SEA IN THE CONTEXT OF LANDTUSE PLANNING

where the municipalities were given the responsibility of drawing up complete comprehensiveplans (Christoferson 2001:124). Other changes made by the reform in 1987 were to improvethe public’s opportunities to participate in the planning process, to simplify and modernisethe planning system and give a stronger emphasis on the social and economic considerationsin the processes of planning and building matters (Christoferson, 2001:121, Riksrevisionen2005:15). PBA underwent a thorough revision in 1996, which included e.g. furtherrequirements in regards to municipal comprehensive plans, includes their contents, revisionsand requirements on public consultation as a part of the preparation process.Main actorsAt central government level, the Ministry of the Environment is responsible forenvironmental, planning and building issues. The key governmental agencies are the NationalBoard of Housing, Building and Planning and the Swedish Environmental ProtectionAgency. At the regional level there are 21 County Administration Boards (CAB) thatinfluence spatial planning through guidance and can annul the decision made by a municipalauthority if national or inter-municipal interests are not being satisfied or that public healthand safety are being jeopardised. The CABs have certain planning responsibilities dedicatedfrom the national level, e.g. coordination of regional development, transportation andconsideration of interest of areas allocated as ‘areas of national interests’ (Alfredsson andWiman, 2001).Planning levelsNo comprehensive planning exists at the national level. However, at the national level policiesand sectoral development perspectives are prepared. At the regional level regional plans andregional development plans are guiding for planning at the lower administrative levels. Withregard to the statutory planning levels the municipal level if of key importance as the onlycompulsory planning level with regard to the preparation of municipal and detaileddevelopment plans. Hence, the municipalities exercise a so-called ‘planning monopoly’ withregard to comprehensive planning, which means that the municipality has primaryresponsibility for planning the use of land and water within a legal framework set andsupervised by national government. However, the municipal comprehensive planning level,albeit being obligatory, is merely indicative as regards development, whereas the detaileddevelopment plans are legally binding.Regional plans (Region plan)In the Planning and Building Act there is a provision for regional planning. The regional landuseplans shall be carried out on a voluntary basis and are non-binding. The regional plansshall guide and form the basis for decision on municipal comprehensive plans; detaileddevelopment plans and area regulations. The plan can, as appropriate for the region, set outthe main principles for the use of land and water, as well as it outlines the localisation ofbuilding and infrastructure. The responsibility for the planning activity carried out theregional level differs considerably within Sweden. County administrative boards (CABs) existin all areas. However, the CABs have been replaced by politically elected regional parliamentin two places, Region Skåne and Region Västra Götaland. In other areas cooperation existsbetween the municipalities and moreover, a formal cooperation, a regional association oflocal authorities can be appointed or a certain period of time. Those are approved by thegovernment. Hitherto regional planning, that meets the requirements of the PBA has onlybeen carried out in the region of Stockholm, where the Stockholm County Council has aspecial obligation under the PBA to act as a regional planning body through the Office ofRegional Planning and Urban Transportations.54