Our policies, plans and strategies - Sustainability Appraisals and Strategic Environmental Assessments

Sustainability Appraisals and Strategic Environmental Assessments involve assessing the extent to which an emerging plan contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. The main aim of the SA/SEA process, which runs in parallel with the preparation of plan, is to ensure that the social, economic and environmental effects of emerging policies are understood and taken into account.

Sustainability Appraisals and Strategic Environmental Assessments are about asking at various stages in the plan-making process: how sustainable is the plan? They help planning authorities to identify and mitigate any potential adverse effects that the plan might otherwise have.

The local planning authority is responsible for ensuring that the SA/SEA process has been carried out in accordance with relevant legislation and guidance.