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Strategic Environmental Assessment review launched

A decade after the original European Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive, the first full review of how Scottish SEA practice and experience is developing has been published by Scotland’s statutory SEA Consultation Authorities.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Historic Scotland tyesterday (Thursday 21 July) launched the ‘Scottish Strategic Environmental Review’. The review asks challenging questions about SEA’s effectiveness at delivering improved environmental outcomes and also investigates whether it can be delivered not just more effectively, but also more efficiently and proportionately.

Protecting and improving the environment brings many benefits for Scottish life and SEA plays a vital role in this, ensuring that environmental considerations are at the heart of policy-maker’s plans and programmes.

The review concludes that the fundamental components of SEA in Scotland – the legislation, common practice, engagement processes, reporting mechanisms etc – are generally sound and fit for purpose and that SEA is delivering tangible benefits for Scottish policymaking.

The review also identified opportunities for streamlining the process and to improve awareness and skills to enable SEA to be delivered more efficiently. It also identifies opportunities to improve SEA’s performance and influence as an environmental protection and enhancement tool. The review makes 10 key recommendations.

SEPA’s Chairman David Sigsworth said: “The Consultation Authorities see SEA as playing a vital role in protecting and improving Scotland’s environment - playing its role alongside our more specific regulatory tools such as pollution control, the habitats regulations or the requirement for Scheduled Monument Consent.

“SEA provides a huge opportunity to make sure that the environment is properly factored into policymaking at all levels, from Scottish Government plans like the National Planning Framework down to Local Authority housing plans or transport strategies.”