Sustainability as defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) is;

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The UK Government within its strategy A Better Quality of Life presents four objectives for achieving sustainable development;

• Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone
• Effective protection of the environment
• Prudent use of natural resources
• Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth.

The stages of the SEA process include;

1. Setting the context to the LTP2 and establishing the current state of the environment 'the baseline situation'
2. Consulting authorities with environmental responsibilities on the scope of the SEA; developing and appraising alternative strategic 'options' for developing the LTP2
3. Assessing the effects of the LTP2 on the environment (including social and economic issues) and producing a 'draft' Environmental Report
4. Consulting on the 'draft' Environmental Report; incorporating results of the Environmental Report and consultations into the 'final' LTP2; and producing the 'final' Environmental Report
5. Monitoring the effects of implementing the LTP2.

The Environmental Report contains;

• A list of the plans, programmes and policies that were identified as being relevant to the LTP2
• A summary of the key environmental and sustainability issues within the County of Lancashire
• The SEA objectives used to assess whether the initiatives of the LTP2 are sustainable
• A list of the indicators and targets developed to monitor implementation of the LTP2
• A summary of the current baseline situation within the County of Lancashire
• A test of the compatibility of the LTP2 objectives and the SEA objectives
• Matrices presenting the results of the SEA of the LTP2
• Recommendations for ways in which the LTP2 can be improved to prevent any adverse effects or enhance any positive affects that it may have on the environment
• The framework that will be used to monitor the effects of the LTP2 on the environment in the future.

This Non-Technical Summary contains;

• A list of plans, programmes and policies that are relevant to the LTP2
• A summary of the key environmental and sustainability issues within the County of Lancashire
• The SEA objectives used to assess whether the initiatives of the LTP2 are sustainable
• Findings of the SEA of the LTP2
• Summary of how the findings of the SEA were incorporated into the LTP2

SEA Objectives for the Lancashire County Council LTP2

Protect the Natural and Built Environment

• To protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity
• To protect and enhance the quality and distinctiveness of the area's landscapes and open spaces, townscapes and streetscape
• To preserve, protect and enhance buildings, sites, features and areas of archaeological, historical and architectural interest and diversity

Prudent use of Natural Resources

• To protect and improve the quality of all controlled waters
• To protect and improve local air quality
• To use land efficiently
• To reduce the causes of adverse climate change
• To minimise the risk of flooding
• To promote the use of local materials and the recycling of aggregates

Community Support and Involvement

• To promote social inclusion
• To maintain and improve the accessibility of key services and leisure facilities to all
• To provide opportunities for physical activity to promote healthy lifestyles
• To create safer communities
• To encourage the use of sustainable and high quality design and construction principles in new transport schemes

Support the Economy

• To support and facilitate economic growth and promote opportunities for employment
• To improve access to employment
• To diversify the economy of the rural areas
• To improve the viability and vitality of town and district centres

The main transport problems in Lancashire have been identified as;

• Congestion caused by high reliance of a large proportion of the population on the car, current capacity of the road network and a trend for 'out of town' developments
• Poor accessibility in urban areas especially where social deprivation is high and there is a high proportion of car less households and in rural areas where the reliance of affluent rural homeowners on the car causes a breakdown in the local provisions and services that indigenous rural communities depend on
• Road safety especially in areas with high levels of congestion and social deprivation.

The LTP presents a number of major schemes and strategies which aim to reduce congestion, improve accessibility and improve road safety, whilst ensuring environmental protection. The three major schemes presented for implementation during this LTP2. These schemes include;

• Heysham to M6 Link
• Blackpool to Fleetwood Tramway
• Ormskirk Bypass.

In addition to the above schemes the LTP2 has identified an additional five potential future major schemes. The viability of these schemes will be investigated during this LTP2.

The SEA has identified that whilst these schemes aim to reduce congestion there is potential for the Heysham to M6 Link and Ormskirk Bypass schemes to have potentially adverse effects on biodiversity, landscape, cultural heritage, water quality, land use and increased flood risk. These effects will be assessed in detail through the EIA process.

