Re-examining the rationale for strategic assessment : an evaluation of purpose in two systems

Hayes, SJ

Abstract

Strategic forms of impact assessment have seen increased application around the world since their conception. Expansion has produced considerable variation and this range of tools and processes can create practitioner confusion and blurred boundaries in practice. This research draws on empirical data from England and Scotland to examine different systems to understand how the purposes of strategic assessment are framed and to consider how purposes are translated into practice. Four key purposes of strategic assessment are examined; overcoming EIA shortcomings, strategic thinking, representation of the environment and consideration of sustainability. It is concluded that various scales (international, national, local and individual) influence how strategic assessment purpose is framed. We find that as multiple purposes come together they interact, with regulatory compliance potentially dominating. Strategic assessment is also found to be described as information provider, and excluded or distant from strategic thinking as part of plan formulation.

Citation

Hayes, S. (2017). Re-examining the rationale for strategic assessment : an evaluation of purpose in two systems. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, 19(04), 1750020. https://doi.org/10.1142/S146433321750020X

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 21, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Dec 26, 2017
• Publication Date: Dec 26, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 21, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management
• Print ISSN: 1464-3332
• Electronic ISSN: 1757-5605
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 04
• Pages: 1750020
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S146433321750020X
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1142/S146433321750020X
• Related Public URLs: https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscinet/jeapm