Site Allocations and Options Appraisal

Local spatial planning can utilise a range of development plan documents to deliver planned growth and sustainable development. These include Core Strategies, Allocations Plans and Area Action Plans.

The SEA process enables assessment of development plan document policies and spatial allocations of proposed development where they exist. Strategic allocations may be included in Core Strategies but are expressed in more detail via Allocations and Area Action Plans. Wherever allocated sites to promote development and flexible use of land provide detail on form, scale, access and quantum of development, the SEA process will appraise them accordingly. Allocations can relate to, amongst other things, housing, green space, employment sites, waste and minerals.

The process of allocating sites with distinct boundaries and prescriptions of size, scale and definition lends itself more fully to the process of options development and appraisal. It should be apparent within the relevant plan’s progressive audit trail that all realistic options have been appraised via the SA and SEA process.

Being able to demonstrate that the plan is the most appropriate having gone through an objective process of assessing alternatives will pay dividends in terms of an easier passage for the plan through the examination process. It will assist in the process of evaluating the claims of those who wish to oppose the strategy.