Translate the following English sentence to French:
"The assessments are to be carried out at as early a stage as possible in the planning process, partly so that alternative solutions might be found before the decision-making process is taken any further."
Cette procédure interviendra à un stade aussi précoce que possible de la planification, notamment afin de pouvoir trouver des solutions alternatives avant d'aller plus avant dans le processus de décision.