We have many roles in promoting sustainability and in helping York to become a more sustainable city. Examples of this include leading by example through projects such as the new EcoDepot and through Sustainability Appraisals of strategic council plans.

Sustainability Appraisals

Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is essentially a process through which the relationship of a plan to sustainable development is assessed by referring to sustainability objectives. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 makes Sustainability Appraisals mandatory for Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs). It is also mandatory to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of these documents. Although the requirement to undertake SA and SEA is distinct, it is possible to combine them into a single appraisal process. This is what is being done in York.

Sustainability Appraisals are not new, they have been carried out on Local Plans for some years now. The difference is that the requirement for Strategic Environmental Assessment and therefore Sustainability Appraisals is an integral part of the plan making process and that all strategic council plans will need to carry one out. Completing a SA does not provide strategic solutions, but it helps to identify the key issues that inform the final decision making process.

Sustainability Appraisals that are underway at the moment are for the Local Transport Plan and the Local Development Framework