EU Directive 2001/42/EC, requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for all plans and programmes that will give rise to a likely significant impact on the environment.
SEA is a method for systematically assessing the likely effects of plans and programmes on the environment and for integrating environmental considerations into plan preparation. The core requirements of the Directive are:
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preparation of an Environmental Report, which describes the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the plan, including alternatives
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consultation with environmental authorities and the public on the scope and content of the Environmental Report
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account to be taken of the Environmental Report in decision-making
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monitoring of the plan's significant environmental effects
Falkirk Council produced an Environmental Report for the Falkirk Council Local Plan (Finalised Draft – Deposit Version)and an addendum to the Environmental Report for the Final Modifications.
These documents assessed all the policies and proposals contained in the FCLP and Final Modifications against a set of ten environmental stock criteria to identify the environmental effects of their implimentation.
The criteria were adapted from the Structure Plan's Environmental Appraisal. The assessment is recorded in a series of proformas and matrices showing the detailed impact against each criterion, and also records alternatives and recommends mitigation measures.
The Falkirk Council Local Plan was adopted in December 2010. A post adoption statement has been prepared to show how the Environmental Report has been taken into account in the preparation of the plan and can be downloaded from this webpage.