Sustainability & Environmental Assessment
Employing a tried and tested "Integrated SA/SEA Methodology" - The requirement to carry out a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) are distinct. However, it is possible to satisfy both, through a single appraisal process.
The overall purpose of the Sustainability Appraisal of the West Midlands Economic Strategy (WMES) is to improve how the future Strategy delivers its current vision of "By 2010 the West Midlands is recognised as a world-class region in which to invest, work, learn, visit and live and the most successful in creating wealth to benefit all of its people"
Therefore our approach to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is to establish the SA as the main overall economic, social and environmental assessment framework of the WMES. As new evidence and issues arise during the process these will also be fed into the SA to ensure a consistent assessment approach is used to inform improvements in the WMES at key stages.
The ideal is an integrated SA process with the development of the WMES which engages stakeholders and a separate statement of SEA compliance to illustrate how "in the background" the process also complies with SEA and provides evidence for auditors on legal compliance.
This work requires the experience of consultants who have carried out an SEA, and we believe that Halcrow Group Limited, with their local knowledge and blend of SA/SEA experience, are uniquely placed to drive this project with clarity and confidence. Considering the experience and lessons learnt from undertaking the SA/SEA of other Regional Economic Strategies in the UK, Halcrow are in a position to deliver a well crafted and legally robust SA/SEA that maximises best practice.
Briefs and reports
The brief and inception report for the SA/SEA explains the objectives of the work; what the work is expected to achieve i.e. the requirements, how the work will progress, the timetable for doing this and the approach that will be taken to complete this.
View Downloads for briefs and reports.
Consultation draft Scoping Report
This scoping report has been prepared by Advantage West Midlands (AWM) as part of the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the review of the West Midlands Economic Strategy (WMES). This report has been published for consultation with the consultation bodies as required by Regulation 12 (5) of the UK SEA Regulations 2004. It is also being shared with the wider regional partnerships and other key stakeholders in the West Midlands. The consultation period will last for 5 weeks from the 26th September 2006.
View Downloads for the scoping report.
West Midlands Futures
Feedback from stakeholders identified that the work on Theme 1 - "Future Prospects for the Region's Economy" needed to be built on and support the further development of the West Midlands Economic Strategy and its Sustainability Appraisal. We have commissioned the "West Midlands Futures" project to address this. Below is the project summary for the West Midlands Futures project as part of the delivery of our sustainable development policy / action plan.
West Midlands Futures report commissioned for West Midlands Economic Strategy evidence base and drawn on the future proofing of the Strategy.
Forum for the Future have been commissioned to undertake a futures project as part of their partnership work with Advantage West Midlands. The project aims to deliver part of Advantage West Midlands sustainable development (SD) policy on "Future proofing using longer-term thinking to prepare for the future and drive innovation". The objectives of the futures project are: first and foremost to provide recommendations for the revision of the West Midlands Economic Strategy to ensure that it is more robust against future trends and uncertainties; and secondly to develop questions and process to be used to continue future proofing within Advantage West Midlands, creating greater understanding of futures issues among staff.
