Sustainability Appraisal

Sustainability Appraisals (SAs) are a requirement of a number of planning documents that we produce. SAs help us to fulfil the objective of achieving sustainable development in preparing our planning documents. 

Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report for the Local Development Framework

Following the completion of the SA scoping reports for the Affordable Housing SPD, the Natural Resource Impact Analysis SPD and the West End AAP we have decided that, for all future SA scoping reports, we will have one generic LDF scoping report. This view was reached because the SA scoping reports are very similar to each other and it was not considered appropriate or useful to continually consult on a virtually unchanged document.

The LDF SA scoping report below relates to the Core Strategy DPD, Parking Standards SPD and Planning Obligations SPD. The period for comments on the this Scoping Report has closed.

LDF SA Scoping Report - Update (7MB PDF)
LDF SA scoping report - main report (145kB PDF)
LDF SA scoping report - Appendices (451kB PDF)

SA for the Core Strategy 

The Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy is available below.

Core Strategy - Proposed Changes amendment (371 kB PDF)
Core Strategy - SA amended following Further Preferred Options (5011kB PDF)
Core Strategy - SA Main text (566kB PDF)
Core Strategy - SA Appendices (841kB PDF)

SA Scoping Report for the Barton Area Action Plan (AAP)

The Barton Area Action Plan will set the planning policy framework for the area.  It will address the development of the site between Barton and Northway and will also look at how the benefits can be shared with neighbouring communities.

Barton AAP Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (3.9MB PDF)
Barton AAP Responses to Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (55kB PDF)

SA for the West End Area Action Plan (AAP)

The West End Area Action Plan is the key document through which the vision and objectives for the West End can be secured and implemented. The AAP builds on the existing policies of the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016 and develops a series of principles and design concepts to guide and control development and to resist schemes contrary to the overall vision for the West End. 

The West End AAP was adopted in June 2008. The Scoping Report and the Sustainability Appraisal can be viewed below:

West End AAP SA scoping report - Main report (442kB PDF)
West End AAP SA scoping report - Appendices (1056kB PDF)
West End AAP Sustainability Appraisal (644kB PDF)

SA Report for Balance of Dwellings SPD

The Balance of Dwellings SPD supports the policies of the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016. A sustainability appraisal (SA) was carried out during preparation of the SPD. A final statement was prepared on adoption of the SPD in Jan 2008.

Balance of Dwellings - SA Report (126kB PDF)
Balance of Dwellings - SA Consultation Report (24kB PDF)

SA Report and Statement for Telecommunications SPD

The Telecommunications SPD has been produced to support the policies of the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016. A sustainability appraisal (SA) was carried out during preparation of the SPD, and the SA report published for consultation in April 2007. As part of the adoption process, a statement has been prepared summarising how sustainability issues have been integrated into the SPD, and how the SA and consultation has been taken into account.

Telecommunications SA report (136kB PDF)
Telecommunications SA final statement (25kB PDF)

SA Report and Statement for Parking Standards, TAs and TPs SPD

The Parking Standards, Transport Assessments and Travel Plans SPD supports the policies of the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016. A sustainability appraisal (SA) was carried out during preparation of the SPD, and a report published for consultation in October 2006. A final statement was prepared on adoption of the SPD.

Parking Standards SPD SA report (128kB PDF)
Parking Standards SPD SA final statement (25kB PDF)

(SPD) SA Scoping Report for the Affordable Housing and Natural Resource Impact Analysis Supplementary Planning Documents

The Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016 contains policies on affordable housing and on the use of natural resources. In order to support and supplement these policies we have produced two Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).

SPDs have a statutory requirement to undergo a Sustainability Appraisal (SA). The preparation of the SA of the SPDs has involved two key stages namely:

1.  The production of a SA Scoping Report setting out what the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal would be, which was issued for consultation in July 2005.

Affordable Housing SPD
Natural Resource Impact Analysis SPD
Sustainability Appraisal

AH and NRIA SA scoping report - Main report (552kB PDF)
AH and NRIA SA scoping report - Appendices (882kB PDF)

2.  The production of the Sustainability Appraisal Report, which was issued with a non-technical summary on 24 Feb 2006.

Affordable Housing SPD Sustainability Appraisal	Natural Resource Impact Analysis SPD Sustainability Appraisal
AH SPD SA report (426kB PDF)	NRIA SPD SA report (391kB PDF)
AH SPD SA non-technical summary (25kB PDF)	NRIA SPD SA non-technical summary (23kB PDF)

Page last reviewed 29 March 2012