Across the country our planning team has been supplying sustainability appraisals and related services to local authorities in accordance with the EU’s Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive.

Examples of our recent project work includes:

Ferrybridge ‘C’ Power Station SA

Scottish and Southern Energy selected Mott MacDonald in September 2006 to provide sustainability appraisal services to assist in supporting representations on behalf of Ferrybridge ‘C’ Power Station site on Wakefield Metropolitan District Council’s local development framework. This aimed to achieve recognition of the site’s potential for ‘energy and energy related development’. The SA report produced provides a review of the two options proposed for Ferrybridge ‘C’ Power Station, and explains the sustainability benefits and drawbacks of each option so as to determine which desig-nation has the best potential to deliver a more sustainable outcome.

Lossiemouth Medical Centre – Sustainability Appraisal

Client: Sapphire Primary Care Developments
Mott MacDonald conducted a SA in accordance with the sustainability appraisal handbook for the MoD Estate. The process included appraising the proposal against 15 sustainability themes outlined in the MoD guidance to identify positive and negative sustainability effects. This was presented in a matrix format and based on these findings, recommendations were made to minimise negative impacts and improve sustainability performance of the development.

Stadium Park Sports Village – Environmental Assessment and Options Appraisal

Client: Sunderland Arc URC
Mott MacDonald is currently conducting an environmental assessment as part of the development framework study for the Stadium Sports Park Village in Sunderland. The project objectives include ensuring compliance with the legal aspects of planning and environmental management and recognising local and national policies on environmental and sustainable development, providing a design which incorporates environmental and sustainability objectives into project delivery as well as adopting an approach to SA which is line with local policies and objectives for the North East. It is envisaged that the outcome of the project will be used as a basis for a supplementary planning document.

The Brighton Centre Redevelopment Sustainability Appraisal

Client: Brighton and Hove City Council
The Brighton Centre is one of the largest purpose built conference centres in the UK and is of significant economic benefit to the city. However, the centre is now over 28 years old and in need of major modernisation. Mott MacDonald is currently conducting a SA of design options to determine which will deliver a more sustainable result. At a later stage, we will develop a sustainability management plan to inform detailed design and construction stages. In addition, we will provide a sustainability brief which will set sustainability standards for the project and allow contractors to accurately provide a cost for delivering its sustainability requirements.

Maze-Long Kesh Regeneration Masterplan. Preliminary SEA/SA

Client: OFMDFM and Strategic Investment Board
This project included development of a sustainability strategy for the high profile redevelopment of former Maze prison near Belfast, Northern Ireland. It provided an opportunity for the masterplan team, led by EDAW, to put sustainability objectives into practice from the outset – incorporating innovative technology, stakeholder consultation and the latest views on best practice for sustainability. A review was conducted of national, regional and local sustainability objectives. Options were then developed for the master-plan and appraised as part of a preliminary SEA/SA using sustainability criteria, and the feasibility of incorporating sustainability approaches was established (including cost estimates). Download our sustainability strategy› (PDF, 5.6MB).

Bexhill to Hastings Link Road SA

Client: East Sussex County Council
In May 2006 Mott MacDonald was commissioned by East Sussex County Council to undertake a SA, as part of the environmental impact assessment for the proposed Bexhill to Hastings Link Road. The aim of the SA report was to present a review of the various route options proposed for the Link Road and to conclude which design option would be more sustainable. The project involved reviewing relevant plans and program-mes, establishing the baseline conditions and sustainability issues for the area, developing SA objectives and indicators, appraising the different route option proposed and developing mitigation and monitoring measures.

Victoria Station Upgrade Project Sustainability Appraisal

Client: Transport for London (TfL)/London Underground Limited (LUL)
TfL/LUL appointed our transportation unit to undertake a sustainability statement, as part of the environmental impact assessment, for the Victoria Station Upgrade Project. The SA report was produced with guidance from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), now Department for Communities and Local Government and Local Development Documents’ (November 2005). However, as the ODPM guidance is for SA of plans and programmes, the report had to be adapted to enable applica-tions to project level. Its objectives were to summarise the review process undertaken on the VSU design proposals, establish sustainability benefits and disadvantages of the project, and to identify mitigation measures and design aims which could deliver a more sustainable outcome.