Sustainability Appraisal of Local Development Framework

The Council must carry out a Sustainability Appraisal (SA), incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) requirements, for each Development Plan Document and some Supplementary Planning Documents.

The aim of the SA is to ensure the social, environmental and economic affects of plans and policies are assessed as part of the plan preparation process. A key element of the SA is the testing of plans and planning policies against the SA objectives in order to identify likely positive impacts and also determine whether any negative impacts could arise. The Sustainability Appraisal reports for the LDF documents are developed simultaneously to ensure the documents are informed throughout production so sustainable development is fully integrated. All SA reports will be published alongside the Local Plan documents and will be open to public consultation.

Sustainability Appraisal Stages

The SA process consists of the following stages:

  • Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the scope
  • Stage B: Developing and refining options
  • Stage C: Appraising the effects of the plan
  • Stage D: Consulting on the plan and the SA/SEA report
  • Stage E: Monitoring Implementation of the Plan

Sustainability Appraisal of Core Strategy

The Core Strategy has been informed by the SA process throughout its production and it has been adopted in April 2009.

The production of the Core Strategy was commenced with the SA Scoping Report(pdf, 1808KB). This report was the result of the first stage in the SA process, in which key environmental issues, objectives and indicators have been identified and produced. The objectives formed part of the SA framework against which the Core Strategy was assessed. The indicators are used to monitor the Core Strategy and the quality of life, the economy and the environment, for which data is collected and presented regularly. The SA Scoping Report was consulted on between 11 July to 15 August 2005. The Consultation responses(pdf, 29KB) on the SA Scoping Report were taken into account and the SA Framework was amended. Other changes were taken forward through the SA Report (produced at subsequent stage) and through the Authority's Monitoring Reports. Note that the SA Scoping Report is constantly under review and updates are generally included in the SA documents of DPDs - see below.

Sustainability Appraisal of Development Management Plan

The Development Management Plan (DMP) builds on the Core Strategy and includes more detailed policies for the management of development. The DMP was adopted later on 1 November 2011. The SA Adoption Statement demonstrates how environmental considerations have been taken account in the DMP.

Sustainability Appraisal of Twickenham Area Action Plan

The Twickenham Area Action Plan (AAP) is for Twickenham Town Centre and sets the planning policy framework for this area.

The previous Scoping Report(pdf, 1093KB) was revised and consulted on from 18 February to 1 April 2011. Following the consideration of all the submitted responses, a revised SA scoping report was published: Revised SA Scoping Report for the Twickenham AAP (May 2011)(pdf, 1585KB). All stages of the SA process were completed alongside the preparation of the Twickenham AAP; please go to the Twickenham AAP pages to view the relevant SA documents from each stage.

Sustainability Appraisal of Site Allocations Plan

Consultation on draft Scoping Report – 15 March to 19 April 2013

The Site Allocations Plan will include site specific proposals for the whole borough, other than Twickenham town centre, where the Twickenham AAP applies. The proposals will reflect the needs of the borough, site specific constraints and opportunities and will be subject to public consultation as part of the statutory planning process. The Plan looks ahead for 15 years after it is adopted in 2014.

For the purpose of the Site Allocations Plan, the existing Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (dated May 2011; see above) has been revised. The revised draft SA Scoping Report is the result of the first stage in the SA process and it includes an update of the baseline information and key environmental issues for the borough. From this information, the objectives and indicators have been reviewed and updated. The objectives form part of the SA framework, against which the proposals and policies of the Site Allocations Plan will be assessed.

The Scoping Report is now out for consultation from 15 March to 19 April 2013. It is primarily a consultation document for the three statutory consultees with environmental responsibilities in England (i.e. English Heritage, Environment Agency and Natural England). The Council is also inviting other relevant stakeholders with a sustainability remit to review the draft Scoping Report to find out whether the right sustainability issues are addressed.

Please submit the consultation response form to:

Responses will not be treated as confidential. A summary of the responses will be published on this page, and if appropriate and necessary, revisions will be made to the Sustainability Appraisal framework and a revised final Scoping Report may be published.

Contact the Local Development Framework Team

If you would like more information, please contact the Local Development Framework Team.

Email: ldf@richmond.gov.uk
Telephone 0208 891 7117