Other LTP2 strategies (Congestion, Accessibility and Road Safety) identified as having potentially adverse effects on the environment will also be subject to a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Where an EIA is not required the LTP will adhere to mitigation measures presented at the end of the Environmental Report and summarised at the end of this Non-Technical Summary to ensure effects on the environment are minimised.

Opportunities for environmental enhancement were also identified. These are mostly in association with highway improvements and new highway schemes, establishment of greenways and green networks along public rights of way and public open space and streetscape improvements.

By reducing congestion the LTP will have positive benefits on local air quality and therefore human health, road safety, landscapes (urban and rural) and the vitality and viability of town centres by making them more attractive to shoppers, visitors and workers.

Reductions in congestion will also have positive effects on economic growth by improving the efficiency by which goods can be moved around the County and reducing the amount of revenue lost to local businesses and the local economy through increased journey times.

The schemes to improve accessibility involve improvements to public transport, improved facilities for walking and cycling and initiatives that will be developed through partnership agreements for services to be delivered more locally and to people's homes.  These strategies will also have significant positive effects on social inclusion.

The County Council through its Other Quality of Life Issues Chapter demonstrates its commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment.

Biodiversity and Geodiversity

Protection

• All schemes that will affect the County's 17 sites of international nature conservation importance (SPAs, SACs and cSACs and Ramsar Sites) will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and an Appropriate Assessment as required under the Habitats Directive.
• Schemes or initiatives that are likely to affect one or more of the County's 69 SSSIs will be subject to a formal screening exercise prior to development to determine whether the development will be subject to an EIA.
• Appropriate surveys will be carried out where there is potential for a schemes or initiative to have an adverse effect on Protected Species (under the Habitats Directive) or Priority BAP species.
• Appropriate surveys will be carried out where there is potential for a schemes or initiative to have an adverse effect on priority BAP habitats or sites of local or county level wildlife importance.
• Appropriate surveys will be carried out where there is potential for schemes or initiative to have an adverse effect on badgers as required under the Badger Act 1992.

Enhancement

• Biodiversity and geodiversity enhancements will be implemented where appropriate e.g. use of wildflower mixes on grass verges and in other landscape schemes, use of native tree species in landscape schemes, creation of new habitats for protected species e.g. ponds (great crested newts), and the creation of 'green ways' and wildlife corridors along footpaths and cycleways, to encourage the movements of species.

Landscape

• An EIA for any scheme that will potentially have an effects on the County's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).
• Landscape assessment will be carried out for large schemes (as part of the EIA) to determine the exact effect of the scheme on landscape character, quality and key landscape features.
• High quality design and construction principles will be applied to all new developments and scheme involving modifications and improvements.
• All schemes will be appropriately designed for the location.
• All schemes will be maintained to ensure that they remain in good condition.
• Landscaping schemes will be implemented in sensitive landscape areas.
• All schemes will retain key landscape features (e.g. footpaths, hedgerows, trees) where possible.
• Where key landscape features have to be removed/modified or landscape character will be temporarily altered Landscape Management Plans will be produced highlighting how the affected areas will be restored, replaced and enhanced.
• All landscape schemes will incorporate biodiversity enhancements where appropriate e.g. use of native species, creation of greenways and green networks.
• The LTP will improve the quality and appropriateness of street furniture (e.g. bins), lighting, public transport facilities and signage to ensure that they are appropriate to the location and do not have a negative effect on streetscape.
• Reduce parking on grass verges and footpaths to improve the appearance of streetscapes.
• Improve and maintain the quality of existing roads, footpaths and cycleway.
• Ensure that all new transport schemes in conservation areas of a high quality and are appropriate to the character of the conservation area and its setting.
• Ensure that pedestrianised areas are of a high quality design that enhances the appearance of location.
• Ensure streetscape improvements, where possible, incorporate measures to protect and enhance biodiversity e.g. ensure that street lighting schemes do not have adverse effects on bats; identify opportunities for the creation of habitats in pedestrianisation schemes; or create greenways along new and existing public rights of way.

