Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of SEA/SA. Riki Therivel, Levett-Therivel

Transcription

1 Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of SEA/SA Riki Therivel, Levett-Therivel

2 What is SEA effectiveness? 1. Contextual: appropriate legislation, guidance, training 2. Procedural: SEA stages are carried out well 3. Substantive: leads to good outcomes on the ground 4. Normative: achieves social goals, e.g. sustainable development 5. Pluralist: leads to more public participation, democracy 6. Knowledge: stakeholders think differently post SEA 7. Transactive: costs > benefits (efficiency)

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4 This is document constitutes RTPI practice advice only and should not be taken to constitute legal advice.

5 Key points SEA/SA aims to make a plan more sustainable It also documents the story of the plan Focus on the alternatives and mitigation stages Focus on key issues and effects, so what test

6 Scoping stage 1 Start early Be spatial Level of detail commensurate with plan Think beyond plan boundary

7 Scoping stage 1 Start early Be spatial Level of detail commensurate with plan Think beyond plan boundary

8 Scoping stage 1 Start early Be spatial Level of detail commensurate with plan Think beyond plan boundary

9 Current situation Likely future without plan Scoping stage 2 Keep the policy context focused Think about likely future without the plan Topic Sustainability problems and issues Water Flooding Water resources Air quality 4000 homes currently at flood risk, decreasing to 1500 with planned flood protection works. Increased likelihood of flooding with climate change. Increased pressure to locate development in areas of higher flood risk. X is in an area of serious water stress. This will be exacerbated with increased demand for water from a growing population. There are air quality hot spots at many major road junctions. Most of the city centre air pollution comes from buses. Air quality is expected to improve due to improved European emission requirements.

10 Scoping stage 3 Use different SEA/SA objectives for policies & sites To protect and enhance biodiversity Distance from SPA/SAC/SSSI Scope topics out of appraisal where policies/sites/ etc. will have insignificant or similar impacts Mix of dwelling sizes (No direct links for sustainability objectives 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15) SA Objective 2. Vibrant Communities 3. Housing 5. Poverty & Social Exclusion SA assessment + Specifying a housing mix based on need will help to support mixed and balanced communities. Whilst not specifying minimum densities could result + This policy will help to deliver a mix of dwellings to respond to the needs of a range of groups, as documented in the Strategic Housing Market Assessment. + This policy will help to deliver a mix of affordable dwellings to respond to needs, as documented in the Strategic Housing Market Assessment.

11 Alternatives 1 Most SEA legal challenges have been about alternatives Identify reasonable alts. Assess and compare Choose preferred alt & explain why Alternatives should be within plan, not plan-wide They should focus on issues that planners are really dealing with

12 Alternatives 2 Where there are many alternatives (e.g. sites) use sieve All sites Sites not in floodplain, near/in SPA etc. Sites also deliverable, accessible, viable

13 Use SA as self-check

14 Use SA as self-check Is this a significant problem cumulatively? Do you really want this site? Should more be done about regeneration?

15 Explain reasons for rejection of alternatives (esp. sites and publicly contentious issues) Ref Rejected Sites Reasons for rejection 22 Catisfield Lane, Paddocks It is located outside of the urban area and its allocation in the plan would therefore be contrary to Core Strategy Policy CS6: The Development Strategy 40 Gosport Road Bus Depot Effect on Ecological Designations. Unviable. Part within flood zone fails sequential test. Its reallocation from employment to residential in the DSP plan is contrary to emerging DSP policy ED1

16 Assessment Use colours Use consistent test v. current situation v. likely future without plan Doing best possible

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18 Consider testing against standards etc. National air quality objectives Water Framework Directive via river basin mgmt plans Water resource zones in deficit Condition of SSSIs Integrity of SPAs and SACs Carbon emissions govt. targets Flood zone Inter- and intra-generational equity Resilience to shocks

19 Assess cross-border effects

20 Mitigation Where there is a -, do something about it, or explain why that is not possible Is enhancement possible? Has the plan missed anything?

21 Document mitigation This will be useful for the post-adoption statement Policy/ SA topic CP12 Climate change DM39 Climate change SA recommendation It is recommended that consideration is given to decentralized electricity supply, in addition to heating This policy could be updated to reference stakeholder engagement, including considering cross-boundary flood risk and management, which would be in line with SFRA recommendations How did the SA influence plan-making? Policy CP12 has been amended to reflect this recommendation This is not appropriate for inclusion in a development management policy. The council is part of a countywide Technical Flood Management group which amongst other things covers local flood issues and strategic planning proposals, policies and plans

22 Cumulative impacts Cumulative = impact of plan + other actions = impact of plan + likely future without plan SA objective Flooding Housing need Effect of proposed submission policies [total effects] X? A small part of the Barton AAP site is within the floodplain however no development will take place in this area. The development of new homes plus associated facilities could increase the risk of flooding The Proposed Submission Document requires at least 40% of housing on the site to be affordable. This will make a significant contribution towards affordable housing provision in Oxford. Cumulative effect [previous column + likely future without the plan] XX About 5000 properties in Oxford are already at risk of flooding. The Oxford Core Strategy proposes about 8000 homes plus further employment, university and other development. Although most of the sites in the Site Allocation DPD avoid areas of flood risk, the overall scale of housing could have significant negative flooding effects. XX? The Oxford Core Strategy is for 8000 new homes including at Barton, many of which will be affordable. However on current assessments this will not be sufficient to meet need...

23 SA/SA has definite costs Its benefits depend on you! Use it to help improve your plan and to tell the story of your plan