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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Stockton waste plant

What is EIA?

EIA is a procedure that must be followed for certain types of development before they are granted development consent. Before granting development consent for any project that is likely to have significant effects on the environment, authorities must carry out a procedure known as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The procedure requires the developer to compile an Environmental Statement (ES) describing the likely significant effects of the development on the environment and proposed mitigation measures.

EIA directive

In the UK, environmental issues have long been taken into account during the planning process. In 1988 the European Directive (85/337/EEC [External link], subsequently amended by 97/11/EC [External link]) 'on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment' came into effect.  The "EIA" Directive aims to ensure that environmental issues are addressed in a more rigorous, scientific and transparent manner and are a requirement for certain types of developments.  For projects that are subject to approval through the planning system the requirements of the Directive have been transposed into domestic legislation by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, as amended [External link].

Process

The legislation requires a developer to compile an Environmental Statement (ES) describing the likely significant effects of the development on the environment and any proposed measures to reduce the environmental impact.
Members of the public, and statutory consultation bodies, must be given the opportunity to comment on the ES.  Before any decision to approve the application may be taken, the planning authority must take into account the ES and any representations made about the environmental effects by the public or consultees.
EIAs are not simply required for large developments - the key issue to be considered is whether a project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment. Small-scale projects in or close to sensitive areas can have effects just as damaging as those from large-scale development.

The HPA's role

For EIA consultations under Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 [External link] the HPA are not specified as a consultation body. Local Planning Authorities may choose to approach the HPA for comments.
For those infrastructure applications under the Planning Act [External link] that are subject to EIA the HPA is a consultation body under the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009 [External link]. Separate HPA Planning Act webpages deal with the HPA's role under the Planning Act.