5-APPRAISAL

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LOCAL PLAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT APPRAISAL

GUIDE FOR APPRAISERS

11.0 INTRODUCTION

11.1 The Government has defined sustainable development objectives as follows:

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.

11.2 The sustainable development appraisal of the Bath and North East Somerset Local Plan has been formulated to reflect this integration of social, environmental and economic objectives within sustainable development.

11.3 The appraisal methodology ensures that those involved in the plan process think about the impacts and effects the policies and proposals are likely to have. It provides for a formal appraisal to be undertaken at stages of the plan’s development.

11.4 This is the first stage of the formal appraisal process and will assess the impacts of strategies within the Local Plan Issues Report, which will be published for public consultation in October 1999. The results of the appraisal will also be presented for public consultation early in 2000.

12.0 STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO UNDERTAKING THE APPRAISAL

12.1 Step One

Read the definitions of the sustainable development appraisal criteria.

12.2 For each criterion an objective has been defined with reference to land use planning. These objectives form the questions which are posed for each strategy. The definitions also provide information on how planning can impact on the criteria followed by examples of how policies would benefit them.

12.3 You may need to refer to the definitions again while carrying out the appraisal to ensure that you are taking a consistent approach.

12.4 Recording the Appraisal

Nominate someone in the group to take notes, record the results and ensure the group are being consistent in the way the criteria are interpreted.

12.5 A matrix has been designed to record the appraisal. This sets out the appraisal criteria together with questions which should be posed for each strategy.

12.6 The overall impact of the strategy on the criteria should be recorded. You should record whether the strategy will have a beneficial impact upon the criteria and help move towards sustainable development or whether it would move away from this objective. You should also record whether this impact would be marginal or significant. The following symbols should be used to record the impact:-

Significant beneficial/desirable impact++
Marginal beneficial impact+
Significant negative/undesirable impact--
Marginal negative impact -
Neutral or no impact=
Uncertain impact?

12.7 Some negative or positive impacts may be uncertain, in which case these symbols could be combined, for example to give:-

Uncertain positive impact+?
Uncertain negative impact -?

12.8 The commentary should record, where appropriate, the following:-

the main reason for recording the overall impact as you did; and
the nature of any uncertainty, where applicable, in recording the overall impact;

12.9 Any suggested amendments to the strategy, Plan or other Council strategies which would reduce negative impacts, or further improve positive ones, and any other comments should be recorded on the matrix sheet.

12.10 Step Two

Read through the first strategy to be appraised.

12.11 One by one, go through the criteria in the matrix and agree an answer to each question as to whether the strategy will have a positive or a negative impact and whether this will be marginal or significant.

12.12 Step Three

Repeat the process for each strategy and appraise each one separately.

12.13 Things to note:

Make it explicit. The appraisal will inevitably involve making value judgements about the likely impacts of the strategies and these may also depend on the way a strategy is implemented or developed into policies. It is important to record your judgements in full so others can see how you arrived at your conclusion.
Record the primary impacts. The primary impacts of each strategy should be recorded in the appraisal. Any significant secondary effects may also be noted.
Strategies proposing development. A number of strategies are concerned with proposing development. Whether development does or doesn’t take place is not an option and is itself important in achieving sustainable development in terms of meeting the social, economic and environmental needs of the District. The objective of the Local Plan is to ensure this development is in the most sustainable locations and forms to meet the District’s needs. The appraisal should therefore assess the strategies in terms of whether they would be likely to result in a more or less sustainable form of development.