The aim of Sustainability Appraisals (or SA for short) is to promote sustainable development through better integration of social, economic and environmental considerations into the preparation of plans. The Sustainability Appraisal of LDF documents incorporates the requirements of the European Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive 2001/42/EC.
Sustainable development can be defined as ''ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and in future generations''. The SA process aims to promote sustainable development by ensuring considerations of sustainability issues in all planning documents. All Development Plan Documents and Supplementary Planning Documents will be subject to a Sustainability Appraisal.