1 Introduction and Context
1.1 This document is intended to act as an integral appendix
to the Leigh Park Strategic Framework SPD. The sustainability
appraisal has been designed to analyse the contribution that the
SPD makes toward meeting national regional and local sustainability
objectives. The Sustainability Appraisal has been undertaken in
parallel to the Leigh Park SPD and has played some part in its
evolution through workshops and meetings.
1.2 Work on Leigh Park has evolved over a number of years. The
initial work of the Leigh Park Environmental Improvement Plan was
overtaken by the Creating Quality Places Project in association
with SEEDA and the Prince’s Trust. Documents published so far under
this process are as follows:
- Leigh Park Creating Quality Places Project – Briefing document
for enquiry-by-design event (June 2003)
- Leigh Park Creating Quality Places Project – Warren Park
Masterplan (February 2004)
- Leigh Park Creating Quality Places Project – Warren Park
Concept Master Plan (May 2004)
- Leigh Park Creating Quality Places Project – Briefing document
for the Warren Park enquiry-by-design event (June 2004)
- Leigh Park Creating Quality Places Project – Summary document
for the Warren Park enquiry-by-design event (August 2004)
- Leigh Park Creating Quality Places Project – Summary of Warren
Park Neighbourhood Plan (October 2005)
1.3 As stated in page 1 of the Strategic Framework, the
purpose of the document is to provide a planning framework so that
developers have a clear overview of the development potential and
how it can contribute effectively to the regeneration of Leigh
Park.
1.4 The Leigh Park Strategic Framework is identified in the
Borough Council’s Local Development Scheme as a Supplementary
Planning Document (SPD). As such, it is important that this
document meet relevant requirements under the Planning and
Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
1.5 Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Development Frameworks
states;
‘Local planning authorities must comply with European Union
Directive 2001/42/EC which requires formal strategic environmental
assessment of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have
significant effects on the environment. The Directive will apply to
local development documents where formal preparation begins after
21 July 2004’
It Continues;
‘The purpose of sustainability appraisal is to appraise
the social, environmental and economic effects of the strategies
and policies in a local development document… This will ensure that
decisions are made that accord with sustainable
development.’
1.5 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has to be
considered in relation to this particular Supplementary Planning
Document under Directive 2001/42/EC. Paragraphs 2.9 and 2.10 of the
SEA Directive: Guidance for Planning Authorities (ODPM October
2003) sets out that "where the plan is a ‘minor modification’ to an
existing plan then the Directive only requires SEA where they are
likely to have significant environmental effects".
1.6 The Strategic Framework takes forward policies in the
adopted plan and it would therefore be considered as a minor
modification to the Local Plan.
1.7 Creating Local Development Frameworks A Companion guide to
PPS12 (2004) states that Supplementary Planning Documents must
be:
- ‘fit for purpose’ Such documents can cover diverse issues and
be in different formats e.g. design guides, practice advice notes
and masterplans;
- consistent with national planning policy and in general
conformity with regional planning policy. This should usually be
achieved through ensuring that the document is in conformity with
the relevant development plan document or saved polices; and
have
- Sustainability appraisal - although the degree to which such
documents will require extensive appraisal will be influenced by
the degree to which the linked development plan document or saved
policies have undergone sustainability appraisal and the nature of
the document itself.
1.8 Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of Regional Spatial
Strategies and Local Development Frameworks – Consultation Paper
(September 2004) states that "different forms of SPD that may be
prepared will necessitate a relatively flexible approach to SA to
ensure that it is appropriate and relevant. In most cases the SA of
SPDs will draw extensively on appraisals undertaken at the higher
level for policies within the DPD, such that the need for new work
may be limited. Generally, due to the nature of an SPD, its SA is
likely to focus on a more limited range of potentially significant
effects although it may be appropriate to consider these in more
detail. The SPD SA may therefore be produced more quickly and be of
interest to a more limited number of stakeholders".
1.9 The Strategic Framework is being developed as SPD in
relation to ‘saved’ policies in the Adopted Havant Borough District
Wide Local Plan (HBDWLP). The HBDWLP was subject to a
Sustainability Appraisal, the final iteration being found in
Background Paper 7/2 published in September 2002. In addition to
that, as stated in para. 1.2 above work on Leigh Park commenced
some years ago prior to the publication of emerging guidance on
Sustainability Appraisal. The Council has therefore produced this
Appraisal during the transitional arrangements of the switch from
local plans to LDF and the approach used is a hybrid between the
old and new systems. Overall, it is considered that the Appraisal
is commensurate with the status of the Supplementary Planning
Document it accompanies.
1.10 The central policy of the HBDWLP relevant to this SPD is
UA3. There have not been significant changes to this policy since
the HBDWLP SA was published and so the findings of the HBDWLP SA in
relation to this policies is summarised at Appendix 1.
1.11 In addition, due to the broad nature of the Leigh Park
SPD much of the plan-wide policies contained in the HBDWLP are of
relevance. It is considered that the ‘saved’ policies relevant to
this SPD are either complimentary or independent of the aims of
policy UA3.
1.12 SA methodologies have moved on from the approach used
with the HBDWLP. This SPD is one of the first parts of the new
Local Development Framework system it is therefore essential that
the SA should be aligned to the SA work that has been undertaken at
the National and Regional level. This will make it more relevant to
the new planning system and future development in Leigh Park.