The European Commission agreed Directive 2001/42/EC “on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment” – the ‘SEA Directive’ – on 27 June 2001. The objective of the Directive is:

“to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to
promoting sustainable development, by ensuring that…. an environmental assessment is carried out of
certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment” (EC, 2001; Article 1).

The Directive came into force in the UK in July 2004. Requirements of the Directive include the preparation of an environmental report in which the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the plan, and reasonable alternatives (taking into account the objectives and geographical scope of the plan) are identified, described and evaluated.

To read the draft baseline please click here