Sustainability Appraisal process

The NEA had a role in carrying out sustainability appraisals, including strategic environmental assessments (SEA) of strategies, plans and programmes that apply to our region.

The sustainability indicators in the Integrated Regional Framework (IRF) are used as a test of how sustainable a plan is. By applying the test during the consultation phase of a plan, the outcomes of the appraisal are taken into account in the final plan. SEA is a statutory duty, which places a legal requirement for a wide range of strategies, plansand programmes to be appraised.

The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) was subject to a full sustainability appraisal and this was guided by a steering group comprised of representatives from key regional organisations, such as Government Office for the North East and One North East.

The NEA also advised other organisations regarding the implications of sustainability appraisals and comment on the approach taken, for example through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) operational programme and Regional Economic Strategy (RES) Action Plan.