Summary of the Requirements of SEA Directive
C.1 Over the course of plan preparation, we will produce three separate reports covering sustainability appraisal:
- The Scoping Report (this document). This details how we will appraise the plan against the sustainability objectives and the information we will use to do so.
- The Sustainability Report. This will include the appraisal itself, i.e., an assessment of how the objectives, policies and sites within the Local Plan perform against the sustainability objectives outlined in this report. We will produce two versions of this document. The first will be made available for consultation and comment alongside our first draft of the plan (the ‘Round 1’ Engagement’ stage). The second will be made available, again for consultation and comment alongside the version of the plan that we intend to submit to the Government for independent inspection.
- A final Sustainability Statement, which we will produce when we adopt the plan, which will detail how we have used sustainability appraisal and complied with the legal requirements as to its production.
C.2 The following table shows how the contents of these three documents will meet the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004.
| SEA Regulations Requirements | Reported in… |
|---|---|
| An outline of the contents, main objectives of the plan or programme and relationship with other relevant plans and programmes - Schedule 2(1). | Scoping Report/ Sustainability Report |
| The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme - Schedule 2(2). | Scoping Report/Sustainability Report |
| The environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected - Schedule 2(3). | Scoping Report (baseline, and summarised in Sustainability Report) |
| Any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan or programme, including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance - Schedule 2(4) | Scoping Report (summarised in Sustainability Report) |
| The environmental protection objectives, established at international, Community or Member State level, which are relevant to the plan or programme and the way those objectives and any environmental considerations have been taken into account during its preparation - Schedule 2(5). | Scoping Report (summarised in Sustainability Report) |
| The likely significant effects on the environment, such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape, and the interrelationship between the above factors. These effects should include secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium, and long-term permanent and temporary, positive, and negative effects - Schedule 2(6). | Sustainability Report. This scoping report establishes the baseline information. |
| The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and (as fully as possible) offset any significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme - Schedule 2(7). | Sustainability Report |
| An outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with, and a description of how the assessment was undertaken including any difficulties (such as technical deficiencies or lack of know-how) encountered in compiling the required information - Schedule 2(8). | Sustainability Report |
| A description of the measures envisaged concerning monitoring Schedule 2(9). | Finalised in Sustainability Statement |
| A non-technical summary of the information provided under the above headings - Schedule 2(10). | In relevant reports as above |
| When deciding on the scope and level of detail of the information that must be included in the report, the responsible authority shall consult the consultation bodies - Regulation 12(5). | Consultation on the Scoping Report |
| Every draft plan or programme for which an environmental report has been prepared in accordance with regulation 12 and its accompanying environmental report (“the relevant documents”) shall be made available for the purposes of consultation in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation – Regulation 13(1) | Consultation on the draft Plan and Sustainability Report |
| The environmental report prepared pursuant to paragraph 1 shall include the information that may reasonably be required taking into account current knowledge and methods of assessment, the contents and level of detail in the plan or programme, its stage in the decision-making process and the extent to which certain matters are more appropriately assessed at different levels in that process in order to avoid duplication of the assessment - Regulation 12(3) | Sustainability Report |
| The responsible authority shall take account of the environmental report, the consultation responses and the outcome of any transboundary consultations in preparing the plan or programme and before its adoption or submission to the legislative procedure - Regulation 16(4). | Sustainability Statement (to be produced on adoption of the Plan) |
The following table demonstrates how appraisal of the Local Plan against the sustainability objectives will comply with the requirements for appraisal as set out in Schedule 2(6) of the 2004 Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations:
| Reference | Objective | National Regulation Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | To maintain and enhance the quality and character of the landscape of the North York Moors, including the special qualities of remoteness, tranquillity and dark night skies | Population, Material Assets, Landscape |
| E2 | To protect and enhance water, soil and air quality, and reduce pollution, and improve efficiency of water use. | Biodiversity, Human Health, Flora, Fauna, Soil, Water, Air |
| E3 | To reduce the causes of climate change and ensure future development is resilient to the effects of climate change, including reducing the impact of flooding and coastal erosion and avoiding flood risk. | Climate Change |
| E4 | To maintain and enhance conditions for biodiversity and geodiversity and avoid irreversible losses or damage to designated nature conservation sites, protected species and geological assets. | Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna, Material Assets |
| E5 | To conserve and enhance the historic environment, heritage assets and their settings and to help facilitate opportunities for greater access to and understanding of the historic environment. | Cultural Heritage |
| E6 | To re-use brownfield land and empty buildings bearing in mind their potential nature conservation and heritage value. | Soil, Landscape |
| S1 | To foster and maintain vibrant local communities and encourage a sense of community and belonging. | Cultural Heritage |
| S2 | To provide decent housing in accessible locations to meet the needs of local people, including the young and elderly, and to maximise opportunities for provision of affordable housing. | Population, Human Health |
| S3 | To protect and enhance access to community facilities, leisure and recreation opportunities and access to the countryside. | Population, Human Health |
| S4 | To make sure new development is easily accessible to essential services, to help reduce the need to travel and minimise the environmental impact of transport. | Population, Human Health, Air |
| EC1 | To strengthen and diversify the local economy by supporting a range of opportunities for employment and training particularly in sustainable locations. | Population, |
| EC2 | To support the tourism and recreation industry by ensuring that development contributes to the local economy in a manner compatible with National Park purposes and protect or enhances opportunities for understanding and enjoying the Park’s special qualities. | Population, Human Health |
Last updated: 22 Sep 2026