SEA undertaken by Historic Scotland

Historic Scotland are identified within the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 as a Responsible Authority.  The term ‘Responsible Authority’ is used to describe the organisation responsible for preparing a plan, programme or strategy.  Being a Responsible Authority means that Historic Scotland consider all of its qualifying plans, programmes and strategies for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).  Where significant environmental effects are likely we undertake an environmental assessment prior to adoption.

SEA is a systematic process for identifying, predicting, reporting and mitigating the environmental effects of plans, programmes and strategies.  SEA is a vital tool for putting the environment at the heart of public sector activity and it is seen as a key component of sustainable development.

SEA achieves this by systematically assessing and monitoring the significant environmental effects of public sector strategies, plans and programmes.  The SEA process ensures that we seek views and expertise at various points in the process from SNH, SEPA, the public and key stakeholders.  A public statement as to how opinions have been taken into account is produced at the end of the process.

A full record of all SEA work undertaken by Historic Scotland can be found via the Scottish Government SEA Database.  A selection of SEA reports prepared by Historic Scotland, including any current SEA activity, can be viewed below:



Background

The Antonine Wall was built in the years following AD 142 on the orders of the Emperor Antoninus Pius. For a generation it was the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire, following a line 60km from modern Old Kilpatrick on the north side of the River Clyde to Bo’ness on the Firth of Forth. In 2008 the Antonine Wall was inscribed as part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site.

In accordance with UNESCO guidelines, a Management Plan was prepared for the site by a partnership involving representatives from the five local authorities along the line of the Wall – East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire – along with Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

The Management Plan sets out a range of objectives, including some focused on the development of interpretation and access provision for the Antonine Wall.

Consultation

The Antonine Wall Access and Interpretation Group is responsible for overseeing the delivery of certain of these objectives. The Group includes representatives from the partnership bodies mentioned above, along with other organisations and government agencies including Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, and Canals Scotland.

The Group is now inviting comments on the draft Interpretation Plan and Access Strategy which it has produced. The document can be found below.

Antonine Wall Interpretation and Access Strategy [1.91MB, pdf]
Antonine Wall Interpretation and Access Strategy - Response Form [353KB, doc]

Responses should be sent to patricia.weeks@scotland.gsi.gov.uk by 29 June 2012

Alternatively if you are replying by post, please send your response to:

Patricia Weeks
Antonine Wall World Heritage Site Co-ordinator
Historic Scotland
Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH.



A public consultation on the draft Historic Scotland Corporate Plan 2012-15 has been launched today.

The Purpose of the Plan
Under Historic Scotland’s Framework Document Scottish Ministers are responsible for setting the policy and resources framework within which Historic Scotland operates. This includes approving a Corporate Plan for the Agency. The Corporate Plan forms the top tier of Historic Scotland’s performance management framework and supports the delivery of the Scottish Government Purpose of sustainable economic growth, National Outcomes and Strategic Priorities. The current Corporate Plan comes to an end in 2011. The new Corporate Plan will set out Historic Scotland’s vision for the historic environment and the strategic priorities for the Agency over the next three years.

Developing the Draft
Key inputs to the draft have included the Scottish Government’s manifesto commitments, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs’ statement of priorities for her portfolio, the Spending Review 2011, the new Programme for Government, the revised Government Economic Strategy and stakeholder feedback received during the Heritage Convention in November last year.  Pre-consultation events have been held with partners in the heritage sector and colleagues from across Scottish Government and their feedback has been taken into account in the consultation draft of the Plan.

The consultation draft does not yet contain the illustrative annexes listed on the contents page. This will allow us to take account of consultation feedback in producing the final version of the Plan. The published copy will also be designed and will include the full list of annexes.

The Impact of the Plan
The Plan was developed in tandem with a Strategic Environmental Assessment to allow us to consider the impact our stated outcomes will have on the environment. The Environmental Report is attached for information. The information received in response to the consultation will also allow us to complete a business and regulatory impact assessment as well as an equalities impact assessment. This will give us a rounded picture of the impact of our activities, allowing us to mitigate potentially negative impacts and take advantage of opportunities to optimise positive impacts.

Historic Scotland Corporate Plan - Consultative Draft [pdf, 575kb]
Historic Scotland Corporate Plan - Environmental Report [pdf, 994kb]
Historic Scotland Corporate Plan - Environmental Report - Summary [pdf, 412kb]
Historic Scotland Corporate Plan - Consultation Response Form [word doc, 753kb]

For further information see our consultation page


Historic Scotland is currently preparing a guidance note for managing change in historic battlefields.  

The guidance will set out the principles and specific policies required to support decision making and aid the management of change within battlefield sites identified on the national Inventory.  A consultation draft of the guidance note was recently subject to public consultation and the guidance will now be updated/amended to take account of responses and representations received.  

We would like to thank those of you who took the time to share your views.  Once the guidance has been finalised we will also prepare a SEA post-adoption statement detailing how the environment assessment influenced the preparation of the guidance. In the meantime the consultation documents can be viewed below.

SEA Screening/Scoping Report [pdf, 33kb]
SEA Determination [pdf, 33kb]
SEA Environmental Report [pdf, 350kb]
Draft Managing Change Guidance Note [pdf, 5.35mb]

Appendix 1 [pdf, 137kb]

Appendix 2 [pdf, 127kb]

For further information visit our consultation page.




Historic Scotland adopted a management plan for the Mavisbank Polices in January 2012.  We would like to thank all those who responded to the public consultation with written comments.  The adopted plan, alongside the documents relating to the consultation process, can be found below:

SEA Screening Report [pdf, 595 kb]
SEA Determination [pdf, 37 kb]
SEA Scoping Report [pdf, 636 kb]
Mavisbank Policies Landscape Management Plan Issues & Options Paper & Environmental Report [pdf, 5.51mb ]
Mavisbank Policies - Landscape Management Plan 2011-2016 [pdf, 3.31mb]
Mavisbank Policies - Landscape Management Plan 2011-2016 - Consultation & Analysis Report [pdf, 1.17mb]
Mavisbank Policies - Landscape Management Plan - Consultation Responses [pdf, 1.65mb]


See also current consultations