) expands upon thepolicies relating to affordable housing in the Braintree District Local Plan Review (LPR), adopted inJuly 2005. In particular it supplements policy RLP 65 External Lighting and RLP 135 Floodlightingof Sports Facilities.

1.2 The SPD sets out the criteria that will be used by the District Council as local planning authorityin assessing and determining proposals which include external artificial lighting. It shows what technicalinformation an applicant will need to provide so that the District Council may have sufficient informationto determine an application for a new lighting scheme. It also identifies the various conditions thatthe local planning authority may apply to a lighting scheme when granting planning permission. TheSPD includes standards for lighting, additional information for the lighting of sports facilities and usefulcontact addresses to assist applicants to gain further advice on lighting matters.

1.3 This Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is required under Regulation 39 of the Planning andCompulsory Purchase Act 2004. The approach to the sustainability appraisal in this report reflectsthe Government’s sustainability agenda and guidelines for undertaking sustainability appraisals. InA Better Quality of Life – A Strategy for Sustainable Development in the UK – CM 4345 (May 1999)the Government sets out four aims for sustainable development:

social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;effective protection of the environment;the prudent use of natural resources; andthe maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.

These were set out in PPS1: Delivering Sustainable Development.

1.4 This SA accompanies the SPD and drafts of both documents were published for consultationbetween 5 June and 17 July 2009. No changes to the SA followed from this consultation and bothdocuments were adopted by the Council on 30th September 2009.

1.5 The Council has prepared a screening document which demonstrates that a StrategicEnvironmental Assessment (SEA) is not required for this SPD (see paragraph 5.3).

External Artificial Lighting SPD Sustainability Appraisal: September 2009 |

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2 Appraisal Methodology

Approach Adopted for the Sustainability Appraisal

2.1 The approach taken in this Sustainability Appraisal for the External Artificial Lighting SPDrecognises that sustainable development is not limited to environmental concerns but recognisesthat economic and social issues also need to be taken into account. The Sustainability Appraisal ofthe Braintree District Local Plan Review Adopted July 2005 was based on a list of 28 objectives usedin the Braintree Quality of Life Plan. These objectives represented a range of sustainability criteriaaffecting people’s everyday lives as well as longer-term social, economic and environmental questionsagainst which the implications for sustainability of the Plan could be assessed. These were groupedunder the following 13 headings:

HousingJobs, skills and the local economyTransportBuilt environment and landscapeEnergy, water and pollutionWasteNature conservationHealthCommunity SafetyLeisure and recreationArts and heritageEqualities and welfarePromoting democracy.

2.2 This sustainability appraisal uses the same set of criteria to enable a direct comparison to bemade between two options:

Option 1 – Adopting an SPD to add value to the LPR Policies by enabling the Council to give additionalguidance to applicants for planning permission to enable those applicants to produce effective lightingschemes and reduce impacts on the environment and the amenities of neighbours.

Option 2 – A ‘do nothing’ scenario in which the existing LPR Policies RLP 65, RLP 90 and RLP 135on floodlighting will be the sole basis for controlling the environmental and social effects of floodlighting.

It was prepared in tandem with the SPD and consultation on both documents was undertakensimultaneously.

2.3 The SA process incorporates the requirements of the EU Strategic Environmental AssessmentDirective, which requires certain types of UK plans and programmes to undergo a formal environmentalassessment.


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3 Background

Purpose of the Sustainability Appraisal

3.1 In accordance with the Council's Statement of Community Involvement, a sustainability appraisalmust be undertaken for each SPD.The purpose of the sustainability appraisal is to promote sustainabledevelopment through better integration of sustainability considerations into their preparation. Theappraisal looks at the guidance contained in the SPD and examines how it contributes to the aim ofsustainable development. Identifying issues at an early stage enables the guidance to be changedand amended to ensure that it is as sustainable as possible.

3.2 The approach to sustainable development addresses social, economic and environmentalconcerns and covers a wide range of issues from local to global effects of development.This appraisalassesses the effect of the External Artificial Lighting Supplementary Planning Document onsustainability by assessing whether there are any impacts additional to those which may have beenidentified under the LPR policies.

