Sustainability Appraisal (SA)

A Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a systematic process used to evaluate the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of a plan, strategy, or project, ensuring it contributes to sustainable development. It assesses how well the plan aligns with sustainability objectives and considers reasonable alternatives to mitigate negative impacts. SA’s have been carried out for the Aligned Core Strategy and Land and Planning Policy document and during the preparation of the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan.

• Multi-faceted Assessment: SA evaluates the impact of plans across three key dimensions: environmental (e.g., air and water quality, biodiversity), social (e.g., health, community well-being), and economic (e.g., employment, economic growth). 
• Iterative Process: It's not a one-time assessment but an ongoing process that informs plan development and refinement, helping to identify and address potential issues throughout the planning process in Nottingham. 
• Reasonable Alternatives:
  SA considers alternative options for plans, assessing their potential impacts and helping to choose the most sustainable approach. 
• Mitigation Measures:
  The process identifies potential negative impacts and helps develop mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate those impacts.