Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

The EC Directive (2001/42/EC) ‘ on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment ' is referred to as the ‘SEA Directive'. The SEA Directive is implemented in England through the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (SI 1633 2004).

SEA is a mandatory requirement for certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant environmental effects. The SEA for the Eastern Yar River and Coastal Strategy is a mandatory requirement of Flood Risk Management (FRM) Strategies and is being prepared in accordance with the Regulations and the Environment Agency Guidance and Procedures on SEA (July 2004).

The Scoping Report is Phase 1 of the Eastern Yar River and Coastal Strategy Study and it documents the Scoping stage in the SEA process. It involves the gathering of background data on the environmental baseline in the study area and recognises future data requirements.

The stage also identifies a preliminary set of environmental objectives that will be used to evaluate the proposed options and provides a basis for internal consultation. In accordance with the SEA Directive (EC Directive 2001/42/EC), a set of strategic environmental objectives have been proposed;

  • Avoid and enhance, where possible, effects on human health and population
  • Protect and enhance land quality
  • Protect and enhance biodiversity
  • Protect and enhance water
  • Mitigate impacts from climate change and reduce the contribution to the greenhouse effect
  • Protect existing infrastructure
  • Protect and maintain existing recreational amenity in the study area
  • Protect and enhance cultural heritage features
  • Protect and enhance landscape character/visual amenity

Further aims of this stage, and hence the scoping report are to:

  • Identify the environmental legislative and policy context for the development of the strategy and the key aspects for consideration at the next stage
  • Present an overview of the environmental impacts from the proposed flood management components as well as identifying high level opportunities
  • Ensure that the significant issues are carried forward for further investigation and to inform the selection of the preferred option in the next stage of the SEA

The Draft SEA Scoping Report can be downloaded here