Enables users to access layers of baseline information, data and narratives to explore our environment, economy, people, places, movement and infrastructure to learn and develop insights about our area.
The digital portrait will be used to identify issues and inform preparation of the North Yorkshire Local Plan.
Core evidence not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the North Yorkshire Local Plan
The North Yorkshire Local Plan is being prepared under the new plan-making system, which removes the requirement to carry out SA, which existed under the legacy plan-making system. However, the legal requirement for SEA remains therefore the plan will be subject to this.
The SEA process will be used as a check and balance to the content and direction of the North Yorkshire Local Plan and will suggest a range of mitigation (where necessary) to address environment effects.
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of the North Yorkshire Local Plan
To assess the plan’s impact on any European designated environmental sites – whether this be via direct or in-direct impacts and identify its implications.
The HRA process will be used as a check and balance to the content and direction of the North Yorkshire Local Plan and will suggest a range of mitigation (where necessary) to address any environmental impacts on European designated Sites.
Health Impact Assessment (HIA)
To consider the potential health outcomes of planning policies.
The assessment will be used to ensure policies in the Local Plan include actions to best prevent ill-health, promote good health and reduce health inequality.
Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA)
To evaluate how emerging planning policies and land allocations will affect different groups of people in the community with protected characteristics.
Ensures a Local Plan complies with the Equality Act 2010 Public Sector Equality Duty. The assessment will be used to ensure policies in the Local Plan promote equality and include actions to reduce inequality.
North Yorkshire Local Plan Engagement Strategy
To set out how we will engage with communities during plan preparation as well as identifying specific stakeholders and a range of methods the council might utilise to carry out effective engagement.
Record to be kept in terms of responses to key issues in the plan-making process and how they have been addressed in the North Yorkshire Local Plan.
Statements of Common Ground with Other Plan Making Authorities
We have a responsibility to engage proactively and positively with other plan making authorities to understand and address any strategic, cross-boundary matters.
The Statements will address cross boundary issues.
National Planning Policy Framework Statement of Compliance
To ensure the preparation of a robust North Yorkshire Local Plan it will be important to check for the consistency of the Plan against the expectations of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The Statement of Compliance, submitted at Gateway 3, will identify how policies conform with the National Planning Policy Framework.
Statement of Soundness
To show how North Yorkshire Council considers that its evidence demonstrates that the plan is sound.
The Statement of Soundness, submitted at Gateway 3, will identify how the evidence demonstrates that the plan is sound.
Delivering sustainable growth
New homes and job planned in the places which are most suitable, with good access to services, infrastructure and public transport.
To establish levels of housing and employment development needed over the plan period, based on local needs and to provide an integrated evidence base that ensures local housing targets dovetail with employment land needs.
Will inform housing and employment growth strategies and targets.
To assess the suitability and deliverability of sites to accommodate development. Looking at the suitability of land for a range of development types against a range of different environmental, infrastructure, accessibility, and deliverability constraints which could impact on the achievement of development.
This detailed assessment will ensure that any land allocations made for development in the Plan can be demonstrated to be deliverable over the plan period.
To group settlements into tiers depending on their role/function, services, population.
Evidence will help inform spatial strategy work by setting out which settlements are most sustainable in terms of access to services/facilities, public transport, etc.
Delivering sustainable growth information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
Housing and employment land supply data
To set out current permissions, allocations and commitments and inform level of growth required throughout plan period.
Will feed into level of allocations needed based on current permissions, allocations and commitments.
Stage 2 Site Assessment document
To categorise all sites submitted via the Call for Site, sift out wholly unsuitable sites, and assess the availability, suitability, and achievability of remaining sites.
This high-level assessment will align with the site assessment methodology to ensure that any land allocations made for development in the Plan can be demonstrated to be deliverable over the plan period.
Site Assessment Methodology (Minerals and Waste)
To assess the suitability and deliverability of sites for mineral extraction and waste management facilities. Looking at the suitability of land against a range of different environmental, infrastructure, accessibility, and deliverability constraints which could impact on the achievement of development.
This detailed assessment will ensure that any land allocations made for minerals and waste development in the Plan can be demonstrated to be deliverable over the plan period.
