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Social Impact Assessments: tool for spatial planning. Green & Blue Development Unit Strategy and Policy Making Division. Definition of SIA.
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Social Impact Assessments: tool for spatial planning Green & Blue Development Unit Strategy and Policy Making Division
Definition of SIA • A process of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned projects and any social change processes invoked by those interventions. International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA)
Regulatory framework • DPA 2016 (Cap 552): comprehensive sustainable land use planning system is to have full regard to environmental, social and economic needs • The Planning Guide on the Use and applicability of the Floor Area Ration (FAR): need for SIA as one of the requirements to make a case for tall building proposal • No other legal or policy instrument specifically requiring SIA in Malta
Scope • To introduce a standard procedure and TORs for SIA within the planning system • To subject the proposed procedure for public consultation, in support of transparency in decision making and enable experts and public to participate in the process
Proposed Procedure Plan and policy making • Executive Council to decide on case-by-case basis, guided by: • Type • Scale • Geographical context • Outcome of SEA screening • Where SEA screening identifies need for SEA, the need for SIA will be automatically triggered • Issue standard TORs • SIA report prepared as part of plan/policy making process and published as part of public consultation of draft policy/plan
Proposed Procedure Processing of development proposals • Planning Authority to issue TORs to applicant of proposals that require SIA in accordance with a plan/policy • SIA reports shall be made public
TORs • Required tasks • Description of proposed project • Legislative framework • Baseline of current situation (community profile) • Identification and analysis of likely impacts • Recommendations to avoid, reduce and mitigate identified impacts • Monitoring plan • Methodology • In accordance with IAIA best practice guidance • Executive summary in MT and EN • SIA Consultant • Post graduate degree + experience relevant to SIAs