REVISED DEPOSIT DRAFT 2003

Pre-Inquiry Changes August 2004

Further Pre-Inquiry Changes November 2004

TECHNICAL APPENDIX

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT APPRAISAL

Bath & North East Somerset Local Plan Revised Deposit Draft 2003

See Introduction after CONTENTS SECTION

INTRODUCTION

This report is the Technical Appendix to the Sustainable Development Appraisal for the Bath and North East Somerset Local Plan Revised Deposit Draft 2003.  It is based on an appraisal of the 2002 Deposit Draft undertaken by teams of officers with support and guidance from consultants over a three-day intensive period in late October 2001, with changes and additional appraisal carried out by consultants in September-October 2004 to reflect changes in the Revised Deposit Draft and in sustainability policy and planning context..

Local Plans contain policies and proposals that are used to regulate the development and use of land in the public interest.  The Local Plan is the key document against which planning applications are determined.  The purpose of the Appraisal is to improve the Plan in terms of its ability to deliver sustainable development.  The findings of this appraisal will be used to amend the plan's policies and proposals after the forthcoming deposit period for the Local Plan that begins in January 2002.

A description of the process and a summary of the outcomes is contained in the 'Summary' of the Sustainable Development Appraisal, available as a separate publication or it can be viewed on the web site - www.bathnes.gov.uk.  Not all policies were appraised.  Those considered as having a minimal impact on sustainability issues were omitted. Some with similar outcomes were merged.

The matrices that follow are in effect the working notes of the appraisal.  The use of the matrix however is only a tool to assess the impacts of policy, it is not, on its own, a method for evaluating how sustainable the plan is.  It is not appropriate or meaningful to count the number of pluses or minuses and try to reach any conclusions.  It is a process whereby comments and suggestions that should improve the sustainability of plans can be recorded. It is these comments that are of value, as these recommend or suggest changes to the plan that make it more sustainable.  These recommendations are then taken on board together with other representations received and any other material considerations to further improve the policies in the plan.'

Symbols were used in the recording of impacts and their definitions are as follows:

+       Positive impact

-        Negative impact

O      No impact

I        Depends on implementation

?       Questionable impact

=       Neutral

Symbols were combined where needed.

The Council has not yet agreed to any of the comments or recommendations proposed in the appraisal.

If you have any questions please contact Keith Goodred, Team Leader – Planning Policy, Bath and North East Somerset Council on 01225 477611, or e-mail Keith_Goodred@bathnes.gov.uk