Policy Context

3.3 The Braintree District Local Plan Review (BDLPR), adopted in July 2005, provides generalguidance on external artificial lighting through Policies RLP 65 External Lighting, RLP 135 Floodlightingof Sports Facilities and RLP 90 Layout and Design of Development (criterion 10). Additionally thereare a number of policies which seek to protect amenity, the environment, character of urban andrural areas, landscape, habitats and wildlife from development and external lighting would also needto be assessed against these policies – RLP 3 Development within Town Development Boundariesand Village Envelopes, RLP 17 Extensions and Alterations to Dwellings in Towns and Villages, RLP79 Special Landscape Areas, RLP 80 Landscape Features and Habitats and RLP 84 ProtectedSpecies. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has confirmed that thesepolicies can be ‘saved’ under Regulations relating to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act2004.

3.4 The SPD draws from leading professional guidance on lighting and refers applicants to thesesources. They are:

Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light The Institution of Lighting Engineers (2005)

Lighting the Countryside: Towards Good Practice Countryside Commission (1997) (out of print)

Brightness of Illuminated Advertisements – Technical Report No.5 ILE (2001)

Lighting Guide 4: Sports Lighting Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (2006)

3.5 The External Artificial Lighting SPD will supplement the existing Local Plan Review by providingguidance and advice to developers on how the policies should be interpreted and implemented, andto enable them to plan for external lighting within the SPD’s guidelines as an integral part of anydevelopment proposal.


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SPD Objective

3.6 The External Artificial Lighting SPD has one principle objective – to provide advice and guidanceto applicants contemplating a lighting scheme or proposal on what factors will be taken into accountby the District Council in determining planning applications for such schemes.

3.7 The SPD gives further guidance on:

when planning permission is required,issues relating to obtrusive light,general factors to be taken into consideration, including assessments of need, location in relationto neighbouring uses, nature of the use of the lighting proposed and the design of the lighting,specific factors to be taken into consideration for various land uses including advertisements,commercial development, decorative lighting of buildings, farms and market garden centres,railway stations and road/rail interchanges, mineral extraction, petrol filling stations, residentialdevelopment, road junctions and accesses, rural car parks, security lighting and sports facilities,the information which should accompany planning applications for external artificial lighting andthe types of conditions which the District Council may impose to control lighting schemes whereapproved.

Appendices give advice on obtrusive light limitations for external lighting installations, relevantpublications for standards for lighting and guidance for lighting schemes for outside sports facilities,useful addresses and contacts and a glossary of terms used in external lighting.


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4 Objectives, Baselines and Context

Links to Other Strategies, Plans and Programmes

4.1 The SPD is part of a hierarchy of planning policy. It must conform to the Braintree District LocalPlan Review, and is consistent with the Regional Spatial Strategy East of England Plan (2008) andnational planning policies which support the Government’s sustainability agenda.

4.2 Other policies in the LPR are also relevant because they relate to:

protection of amenity – RLP 3 and RLP 17,

protection of the landscape – RLP 79,

protection of habitats – RLP 80 and

protected species – RLP 84.

These policies have also been ‘saved’ by the Secretary of State. This sustainability appraisal will notconsider these other policies because its purpose is to consider the likely effects of the SPD onimplementing the external artificial lighting policies.

Baseline Characteristics

4.3 The current policy on external artificial lighting dates from the First Draft Local Plan Review.The adopted LPR covers the period 1996-2011, but has a baseline of 31 March 2002 and the policiesreferred to above will continue in force until replaced by development plan documents. The SPDsupplements the LPR policies by reference to guidance on external lighting, available from theInstitution of Lighting Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers, whichhave been incorporated into the Document

4.4 The SPD is intended to ensure that applicants for planning permission will provide the righttype of lighting in the right location to minimise any detriment to the environment. Information on theenvironmental, social and economic baseline of the LPR provides the basis for predicting andmonitoring effects and helps to identify problems and alternative ways of dealing with them. Thesustainability appraisal of the LPR found no adverse impacts from any of the external lighting orfloodlighting policies and no such policies were amended as a result of the SA.

