Sustainability Appraisal (SA) & Integrated Assessment (IA)

Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment) is a mandatory requirement during the preparation of spatial planning documents in England & Wales and arising from the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Sustainability Assessment is increasingly used as a tool to support planning applications for development consent. Integrated Assessment aims for efficiencies by integrating various assessments where appropriate, including Health and Equalities Assessments.

Enfusion has extensive and wide experience of undertaking SAs of plans & programmes at all levels from national to local and in all sectors throughout the UK; we have also developed methods and prepared Guidance.
Click here to download our SA IA Capability Statement

Examples of Projects:

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

Team:
Enfusion: development of methods; specialists in AoS, SA/SEA, HRA/AA
MWH: project management, technical specialists
AoS/SEA & HRA of the new National Policy Statements; development of assessment methods, including CEA, strategic & local significance for t he Nuclear NPS – a national plan with potentially suitable sites for new power stations; appraisal & mitigation suggestions, including possibilities to inform the development consent process by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC); iterative & ongoing assessment & consultation with DECC plan makers and statutory consultees; outline monitoring strategy.
Following public consultation, re-appraisal of the other Energy NPSs EN1-5 (Overarching, Fossil Fuel, Renewables, Gas/Oil, Electricity Networks), including development of methods for alternatives assessment & cumulative effects; preparation of revised AoS Reports.

PROJECT: SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL(SA) & STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA)
SOUTH HAMS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

South Hams District Council

Retained by the Council since 2004 to carry out SA/SEA of South Hams Local Development Framework to submission stages and Examination in Public (EiP); Core Strategy, Development Control policies & other DPDs found sound by Inspectors and including the SA Reports. Close liaison with neighbouring Councils & other stakeholders to ensure a consistent approach, particularly in the context of the Plymouth Sub Region; preparation and facilitation of Roundtable Discussions on consultation responses; preparation & facilitation of Training Workshops for SA/SEA; preparation of outline Monitoring Strategy and SA/SEA Statements.
Cited as best practice SEA by RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/Images/seareport_tcm9-153343.pdf

Sustainability Threshold Assessment (STA) used for comparative options assessment, including site allocations; close and responsive iterative working with Officers, consultees & communities to integrate STA and SA/SEA wherever efficient and effective; development of STA from SA framework and integrated with participation work by the Prince’s Trust.
Sherford Area Action Plan including urban extension to Plymouth: provision of expert witness & specialist support, representing the Council at EiP of the Sherford AAP where a third party promoter challenged the SEA as a means of promoting another site for development. We successfully supported the Council against this legal challenge to the SEA process; the AAP was found sound by the Inspector.
Cited as Good Practice Case Study in research for Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG)
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/towardsmoreefficient

PROJECT: SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL/STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
HABITATS REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT/APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT of LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS

Dartford & Gravesham Borough Councils

SA/SEA of Local Development Frameworks with joint working where effective, including Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) - Appropriate Assessment screening in this historic area within the nationally important Thames Gateway. Integrated scoping methodology to identify commonalities for the Boroughs, to enhance/streamline plan-making and SA/SEA; appraisal of LDF Vision, Objectives and Strategic Options & Preferred Options; SA/SEA of DPDs and AAPs; preparation of SA Reports; Consultation and Participation.
Key Issues: new communities & integration with existing communities; new & affordable housing; creation of Jobs; migration; Infrastructure; Environmental Equity & Green Space; Flood Risk Management; Effective Engagement with Local People; Skills & Training.

PROJECT: SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL, STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT, EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT, HABITATS REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT
SOUTH WORCESTERSHIRE JOINT CORE STRATEGY

Wychavon, Malvern & Worcester City Councils

Cross-boundary joint working in a primarily rural sub-region located in West Midlands; integrated assessment, incorporating a holistic approach to health and equalities within the wider sustainability context; strong focus on active engagement of stakeholders, consultation & participation; iterative SA/SEA of Core Strategy Vision, Objectives and Strategic Options as they are developed; appraisal of Preferred Options, Preparation of SA Report; contribution to Monitoring Strategy.