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Meeting Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Appraisal Requirements when Preparing the Gypsy & Traveller Development Plan Document

Section 39 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires Development Plan Documents (DPD) to be prepared with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. At the heart of sustainable development lies the premise of ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations. The government has identified five principles for sustainable development:

• Living within Environmental Limits;
• Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society;
• Achieving a Sustainable Economy;
• Promoting Good Governance;
• Using Sound Science Responsibly.

As part of the production of the Gypsy and Traveller DPD, the Council is required to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Sustainability Appraisal (SA). These will be published for comment alongside the various stages of production and ensure that the eventual policies conform to the principles set out by the Government.

The SA process aims to ensure that sustainability considerations are incorporated into the spatial plans for the area in line with the Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan. The draft report of the sustainability issues has been prepared for this consultation and is available to download here.