Abstract :
Although Britain has no legislation regarding strategic environmental assessment (SEA), SEA guidance exists and various forms of SEA are carried out: “environmental appraisals” of development plans, “environmental profiles” of European Structural Fund applications, ad hoc SEAs for specific sectors, and SEAs for Cabinet decisions. These are characterized by their qualitative approach, relative brevity, and low cost. This article begins by reviewing British SEA guidelines. The status of environmental appraisal of development plans is discussed in more detail, based on a series of questionnaires of all U.K. local authorities that queried: the current stage of their appraisal, who carried it out, what techniques were used, what were thought to be the costs and benefits of environmental appraisal, and advice on carrying out an appraisal. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the benefits and limitations of Britainʹs “streamlined” form of SEA.
