Assessing the full scale of environmental impacts is essential for effective planning of transport and land use. This is the first book to establish the effectiveness of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) through comparative analysis of practice in three countries: Britain, The Netherlands and Germany. The author shows that use of SEA is widespread but far from systematic. He demonstrates the advantages of adopting a systematic application of a comprehensive form of SEA derived from all the major current approaches. Only once this approach is fully understood and systematically applied will the full benefits be achieved and environmental impacts minimized. This is essential reading for all those involved in planning, transport and different forms of land use, and in environmental impact assessment.

Thomas Fischer is a senior researcher at the Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning (IRS) in Erkner, near Berlin

Dedication

ii

List of tables, figures and boxes

viii

Preface

xiii

Acknowledgements

xv

Acronyms and abbreviations

xvi

Part 1 - Background

Introduction to Part 1

3

(1)

Introduction

4

(15)

SEA background

4

(5)

Potential benefits of SEA application

9

(4)

SEA effectiveness

13

(1)

SEA research

14

(2)

Aim, research questions and objectives

16

(1)

Structure of the book

17

(2)

How to systematically conduct strategic environmental assessment research

19

(21)

Choice of sample regions

19

(3)

Problems in transnational comparative research on SEA

22

(3)

Establishing the context for SEA application

25

(1)

Framework for comparing SEA practice

26

(8)

Data collection

34

(5)

Part 2 - Planning Context

Introduction to Part 2

39

(1)

Organization of planning

40

(18)

Political and administrative context

40

(2)

Planning systems

42

(8)

Planning instruments

50

(3)

Legislation and guidance

53

(4)

Cross-regional characteristics

57

(1)

Policies, plans and programmes

58

(28)

Selection of PPPs

58

(9)

PPP relevance

67

(4)

PPP accountability

71

(6)

PPP inter-modality

77

(1)

PPP procedure

78

(2)

Cross-regional characteristics

80

(5)

Part 3 - Strategic Environmental Assessment: Empirical Research Results

Introduction to Part 3

85

(1)

SEA practice

86

(40)

Extent of SEA application

86

(1)

Types of SEA

87

(6)

Context variables and SEA presentation aspects

93

(2)

Procedural aspects of SEA application

95

(7)

Impact coverage

102

(13)

Other methodological aspects

115

(7)

SEA preparation times

122

(1)

Summary

123

(3)

Opinions and attitudes of authorities

126

(23)

Overall picture

126

(2)

Opinions on current SEA

128

(8)

Attitudes of authorities towards formalized SEA

136

(12)

Summary

148

(1)

The Consideration of Sustainability Aspects

149

(33)

Overall picture

149

(3)

Sustainability objectives

152

(9)

Sustainability targets

161

(9)

Measures for sustainability

170

(7)

Overall evaluation of sustainability objectives, targets and measures

177

(3)

Summary

180

(2)

Potential benefits from SEA application

182

(30)

Overall picture

182

(2)

Wider consideration of impacts and alternatives

184

(4)

Proactive assessment: SEA as a supporting tool for PPP formulation for sustainable development

188

(3)

Strengthening project EIA: Increasing the efficiency of tiered decision making

191

(3)

Systematic and effective consideration of the environment at higher tiers of decision making

194

(3)

Consultation and participation on SEA-related issues

197

(4)

Overall evaluation of the potential SEA benefits

201

(1)

Requirements of the EC SEA Directive

202

(4)

Summary

206

(5)

Part 4 - Summary and Conclusions

Introduction to Part 4

211

(1)

Overview and synthesis

212

(16)

Overall results

212

(6)

Evaluation of individual SEAs

218

(1)

Correlation analysis of SEA aspects

219

(5)

Interpretation of the results

224

(4)

Conclusions

228

(14)

Extent of SEA application and SEA classification

228

(2)

Authorities' opinions on current SEA and their attitudes towards formalized SEA

230

(2)

Consideration of sustainability objectives, targets and measures and the role of SEA

232

(2)

Extent to which assessments result in the five potential SEA benefits

234

(1)

Suggestions for improving current practice

235

(7)

Appendix 1 Main source documentation used in the analysis

242

(4)

Appendix 2 Statutes and statutory instruments

246

(3)

Appendix 3 List of all the SEAs in the three regions

249

(5)

Appendix 4 Conformity of case study SEAs with the requirements of the EC SEA Directive proposal

254

(2)

Appendix 5 Comparison of targets of the Fifth Environmental Action Programme with national sustainable development strategies

256

(2)

Notes

258

(6)

References

264

(14)

Index

278

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