State of the Environment Report

North Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Natural Heritage appointed WSP Environmental Limited in August 2005 to prepare a State of the Environment Report for North Lanarkshire.

In response to changes in the planning system in Scotland, and the changing development context in the North Lanarkshire region, the Council is modernising its system of development plans for the area. In particular, a new area-wide Local Plan for North Lanarkshire is being proposed. This State of the Environment Report is intended to provide valuable information to the Local Plan process and to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the developing Plan which is currently underway.

The report has been structured around the identification of ten environmental topics which collectively set the context for the environmental baseline in North Lanarkshire. Within each topic chapter, the components of the baseline environment have been identified along with the associated trends and pressures on the resource. Analysis of this information and the stakeholder workshop has led to identification of a series of key environmental assets and the report suggests appropriate measures for protection and enhancement of these assets.

Many of the environmental topics presented have cumulative significance both through synergies and interactions between environmental resources and as a result of their geographical locations. This report includes a discussion on the significance of these cumulative baseline features and discusses the implications of climate change which is a cross-cutting issue of particular significance for planning today. The community also plays an important role in many aspects of the North Lanarkshire environment, through shaping the way in which land is used, by applying a demand and pressures on land such as for housing, through the use of environmental resources and through land management activities. The report has identified the linkages between communities in their environment and in particular the importance of accessibility of the community to areas of open and green space in the urban, sub-urban and rural hinterland areas.

This State of the Environment Report will provi de an environmental baseline for use within the Strategic Environmental Assessment of future plans and strategies within North Lanarkshire. This will allow future planning to take all aspects of the environment into consideration in developing sustainable plans for land use, community and environmental resources in North Lanarkshire.

• Introduction
• Purpose of the Report
• Methodology and Approach
  • Approach
  • Scope of the Report
  • Data Issues
• Land Uses in North Lanarkshire
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resource
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Ecology
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resourse
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Aquatic Environment
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resourse
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Geology and Soils
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resourse
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Waste and Resources
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resourse
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Energy
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resourse
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Landscape
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resource
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Cultural Heritage
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resourse
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Air Quality and Noise
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resourse
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Communities
  • Context
  • Baseline Characteristics
  • Trends in the Resourse
  • Pressures on the Resource
  • Condition of the Resource
  • Key Assets
  • Issues for Resource Mangement and Protection
  • Data Gaps and Limitations
  • References
• Cumulative Assets
  • Introduction
  • Geographic Assets
  • Linked Assest
  • Climate Change
  • References
• Key Issues for North Lanarkshire's Environment
  • Introduction
  • Summary of Key Issues
  • Challenges for North Lanarkshire
  • The Future for North Lanakshire's Environment
• Appendix

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