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Early preparation of development plan documents: sustainability appraisal

The sustainability appraisal process should inform the preparation of a development plan from the outset. This section follows the SEA tasks that are set out in the SEA Practical Guide. Early and effective community engagement through the scoping of the sustainability appraisal and engagement with key delivery stakeholders is a key component of the front loading principle. Under regulation 25, the government no longer regulates the precise detail of how a local authority should prepare a plan. Local authorities now have the opportunity to tailor the process of plan preparation to a specific task. However, you will still need to be mindful of legal requirements in preparing the sustainability appraisal.

In this section

Setting objectives and developing the baseline Last updated 23 September 2009

This section looks at identifying relevant policies, plans and programmes, identifying baseline information, identifying sustainability issues and appraisal objectives, and considering options as part of the preparation of a development plan document.
Consulting on the scope of the sustainability appraisal Last updated 23 September 2009

This section discusses what to consider when consulting on the sustainability appraisal’s scope
Refining options and assessing effects Last updated 23 September 2009

This section looks at the principles to consider when appraising the significant effects of the local development document as well as sustainability appraisal objectives when preparing the development plan document.