Environment Impact Assessment
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, which came into force on the 14th March 1999, commonly require an Environmental Statement to be submitted within a development proposal as part of the planning process.
The Environmental Statement basically comprises the following:-
- A plan to identify the site
- Description of the nature and purpose of the development
- Details of the potential effects on the surrounding environment
Information gathered is commonly contained within an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which assesses the positive and negative effects that the development may have on the surrounding environment. These effects will be varied dependent upon the type of development, but may result in impacts on habitats, traffic volumes or emissions to land, water or air and may occur during or post development.
An EIA may include one or a combination of the studies listed below:-
- Agricultural Land Classification
- Ecology/habitat assessment
- Water quality assessments
- Landscape and visual impact evaluations
- Noise, dust and air quality studies
- Need surveys
- Socio-economics and social impact assessments
- Traffic survey
- Topographic surveys
- Local planning reviews
The requirements of an EIA often complement the other investigative services that we provide at Terragen. In collaboration with a network of associate consultants we can, where required, include all of the aspects required to deliver an EIA and related services to deliver a cost effective appraisal of the environmental considerations for a given development.