Alongside considering performance against the Transport Planning Objectives, STAG Criteria and established policy directives, the Part 1 Appraisal must also assess the feasibility, affordability and public acceptability of an option. Practitioners must consider the following:
- Feasibility - a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of construction or implementation and operation (if relevant) of an option and the status of its technology (e.g. proven, prototype, in development etc.) as well as any cost, timescale or deliverability risks associated with the construction or operation of the option, including consideration of the need for any departure from design standards that may be required. Similarly, consideration should be given to who would operate the option, including, if relevant, their statutory powers to operate an option and any other issues (e.g. cost) which may impact on its operation;
- Affordability - the scale of the financing burden on the promoting authority and other possible funding organisations and the risks associated with these should be considered together with the level of risk associated with an option's ongoing operating or maintenance costs and its likely operating revenues (if applicable);
- Public Acceptability - the likely public response is of importance at this initial appraisal phase and reference to supporting evidence, for example results from a consultation exercise, must be provided where appropriate.
