Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) & Sustainability Appraisal (SA)

There is a requirement within the UK planning system for certain plans, policies and programmes that may have a significant effect on the environment to be made subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). It is also a requirement for certain development plans to be subject to ''Sustainability Appraisal'' (SA), a type of Strategic Environmental Assessment that applies to certain new types of land-use plan at the local and regional levels.

EPR is able to work independently or as part of a wider team of specialists on behalf of plan-makers undertaking SA/SEA, or in support of developers seeking to engage with the SA/SEA process to promote their land interests. Our in house team of experts includes both specialist ecologists and environmental assessors with experience of both leading and contributing to SA and SEA projects. We have particular experience in:

On behalf of Local Authorities:

• The compilation of ecological baseline data for inclusion into a scoping report;
  
• The assessment of the effects of the plan or programme, or any alternative options, upon ecology; or
  
• The provision of ecological inputs into a Sustainability Appraisal assessment matrix.

On behalf of developers:

• Engaging with planning authorities and making effective representations in relation to SA/SEA during the consultation periods that occur during the production of a development plan.
  
• Providing advice on how a site master plan, layout or boundary can be adapted in view of any ecological constraints or opportunities that are present. This will help your proposal to perform well when tested against ecology related sustainability objectives by the planning authority in their SA/SEA, and may improve its performance against competing potential locations for development; and
  
• Making effective representations to an Inspector at an Examination in Public (EiP), to promote a potential development location and ensure that its merits are given fair consideration.

In addition to our own ecological background, we also have a network of contacts with technical expertise in the various different environmental subject areas that contribute towards an effective SA/SEA, and are able to collaborate as necessary to meet your requirements for interdisciplinary assessments.