Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Guidance
Information on Environmental Impact Assessment and Other Consents
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Development requiring Environmental Impact Assessment
- Procedures when EIA is required
- Other Consents
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a technique for ensuring that the likely effects of new development on the environment are fully understood and taken into account before it is allowed to go ahead. It is part of the planning application process and stems from a European Community Directive which was introduced into UK planning procedures in 1988. EIA is a requirement for certain major projects.Development Requiring Environmental Impact Assessment
The statutory provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) England and Wales) Regulations 1999 apply to two separate lists of projects.- 'Schedule 1 projects', for which EIA is required in every case. Examples include large-scale developments with potentially far reaching impacts such as oil refineries, chemical works, waste disposal installations, and quarries and open cast mining.
- 'Schedule 2 projects' for which EIA is needed only if the project in question is considered to give rise to 'significant environmental effects'. A range of infrastructure and industry developments falls within this category.
- Whether the project is of more than local importance.
- Whether the project is proposed for a particularly sensitive or vulnerable location even if it is on a smaller scale.
- Whether the project is likely to give rise to unusually complex and potentially adverse environmental effects.
Procedures when Environmental Impact Assessment is Required
Where there is a possibility that a proposed development will require environmental impact assessment, developers are advised to consult the relevant planning authority well in advance of a planning application. Developers can decide for themselves that a given project falls within the scope of the Regulations so that an environmental statement will be needed. But the Regulations also provide a procedure which enables developers to apply to the planning authority for an opinion ('screening opinion') on whether EIA is needed in a particular case, as soon as a basic minimum of information can be provided about the proposal. This must include a plan on which the site of the proposed development is identified, and a brief description of its nature and purpose and of its possible effects on the environment. This can, of course, be supplemented with other information if the developer wishes.
When EIA is required, the developer is responsible for preparing the environmental statement which must be submitted with the planning application. A developer may choose to engage consultants for some or all of the work. The preparation of the statement should be a collaborative exercise involving discussions with the local planning authority, statutory consultees and possibly other bodies as well. There is no prescribed form of statement, provided that the requirements of the Regulations are met. The Regulations enable a developer, before making a planning application, to ask the local planning authority for its formal opinion ('scoping opinion') on the information to be included in an environmental statement. The developer can therefore be clear as to what the authority considers are the aspects of the environment which would be affected. A developer may also wish to submit a draft outline of the environmental statement, indicating what the developer thinks the main issues are, as a focus for the authority's consideration. The authority must consult certain bodies and the developer before adopting a scoping opinion, and must adopt the scoping opinion within five weeks of receiving the request. This period may be extended provided that the developer agrees.
Further information on EIA is available from the Communities and Local Government website.
Other Consents
The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 apply to works to listed buildings and demolition of buildings within conservation areas. Under these, the County Council makes an application to the Secretary of State for development affecting its property requiring listed building consent or conservation areas consent. Scheduled monument consent is obtained through a similar procedure.How to Contact Us
Tel: 0191 3835698Email: Development Control
