T5: Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process and tool for identifying the environmental effects of a proposed development before consent is granted. It is a tool to ensure that planning decisions are made in full knowledge of the significant environmental effects of a project through the full engagement of statutory bodies, key interest groups and the general public. The aim for practitioners is to prevent, reduce or offset the significant adverse environmental effects of a proposal and enhance the positive ones.

The statutory requirement for EIA comes from EU Directives 85/337/EEC as amended by Directive 97/11/EC and Article 3 of Directive Directive 2003/35/EC. In terms of projects under the Town and Country Planning System in England and Wales, this is given effect by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No 293) as amended by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment)(England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No 2867) and the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No 3295). Any forthcoming amendments following consultation on an amended Circular will apply only to England and separate legislation applies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Current guidance is currently provided in Circular 02/99 although a consultation paper for an amended Circular was published by DCLG in June 2006.

A wide range of good practice guidance exists on how to carry out, review and manage the EIA process. In keeping with the objectives of the ATLAS Guide this information does not repeat this guidance, rather it seeks to highlight how and where the key stages of the EIA process should be integrated into the key stages of the ATLAS approach to large-scale development set out in the Guide. It then goes on to consider the question of the parameters of development for a project and planning application subject to EIA as well as the question of how the project specific EIA relates to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) regime.