The Sustainability Appraisal Framework

4.5 To enable a direct comparison to be made between the Local Plan Review Policies and theExternal Artificial Lighting SPD the same 28 sustainability objectives were used, grouped under thefollowing headings:


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Social

Housing

Access to housingQuality, quantity and affordability

Built environment and landscape

Local distinctivenessDesign – utility, aesthetics and sense of community

Health

Health – lifespan and qualityAccess to health services

Community Safety

Crime and disorder reductionReduce perceptions of insecurityReduce accidents

Leisure and recreation

Encourage leisure activitiesMaximise leisure and sports opportunities

Arts and heritage

Access to the artsPreservation of local cultural heritage

Equalities and welfare

Access to affordable housing, food, water and fuelAccess to community services and facilitiesOpportunities for disadvantaged citizens and groups

Promoting democracy

Opportunities to participate in decision-making

Environmental

Energy, water and pollution

Energy, water and natural resourcesPollution – air, water, land and noise


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Waste

Reduction in refuse and solid wasteSustainable waste management

Nature conservation

Protection of biodiversityOpportunities for nature conservation

Economic

Jobs, skills and the local economy

Stable and sustainable local economyPhysical access to employmentTraining and skills

Transport

Access – modal shiftImpact of transport

4.6 These sustainability objectives not only encompassed, but also went beyond the issues publishedby the Government in Sustainable Communities for the 21st Century. Each policy in the Local PlanReview was appraised through the use of a sustainability matrix and the impact of the policiesmeasured in terms of having clear adverse effects or having unclear objectives.This process focusedon policies where change was considered essential or desirable. In total 5 strategy elements and 39policies, nearly a quarter of the policies contained in the Plan, were changed.


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5.1 This appraisable adopts the most commonly employed method of using a sustainability matrixto cross-reference policies to specific sustainability objectives. The matrix is used to compare theimpacts of the principal LPR policy (RLP 138) with the impacts of the additional guidance given inSPD. As both were appraised on a similar basis, the SPD should achieve at least the same level ofsustainability as the LPR and, ideally, some improvement. The matrix compares the relative effectsof the SPD in comparison to the baseline data and assesses them as positive, neutral or negative.

5.2 The SPD provides guidelines for achieving sustainable external artificial lighting with a reductionin light pollution and loss of amenity. The following elements of the SPD were tested against theselected sustainability indicators:

Assessment and justification of need for lighting

Environmental zones in which the lighting is proposed

Use for the lighting and the hours of operation

Design of the lighting equipment

Guidance notes for examining specific land uses and lighting proposals

Strategic Environmental Assessment

5.3 The Council undertook a screening exercise to determine whether a Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment (SEA) should be carried out in accordance with the Environmental Assessment of Plansand Programmes Regulations 2004. Before making its determination, the Council carried outconsultation with the three statutory bodies - English Heritage, Natural England and the EnvironmentAgency. No objections were raised to the Council's determination that a SEA was not required,because the External Artificial Lighting SPD was a thematic document that supplements existingsaved policies in a Local Plan and is unlikely to have any significant environmental effects incomparison with relying on existing policies alone. See Appendix 2 for the Screening Statement.


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6 Sustainability Effects of the SPD

6.1 The positive effects of the SPD will be mostly social. The SPD aims to reduce loss of amenityfor people living near to external lighting and the effects of glare from light which is too intensive.Both of these may impact on people’s well being. The SPD also ameliorates the environmentalimpacts of external artificial lighting schemes by reducing the level of intensity and the amount oflight pollution.

6.2 The results of the assessment of the sustainability implications of having an External ArtificialLighting SPD rather than relying on Policies RLP 65 and RLP 135 alone are:

Need for lighting – encouraging applicants to critically assess and justify the need for a lightingscheme will help to raise standards and minimise obtrusion of light in its many forms.

Environmental zones in which the lighting is proposed – a further refinement of policy whichwill have the effect of tailoring lighting schemes to the sensitivity of the location.

Use for the lighting and the hours of operation – keeping the use of lighting to a workingminimum will reduce the impact of lighting on the environment.

Design of the lighting equipment – guidance is intended to minimise obtrusive light to reducesky glow, to reduce the amount of light and consequent waste of energy, and to reduce glare toprotect the environment, to increase safety and ensure that lighting infrastructure is of a highstandard of design.

Guidance notes for examining specific land uses and lighting proposals – the SPD will have apositive effect by giving more detailed guidance on the approach to external lighting for a varietyof land uses, thereby raising the quality of lighting proposals.

Using the Supplementary Planning Document in addition to the Braintree Local Plan Review Policieswill have net beneficial effects in the following areas:

Social indicators - built environment and landscape, quality of life, community safety and preservationof the local cultural heritage.

Environmental indicators – light pollution and biodiversity.


