LDF sustainability appraisal

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Achieving sustainable development through planning

The achievement of sustainable development is the core principle underpinning the reformed planning system. Planning authorities need to ensure that sustainable development is treated in an integrated way in their development plans; this involves carefully considering the inter-relationship between:

• Social inclusion
• Protecting and enhancing the environment
• Prudent use of natural resources
• Economic development

Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment

Sustainability appraisal is a tool that helps in the achievement of sustainable development, through appraising the social, environmental and economic effects of a plan from the outset; it is integral to the plan making process. At Wiltshire Council, it performs a key role in providing a sound evidence base for planning documents and forms an integrated part of the Local Development Framework process.

Sustainability appraisal became mandatory for development plans under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. It incorporates an environmental assessment in accordance with the requirements of European Directive 2001/42/EC, which is commonly known as the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) directive.

Sustainability Appraisal scoping stage

The initial scoping stage sets the context and objectives for the sustainability appraisal, establishes the sustainability baseline and decides on the scope of the ongoing process. Early and effective community engagement through the scoping of the sustainability appraisal and engagement with key delivery stakeholders is a key component of sustainability appraisal.

Scoping consists mainly of:

• identifying relevant policies, plans, programmes
• collecting baseline information
• identifying the sustainability issues in Wiltshire
• establishing a framework containing a set of appraisal objectives

Information contained within the Scoping Report will form the basis of the appraisal of Local Development Framework documents.

Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report consultation responses

A Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report, meeting the requirements of the SEA Directive, was published and consulted upon for a five week period from 12th January 2009 to 16th February 2009. This consultation included the three statutory environmental organisations and a wide range of other organisations.  

The ‘Sustainability Appraisal: Statement of Community Engagement’ documents the consultation process that took place in 2009; it includes a summary of all consultation comments received, and the Council’s response to these comments. This information can be viewed as downloadable pdf documents, as follows:

• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Statement of Community Engagement.pdf 1000kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Statement of Community Engagement - Appendix 7 Summary of Responses.pdf 350kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Summary of Comments, Officer Response and Recommendation Schedule.pdf 1016kb

On 7th April 2009, the Implementation Executive considered the Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report. A copy of the report to the Implementation Executive is available to download below:

• Wiltshire Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - Report to the Implementation Executive.pdf 71kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - Report to the Implementation Executive Appendix 1.pdf 37kb

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Revised Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - April 2010

A revised version of the Scoping Report was published in April 2010 which takes account of all comments received through the public consultation exercise. The Scoping Report takes the form of a main report, non-technical summary and a number of topic papers, and these can be downloaded as follows:

• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Main Report.pdf 466kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Non-Technical Summary.pdf 237kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 1 Biodiversity .pdf 305kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 2 Land and Soil Resources.pdf 345kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 3 Water Resources and Flood Risk.pdf 238kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 4 Air Quality and Environmental Pollution.pdf 146kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 5 Climatic Factors.pdf 216kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 6 Historic Environment.pdf 198kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 7 Landscapes.pdf 412kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 8 Population and Housing.pdf 424kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 9 Healthy Communities.pdf 184kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 10 Inclusive Communities.pdf 353kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 11 Education and Skills.pdf 154kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 12 Transport.pdf 238kb
• Wiltshire SA Scoping Report April 2010 Topic Paper 13 Economy and Enterprise.pdf 283kb

These documents will be revised periodically to reflect any relevant changes in the sustainability baseline and sustainability issues in Wiltshire.

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Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - January 2009

The initial Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report, published in January 2009, can be downloaded through the following links:

• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Non-Technical Summary.pdf 239kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report.pdf 1.2mb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 1 - Biodiversity.pdf 689kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 2 - Land and Soil Resources.pdf 856kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 3 - Water Resources and Flood Risk.pdf 351kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 4 - Air Quality and Environmental Pollution.pdf 282kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 5 - Climatic Factors.pdf 392kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 6 - Historic Environment.pdf 307kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 7 - Landscapes.pdf 1.5mb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 8 - Population and Housing.pdf 783kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 9 - Healthy Communities.pdf 306kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 10 - Inclusive Communities.pdf 556kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 11 - Education and Skills.pdf 263kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 12 Transport.pdf 460kb
• Wiltshire Core Strategy Scoping Report Topic Paper 13 - Economy and Enterprise.pdf 391kb

Where can copies of the Scoping Report be found?

Copies of the scoping documents can be downloaded from the links above or copies can be requested by contacting the Spatial Planning Team. Copies of the revised Scoping Report can also be viewed at Wiltshire Council planning offices in Trowbridge, Devizes, Salisbury and Chippenham.

Previous sustainability appraisal work undertaken by former district authorities

The Wiltshire Council Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report builds on sustainability appraisal work already completed by the former district authorities.

You can view previous sustainability work undertaken by the former district councils, with the exception of Salisbury, through the link below.

• LDF Sustainability Appraisal Districts

Sustainability work already undertaken towards the Salisbury Core Strategy is available through the following link:

• South Wiltshire Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal.

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Last updated: 15 March 2011