Introduction to the Integrated Sustainability Assessment Process

Ended on the 10 October 2022

Introduction to the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal Process

How to Give Us Your Views

We would welcome your views on any aspect of this document. However, we would particularly welcome responses to the following questions:

Do you agree with the proposed approach to the ISA of the Local Development Plan?
Do the ISA objectives and guide questions that comprise the ISA Framework cover a sufficient range of environmental, social, cultural and economic topics? If not, which objectives should be amended and which other objectives do you believe should be included?

Overview

A Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP) is being prepared by Powys County Council (the Council) which needs to be accompanied by an Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA). The ISA is being undertaken on behalf of the Council by Wood and will appraise the environmental, social and economic performance of the Replacement LDP and any reasonable alternatives, helping to ensure its contribution towards sustainable development of the area's communities, economy and environment. The Replacement LDP will plan for the needs of the Powys LDP area (the County of Powys excluding the area within the Brecon Beacons National Park) over the period 2022 to 2037.

Requirements

The ISA is a process that incorporates six appraisals that are required by legislation and other commitments: Sustainability Appraisal (SA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), Health Impact Assessment (HIA), Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) and Welsh Language Impact Assessment (WLIA), all of which are related to one another (Figure 1).

A yellow central circle has the letters "SEA / SA" written on it, four smaller blue circles overlap the central yellow one. They are annotated with "WLIA", "EqIA", "HIA" and "HRA" respectively.

Figure 1 Overlaps between the different forms of assessment

The Integrated Sustainability Appraisal Process

The ISA process starts with the production of a Scoping Report and Appraisal Framework (see below) which will be used to appraise the effects of the emerging LDP (the Plan vision, objectives, spatial strategy including level of growth, policies and site allocations, including reasonable alternatives). A final ISA Report will be prepared to accompany the submission draft LDP. This will be prepared to meet the requirements of the SEA Regulations and will be available for consultation alongside the draft Replacement LDP prior to consideration by an independent planning inspector at Examination.

Following Examination, and subject to any significant changes to the draft Replacement LDP may require appraisal as a result of the Examination, the Council will issue a Post Adoption Statement as soon as reasonably practicable after the adoption of the Replacement LDP. This will set out the results of the consultation and ISA process and how the findings of the ISA have been accommodated in the adopted Replacement LDP. During the period of the LDP, the Council will monitor its implementation and any significant social, economic and environmental effects.

What is the Proposed Appraisal Framework?

The main purpose of the scoping stage of the ISA is to identify the framework for the appraisal of the Replacement LDP. The framework contains a series of objectives and guide questions developed to reflect both the current socio-economic and environmental issues which may affect (or be affected by) the Replacement LDP and the objectives contained within other plans and programmes. The proposed objectives, guide questions and supporting National Well-being Goals for the assessment of the Replacement LDP are as follows: