ENV23

Policy: ENV23 - Environment Policy 23

Environment Policy 23: When considering alterations and improvements to existing facilities the Department will require that consideration be given to the potential adverse impact of the proposed changes to existing neighbours.

7.18 Environmental Impact Assessment(1)

7.18.1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important procedure for ensuring that the likely effects of new development on the environment are fully understood and taken into account before the development is allowed to go ahead. It is a process by which information about the likely environmental effects of certain types of development is collected, assessed and taken into account by the developer (as part of project design) and by the planning authority (in determining the acceptability of the application). In cases where developments are likely to have significant environmental effects, whether public or private, by virtue of their nature, size or location, EIA's will be required and the general principles set out in Appendix 5 should be followed.

7.18.2 For some types of development, EIA's will be required in every case, whilst other development will only require an EIA if the particular project is judged likely to give rise to significant environmental effects. Where development does not fall within these categories, but still has a significant effect on the environment, the Department will require suitable supporting environmental information. The main criteria for judging significance are as follows:

1. major developments which are of more than local importance;
2. developments which are proposed in particularly environmentally sensitive or vulnerable locations;
3. developments with unusually complex and potentially hazardous environmental effects.

7.18.3 A Planning Policy Statement will be issued specifying the manner in which the Department intends to deal with applications which should be subject to EIA. Pending the adoption of the proposed Planning Policy Statement the Department will adopt current practice on EIA's from England and Wales set out in the publication "Environmental Impact Assessment: A Guide to Procedures"(1).

(1) Environmental Impact Assessment is defined in Appendix 1