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Abstract
The adoption of EU Directive 2001/42/EC on strategic environmental assessment (the ‘SEA Directive’) presents the UK Government and regional bodies in England with a dilemma: current government guidance requires Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) and Regional Economic Strategies (RESs) to undergo a sustain-ability appraisal. A number of options could therefore be considered: carry out SEA rather than sustainability appraisal; undertake SEA and separate economic and social appraisals; or establish a sustainability appraisal process that incorporates the specific requirements of the SEA Directive. An interview survey of 25 experts and practitioners revealed clear support for the latter option. This paper discusses the implications of such a move and the changes that may be required to existing sustainability appraisal practice as a result.
