Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report

The updated Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Appraisal (SEA) scoping report for the North Northamptonshire Core Strategy Review was published for consultation between 20th July - 24th August 2011. The responses received during consultation were considered and changes made to the report. The final scoping report was published on 24th October 2011

NNJPU 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 was sent to the statutory environmental consultation bodies for their further comments. The responses received during consultation were considered and changes made to the report.

Following scoping the next stage of the SA will be the preparation of an Initial Sustainability Appraisal Report for the Emerging Core Strategy. This is currently programmed to be published Winter 2011.