The Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report
We are seeking any comments on the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report. Details on how to submit comments are at the end of this page.
A short (non-technical) summary
The North York Moors National Park Authority is preparing a new Local Plan (‘the Plan’). It will set out policies which will be used to help decide planning applications. It will be a long term plan covering the period from 2026 to 2041.
The main Scoping Report forms the first formal stage in one of the required steps as we take the Plan through to final adoption – our sustainability appraisal. We use the sustainability appraisal to evaluate reasonable alternative options for policies and sites against a range of economic, social and environmental criteria, to see which options deliver us the best results in terms of promoting more sustainable development. Sustainability appraisal is a legal requirement under Section 19 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (commonly referred to as the ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations’). Appendix A provides more information about the Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations.
The Scoping Report explains how we will use Sustainability Appraisal to inform our next Local Plan. It sets out the objectives we will be using to carry out the sustainability appraisal and how the appraisal will be carried out. There are then four appendices:
- Appendix A shows how our proposed appraisal framework will be meeting the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004.
- Appendix B reviews other relevant policies, plans, programmes to establish whether their contents will need to inform the North York Moors National Park Local Plan.
- Appendix C looks at what we know about the North York Moors National Park at the moment to understand the context and see what economic, environmental and social issues need to be addressed. In sustainability appraisal terms this is known as ‘baseline information.
- Appendix D sets out how we will start to monitor our eventual plan to see if it is contributing effectively to the delivery of sustainable development.
What are the main conclusions of this report?
Where are we? What are the influences on our plan?
The first step was to review what other policies, plans or programmes may have a significant bearing on the contents of our Plan. This report (see Appendix B) provides a comprehensive listing of the objectives of the relevant plans and programmes so far identified.
The plans and programmes which we think will have the greatest influence on our forthcoming Plan are:
- The North York Moors Management Plan (2022). This is an overarching document setting out a clear plan of action for all activities related to the National Park.
- Local Plans in adjoining areas. We need to make sure we look at how the effects of our plan will relate to neighbouring areas.
- English National Parks and the Broads – UK Government Vision and Circular (DEFRA, 2010). The Circular is the main government policy document specifically relating to National Parks;
- The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and accompanying guidance. The NPPF is the main expression of Central Government’s planning policies and what it expects local planning authorities to include in their plans.
Where are we? The baseline position
We then looked at current issues within the North York Moors National Park. This is known as the ‘baseline’ position. This baseline position is set out in more detail in Appendix C. A commentary on what it may mean for our Plan along with any difficulties we’ve had collecting any data is included.
Where are we going?
The last step in this scoping stage is to assemble what is known as our appraisal framework. We start by establishing a set of objectives based around environmental, social and economic criteria, against which we will assess all our options for policies and site allocations in the forthcoming Plan. Part of this process will be to see which of our options performs the best, and where any negative impacts are identified, whether any safeguards or ‘mitigation measures’ can be built into the Plan to reduce their effect or avoid them altogether. We also include a monitoring framework (see Appendix D) which is a set of indicators of change.
What happens next?
In accordance with the statutory requirements the three Strategic Environmental Assessment bodies (Historic England, Environment Agency and Natural England) have been asked for their views. Any comments received by them will be incorporated in the next version of this document.
All comments should be received by 5pm on the 18 November 2026.
Please send any comments to localplan@northyorkmoors.org.uk
...or send to:
The Planning Policy Team, the Old Vicarage, Bondgate, Helmsley YO62 5BP.
Last updated: 31 Oct 2026