New Settlement Critical Friend
To inform decisions on whether new settlements are appropriate for North Yorkshire and relating to decisions on scale and strategy choices available.
Helps ensure appropriate choices are identified and decisions made in relation to delivering sustainable growth via the opportunity presented by new settlements.
Settlement Boundaries
To inform approach to defining settlement boundaries for the local plan.
Define settlement boundaries in the local plan, which will identify areas of built environment where development is likely to be broadly acceptable in principle.
Green Belt Assessment
To assess the extent to which land in the Green Belt contributes to Green Belt purposes and to identify grey belt land, in accordance with the NPPF and Planning Practice Guidance.
The review will inform potential Green Belt boundary alterations, contributing towards determining whether areas should remain part of the Green Belt or whether they should be removed to help meet the housing and/or employment development requirements.
Identification of grey belt land will also inform the determination of planning applications.
Securing infrastructure to support growth
Development is supported by the roads, schools, health services, utilities, green spaces and community facilities needed to make places work well.
Securing infrastructure to support growth information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
Growth Potential Study
To assess barriers to growth, understand how growth opportunities could be unlocked, and identify areas of growth potential.
Evidence will identify areas where development could be accommodated, to inform (in turn) the generation of high-level spatial strategy options (the GPS will not allocate sites, make policy choices or select a preferred strategy).
Infrastructure Capacity Study (ICS)
To assess current availability and capacity of existing infrastructure across the plan area.
It will look at planned investment, known constraints, opportunities and cross-boundary issues. It will also help assess the infrastructure implications of our emerging strategy to deliver sustainable growth across the plan area.
Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP)
To set out the infrastructure required, the estimated costs, timescales and responsible bodies in terms of delivery.
Will identify infrastructure required to support the selected growth strategy.
Waste Arisings and Capacity Study
Identifies current and forecasted waste arisings and available management capacity.
Evidence will identify future waste infrastructure requirements and capacity gaps.
Local Aggregate Assessment
Identifies current provision and future requirement for aggregate minerals.
Evidence will identify if there is a requirement for increased provision of aggregate minerals either by expansion of current sites or creation of new ones.
Viability Assessment of the North Yorkshire Local Plan
To assess the plan to determine what policy and infrastructure requirements are viable without the need for viability appraisals at the planning application stage, in line with the NPPF.
Viability Assessment is a critical component of the Local Plan process to ensure its expectations can realistically deliver viable development.
Green Infrastructure Strategy
The strategy will set out an understanding of the wide variety of ecological, recreation and amenity spaces within North Yorkshire and how they link into corridors and networks, as well as identifying opportunities to strengthen such networks moving forward. To identify benefits to health and wellbeing, climate resilience, enhance biodiversity, support active travel.
The GI Strategy will ensure there is a strategic understanding of the relationship of green and blue spaces in North Yorkshire and how they can be improved during the plan period looking to deliver benefits and access to nature.
Creating a prosperous economy including resilient centres
The Local Plan supports jobs, businesses, town centres and the rural economy, with enough land and premises for future needs.
Annual monitoring of employment land, in terms of permissions and completions and creation / loss of employment land and space is of key importance in terms of understanding future needs and demand.
The AMR evaluates adopted local plan policies relating to employment land which will inform preparation of new policy approaches in the North Yorkshire Local Plan.
Annual monitoring of retailing, in terms of permissions and completions and the creation / loss of retail space is of key importance in terms of understanding future needs and demand.
The AMR evaluates adopted local plan policies relating to retail and town centres which will inform preparation of new policy approaches in the North Yorkshire Local Plan.
Creating a prosperous economy including resilient centres information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
North Yorkshire Town Centres, Retail and Leisure Study, including Town Centre Health Checks
To assess current and future town centres, retail, leisure and visitor needs by identifying a network and hierarchy of centres, define centre boundaries, need for retail, office, leisure and other town centre uses, inform site allocations to meet need, sequential approach and impact considerations.
Evidence will identify future retail and leisure needs for our centres and will inform retail, leisure and visitor economy local plan policies.
Health and sustainable communities including GBI and community facilities
People live in places with access to homes, services, open space, green and blue infrastructure, and community facilities that support health and wellbeing.