Cultural Heritage

• Surveys will be undertaken prior to the implementation of a scheme to determine the whether it will effect sites or areas of archaeological importance. 
• New transport schemes that are likely to generate an increase in traffic (road or rail) will be assessed prior to installation to determine whether the vibrations that would be generated from the traffic would cause damage to listed buildings.   Where the levels of vibration would have adverse effects on a listed building the scheme may require modification or removal.
• Adverse effects on the character and quality of conservation areas will be avoided or reduced by improving the quality, design and appropriateness of street furniture, lighting, road signs, safety features, public transport facilities (bus stops) and by reducing street clutter.  Improvements to the quality and design of new and existing highways, footpaths and cycleways will also have positive effects on the character and quality of conservation areas.
• By reducing congestion the LTP will also have a positive effect on the character and quality of conservation areas by reducing or removing the intrusion of road traffic.

Water Quality

• Ensure that all new transport schemes and transport improvement works involving construction activities adhere to appropriate Environmental Protection Standards, Good Codes of Practice, Construction Principles and design guides to ensure that the correct measures are implemented to prevent the pollution of surface water and groundwater.
• Ensure all new transport schemes and transport improvement works will implement appropriate measures to minimise pollution from surface water runoff e.g. oil separators and silt traps.
• Where new transport schemes and transport improvement works are likely to cause disturbance to contaminated land, advice will be sought from the Environmental Health Departments of the relevant Local Planning Authority and current guidance presented in Planning Policy Statement 23 (PPS23) Planning and Pollution Control prior to development.  Where necessary PPC (Pollution Prevention Control) Permits will be obtained from the Environment Agency.
• In areas where there are high water tables surveys will be required prior to the implementation of schemes involving construction activities to ensure that the there are no breaches into the groundwater and there are not future risks of groundwater pollution from road drainage schemes.
• Where a scheme may affect sensitive wetlands (SPAs, Ramsar Sites, SSSIs) an Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment will be required to ensure that any changes to  water quality or drainage patterns do not have adverse effects on the integrity of the wetland.

Local Air Quality and Climate Change

• Achieve the aims of Chapter 10 of the LTP2 - Reducing Congestion.
• Achieve the aims of Chapter 11 of the LTP2 - Better Air Quality.
• Improve provisions for walking and cycling and improve the accessibility and efficiency of public transport as identified in Chapter 8 of the LTP2 Delivering Accessibility.
• Work in partnership with Local Planning Authorities to ensure public transport improvements and infrastructure improvements target areas of highest demand/greatest need.
• Ensure that, as identified in Chapters 10 and 11 of the LTP2, annual traffic monitoring is carried out to identify areas of traffic increase and congestion as they develop so that appropriate measures can be taken to reduce congestion and manage traffic growth as it occurs.
• Ensure that the strategy to develop and maintain an integrated, efficient, sustainable freight transport system (Chapter 10) is implemented effectively to promote rail and water as an attractive and viable alternative mode of transport for moving freight and to improve the efficiency of road freight to minimise adverse effects on the environment.

Flood Risk

• In accordance with PPG 25 Development and Flood Risk, and on advice of the Environment Agency, Flood Risk Assessments will be carried out for all new schemes and transport infrastructure improvements that are to be located in flood risk zones 2 or 3 or by their nature have the potential to cause flooding.
• All new transport schemes and transport infrastructure schemes that are located in coastal areas will be assessed prior to implementation to ensure that they do not compromise existing coastal flood defences and do not prevent the installation of future coastal flood defences.
• All new transport schemes and transport infrastructure schemes that are located in coastal areas will be assess prior to installation to ensure that they will not increase risk, or current rates of coastal erosion.
• The Council will promote the implementation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Schemes (SUDS) in new transport developments.

Land Use

• The County Council will work in partnership with Local Planning Authorities to ensure that all new developments located on areas of previously developed land are accessible by public transport.
• The County Council will investigate the implementation of schemes that will encourage and support future economic growth and the reuse of previously developed land.
• Where new transport schemes and transport improvement works are likely to cause disturbance to contaminated land, advice will be sought from the Environmental Health Departments of the Local Planning Authorities and current guidance presented in Planning Policy Statement 23 (PPS23) Planning and Pollution Control prior to development. Where necessary PPC (Pollution Prevention Control) Permits must be obtained from the Environment Agency.
• The County Council will work with Local Planning Authorities to ensure that new transport schemes minimise the use of greenfield land and the severance of agricultural land holdings.