My experience of this approach (of just providing outline policies) came via a Consultant from the SE, who named other authorities where this approach had been taken. Having contacted one of them (who I’d previously worked for), they confirmed that they had been misadvised and would not be taking this approach again. Subsequently I spoke to a number of environmental assessors who confirmed that a plan is required and not just an outline of the policies.
Also worth mentioning that prior to Feb 2015,the PPG on ‘Strategic environmental assessment and sustainability appraisal’ advise that a local planning authority (LPA) “should put in place a process to provide a screening opinion to the qualifying body on whether the proposed neighbourhood plan will require a strategic environmental assessment”, but since then the advice has changed and it advises that “as part of its duty to advice or assist, should consider putting in place processes to determine whether the proposed neighbourhood plan will require a strategic environmental assessment”, therefore a LPA is no longer expected to carry a Screening, although it can choose to do this.