Health and sustainable communities including GBI and community facilities information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
Playing Pitch Strategy
To set out where surpluses and deficits exist and recommends local standards for playing pitches in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility, in line with the requirements of Sport England for Local Plans.
The Strategy provides an understanding of any deficiencies in relation to playing pitches which may need to be addressed through new development and will inform policies to achieve that.
Built Sports Facilities Strategy
To provide an understanding of any deficiencies in relation to built facilities which may need to be addressed through new development.
The Strategy will inform plan policies to help address any deficiencies identified through new development.
Open Space Needs Assessment
To assess the current and future supply and demand of formal and informal open space, and to establish where surpluses and deficiencies arise.
The assessment will inform plan policies to help address any deficiencies identified through new development and recommend local standards.
Green Infrastructure Strategy
The strategy will set out an understanding of the wide variety recreation and amenity spaces within North Yorkshire and how they link into corridors and networks. To identify benefits to health and wellbeing, including climate resilience, biodiversity, supporting active travel.
The GI Strategy will ensure there is a strategic understanding of the relationship of green and blue spaces in North Yorkshire and how they can be improved during the plan period which will support a policy approach to support health and wellbeing.
Meeting specific housing needs
The Local Plan helps provide the right mix of homes, including affordable housing and homes for people with different needs.
To provide an assessment of the need for affordable homes (including types and tenure) and the type of market homes needed. The report also identifies the need for specialist housing including wheelchair accessible, student, older people, and service family accommodation.
The assessment will support a policy approach which will ensure new development continues to meet the current and future housing needs of North Yorkshire residents.
We are required to keep a register of those wishing to secure plots for self/custom-build properties, monitor permissions and, through the preparation of the local plan, seek opportunities to meet such needs.
The register and monitoring will inform the need for self/custom-build plots and how this will be addressed in the local plan.
Annual monitoring of housing land, in terms of permissions and completions and creation / loss of housing land and space is of key importance in terms of understanding future needs and demand.
The AMR evaluates adopted local plan policies relating to housing which will inform preparation of new policy approaches in the North Yorkshire Local Plan.
Meeting specific housing needs information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
National Described Space Standards (NDSS) Background Paper
To demonstrate there is a need for all new dwellings to be built to NDSS and that it is economically viable to do so in North Yorkshire
Evidence will support a policy approach which will ensure new houses are built to a high-quality standard which meet the current and future needs of North Yorkshire residents
Internal Council Tax/Business Rates/Tourism records
To assess the level of second homes and short term lets within the plan area and to identify hot spots.
This evidence will inform any local plan policy approach relating to the restriction of second homes and short term lets as necessary.
Gypsy and Travellers Accommodation Assessment
To provide an assessment of current and future need for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation in the North Yorkshire Council area.
To support allocation of suitable G&T sites to meet identified need and to inform the strategy for delivery.
Gypsy and Traveller Site Assessment and Pitch Delivery Assessment (PDA).
To establish the availability, suitability, and achievability of existing Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson sites in North Yorkshire to meet needs identified in the most recent GTAA.
To support allocation of suitable G&T sites to meet identified need and to inform the strategy for delivery.
Evidence will aim to identify as a Coastal Change Management Area (CCMA) any area likely to be affected by physical changes to the coast, estuaries or tidal rivers, over the next century.
Embedding a CCMA into a local plan policy is a key adaptation avoidance action in safeguarding land that may be subject to future coastal erosion risk from inappropriate development and more widely create climate resilient places.
Achieving environment resilience including climate change, flood risk, coastal change, renewables information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)
To provide an understanding of flood risk across the plan area and set parameters for Sequential and Exception tests.
SFRA: Level 1 will inform strategic policies and site allocations in our Local Plan by assessing the risk of flooding from all sources taking account of climate change and the cumulative impact of development.
The Level 2 SFRA is a more detailed assessment of flood risk where development cannot be accommodated in areas with the least risk of flooding.
Shows current and future flood risk areas accounting for the impacts of climate change, so the Local Plan can locate future growth in the most sustainable locations.
Opportunities for renewable energy generation through assessment of locations/capacity for connections from power companies.
