One of the main aims of the new Local Development Plan (LDP) system is to achieve sustainable development. In accordance with the Planning Act (2004), all LDPs are required to be subject to a Sustainability Appraisal (SA). The role of the Sustainability Appraisal is to assess the extent to which the emerging planning policies will help to achieve the wider environmental, economic and social objectives of the LDP.

The LPA must also produce a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in accordance with the European Strategic Environment Assessment Directive 2001/42/EC and the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Wales) Regulations 2004. These require the ‘environmental assessment’ of certain plans and programmes prepared by local authorities, including LDPs. The SEA Directive focuses specifically on the effects of the LDP on the environment.

The Welsh Assembly Government (2006) has produced guidance on undertaking the SA of LDPs and recommends Local Authorities to integrate the SEA into the SA. The SA therefore incorporates the requirements of the SEA.  Whenever reference is made to the term ‘SA’ it should therefore be taken to incorporate the requirements of the SEA Directive.

The SA provides an enabling role in the promotion of sustainable development as an integrated part of the LDP preparation process. This includes an imperative role to consider the sustainability impacts of the LDP, including any proposed alternative approaches, at an early stage and throughout the LDP preparation. The SA can also provide the basis for monitoring the sustainability of the LDP during implementation as part of the wider LDP monitoring process.

The Council have recently consulted on the Draft Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report. Links to the main report and the appendices can be found below. The closing date for any comments on this report was 30 May 2008. A report of consultation will be published shortly detailing all comments made on the Draft SA/SEA Scoping Report.

Draft Sustainability Appraisal/ Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Repor

Appendix 2: Relevant Plans, Policies, Programmes and Strategies

Appendix 3: The Baseline Characteristics of Monmouthshire