Strategic environmental assessment in the Trans-Pennine Corridor

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The paper describes the work of the Strategic Environmental Assessment in the Trans-Pennine Corridor undertaken for the Regions in Partnership Steering Group in 1998–89.The study had two purposes: (a) to contribute to the developing body of knowledge on best practice on strategic environmental assessment designed to assess improvements to the European Commission's Trans-European Transport Networks; and (b) a multi-modal land-use and transport study designed to lead to a preferred environmental and development strategy for the Trans-Pennine corridor. The study was intended to be strategic, both in its identification of options and in its assessment of impacts. It was to look forward over a 25-year planning period, and the focus was to be on long-distance movements and the interactions between these and local movements. The paper explains the study process. The objectives of the environmental and development strategy are set out, and the appraisal framework outlined. The three key appraisal tools—the transport model, the land-use model, and the geographic information system—are then explained. The forecasts of travel demand for the year 2021 are next presented. These forecasts form the basis for the development and appraisal of ten land-use, environmental and transport options. The paper briefly describes the options, and presents results in terms of impacts on travel, land-use and the environment. While the study successfully demonstrated a methodology for strategic environmental assessment, further work on the land-use and transport strategy is required before firm conclusions can be drawn and the broad outline strategy can be converted into specific policies or plans. Nevertheless, the results presented here show a promising approach to developing an environmental and development strategy for the corridor within the policy framework provided by the Government's Integrated Transport Policy.