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Sustainability Appraisal

The promotion of healthy food environments should be reflected in the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Framework to ensure that it is taken into account in assessing the respective Local Plans and their individual policies.

The purpose of the sustainability appraisal process is to appraise the social, environmental and economic effects of a plan. In doing so it will help ensure that decisions are made that contribute to achieving sustainable development.

It may be possible to integrate the sustainability appraisal with other types of assessments such as health impact assessment or equalities impact assessment. When assessing the impact of policies and proposals on healthy food environments, there should be consistency across these assessments. This can avoid duplication of effort, save time and make the process more effective.

Healthy food environments should feature in a sustainability appraisal because:

  1. Access to food is one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals which aim towards “A world… where food is sufficient, safe, affordable and nutritious”.
    Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
  2. The UK National Protective Security Authority identifies “Food” as Critical National Infrastructure.
    “National Infrastructure are those facilities, systems, sites, information, people, networks and processes, necessary for a country to function and upon which daily life depends.” https://www.npsa.gov.uk/critical-national-infrastructure-0 
  3. Food resilience and food security are essential to sustainable development
    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021-theme-3-food-supply-chain-resilience 
  4. The food system is a cross-cutting issue
    Comparison of local planning authorities’ evidence studies shows that the relevant food related issues are not being covered and opportunities for a planning policy response are missed.

Case Study

Case Study

Calderdale Local Plan adopted 2023

Extract

The SA Framework template, incorporating SA Objectives, Decision Making Criteria, Indicators and Targets (where available) was set out in chapter 10 of the SA (2017) and is not replicated here. Each of the SA Objectives has a group of ‘Decision Making Criteria’, which attempt to establish the potential impacts of the proposed Local Plan’s Objective, Policy and Allocation options. Alongside the Decision Making Criteria, each SA Objective has a number of relevant indicators, which will be applied to monitor the plan’s impact(s) across the Borough. The indicators have been identified during the gathering of local baseline information and regional and national guidance. Alongside the indicators, each of the SA Objectives has a series of targets (where available).

https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/docs/local-plan/examination/SA_Addendum_AUG18.pdf

 

Table 1.2 Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Framework

SA Objective

3. To Create And Retain Healthy Vibrant And Inclusive Communities

Decision Making Criteria for Local Plan

  • Will the proposal increase access to unhealthy food (e.g. take-aways)

Targets 

  • No hot food takeaway to be provided within 400m of a secondary school.

5. To Improve Accessibility To Essential Services, Facilities And Employment

Decision Making Criteria for Local Plan

  • Will the proposal affect access to food stores selling healthy and fresh produce?
  • Is the site within 0-15 minute public transport journey of a convenience store?

Indicators

  • % of residential properties within a 0-15 minute public transport journey of a convenience store.

11.To Protect And Enhance The Natural, Semi Natural And Man Made Landscape

Decision Making Criteria for Local Plan

  • Will the proposal affect the local production and availability of healthy and affordable food?
  • Will it protect good quality agricultural land (Grade 3)?

Indicators 

  • Amount of agricultural land (Grade 3) developed;

Case Studies

Who has relevant criteria in their SA?

Warrington

A health objective and supporting criteria but there is not a specific reference to food: 

SA Objective – 5. Improve physical and mental health and reduce health inequalities. 

Sub criteria / supporting questions:

– Will new housing and employment have good access to open space and active transport options? 

– Will local health services be able to cope with proposed levels of housing? 

– Will new development have good access to a range of services; including community facilities, shops and local amenities. 

 

Cheshire East SA 

The most relevant key sustainability issues identified in Cheshire East include:

  1. There are some significant health inequalities between parts of Cheshire East
  2. Agricultural land quality in Cheshire East is below both the regional and national averages. However, there is a need to retain the most productive agricultural land available in the Borough to maintain local food production and support the agricultural sector.

Sustainability Objectives include:

  1. Create an environment that promotes healthy and active lifestyles.

SA includes data on obesity, and it is mentioned in criterion.

 

Cheshire West and Chester Local Plan Update 2023 Sustainability Appraisal 

Sustainability Objective for health and sub-criteria that form the Sustainability Framework. The objectives provide a benchmark ‘intention’ against which the sustainability effects of the Plan can be tested. 

18 Enable environments that promote health and wellbeing

Will it promote active lifestyles?
Will it increase the quantity or quality of open space?
Will it safeguard shops and services in existing centres?
Will it help to protect existing community facilities and services?
Will it provide new or improved community facilities or service?

https://consult.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/kse/event/37546/section/s1679667823647#s1679667823647