Sustainability Appraisal (SA)

To ensure that planning documents contribute to meeting the challenge of sustainable development, the planning policy system includes a process of sustainability appraisal for each Development Plan Document (DPD). A Sustainability Appraisal Report will be produced to support each DPD and Supplementary Planning Document (SPDs) in the Local Development Framework (LDF) which are likely to have a significant effect. These reports will explain how the objectives of sustainability have been taken into account in the preparation of each planning document. This process also covers the requirements of Strategic Environmental Assessment.

The Scoping Report

The first stage of sustainability appraisal is to consider the scope of the appraisal process. A Scoping Report has been produced to cover the scope of all DPDs to be included in the Test Valley LDF and SPDs which are likely to have a significant effect. It includes a review of other relevant plans, policies and programmes that relate to the local area; information on the present state of the local environment (the baseline); a discussion of the local sustainability issues and a series of sustainability objectives that must be considered when preparing DPDs.

The Council approved its Scoping Report in June 2011. This can be downloaded below.

Consultation

Consultation on the Sustainability Appraisal Report for Revised Test Valley Borough Local Plan DPD.The Council is in the process of preparing a Revised Local Plan DPD. A draft document (Regulation 18, preferred approach stage) is subject to consultation between the 8th March and 26th April 2013 – for more information see the Revised Local Plan consultation page of this website.

As set out above, a process of sustainability appraisal (including strategic environmental assessment) has been undertaken to inform the preparation of the Revised Local Plan and this is documented in the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Report. A copy of this SA Report is provided below. The Sustainability Appraisal (including appendices and non-technical summary) is available for comment between the 8th March and 26th April 2013 (comments to be received by 4.30pm). If you would like to comment on this document, please do so using the same routes as available for the Revised Local Plan DPD. Only comments received within the consultation period can be taken into account.

Supporting Information

The Council has drawn on a range of sources of information as part of the sustainability appraisal process, including those within the Council’s evidence base. In addition, site promoters have also provided technical studies to inform consideration of options. Details and copies of the main studies that have been drawn on are available from the related page on Technical Studies referred to below.

Previous Stages

The Council produced a draft Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) and a Designations DPD for public consultation in early 2012. These were accompanied by SA Reports that were also subject to public consultation. The SA Reports are provided below for information.

For further information or any queries please call 01264 368000 or email planningpolicy@testvalley.gov.uk