SEA IN THE CONTEXT OF LANDTUSE PLANNING

experience of sustainability appraisal, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s (ODPM)guidance for planning authorities on applying the SEA Directive to land use and spatial plans inEngland (A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive), publishedin September 2005, recommends that the practice of SEA shall be based upon theexperiences already achieved in Sustainability Appraisal (ODPM 2005a). The reform in theplanning system introduced by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, also paves the way forthe Sustainability Appraisals that are required by the bill and shall incorporate the SEA Directive'srequirements. The overlap between the two processes is furthermore highlighted in the ODPM’sguidance on Sustainability Appraisal for Regional Spatial Strategies and Local DevelopmentDocuments. The purpose of the guidance is to help regional planning bodies and localplanning authorities to carry out sustainability appraisal for regional spatial strategy revisionsand local development frameworks and provides information to assist users to comply withthe SEA Directive (ODPM 2005a).However, a study on the patterns of current performance of sustainability appraisalsnationally in the UK suggests that although governmental advice is generally being applied,the actual use of key sustainability principles in practice is rather variable (Benson, J. andJordan, A. 2004). This is in particular valid for the wider economic and social issuesidentified in the government’s national sustainability objectives and which local authorities arerequired to consider in their Environmental Appraisals according to the revised PPG 12 in1999. Despite the fact that sustainability appraisals were widespread in the local authoritiesincluded in the study, the quality of the environmental appraisals, and the level of integrationwhere some of the SA had an ex-ante function and were not integration in the process of theplan preparation (op.cit).6.7.4 Comparison between the two approaches: SEA vs. SA.When comparing the two processes, starting with their objectives, the objectives of the SEAintroduction in England are the same as the EU directive 2001/42/EC.The objectives of the SA is listed in the guidance on SA (ODPM 2005b) where it is statedthat:“The purpose of sustainability appraisal (SA) is to promote sustainable development through theintegration of social, environmental and economic considerations into the preparation of revisions ofRegional Spatial Strategies (RSS) and for new or revised Development Plan Documents (DPDs)and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs). Hence, planning authorities should ensure thatsustainable development is treated in an integrated way in their development plans. In particular, theyshould carefully consider the inter-relationship between social inclusion, protecting and enhancing theenvironment, the prudent use of natural resources and economic development.” (ODPM 2005b;13).When examining the methodological differences between the two approaches, it can beconcluded that the SA presents a broader approach to assessment than SEA, including alsoeconomic and social aspects, on par with the environmental ones, while SEA focuses on theenvironmental aspects. The approaches can be illustrated as a ‘T-shaped’ mode of application,as opposed to the ‘deep-throughout’ approach (figure 6.1).90