Appendix C

Equality impact assessment (EIA) form: evidencing paying due regard to protected characteristics

(Form updated April 2023)

Heritage, People & Place: A Placemaking Strategy for Bolton Abbey (the masterplan)

If you would like this information in another language or format such as Braille, large print or audio, please contact the Communications Unit on 01609 53 2013 or email communications@northyorks.gov.uk.

Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) are public documents.  EIAs accompanying reports going to County Councillors for decisions are published with the committee papers on our website and are available in hard copy at the relevant meeting.  To help people to find completed EIAs we also publish them in the Equality and Diversity section of our website.  This will help people to see for themselves how we have paid due regard in order to meet statutory requirements. 

Name of Directorate and Service Area	Community Development, Planning
Lead Officer and contact details	Trevor Watson, Assistant Director (Planning) trevor.watson@northyorks.gov.uk Ruth Parker, Principal Planning Policy & Place Officer Ruth.Parker@northyorks.gov.uk
Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the EIA	N/A
How will you pay due regard? e.g. working group, individual officer	Consideration of the EIA by Equality Officer and Members.  The preparation of the Bolton Abbey Masterplan is a requirement of adopted Craven Local Plan Policy EC4A: Tourism-Led Development at Bolton Abbey.  It has been prepared by Bolton Abbey Estate and in collaboration with NYC and YNDPA as the two Local Planning Authorities, as well as key stakeholders including Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency.  There has also been engagement with the communities during its preparation.
When did the due regard process start?	2018 – Bolton Abbey Estate worked with Craven District Council during preparation of the Craven Local Plan.  Since adoption of the Local Plan in November 2019, the Estate have prepared the Masterplan in collaboration with key stakeholders (see above).

Section 1. Please describe briefly what this EIA is about. (e.g. are you starting a new service, changing how you do something, stopping doing something?)

All Development Plan Documents, including Neighbourhood Plans are accompanied by an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) to ensure that planning policies do not unlawfully discriminate against any protected characteristic. 

The requirement for the Bolton Abbey Masterplan to be produced is set out on adopted Craven Local Plan policy EC4A.  The Craven Local Plan itself has been subject to EIA, with the Local Plan Inspector concluding that the Craven Local Plan meets the relevant legal requirements in respect of the Public Sector Equality Duty set out in Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. 

See Craven local plan examination | North Yorkshire Council

Section 2. Why is this being proposed? What are the aims? What does the authority hope to achieve by it? (e.g. to save money, meet increased demand, do things in a better way.)

The requirement for a comprehensive strategy and masterplan for the Bolton Abbey Core Visitor Area is set out in adopted Craven Local Plan Policy EC4: Tourism Led Development at Bolton Abbey which specifically supports the provision of sensitive and sustainable tourism led, mixed use development within the Bolton Abbey Core Visitor Area, restricts larger scale development to three general locations, one within Bolton Abbey Village and two at Bolton Bridge. 

The policy requires the Masterplan to be produced to the satisfaction of the local planning authorities (NYC & YDNPA) in consultation with key stakeholders.

The Masterplan:

· sets out the overall strategy, the broad locations and development principles for new tourism related development in the Core Visitor Area that accord with the mix of tourism related uses and general locations for larger scale development identified in Policy EC4A.

· will be implemented by the Estate over future years by bringing forward detailed, appropriate and sensitive development proposals in the broad locations identified within the Core Visitor Area, in line with the development principles set out in the Masterplan. 

· will form a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications as development proposals within the Core Visitor Area will be expected to accord with the principles of the Masterplan and proposals which would prejudice the delivery of the related strategy for the Core Visitor Area will not be permitted.  Proposals that require planning permission would be progressed through the formal pre application and application process. 

The inclusion of Policy EC4A in the adopted Craven Local Plan and the requirement included in that policy for the Masterplan to be prepared and how it will be used by NYC demonstrates that the Council is serious about delivering quality development at Bolton Abbey.

Section 3. What will change? What will be different for customers and/or staff?

The Council’s Executive is recommended to:

• Endorse the Masterplan and confirm that it has been prepared to the satisfaction of the Council as Local Planning Authority for part of the Masterplan area,

• Agree that it will form a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications in the Bolton Abbey Core Visitor Area and,

• Agree that it is published on the NYC website.

Therefore, if endorsed by Executive, the Masterplan will be used to determine planning applications that come forward in the Bolton Abbey Core Visitor Area.  Development proposed in the Core Visitor Area will be expected to accord with the principles of the Masterplan and proposals which would prejudice the delivery of the related strategy for the Core Visitor Area will not be permitted. 

In relation to development proposals within the Core Visitor Area that relates to the Craven Local Plan are, pre-application enquiries shall be submitted to North Yorkshire Council, with pre-application advice sought from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, given proximity of the sites to the National Park boundary, key stakeholders including Historic England and the community prior to the submission of planning applications.  This will provide the community, stakeholders and the Council opportunities to input and help shape detailed development proposals that are brought forward in accordance with the principles of the Masterplan.

Section 4. Involvement and consultation (What involvement and consultation has been done regarding the proposal and what are the results? What consultation will be needed and how will it be done?)

As set out above, a requirement of Policy EC4A is that the Masterplan shall be produced to the satisfaction of the local planning authorities in consultation with key stakeholders, including Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency.  Since adoption of the Craven Local Plan in 2019, Bolton Abbey Estate has worked collaboratively with both local planning authorities, the former Craven District Council and existing North Yorkshire Council, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to prepare the Masterplan.  During this time officers from both authorities have provided significant input and comments on several drafts of the Masterplan, which have influenced and informed subsequent drafts.   Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency have also played an important role in its development. 

