The Scottish Government

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a key component of sustainable development in Scotland. SEA ensures that the environment is considered throughout policy preparation, thereby reducing any negative or unforeseen policy impacts and improving the transparency of decision making. The Directorate for the Built Environment has two functions in relation to SEA.

The SEA Gateway, a unique initiative in the UK, co-ordinates SEA activity throughout Scotland. The Gateway provides advice and information about the SEA process, co-ordinates consultation, liaise with Scotland's Consultation Authorities: SNH, SEPA and Historic Scotland and undertakes Scottish Ministers' functions under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

In addition to this role, the Directorate is also required to undertake SEAs of most of its own policies and plans.

Policy summary

The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force on 20 February 2006. It establishes important new methods for public authorities to protect the environment and extends opportunities for participation in public policy decision making. It achieves this by ensuring policy makers:

• systematically assess and monitor the significant environmental effects of public sector strategies, plans and programmes and detail the findings of their assessment in an Environmental Report
• seek views from the public and expert advice from SNH, SEPA and Historic Scotland, at various points in the policy making process
• prepare and publicise a statement as to how responses to this consultation have been taken into account at the end of the policy making process (a post-adoption 'SEA Statement')