To assess and identify potential locations for large scale renewable projects.
To identify a pipeline of potential sites with any connection constraints identified.
Air Quality Impact Assessment
To consider the presence of air quality management areas (AQMAs), clean air zones, and the cumulative impacts of individual sites on air quality.
Evidence will support a strategic approach to air quality, ensuring development proposals will not themselves cause unacceptable levels of pollution, either alone or in combination with other developments, taking into account communities which may be particularly vulnerable to its effects. Evidence will inform a policy approach which secures net improvements in overall air quality where possible.
Achieving and protecting high quality environments
The natural environment, landscapes and heritage of North Yorkshire are protected and improved, with positive outcomes for biodiversity and nature recovery.
To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of these designated areas.
To understand the impact potential allocations and policies could have on the protected landscapes. To ensure the duty to seek to further the statutory purposes of Protected Landscapes is complied with (as amended by the LURA 2023).
Mandated by the Environment Act 2021, its aim is to halt and reverse biodiversity decline by mapping spatial priorities and actions for nature restoration.
Provide important ecological evidence to inform planning policies, green infrastructure assessments, and mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) targeting.
Used in the designation, monitoring and management of conservation areas. They provide details of an area's special interest, identify potential threats and opportunities for enhancement and help to guide future actions and decisions.
These appraisals identify the specific architectural and historical characteristics that make North Yorkshire unique. They provide the robust evidence base required to shape, justify and enforce heritage policies within the Local Plan, ensuring new development preserves or enhances the historic environment.
Achieving and protecting high quality environments information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
Landscape Character Assessment
To understand the distinctiveness of the landscape of North Yorkshire.
To understand the impact potential allocations and policies could have on the landscape.
Green Infrastructure Strategy
The strategy will set out an understanding of the wide variety of ecological, recreation and amenity spaces within North Yorkshire and how they link into corridors and networks, as well as identifying opportunities to strengthen such networks moving forward. To identify benefits to health and wellbeing, climate resilience, enhance biodiversity, support active travel.
The GBI Strategy will ensure there is a strategic understanding of the relationship of green and blue spaces in North Yorkshire and how they can be improved during the plan period, providing support for natural environment policies.
Heritage Impact Assessments
To evaluate how a proposed development will affect an historic asset. Specifically, they will be used to inform site allocations, to conserve and enhance heritage assets and identify mitigation and avoidance.
These assessments help support conservation and enhancement of historic environment resulting in positive outcomes for heritage assets. Specifically, they will inform site allocations and requirements.
Heritage Assessment
To identify main features, risks, benefits and opportunities for heritage assets and the wider historic environment.
Heritage assessment, as required in the draft NPPF, will help inform local plan heritage policies and a positive strategy for the historic environment. It is used to understand the wider benefits that heritage can bring to social, cultural and environmental benefits that heritage can bring.
Historic Environment Record
To provide a comprehensive, publicly accessible, and dynamic index of known archaeological sites, historic buildings, and landscapes.
Under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA), local authorities in England are legally required to maintain and provide access to a public Historic Environment Record (HER).
This record will inform the plan by helping to ensure that development respects both designated (for example, listed buildings) and non-designated (for example, archaeological finds) heritage assets.
Achieving high-quality design
New development is well designed, works well for the people who use it and reflects the character and distinctiveness of North Yorkshire.
Achieving high-quality design information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
Design support for development management
To tackle recurring design issues with current development management proposals.
Will inform preparation of design policies
Ensuring sustainable transport and accessibility
The Local Plan supports places where people can more easily walk, cycle, use public transport and reach services and facilities.
Ensuring sustainable transport and accessibility information not yet available
Evidence name
Aim of evidence
Relevance to the North Yorkshire Local Plan
Transport evidence
To establish a proportionate travel and transport baseline to test spatial strategy options, identify infrastructure pressures and focus modelling on preferred options
To understand the impact various spatial growth options will have on infrastructure and identify opportunities for a vision-led approach to be met.
Transport modelling
To test a range of growth scenarios across specific settlements as required and consider implications on current and proposed infrastructure
To understand the impact various spatial growth options will have on infrastructure based on current and planned scenarios