There has also been engagement with the local community during preparation of the Masterplan.

Prior to presentation of the Masterplan to S&R ACC and Executive, briefings were held with Members and Parish Councils/Meetings local to the Bolton Abbey Core Visitor Area.

Section 5. What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?

The Council’s Finance Team have concluded that there are no financial implications associated with the Masterplan.

Section 6. How will this proposal affect people with protected characteristics?	No impact	Make things better	Make things worse	Why will it have this effect? Provide evidence from engagement, consultation and/or service user data or demographic information etc.
Age		X		The Masterplan includes a section relating to inclusivity on page 82 of Appendix A (The Masterplan), which sets out that the creation of new visitor facilities are designed to meet the needs of people of all backgrounds, cultures and abilities and will broaden the appeal of the visitor area. Also, that proactive measures to reach a broader visitor base and to adapt the way that services are shaped and provided will help people from diverse backgrounds to feel welcomed and comfortable across the space. There will be continued investment in education, outreach and cultural programmes by the estate will generate more opportunities for people of all backgrounds, cultures and abilities to become aware of, connect with and experience Bolton Abbey and the wider Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Disability		X		As above
Sex	X			As above
Race		X		As above
Gender reassignment	X			As above
Sexual orientation	X			As above
Religion or belief	X			As above
Pregnancy or maternity	X			As above
Marriage or civil partnership	X			As above

Section 7. How will this proposal affect people who…	No impact	Make things better	Make things worse	Why will it have this effect? Provide evidence from engagement, consultation and/or service user data or demographic information etc.
..live in a rural area?		X		In seeking to address the issues identified by the Estate that currently dimmish the visitor offer, the Masterplan sets out the overall strategy, broad locations and development & design principles for new tourism related development in the Core Visitor Area that accord with the mix of tourism related uses and general locations for larger scale development identified in Policy EC4A.  During preparation of the Masterplan there has been community and stakeholder engagement and it is clear that there will be further opportunities for these groups to be involved in the prep application process associated with future development proposals.
…have a low income?	X			As above
…are carers (unpaid family or friend)?	X			As above
….. are from the Armed Forces Community	X			As above

Section 8. Geographic impact – Please detail where the impact will be (please tick all that apply)
North Yorkshire wide
Craven district	X Relating to the part of the Bolton Abbey Visitor Area that is located within the Craven Local Plan area.
Hambleton district
Harrogate district
Richmondshire district
Ryedale district
Scarborough district
Selby district
If you have ticked one or more districts, will specific town(s)/village(s) be particularly impacted? If so, please specify below.

Section 9. Will the proposal affect anyone more because of a combination of protected characteristics? (e.g. older women or young gay men) State what you think the effect may be and why, providing evidence from engagement, consultation and/or service user data or demographic information etc.

The proposal will have the same effect on all people with protected characteristics.

Section 10. Next steps to address the anticipated impact. Select one of the following options and explain why this has been chosen. (Remember: we have an anticipatory duty to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can access services and work for us)	Tick option chosen
1. No adverse impact - no major change needed to the proposal. There is no potential for discrimination or adverse impact identified.	X
2. Adverse impact - adjust the proposal - The EIA identifies potential problems or missed opportunities. We will change our proposal to reduce or remove these adverse impacts, or we will achieve our aim in another way which will not make things worse for people.
3. Adverse impact - continue the proposal - The EIA identifies potential problems or missed opportunities. We cannot change our proposal to reduce or remove these adverse impacts, nor can we achieve our aim in another way which will not make things worse for people. (There must be compelling reasons for continuing with proposals which will have the most adverse impacts. Get advice from Legal Services)
4. Actual or potential unlawful discrimination - stop and remove the proposal – The EIA identifies actual or potential unlawful discrimination. It must be stopped.
Explanation of why option has been chosen. (Include any advice given by Legal Services.) After completed this EIA relating to the Bolton Abbey Masterplan, it is considered that there would be no adverse impact or potential for discrimination.

Section 11. If the proposal is to be implemented how will you find out how it is really affecting people? (How will you monitor and review the changes?)

All adopted local plan policies are regularly monitored by North Yorkshire Council.

Section 12. Action plan. List any actions you need to take which have been identified in this EIA, including post implementation review to find out how the outcomes have been achieved in practice and what impacts there have actually been on people with protected characteristics.
Action	Lead	By when	Progress	Monitoring arrangements
See section 11 above

Section 13. Summary Summarise the findings of your EIA, including impacts, recommendation in relation to addressing impacts, including any legal advice, and next steps. This summary should be used as part of the report to the decision maker.

All Development Plan Documents are accompanied by an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) to ensure that planning policies do not unlawfully discriminate against any protected characteristic.  The Bolton Abbey Masterplan is not a DPD,  however its preparation is a requirement of Policy EC4A of the adopted Craven Local Plan which has been subject to an EIA.  The Local Plan Inspector concluded that the Craven Local Plan meets the relevant legal requirements in respect of the Public Sector Equality Duty set out in Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.

The requirement for and the content of the Masterplan has been considered as part of this EIA and it is considered that there would be no adverse impact or potential for discrimination.

Section 14. Sign off section

This full EIA was completed by:

Name: Ruth Parker

Job title: Principal Planning Policy & Place Officer

Directorate: Community Development

Signature:

Completion date:  12^th  August 2024

Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature):

Date: 13 August 2024