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7 Monitoring

7.1 The implementation of the SPD and its sustainability effects will be assessed by monitoringthe number of complaints received about light pollution, glare and other nuisances caused by newfloodlighting schemes.

The overall sustainability effect of the SPD will be assessed by having regard to the type of lightingbeing permitted. Any adverse impacts that arise will be addressed through future modification to theguidance. The results of this assessment will be published in the Annual Monitoring Report.


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Appendix 1: Sustainability Indicators

Additional Guidance on External Artificial Lighting - Preferred Option

Guidance forSPECIFICLAND USEscenarios

DESIGNof

lighting

PURPOSEand HOURS

OFOPERATIONof lightingproposals

Guidance forexternal lighting

inENVIRONMENTAL

ZONES

Assessmentof the NEEDfor external

lighting

SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS

SOCIAL INDICATORS:

Housing

00000Access to housing

00000Quality, quantity and affordability ofhousing

Built Environment and Landscape

+++++Local distinctiveness

+++++Design - utility, aesthetics and senseof community

Health

+++++Lifespan and quality of life

00000Access to health services

Community Safety

?+++0Reduction in crime and disorder

?+++0Reduce perceptions of insecurity

?+??+Reduce accidents

Leisure and Recreation

?????Encourage leisure activities

?????Maximise leisure and sportsopportunities

Arts and Heritage

00000Access to the arts

+++++Preservation of the local culturalheritage


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Guidancefor

SPECIFICLAND USEscenarios

DESIGNof

lighting

PURPOSEand HOURS



inENVIRONMENTAL

ZONES


lighting


Equalities and Welfare

00000Access to affordable housing, food,water and fuel

00000Access to community facilities andservices

00000Opportunities for disadvantagedcitizens and groups

Promoting Democracy

00000Opportunities to participate indecision making

ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS:

Energy, Water and Pollution

00000Energy, water and natural resources

+++++Pollution of air, water, land and noise

Waste

00000Reduction in refuse and solid waste

00000Sustainable waste management

Nature Conservation

+++++Protection of biodiversity

00000Opportunities for nature conservation

ECONOMIC INDICATORS:

Jobs, Skills and the Local Economy

00000Stable and sustainable localeconomy

00000Physical access to employment

00000Training and skills


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Guidancefor

SPECIFICLAND USEscenarios

DESIGNof

lighting

PURPOSEand HOURS



inENVIRONMENTAL

ZONES


lighting


Transport

00000Access to transport - securing amodal shift

00000Impact of transport

Table 1

Beneficial effect+

Detrimental effect-

Neutral effect0

Uncertain?


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SEA Screening Statement

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1 Introduction

1.1 The Council is preparing an External Artificial Lighting Supplementary Planning Document(SPD) which expands upon the saved policies for affordable housing in the Braintree District LocalPlan Review, adopted in July 2005. A Sustainability Appraisal is also being prepared to accompanythe SPD and both documents will be subject to public consultation early in 2009.

1.2 Sustainability Appraisals are required to incorporate the requirements for Strategic EnvironmentalAssessments (SEAs) as set out in the Environmental Assessment of Plans and ProgrammesRegulations 2004 which implements the European Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of theeffects of certain plans and programmes on the environment. The Regulations place an obligationon local authorities to undertake an SEA on any land use plan which sets the framework for futuredevelopment.

1.3 Where plans determine the use of only small areas at a local level, and for minor modifications,an exception may be made to this requirement if the local authority determines that the plan is unlikelyto have significant environmental effects. To assist in this determination, local authorities are requiredto undertake a screening process, based on a set of criteria specified in the Regulations, to assesswhether the plan is likely to have significant environmental effects. Before making its determination,a local authority is required to consult on the screening process with the three statutory bodiescomprising the Natural England, English Heritage, and the Environment Agency.

1.4 The Council considers that the External Artificial Lighting SPD will not have any significantenvironmental effects since it is simply a thematic document that supplements existing local planpolicies, and therefore a SEA under Directive 2001/42/EC is not required. A draft SEA ScreeningDocument was sent to the statutory bodies as part of the consultation process for their opinion onwhether or not a SEA is required. No contrary views were expressed.


