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The Assessment

The Assessment. SEA as part of a Strategic Sustainability Assessment Carried out between February 2004 and March 2006 by consultants but working closely with plan authors Challenge of assessing high-level strategic and detailed sub-regional policies. The Assessment. Three main phases of work

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The Assessment

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  1. The Assessment SEA as part of a Strategic Sustainability Assessment Carried out between February 2004 and March 2006 by consultants but working closely with plan authors Challenge of assessing high-level strategic and detailed sub-regional policies

  2. The Assessment Three main phases of work Phase 1: Deciding the scope Phase 2: Assessment of possible development strategy options Phase 3: Assessment of the draft RSS policies Note – the following slides provide “snapshots” of approaches used, not a full overview of the process

  3. The Assessment – Phase 1 Deciding the scope Decision to develop a small number of Assessment objectives, reflecting strategic nature of plan Development of guidance to enable organisations with local knowledge to compile sub-regional baseline information

  4. The Assessment – Phase 1 Assessment framework Only 6 high level objectives Particularly relevant to SEA

  5. The Assessment – Phase 1 Reasons for and benefits of small number of objectives Emphasised issues at level the RSS can influence Aimed to provide balance between enabling manageable assessment, and providing sufficient detail to identify important issues Enabled “2-tier” assessment: 1) strategic / high level and 2) more specific detailed questions

  6. The Assessment – Phase 1 Assessment framework More detailed criteria / questions to draw out effects

  7. The Assessment – Phase 1 Development of guidance for the collection of baseline at the sub-regional level Opportunity taken to draw on existing sub-regional expertise Through use of guidance each sub-region collated baseline and conducted initial assessment Role of consultants: Provided guidance on approach / framework for assessment Meetings with each sub-region Review and commentary on each sub-region’s work Bringing reports together and harmonising

  8. The Assessment – Phase 2 Development and assessment of alternative strategies Considered a range of housing and economic growth scenarios Considered different spatial development options Alternatives considered in assessment: Growth at existing urban areas (previous strategy) More concentrated growth in smaller number of areas More dispersed growth One or more “new” towns Going with past trends Plus need to consider lower and higher housing growth

  9. The Assessment – Phase 2 Assessment of alternative strategies

  10. The Assessment – Phase 3 Assessment of Draft RSS policies Regular communication, commentaries and presentations Regional Spatial Planning and Transport Group SSA (including SEA) Steering Group Challenge of assessing policy at both very strategic and detailed sub-regional levels Use of maps in assessment

  11. The Assessment – Phase 3 Regular communication and use of steering groups A “steering group” was set up – provided advice as well as some assessment input Comprised broad range of representatives (e.g. Environment Agency, Local Authorities, Non Governmental Organisations) Enabled informal discussions of assessment challenges and procedural issues Steering group SEA team

  12. The Assessment – Phase 3 Strategic policy and detailed sub-regional assessment For strategic policies Individual assessment matrices completed and recommendations made for each strategic policy For the sub-regions Detailed sub-regional studies undertaken Sub-regional authorities completed initial assessments based on guidance Final assessment drew on these initial assessments and used constraint mapping to consider implications of the proposed locations of change

  13. The Assessment – Phase 3 Maps used in sub-regional assessment Identified location of proposed development and existing constraints (e.g. conservation areas, flood risks )

  14. The Assessment How it influenced the Draft RSS Informed the assessment of sub-regions by local stakeholders, ensuring “ownership” Provided guidance on alternative strategies Reviewed early drafts of policies / strategy Led to specific changes to policies

  15. Lessons learnt Things that worked well Process ensured that authors and those who will implement plan had “buy in” to SEA and saw its value Regular meetings and 2-way communication with plan authors – e.g. use of steering groups Use of existing sources of baseline information to help identify effects – maps were very useful

  16. Lessons learnt Things that worked less well Assessment was sometimes constrained by too short time-frames Process was modified during assessment which added time and complexity • Ensure sufficient time is available – overestimate if in doubt! • Build in flexibility and seek broad agreement in method at outset

  17. To find out more Link to more information on the RSS and Assessment http://www.southwest-ra.gov.uk/ And follow links to RSS SA Report is at: http://www.southwest-ra.gov.uk/media/SWRA/RSS%20Documents/Final%20Draft/ssamainreport1.pdf

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