Sustainability Appraisal

Sustainability Appraisal (SA)

Sustainable development is a widely agreed preferred method of development. The term has grown into common usage since the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992. Sustainable development has many different expressions it can be defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,"

Sustainable development has become a key issue in international and national law and British legislation including the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. This new legislation requires Local Planning Authorities to carry out Sustainability Appraisals (SA) to inform policy making and monitor planning so that we can achieve more sustainable development.

As part of the formulation of all documents in the LDF we have prepared Sustainability Appraisal Objectives. These objectives will test the emerging policies in the LDF.

Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report

The SA Scoping Report has been prepared in Draft and is available to view on the link below.

The Scoping Report contains several sections firstly how the SA fits into the LDF process, secondly the baseline information (what we called the ‘District Portrait’) describing the key characteristics of the District, thirdly the key sustainability issues for the District and also the Objectives, targets and indicators of the SA.

The objectives of the SA are particularly important, as they will influence the policy formulation of all policies within the LDF. The objectives will also be used to monitor the effectiveness of policies within the plan.

Sustainability Report of the Core Strategy

This report will test all the options in the Core Strategy against the Sustainability Appraisal Objectives. The report also shows how the SA has influenced the production of the Core Strategy. The Sustainability Report of the Core Stategy is available below.

Leaflet

A leaflet was produced, which gives some background and explains the LDF, which includes the SA objectives.

The leaflet was sent out to over 300 organisations, stakeholders and individuals giving them the opportunity to comment on the SA objectives during June and July 2005. After the consultation period we received 50 responses, which were reviewed and the relevant changes were made. You can see a summary of the consultations in the report below with Officer comments. A second period of consultation took place before finilising the report, further changes made can be seen in appendix 5 in the final report below.

The Scoping Report is an evolving document due to more up to date information becoming available, better ways of doing things, changing guidance and best practice advice. Following the consultation and also changes due to the reasons stated the updated Scoping Report is available below.

The LDF Core Strategy preferred options stage i.e. refining the options (or policy directions) went out for 6 week consultation on the 29/9/06. The preferred options deal with the problems (or issues) in the district. As part of this process we have to produce a Sustainability Report to be available for public consultation at the same time as the Preferred Options.

S.A. Scoping Report
Draft Scoping Report
Leaflet

S.A. Scoping Report
Draft Scoping Report - Part I
Draft Scoping Report - Part II
Draft Scoping Report - Part III
Consultation Report
Final Report
Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy
Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy Appendix 1-96
Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy Appendix 97-187

Further information

Contact:- Clare Flowers (Senior Planning Officer) clare.flowers@lewes.gov.uk
Call 01273 484411
Southover House
Southover Road
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 1AB