Sustainability Appraisal & Habitats Regulations Assessment
As we prepare the plan, we have to undertake various assessments including a Sustainability Assessment (SA) and Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA). The SA is an integral part of the process and is used throughout the development of the new Local Plan. This is under the umbrella of the Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA). It assesses the significant social, environmental and economic effects of the plan to ensure that decisions are made that contribute to achieving sustainable development. The SA assessed individual sites, proposed policies and different delivery options to address the overall housing need. The HRA identifies whether the plan is likely to have a significant effect on European protected sites and demonstrates that where significant impacts have been identified on nature conservation these will be avoided or mitigated. The aim is to keep any harm to an absolute minimum and, if we cannot avoid it, then to do something to compensate for it. Both the SA/HRA will feed into and be used as a tool throughout the development of the new Local Plan.
AECOM have been appointed to carry out the Integrated Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessment.