Sustainability Appraisal and Rural Proofing

Formal sustainability appraisal and rural proofing reports were prepared at two stages of the review:

1. As the scenarios were transformed into goals and high level issues

2. As the strategies and goals were developed into formal strategy

The first appraisal and proofing report produced by the consultant assesses the compatibility of the high level issues and priorities emerging from the scenario planning process and published in the ‘Sharing the Challenge – High Level Issues Consultation Document’ in February 2004 against the regional sustainable development toolkit tests. Its purpose was to benchmark the current state of progress and assist the development of this initial document into the formal framework of the draft revised regional economic strategy.

The draft strategy was also subjected to a further detailed sustainability appraisal and rural proofing report. An interim report is available setting out the methodology and findings of the combined sustainability and rural proofing appraisal of the "Progressing a Shared Vision - the draft regional economic development strategy for the East of England". The appraisal provided a third party view and based on the independent work of the consultant appointed to carry out the work. This interim appraisal was used as the basis for further policy development leading to the preparation of the full regional economic strategy. The final draft regional economic strategy was also subjected to a final sustainability appraisal which is now available.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive will apply to certain UK plans and strategies that are likely to have significant environmental effects, whose formal preparation begins after 21st July 2004. The Directive and the relevant UK Regulations lay down a process to be followed in the preparation of an Environmental Report. As the Review of the Regional Economic Strategy was started before this date it is not required to go through the SEA process. However, the sustainability appraisal of the RES incorporates an assessment of the likely environmental effects of the strategy, along with the social and economic effects, that is considered by the Sustainability Appraisal and Rural Proofing Steering Group to be full, thorough, accurate and objective."

In addition to the full appraisals, as part of the assignment the consultant and the steering group worked with the project team to ensure that the scenarios, objectives and priorities developed throughout the regional economic strategy review process included a sustainability and rural dimension.

This page was last updated on 17th March 2005.