A sustainability appraisal (SA) is an assessment that must be carried out at each stage of preparing a local plan. It also includes the requirements of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in accordance with the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive (European Directive 2001/42/EC. The term 'SA' should therefore be taken to mean 'SA incorporating the requirements of the SEA Regulations. The assessment process tests the overall strategy and each policy against a set of agreed objectives.
What are the main stages of Sustainability Appraisal?
The sustainability appraisal is an evolving process and has been carried out at the following stages of plan preparation:
| Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Scoping Report 2008 | This stage sets the context, objectives, baseline and scope for the SA and how planning policies will be appraised. This is called the Scoping stage. The SA Scoping Report was published for consultation between March and May 2008 to provide statutory environmental bodies and stakeholders an opportunity to make comments |
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| SA Framework Update 2009 | The SA Framework (Table 5.1) originally set out in 2008 was updated in 2009 as a result of comments received. | 
Sustainability Appraisal Framework updated May 2009 |
SA activity has been carried out throughout the preparation of the Local Plan.
| SA of the Emerging Core Strategy Issues and Options Paper 2009 | The SA was incorporated within the ECS Issues and Options paper and was subject to consultation between March and May 2009. | Core Strategy Issues and Options Paper |
| SA of Alternative Housing Targets 2011 | Consultation was carried out between June and July 2011. | Sustainability Appraisal - How Many Homes (Housing targets) |
| SA of the Emerging Core Strategy 2012 | Consultation was carried out between November 2012 and January 2013. | Sustainability Appraisal - Emerging Core Strategy 2012 |
| SA - Additional Scoping Report 2014 | The original Scoping Report was reviewed and updated in 2014 in relation to the changing context for the preparation of the Local Plan. It was sent to statutory consultees Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency for comments in September 2014. |
Sustainability Appraisal - Additional Scoping |
| SA of the Local Plan Consultation Document 2015 | Consultation was carried out between January and March 2015. | Sustainability Appraisal - Local Plan Consultation 2015 |
| SA of the Draft Local Plan Proposed Submission 2016 | Consultation was carried out between August and October 2016. | Sustainability Appraisal - Draft Local Plan Proposed Submission 2016 |
