Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment

Sustainability Appraisal

Sustainability Appraisal is a mechanism for considering and communicating the likely significant effects of a plan, and alternatives, in terms of sustainability issues, with a view to avoiding and mitigating adverse effects and maximising the positives.  It is a process for helping to ensure that plans achieve an appropriate balance between environmental, economic and social objectives.  Sustainability Appraisal should help to identify the sustainability implications of different plan approaches and recommend ways to reduce any negative effects and to increase the positive outcomes.

Habitats Regulation Assessment

 The objective of a Habitats Regulation Assessment is to identify any aspects of the Draft Strategic Growth Plan that would cause an adverse effect on the integrity of Natura 2000 sites, otherwise known as European sites (Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and, as a matter of Government policy, Ramsar sites), either in isolation or in combination with other plans and projects, and to advise on appropriate policy mechanisms for delivering mitigation where such effects were identified.

• The SA (non-technical summary)
• The SA (full report)
• The HRA