Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment

Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) are processes used to ensure that the principles of sustainable development are considered in the preparation of planning policy (Development Plan Documents) and guidance documents (Supplementary Planning Documents).  SA and SEA are iterative processes which should be undertaken in parallel with the preparation of any planning documents, and should be used to inform decisions on options, and the content of the planning documents themselves.

SA is required in the UK by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.  All Development Plan Documents (DPDs) are subject to SA, but SA is not required for Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs), it is optional.

SEA is required in the EU by an EU Directive (2001/42/EC), commonly referred to as the “SEA Directive”, on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment.  Plans and programmes with the potential to have significant environmental effects (positive or negative) are required to undergo SEA.  All DPDs are subject to SEA, and SPDs have the potential for significant environmental effects, therefore may be subject to SEA.

Although SA and SEA are required by separate legislation, as there are many cross-overs between the two processes, government guidance (ODPM, 2005) recommends that the two processes be undertaken simultaneously.  Where SA is referred to it therefore incorporates the requirements of SEA.

There are various stages in the SA process, but the main outputs for each SA are the SA Scoping Report, which is consulted upon at the start of the plan preparation process, and the SA Report, which is consulted upon along with the draft of the relevant planning document (DPD/SPD), and is subsequently amended to accompany the final version of the planning document to which it applies.

The SA documents produced so far by the Council which remain relevant are listed below, along with an indication of their status.  The LDF and Core Strategy SA Scoping Report is an overarching SA Scoping Report which applies to the whole LDF, and the Core Strategy.  Any SA Scoping Reports produced for other documents should be read in conjunction with the LDF and Core Strategy SA Scoping Report.

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Updated 28 July 2011