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 th 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 SA 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 LDF 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 amended. Other changes were taken forward through the SA Report (produced at subsequent stage) and through the LDF Annual Monitoring Reports. Note that the SA Scoping Report is constantly under review and updates are generally included in the SA documents of DPDs.

Please go to the individual stages of the Core Strategy to view the relevant SA documents from each stage:

Sustainability Appraisal of Development Management DPD

The Development Management DPD (DM DPD) will build on the Core Strategy and will include more detailed policies for the management of development. The DM DPD has now reached the Submission stage. Following submission to the Secretary of State, an independent Planning Inspector will consider the “soundness” of the DM DPD. If the Inspector considers the DM DPD “sound”, it can be formally adopted later in 2011. The SA Adoption Statement, showing how environmental considerations have been taken account in the DM DPD, will be published once the DM DPD has been adopted.

Please go to the individual stages of the DM DPD to view the relevant SA documents from each stage:

Sustainability Appraisal of Twickenham Area Action Plan

This Area Action Plan (AAP) will be for Twickenham Town Centre and it will set the planning policy framework for this area.

For the purpose of the Twickenham AAP, the LDF SA Scoping Report (see above) has been revised. The draft SA Scoping Report for the Twickenham AAP(pdf, 1093KB) is the result of the first stage in the SA process and it includes baseline information and key environmental issues for the borough and Twickenham. From this information, objectives and indicators have been produced. The objectives form part of the SA framework against which the Twickenham AAP will be assessed. Note that whilst the document is scoping borough-wide, specific Twickenham details are included in some sections.

The Scoping Report, which was out for consultation from 18 February to 1 April 2011, was a consultation document for the three statutory consultees with environmental responsibilities in England, along with other relevant stakeholders with a sustainability remit. The Council asked for the views of the statutory consultees and any other organisation with interest in sustainability to find out whether the Scoping Report addresses the right issues.

The Council has considered all the submitted responses on the SA Scoping Report. Revisions to the SA Scoping Report have been made as a result of the consultation: Revised SA Scoping Report for the Twickenham AAP (May 2011)(pdf, 1585KB).

The next stages in the SA process will be completed alongside the preparation of the Twickenham AAP.

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 7322