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2 External Artificial Lighting Draft Supplementary PlanningDocument

2.1 There is an increasing use of external lighting, including security lighting, sports floodlightingand illumination of buildings. There are many benefits of external lighting; it provides for increasedpublic safety, increased security for people and property, enables more extensive use to be madeof sports facilities and car parks, and can improve the visual appearance of some buildings.Togetherwith these benefits are a number of disadvantages, mostly arising from the way in which the illuminationis provided. Lighting may have an adverse impact on people through glare and intensity; safety maybe compromised by contrast between light and shadow, and the environment may be affected byvarious forms of light spillage, including sky glow which can affect enjoyment of the night sky. Notall forms of external lighting require planning permission, but where they do so the Council will haveregard to the planning policies of the Braintree District Local Plan Review (LPR), adopted in 2005.

2.2 Three policies referring to external lighting were included in the Adopted Braintree District LocalPlan Review:

Policy RLP65 External Lighting

Proposals for external lighting which will require planning permission will only be permitted if:

1. The lighting is designed as an integral element of the development;2. Low energy lighting is used;3. The alignment of lamps and provision of shielding minimises spillage and glow, including into

the night sky;4. The lighting intensity is no greater than necessary to provide adequate illumination; and5. There is no significant loss of privacy or amenity to nearby residential properties and no danger

to pedestrians and road users;6. There is no unacceptable harm to natural ecosystems.

Policy RLP 135 Floodlighting of Sports Facilities

Floodlighting of sports facilities will be permitted, provided that it is not unacceptably intrusive, or hasan unacceptable impact upon the surrounding area and it minimises glare and light spillage from thesite.

Consideration will be given to the effect of light upon local residents, vehicle users, pedestrians,nocturnal fauna and the night sky.

Consideration will also be given to limiting the hours of use. Additionally the Council referred to lightingproposals in the general policy on the layout and design of development:

Policy RLP 90 Layout and Design of Development

The Council seeks a high standard of layout and design in all developments, large and small, in theDistrict. Planning permission will only be granted where the following criteria are met:


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….(x) The design and level of any lighting proposals will need to be in context with the local area.

2.3 Whilst the LPR policies were used to provide guidance to applicants for planning permission,and will for the time being continue so to do, the SPD provides additional guidance on how the LocalPlan Review policies will be used to raise the quality of proposals for lighting schemes. It coversdetailed issues such as sources of obtrusive light, general factors to be taken into consideration indetermining planning applications, specific factors to be considered in different types of uses andplanning conditions that are likely to be applied. It provides more detailed guidance for designers oflighting schemes and will enable a finer degree of control over lighting proposals. This will be to thebenefit of both people and the environment, and encourage a reduction of energy wastage in theinterests of sustainability.


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3.1 A sustainability appraisal is required for all DPDs and SPDs under the Planning andCompensation Act 1990, and must incorporate the requirements of the SEA Directive. However, theDirective is not applied to plans and programmes which “determine the use of small areas at a locallevel” or which are “Minor modifications” unless they are determined to be likely to have significantenvironmental effects.

3.2 The ODPM guidance on Sustainability Appraisal of Regional Spatial Strategies and LocalDevelopment Documents states in Appendix 1 that the criteria in Article 3.3 may on occasion applyto SPDs in the form of design guides or issues based documents that supplement policies in theDPD. It is for the local authority to determine whether there are significant environmental effects, andwhere they consider that a plan is exempt the Directive requires the local authority to follow a screeningprocedure by consulting the specified environmental bodies on whether or not there are likely to besignificant environmental effects. The determination and a statement of reasons for reaching it mustbe made available to the public and local authorities are advised to include it in the SA Report duringthe consultation process.

3.3 Even where there are no significant environmental effects, the SA will be used to assesswhether there are any economic or social effects. Since the Adopted Braintree Local Plan Reviewwas subject to a sustainability appraisal, the SPD SA will compare the effects of the External ArtificialLighting SPD with the effects of operating the LPR policies without any additional guidance.


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4 The Screening Process

4.1 Annex II of the Directive sets out the relevant criteria to be used in the screening process todetermine whether the Draft External Artificial Lighting SPD is exempt from the requirements ofDirective 2001/42/EC:

1. The characteristics of plans and programmes having regard to:

the degree to which it sets a framework for projects and other activitiesthe degree to which it influences other plans and programmesthe relevance for integration of environmental considerations in particular with a view to promotingsustainable developmentenvironmental problems relevant to the plan or programmerelevance for the implementation of Community legislation on the environment.

