Strategic Environmental Assessment Initial Document | Environmental Consultancy

What the initial document of a strategic assessment is

The initial document is the first document of the strategic environmental assessment procedure, prepared by the plan's developer or promoting body and submitted to the environmental authority to formally start processing under Spanish Law 21/2013. Its purpose is to provide sufficient information for the environmental authority to determine the scope and content that the subsequent strategic environmental study must have.

What it must include

Planning objectives and a general description of the plan or programme.
Anticipated scope and content of the plan, including its foreseeable development and reasonable alternatives.
Foreseeable development of the plan or programme, with the potential environmental effects that may arise from its implementation.
Foreseeable environmental effects on the various environmental factors, based on the information available at this initial stage.
Foreseeable interaction with concurrent sector and territorial plans in the same area.

What happens after submission

Once the initial document is received, the environmental authority consults the affected public administrations and interested parties, and prepares the scoping document, which determines the breadth, level of detail and degree of specification the subsequent strategic environmental study must have. The scoping document is binding on the developer as regards the minimum required content.

Why drafting it rigorously matters

A well-prepared initial document makes it possible to obtain a proportionate, well-tailored scoping document, avoiding disproportionate demands in the subsequent strategic environmental study. A generic or incomplete initial document can lead to an excessively broad scoping document, unnecessarily lengthening the timelines and cost of the full strategic assessment.

Why choose Ideas Medioambientales

We draft strategic environmental assessment initial documents with the right level of detail to obtain a proportionate scoping document, supporting the developer throughout the plan's strategic assessment procedure. Our in-house multidisciplinary team, with more than 25 years of experience and ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certification, works across the whole of Spain from our offices in Albacete and Madrid.

Tell us the type of plan you want to process and we will help you draft the initial document and manage the whole procedure.

Book a 30-minute meeting and tell us about your projects.

You can also contact us today to talk about your project.

What can we cover in 30 minutes?

It's more than enough time to have an overview of your needs and recommend the best route forward. Here there is a summary of the steps we will follow.

1. Let's get to know your project

We want you to walk us through your project's main goals and concerns; and based on that, we’ll set an approach to make the most of the meeting.

2. Quick assessment: identifying challenges and opportunities

We will analyze the key aspects of your project, such as its location, applicable regulations, deadlines and potential environmental impacts, highlighting the main challenges and opportunities.

3. Tailored solutions: how can we help you

We will suggest you the services that best suit your needs, explaining how we work to ensure regulatory compliance and sustainability, while answering any questions that you may have.

4. Action Plan: let's keep moving forward together

We will wrap up with a summary of the key points, suggesting clear next steps such as a quote or a follow-up meeting. We will remain at your disposal to accompany you as your project moves forward.