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PLANNING I DESIGN I ENVIRONMENT

What is a Sustainability Appraisal and how do we apply it?

Sarah Grady, Senior Planner, TEP25 June 2019

THE ENVIRONMENT PARTNERSHIP (TEP)

• Multi-Disciplinary Practice:

• Environmental Planning

• Green infrastructure

• GIS

• Landscape and Urban Design

• Ecology

• Archaeology and Heritage

• Arboriculture

AGENDA

• What is SA / SEA?

• SEA and SA requirements

• Stages of SA – how to apply SA / SEA

• Site selection

• Benefits

• Key messages

WHAT IS SEA / SA ?

• SEA is a process which ensures environmental impact is considered at the formation of plans stage

• SEA is mandatory under the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (“the SEA Regulations”).

• SA does too, but takes in a broader scope of impacts, looking at the economy and local communities/wider society as well as the environment (i.e. the assessment headings looked at under sustainability).

• SA in the UK is mandatory under section 19 (5) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, which requires a local planning authority to carry out SA of each of the proposals in a plan, during its preparation.

WHAT IS SEA / SA ?

Equality Social Environment Economy Health

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Sustainability Appraisal

Equality Social Environment Economy Health

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Equality Social Environment Economy Health

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Sustainability Appraisal

Integrated / Inclusive Assessment

SA REQUIREMENTS

SEA DIRECTIVE REQUIREMENTS

• An outline of the contents, main objectives of the plan, and relationship with other plans and programmes;

• The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan;

• The environmental characteristics of the area likely to be significantly affected;

• Any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan, including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance….

• The environmental protection objectives, established at international, Community or national level, which are relevant to the plan and the way those objectives and any environmental considerations have been taken into account during its preparation;

SEA DIRECTIVE REQUIREMENTS

• The likely significant effects on the environment, including issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the interrelationship between the above factors – these effects should include secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term permanent and temporary, positive and negative effects);

• The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully possible offset any significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the plan;

• An outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with, and a description of how the assessment was undertaken including any difficulties (such as technical deficiencies or lack of know-how) encountered in compiling the required information;

• A description of measures envisaged concerning monitoring in accordance with Article 10;

• A non-technical summary of the information provided under the above headings

WHAT IS SA? Stage A – Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline, deciding on the scope

Stage B – Developing and refining options and assessing effects

Stage C – Preparing the SA Report

Stage D – Examination

Stage E – Monitoring

WHEN TO START THE SA…

• At the beginning!

• One of the first stages in the Local Plan process

STAGE A - SCOPING

• Stage A – Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline, deciding on the scope

• Wokingham Local Plan (2013-2036)• Fareham Local Plan (2016-2036)

STAGE A - SCOPING

• Stage A – Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline, deciding on the scope

STAGE A - SCOPING

SA FRAMEWORK

STAGE A - SCOPING

• Stage A – Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline, deciding on the scope

SA FRAMEWORK

STAGE B – ALTERNATIVES AND EFFECTS

STAGE B – ALTERNATIVES AND EFFECTS

STAGE B – ALTERNATIVES AND EFFECTS

• Stage B – Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects

1. Identify reasonable alternatives

2. Assess and compare the alternatives

3. Explain the choice of the preferred option

STAGE B – ALTERNATIVES AND EFFECTS

Need or demand - is it necessary?

Need or demand - is it necessary?

Mode or process - how should it be

done?

Mode or process - how should it be

done?

Location -where should it

go?

Location -where should it

go?

Timing and detailed

implementation - when and in

what sequence?

Timing and detailed

implementation - when and in

what sequence?

STAGE B – ALTERNATIVES AND EFFECTS

STAGE B – ALTERNATIVES AND EFFECTS

• Stage B – Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects

“Evaluate the likely effect of the Local Plan and alternatives”

“Considered way of mitigating adverse effects and maximising beneficial effects”

“Propose measures to monitor the significant effects of implementing the Local Plan”

STAGE C – PREPARE THE SA REPORT

• Leeds SAP SA

STAGE C – PREPARE THE SA REPORT

STAGE C – PREPARE THE SA REPORT

STAGE D – SEEK REPRESENTATIONS FROM CONSULTATION BODIES AND THE PUBLIC

STAGE E – POST ADOPTION REPORTING AND MONITORING

STAGE E – POST ADOPTION REPORTING

AND MONITORING

SCREENING

SITE SELECTION…

• Best practice is for the SA framework to be embed within the site selection process – this particularly relates to ‘suitability’

• Identify reasonable sites and assess against each other, then choose the preferred

• Filter:

• Size • Designations • Not in conformity with the Local Plan

• Use SA framework, but scope out the equal objectives

BENEFITS OF UNDERTAKING SA

….. Not just because we have to!

• Most benefits are intangible?

• Increased buy-in from stakeholders and the public – they have seen a transparent assessment of the alternatives and options

• Re-balance Local Plans

• Tells the story of the Local Plan process

KEY MESSAGES

• Don’t get lost in the Scoping Report

• Alternatives are the most likely to influence plan making at this stage and are most open to challenge

• Keep everything in same place on website – legal challenges due to ‘paper chase’

• Level of detail mirrors the detail in the plan

• Don’t group policies for appraisal – there will be differences that need to be captured but provide a summary table

• In SA and SEA, need to highlight how the legal requirements are being met – start each section by saying how it means the SEA directive to be transparent

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For more information:www.tep.uk.comsarahgrady@tep.uk.com07341 563783