SEA IN THE CONTEXT OF LANDTUSE PLANNING

4.6.2 On-going legal revisionsOn-going legal revision that is considered of major importance for comprehensive planning isthe revision of the Planning and Building Act. The revision of the Planning and Building Actstarted in 2002 and a proposition is expected to be presented during year 2009(http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/3358/a/19842). The main aims of the revision were set outin a committee directive 2002:97:• To strengthen the role of the planning and building legislation as an instrument forsustainable development.• To develop the PBA so that it, on the basis of the last year’s societal changes, will create abetter precondition for good quality environment.• To develop the PBA so that it is better equipped to meet the requirements for aneffective decision making process, as well as the requirement on rule of law and publicinfluence can be guaranteed and developed (www.sou.gov.se/pbl).A committee was appointed to review the current planning system and submit theirobservations and their proposals for revisions of the PBA. In an interim report issued by thecommittee in 2004, following areas in need for improvement were identified:• the need to simplify the processes for handling plans and permissions• to give greater flexibility when it comes to choosing planning instrument• to improve the linkages between different planning levels• to improve the linkages between the PBA and other legislations, especially theEnvironmental CodeThe committee issued its final report in 2005, (SOU 2005:77). Among its findings was thatthe there is a need for legal changes so that the legislation can give support for planning anddevelopment that promotes long-terms sustainable development. Among the changesidentified in the committee’s report were that the role of the comprehensive plans must bemade more strategic and the potential of detailed development plans as a structuralinstrument shall be strengthened. Simultaneously shall the requirement on the plan’sobligatory contents be complemented with a clearer and a more transparent planning processand increased flexibility with regard to the contents of the municipal comprehensive plan aslong as the contents and the impacts of the plan can be understood (SOU 2005:77). Withregard to the potential role of PBA to enhance sustainable development, the potential todescribe and valuate the different interests and to reveal conflicts of interest. The committeeidentifies the possibility of separate impact assessment that can be used as additional toolsthat could facilitate those assessments by clearly bringing light to the consequences ofdifferent decisions.4.6.3 Other revisions of relevanceApart from the revision of the PBA, other legal revisions that can be considered of relevanceare the revision of the Environmental Code and a governmental inquiry into structure ofregional governance that was launched in the spring of 2003 (Ansvarskommittén) andpresented it report in February 2007 (SOU 2007:10). The review of the Environmental Codefocuses on how the Water Directive shall be introduced into Swedish planning regulations.The Committee responsible for the revision submitted its findings in 2005 which wascirculated for referral by various instances. A governmental bill is expected to be presented57