Infrastructure Strategy: strategic environmental assessment

7. Proposed Monitoring Programme

7.5 Introduction

7.5.3 Monitoring in SEA is a means of evaluating the environmental performance of the plan or strategy and monitoring compliance through its implementation. It is also a way to check whether the effects predicted in the SEA arise as envisaged, or whether unforeseen issues arise.

7.5.4 Schedule 2 of the 2005 Act highlights that the Environmental Report should include “a description of the measures envisaged concerning monitoring”. In response to this, this Environmental Report presents a proposed draft monitoring programme for measuring the proposals’ implementation. It draws on the identified potential significant effects identified through the assessment of the various components of the proposals and also suggests where monitoring is required to help ensure that the potential benefits of the proposals are effectively achieved through implementation. This will enable appropriate interventions to be undertaken if monitoring highlights negative or underperforming trends relating to the proposals’ implementation.

7.6 Proposed SEA Monitoring Programme for the Infrastructure Strategy

7.6.3 The following overview outlines monitoring proposals for measuring the implementation of the Infrastructure Strategy from the SEA perspective. It pays particular attention to the areas where the SEA has identified potential significant effects and also suggests where monitoring is required to help ensure that the beneficial effects of the proposals are achieved through implementation. It includes:

• The significant effect or environmental change to be monitored;
• The SEA topic(s) to which the monitoring proposal relates;
• The indicator to be monitored;
• The source of information and frequency of monitoring; and
• The trigger for where intervention should take place if monitoring suggests it is required.

7.6.4 The proposed indicators are intended to be incorporated within, or aligned with, the Scottish Government’s wider monitoring arrangements for the Infrastructure Strategy, using existing data sources wherever possible.

7.6.5 Intervention may be considered if monitoring indicates that the environmental outcomes of the Strategy diverge from those anticipated in the SEA, or if mitigation measures embedded in the Strategy do not operate as expected. This approach will support continuous improvement and help prevent significant environmental deterioration.

Proposed monitoring indicators

7.6.6 The monitoring proposals are set out below.

Significant effect/environmental change to be monitored: Condition of designated habitats and ecosystems

• SEA topics: Biodiversity, Fauna and Flora; Landscape and Geodiversity
• Indicator: National reporting on designated site condition
• Data source: NatureScot (SSSI/SAC/SPA condition data)
• Frequency: Annual or as published
• Trigger for intervention: Notable downward trends in condition status in areas experiencing substantial infrastructure activity

Significant effect/environmental change to be monitored: Changes in landscape character at regional level

• SEA topic: Landscape
• Indicator: Published landscape‑character monitoring or relevant local authority assessments
• Data source: NatureScot; Local Authorities
• Frequency: Periodic
• Trigger for intervention: Evidence of widespread changes in landscape character within areas undergoing strategic infrastructure development

Significant effect/environmental change to be monitored: National greenhouse ‑gas emissions trends

• SEA topic: Climatic Factors
• Indicator: Scotland‑wide GHG emissions statistics
• Data source: Scottish Government
• Frequency: Annual
• Trigger for intervention: Trends that diverge significantly from national emissions‑reduction trajectories

Significant effect/environmental change to be monitored: Trends in monitored air ‑quality pollutants

• SEA topics: Air Quality; Population and Human Health
• Indicator: Concentrations of NO₂, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 at national and local monitoring stations
• Data source: SEPA; Local Authorities
• Frequency: Annual
• Trigger for intervention: Persistent increases in pollutant levels in locations where infrastructure investment is concentrated

Significant effect/environmental change to be monitored: Water ‑environment status within affected catchments

• SEA topics: Water; Biodiversity, Fauna and Flora
• Indicator: River Basin Management Plan status data
• Data source: SEPA
• Frequency: Annual (RBMP update cycles)
• Trigger for intervention: Declining ecological status in catchments with significant infrastructure growth

Significant effect/environmental change to be monitored: Use of brownfield versus greenfield land

• SEA topics: Soil; Material Assets; Landscape and Geodiversity
• Indicator: Development proportion on brownfield land
• Data source: Scottish Government planning statistics
• Frequency: Annual
• Trigger for intervention: Sustained reductions in the proportion of brownfield re‑use

Significant effect/environmental change to be monitored: Resource efficiency and waste trends

• SEA topics: Material Assets; Climatic Factors
• Indicator: National construction and demolition waste statistics
• Data source: SEPA
• Frequency: Annual
• Trigger for intervention: Increases in C&D waste sent to landfill relative to national baselines