Sustainability Appraisal

• Sustainability Appraisal Report of the Submission Core Strategy
• Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy Preferred Options

Under the new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, Local Authorities are required to carry out Sustainability Appraisals (SA) of Local Development Documents (LDD). Sustainability Appraisal aims to ensure that the policies and proposals in a Local Development Document reflect the principles of sustainable development:

• Social Progress which recognises the needs of everyone
• Effective protection of the environment
• Prudent use of natural resources
• Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council is carrying out assessments on spatial plans and strategies currently being developed. This includes the Core Strategy which will set out the long term Vision, Objectives and Strategy for the spatial development of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough.

To ensure that policies and proposals in the Local Development Framework contribute to sustainable development they will be subject to a Sustainability Appraisal (SA), incorporating the requirements of the EU Directive on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

The process of a SA / SEA requires an examination of the condition or baseline of the District as it is today, together with how it may change in the future. It also involves the identification of :

• the key issues which could affect the sustainability of the District;
• sustainability objectives and indicators against which policies and proposals in the LDF can be tested to determine how they contribute to sustainable development.

The objectives and indicators also enable the success of the LDF (in sustainability terms) to be tested once the plan is adopted. 

For more information please contact Karen Jones, Planning Policy Officer - 01743 281314. Or email karen.jones@shrewsbury.gov.uk