Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Updated July 2011

The JPU is currently preparing a revision to its Core Strategy, and in line with government guidance is undertaking a Sustainability Appraisal in parallel to help ensure that the Core Strategy follows the principles of sustainable development. The process is iterative so as the Core Strategy evolves, the SA informs the plan-making process by recommending improvements.

The Scoping Report is the first stage of the Sustainability Appraisal. The scoping process involves identifying relevant plans and programmes to consider, setting out the key sustainability issues and characteristics in North Northants Area, and setting out the SA framework in the form of SA objectives against which the Core Strategy will be assessed.

The Core Strategy Draft Scoping Report was originally consulted upon in February 2009 and has subsequently been updated following stakeholder engagement on their specific infrastructure issues between December 2010 and February 2011. 

The updated version has been sent to the statutory environmental consultation bodies for their further comments.

Following scoping the next stage of the SA will be the preparation of a Sustainability Appraisal Report for the Core Strategy Preferred Option (Regulation 25 document), currently programmed to be published Autumn 2011. This will include consideration of options for the Core Strategy and an assessment of the Core Strategy Preferred Approach policies.