Screenshot from the Northwest Toolkit Website
UK CEED, Entec and the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) are pleased to announce the launch of the new Northwest Integrated Appraisal Toolkit (IAT).
The IAT is an online, open-source, self-assessment tool that can be used to understand the positive and negative issues within a project or policy relating to sustainability. In the Northwest the IAT is also used by the NWDA as a tool to assess applications for all ERDF funded projects.
The IAT can be used at five different stages of developing and implementing polices and projects; concept, design, approval, implementation and evaluation. There are two uses of the IAT which are relevant to all five stages; a) as a time efficient means of structuring and recording discussion and b) as a simple means of collating relevant information for easy access. As users become more familiar with the tool it can be used to provide a common ‘language’ to structure discussion.
The tool is useful for anyone who is developing or reviewing a project or policy that needs to take into account issues relating to sustainability. “The UK CEED toolkits are an invaluable tool for assessing projects and policies, it has been designed to be as flexible as possible to enable users to appraise a wide array of projects,” says John Pickstone, Project Manager at UK CEED.
The IAT can be used for any type of project or policy; such as the construction of a new school or the development of a local health policy. It can take into account local, regional and national policy to ensure a comprehensive analysis of all sustainability issues and compliance with legal and statutory obligations.
The Northwest IAT aims to assist users in making informed decisions about the importance of sustainable development. “It is difficult to account for all areas of sustainability; this is where the IAT can help ensure that all relevant aspects of sustainability are covered” says John Pickstone, Project Manager.
