Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal process
The Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a statutory requirement in the preparation of LDF Development Plan Documents and has been an integral part of the preparation of the Core Strategy. The SA also incorporates Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as required by the SEA Regulations.
The purpose of the SA is to promote sustainable development by integrating sustainability considerations into the plan making process. This is done through a number of stages:
- the production of an SA Scoping report, which examined sustainability issues in the borough. The issues identified in the Scoping report were used to produce a Sustainability Appraisal framework against which the plan could be measured. The Scoping report was published for consultation in November and December 2008
- the appraisal of the Core Strategy Issues and Options, the results of which are presented within the SA report (March 2009)
- the appraisal of the Draft Core Strategy and preparation of the Draft SA report (March 2009) for consultation during April and May 2009
- the appraisal of the Submission Version Core Strategy and preparation of a revised (final) SA report (August 2009). This presents the results for the whole SA process including information gathered, the method used and the results of the appraisal of the Core Strategy as it has developed to date.
The SA was undertaken by consultants CAG and ENVIRON.
Documents:
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
The Core Strategy policies have also been screened for their impact on the integrity of European sites, as required under Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive. The HRA was undertaken by CAG Consultants.
In March 2009 Natural England, the statutory consultee for the HRA process, confirmed the conclusion reached in the HRA Screening report that an Appropriate Assessment of the Core Strategy is not required.
The HRA Screening Report (March 2009) was subsequently published for consultation alongside the Draft Core Strategy during April-May 2009.
Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA)
An EIA of the Core Strategy was carried out jointly by the Planning Division and external consultants CAG and Environ.
EIAs are a powerful tool, which can identify, and address, any potential for discrimination before new policies are introduced.
An initial EIA report was presented to the Lambeth Corporate EIA Panel in May 2009. A revised EIA, which took account of the initial findings from consultation on the draft Core Strategy carried out in April-May 2009 as well as further analysis of the evidence base, was subsequently presented to the Panel in July 2009. Being an iterative process, the EIA was updated in October 2009 to reflect changes made to the Submission Version Core Strategy.