Making sure our plans are sustainable – The Sustainability Appraisal

To ensure that all the plans and guidance we prepare for the future of the Borough are sustainable we are required to see if they have any significant social, economic or environmental impact. This page contains the Sustainability Appraisal reports prepared for the Local Development Framework. Each document has to go through a number of stages.

Stages of the sustainabilty process

Stage 1: Gathering Evidence - Scoping Report

Making sure we have the right information and we know what the issues are.

Stage 2: Preparing the Plan - Preferred Options Report
Starting to write the plan and looking at the options and effects of the plan.

Stage 3: Submitting the Plan - Sustainability Appraisal Report
Publishing the outcomes of the Sustainability Appraisal process.

Stage 4: Adoption and Monitoring

Planning the future of Ashford – The Core Strategy

• View the Core Strategy
• Sustainability Appraisal (Background Document no. 1)
• Ashford’s Capacity: A Handbook for Change (Background Document no. 14)
  This report presents the outcome of a study that identified the key information and issues that helped to define how Ashford could grow.

Planning the future of Ashford Town Centre

• What is the Town Centre Area Action Plan?
• Sustainability Appraisal Report – Preferred Options

Sites around the town centre and key pieces of infrastructure

• What is the Urban Sites and Infrastructure DPD?
• SA Combined Scoping Report for DPDs February 2007

Planning for a new Community at Chilmington Green

• What is the Chilmington Green Area Action Plan?
• SA Combined Scoping Report for DPDs February 2007

Planning for Ashford’s countryside and the villages

• What is the Tenterden and Rural Sites DPD?
• SA Combined Scoping Report for DPDs February 2007
  
  Scoping Report Appendices for the Development Plan Documents:
• Appendix A  TASK A1 Plans, Programmes and Policies Review
• Appendix B TASK A2 Baseline information 
• Appendix C TASK A4 the SA Framework
• Appendix D Urban Sites & Infrastructure DPD TASK A2, A3 & A5
• Appendix E Tenterden & Rural Sites DPD TASK A2, A3 & A5
• Appendix F Chilmington Green DPD TASK A2, A3 & A5
• Appendix G  LDF Sustainability Objectives

Supplementary Planning Documents

We are preparing a number of Supplementary Planning Documents which will provide further guidance to deliver our planning policies. These include:
Design
This will show how to ensure new developments are of a high quality.
Sustainable Design & Construction
This will show how new developments can be greener
Residential Space & Layout
This will show how new homes have a high quality living environment
Affordable Housing
This will show how a range of different house types can be provided, including affordable housing.

Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report

A combined scoping report has been carried out for the four documents above.

• SA Combined Scoping Report for SPDs February 2007

Scoping Report Appendices for the Supplementary Planning Documents:

• Appendix A  TASK A1 Plans, Programmes and Policies Review
• Appendix B TASK A2 Baseline information
• Appendix C TASK A4 the SA Framework
• Appendix D Design SPD TASK A2, A3 & A5
• Appendix E Residential Space & Layout SPD TASK A2, A3 & A5
• Appendix F Sustainable Design & Construction SPD TASK A2, A3 & A5
• Appendix G Affordable Housing SPD TASK A2, A3 & A5
• Appendix H  LDF Sustainability Objectives

Amended Sustainability Appraisal Tasks

In February 2007 the Council consulted with the statutory environmental consultation bodies on the Scoping Report for a number of SDP and DPD identified above. Following comments received the Sustainability Appraisal Framework as well as Task A1 and A2 have been reviewed and updated, these are available below:

• Appendix A  TASK A1 Plans, Programmes and Policies Review - September 2008 
• Appendix B TASK A2 Baseline Information - September 2008 
• Appendix C TASK A4 the SA Framework - Septemeber 2008
• Scoping Report summary of responses - Affordable Housing SPD
• Scoping Report summary of responses - Sustainable Design and Construction SPD