Background to SEA

The SEA European Directive 2001/42/EC (the SEA Directive) requires that the likely effects of implementing certain plans and programmes on key environmental topics (often called "SEA topics") and on the inter-relationships between them, are assessed as part of a plan or programmes preparation¹.

The SEA Directive was transposed into UK legislation in July 2004 through respective Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004. Scotland later repealed its Regulations² and replaced them with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 (in force since 20^th February 2006) which requires that many public plans, programmes, and also strategies, which are likely to have significant environmental effects, are assessed to determine whether an SEA may be required.

This project was undertaken to support consideration of the SEA topics of air, soil and water. 
The SEA topics are: 

Biodiversity                      Population                       Human health
Fauna                                Flora                                Soil
Water                                Air                                   Climatic factors
Material assets                 Cultural heritage            Landscape

¹ In other sections of this guidance the generic word 'Plan' will be used, referring to plans and programmes for Northern Ireland and plans, programmes and strategies for Scotland.
² Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

For further existing guidance on SEA topics apart from air, soil and water go to Other Information - External Links.

Further information on relationships of air, soil and water with other SEA topics can be found here:

		Air		Soil		Water
Relationship with other SEA Topics		PDF		PDF		PDF