Redcar and Cleveland Local Plan and South Tees Area Supplementary Planning

We regularly perform environmental screening, scoping, and assessment to examine the sustainability implications of emerging plans and strategies for community development and growth. Since 2015, we’ve provided environmental services including sustainability appraisal (SA), strategic environmental assessment (SEA), and habitats regulations assessments (HRA) for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and the South Tees Development Corporation to support the Redcar and Cleveland Local Plan and South Tees Area Supplementary Planning Document (both adopted May 2018).

These documents were needed to update the local planning framework and support the industrial-led regeneration of the 1,800-hectare South Tees Area, which includes the former SSI steelworks alongside other assets such as Teesport—England’s largest exporting port.

We completed all stages of a SA (incorporating SEA) and HRA for the local plan and supplementary planning document. This involved providing strategic advice and reviewing early drafts of each document, followed by preparing robust SA, SEA, and HRA screening reports at each stage of consultation in accordance with statutory and policy requirements.

Our work included supporting the development of a recreation management plan to safeguard the qualifying features of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar Site, and site of special scientific interest (SSSI) from likely development pressures. Building on our SEA work, we have also since provided associated environmental support to South Tees Development Corporation, including ecological advice to support the implementation of the South Tees Regeneration Masterplan.