UK Case Study SEA

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UK Case Study SEA
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Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the South West

• Spatial-social characteristics
• Population 5 million.
• Urban and rural areas
• Economically important cities
• Historic / conservation areas.
• Strategic transport links (North)
• Low regional identity

• Key challenges
• Housing and infrastructure to match growth.
• Reducing CO2 emissions.
• Reducing traffic and congestion
• Improving access
• Reducing inequalities
• Coupling economic / environmental objectives

Wide range of objectives / interests
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RSS area
RSS Strategy emphasis on developing
Strategically Significant Towns and Cities.
(RSS p41)
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Background to SEA

• Specific law - Environmental Assessment of Plans
  and Programmes Regulations 2004 (SI 1633).
• SEA combined with domestic legal requirements
  for sustainability appraisal ? Strategic
  Sustainability Appraisal (SSA).
• Wider inclusion of social and economic factors.
• Historically SA relied on expert knowledge.
• SSA carried out by three consultancy firms.
• SSA process overseen by a steering group.

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Governance modes
Planning Policy Guidance 13
Transport White Paper
Air Transport White Paper

• Central
• (DfT, DCLG)
• Regional
• (SWRA, SWRDA,
• GOSW)
• Sub regional
• (WoE Partnership)
• Local
• (Country, District
• elected authorities,
• Local Partnerships)

Spatial Strategy (RSS)
Economic Strategy
Sustainability, Housing, Skills,
Tourismstrategies
West of England Strategy
Joint Local Transport Plan
Local Development Frameworks / Plans
Community Action Plans
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Hierarchies

• Complex array of government bodies.
• Central government influence via
• National policies, strategic priorities, funding
  
• Final approval of plan
• Regional representation.
• New tier of governance in the form of Regional
  Assemblies (RA) responsible for preparing RSS.
• RAs comprised of 70 local government, 30
  Social, Environmental and Economic Partners.

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Networks

• Act in a steering and scrutinising capacity.
• Regional interest groups afforded formal status.
• Sub regional plans / steering groups
• Individual representation via
• Public debates / workshops
• Written responses (alternatives / plan / env
  report)
• Independent Public Enquiry
• Higher representation in the plan making process
  than SEA process.

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Markets

• SSA highlights emphasis on economic growth.
• Central government policy to enhance UK
  competitiveness.
• Regional Development Agencies afforded high
  status / access and produce the Regional Economic
  Strategy (sister strategy to RSS).
• Local authority economic interests.
• Strong business representation on multi-level
  steering committees (e.g. JLTP).

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SSA Steering Group
Denotes actors involved in the scoping stage
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(No Transcript)
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Knowledge forms
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Reflective knowledge

• Knowledge bundles 1 and 2 play a greater role in
  the SSA (2 used to inform 1 and visa versa)
• Entry of knowledge bundle 3 evident but limited
  by rules in use and consultation techniques
  (often largely informative, inhibiting
  innovation).
• Evidence of reflective knowledge at some stages
  e.g. SWRA proposes alternatives (2) ? SSA
  evaluates options (1)? informs public
  consultation (3) ? informs future strategy (2).
• Public enquiry may promote deliberative debate.

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Interactions

• Some homogeneity in the knowledge base e.g.
  reports, actors.
• Networks provide a framework for integrating all
  knowledge forms.
• The findings of the SSA highlight how knowledge
  bundle 2 is strongly linked to hierarchies /
  markets ? afforded priority when environmental /
  economic conflicts arise.
• Selective use of knowledge to support strategic
  objectives.

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Governance for Sustainability

• Comprehensiveness
• SSA initiated at start of plan making process,
  facilitating wider range of objectives and
  involved actors.
• Aggregation
• Concerns of different actors not specified /
  weighted.
• SSA enables systematic evaluation of plan
  contents.
• Consistency
• SSA tests compatibility of objectives against an
  array of other policies (in accordance with SEA
  Directive).
• Regional approach improves horizontal
  integration.
• RSS informs lower tier plans but higher tier
  plans limit scope / flexibility of RSS options
  (e.g. Airport strategy).

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Conclusions

• SEA enhances input legitimacy through formal
  requirements for participation (involving a wider
  range of actors / knowledge forms earlier in the
  policy making process).
• SEA enhances transparency and throughput
  legitimacy through provision of information (e.g.
  alternatives / draft report, public enquiry).
• Output legitimacy highly dependent on the degree
  to which knowledge is utilised and transferred.