DRAFT Sustainability Appraisal Report for the Emerging Local Plan ...

Section 3.
Introduction
Framework and Methodology
3.1 The following chapter describes the methodology used to carry out the SA and assess likely significant
effects resulting from the implementation of the Local Plan. In line with Government Guidance 16 the
assessment methodology integrates both the SA appraisal and SEA impact assessment to function
within a hierarchy of assessments. The Council has refined this assessment hierarchy into a six level
assessment procedure ranging from basic Level 1 – pre‐screening assessment to the highly detailed
Level 6 – feature level assessments ( 17) .
3.2 The SA framework methodology used for the appraisal and monitoring implementation of the Local
Plan is based on a number of sustainability objectives aligned originally to the Integrated Regional
Framework. (18) These were realigned following an update in 2008 to the Regional Strategic Framework
(RSF) which is available at Appendix 6. Current sustainability objectives and their current condition are
listed in Table 5 below.
3.3 Sustainability objectives describe different aspects of concept of sustainability. The overriding
presumption is that together when met, the result will be a sustainable borough. Obviously, it would
be difficult for Runnymede to be sustainable in an otherwise un‐sustainable world. To this end some
objectives appear more compatible with the locally specific conditions found in Runnymede than
others. All however generally promote the goal of sustainable development, and an expected strong
compatibility was found between sustainability objectives and SEA Factors and is presented in Figure 4.
For this reason, it is reasonable to use relevant assessments across SA and SEA frameworks.
3.4 However, the RSF was developed, updated and reviewed by the now abolished South East of England
Regional Assembly (SEERA). Following the Government’s decision to abolish SEERA, the Council has had
to commence work to replace the RSF in the form of a Local Sustainability Framework (LSF) which will
incorporate a set of Sustainable Development Indicators and will be consulting on the shape of this
replacement in the near future. Until the Council adopts its new LSF, it makes prudent sense to
continue to use the RSF to continue to provide the sustainability framework with which to appraise
relevant Council plans. It is also noted that the Government has recently launched a consultation on a
new set of ‘Sustainable Development Indicators’ 19 , the outcome of this consultation will be monitored
for similarity.
3.5 Whilst neither the SEA Directive nor the SEA Regulations prescribe who is to carry out an SEA, it is
normally a task of the Responsible Authority who is preparing and/or adopting a plan or programme
such as the Local Plan. However, paragraph 2.21 of the Government’s guidance on SEA suggests that 12 :
“Good practice emphasises the value of integrating the assessment with the plan‐ or
programme‐making process. Many benefits of SEA may be lost if it is carried out as a
completely separate work‐stream or by a separate body…”
3.6 The Council adopted this good practice and developed its own in‐house team with the capacity to carry
out both SA and SEA. All assessments of policy effects 20 have been carried out by members of the
Impact Assessment, Policy and Environmental Health (Contaminated Land and Air Quality Officers)
teams using a semi‐controlled ‘blind’ evaluation technique. The whole process has been overseen by
the Council’s Senior Impact Assessment Officer. By doing so it ensured the concept of
integrating/embedding sustainable development and environmental impact assessment into the plan
making process has been achieved. This SA Report has been produced by the Council’s in house Impact
Assessment Team.
Level 1 Assessment – Pre‐Screening
16
ODPM et al. (2005) A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive
17 Level 6 assessments are carried out pursuant to Regulation 61 and 102 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010
depending on whether a plan or projects are being considered.
18
The Integrated Regional Framework (IRF) that sets the context for sustainable development in the South East of England:
http://www.southeast‐ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/sus_dev/irf.html. (no longer available)
19 http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/07/24/sus‐dev‐indicators/
20 See Appendix 1 for standardised definition of effects
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