2. Characteristics and effects of the area likely to be affected having regard to:

probability, duration, frequency and reversibility of the effectscumulative nature of the effectstransboundary nature of the effectsrisks to human health or the environmentmagnitude and spatial extent of the effects (geographical area and size of population likely tobe affected)value and vulnerability of the area likely to be affected due to:special natural characteristics or cultural heritageexceeded environmental quality or standards or limit valuesintensive land useeffects on areas or landscapes which have a recognised national, Community or internationalprotection status.

4.2 The screening process required the Draft External Artificial Lighting SPD to be assessed againstthe criteria listed above and the results are listed in Table 1. The table shows that the SPD is unlikelyto have any significant environmental effects.


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5 Conclusions

5.1 The screening process has demonstrated that the External Artificial Lighting SPD will not haveany significant environmental effects and that a Strategic Environmental Assessment need not beincorporated into the Sustainability Appraisal.

Table 1 SEA Screening Process

ResponseSEA Directive Criteria

The SPD will not set a framework for any otherprojects or activities; rather it will supplementexisting planning policies in the Braintree DistrictLocal Plan Review which control the use ofexternal artificial lighting.

The degree to which the plan or programmesets a framework for projects and otheractivities, either with regard to the location,nature, size and operating conditions or byallocating resources.

The SPD simply provides more detailed guidanceon how the external lighting policies RLP 65 andRLP 135 will be implemented in different land usescenarios, and gives greater guidance to designersof lighting proposals.

The SPD is the lowest form of plan in the hierarchyand is subservient to the Local Plan Review andRegional Planning Guidance. It will not influencethese or any other plans or programmes.

The degree to which the plan or programmeinfluences other plans or programmes includingthose in a hierarchy.

The SPD will promote sustainable developmentin accordance with the principles of PPS12. Itsguidance will address issues of light pollution and

The relevance of the plan or programme for theintegration of environmental considerations inparticular with a view to promoting sustainabledevelopment. its impact on people and the environment. It will

also encourage a reduction in the intensity oflighting and in the amount of energy wasted, andcontribute to more sustainable development.

The SPD will not lead to environmental problems.A sustainability appraisal including social,economic and environmental effects has already

Environmental problems relevant to the plan orprogramme.

been undertaken on the policies and proposals ofthe Local Plan Review, including policies RLP 65and RLP 135.

The SPD has no relevance to the implementationof Community legislation on the environment.

The relevance of the plan or programme for theimplementation of Community legislation on theenvironment (e.g. plans and programmes linkedto waste management or water protection).


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The SPD will have positive social effects throughthe improvement in external lighting schemes.There are no adverse environmental effects –indeed local environments will be improved.

The probability, duration, frequency andreversibility of the effects.

The effects of the SPD will be limited to the periodover which it remains in force and for a period oftime thereafter. It will be further limited becausenot all lighting schemes will require planningpermission. The effects could be reversed if thepolicy was to be discontinued.

The cumulative nature of the effects will dependon the number of proposals for external lightingwhich will be subject to planning policies.The SPD

The cumulative nature of the effects.

gives good guidance which may help to improvethe quality of lighting schemes whether or not theyrequire planning permission.

The SPD applies only to development within theadministrative area of Braintree District Counciland will not impact on the neighbouring localauthorities unless a lighting proposal would belocated near to the District boundary.

The transboundary nature of the effects.

The SPD will not pose risks to human health;rather it may prevent accidents by discouragingglare from lighting schemes.

The risks to human health or the environment(e.g. due to accidents).

The SPD provides guidance on the provision ofexternal lighting in Braintree District, but its impactwill be limited geographically to those areas inwhich external lighting is proposed.

The magnitude and spatial extent of the effects(geographical area and size of population likelyto be affected).

The area to which the policy applies does not haveany special characteristics which will be harmedby the guidance in the SPD. Nevertheless the

The value and vulnerability of the area likely tobe affected due to special characteristics orcultural heritage, exceeded environmentalquality standards or limit standards, or intensiveland use.

guidance is likely to improve the standard ofexternal lighting in the more sensitive areas suchas the countryside and reduce the adverse impactsof external lighting in the more densely populatedsettlements.


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There are no areas or landscapes within BraintreeDistrict that have a recognised national, EuropeanCommunity or international status.

The effects on areas or landscapes which havea recognised national, Community orinternational protection status.


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