Advisory - Ecology - Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment

“STRI is totally independent, so helping to retain its respected position with local authorities and other statutory/non-statutory organisations.”

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a phased procedure that aims to identify and assess the potential environmental effects of development,providing an impartial study of development options. Understanding the effects of development requires a multi-disciplinary approach and STRI can co-ordinate a team to undertake this task.

Phased Approach

The completed formal EIA comprises an Environmental Statement, which presents available information and the completed assessment in an impartial format. The Environmental Statement is often accompanied by a Non- Technical Summary which provides the findings of the assessment in clear,unambiguous language.

The phased approach to EIA is systematic and includes:–

- Screening—where preliminary liaison with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) is undertaken to ascertain the requirement (or not) for an EIA.

- Scoping—where issues of primary importance are identified through a Scoping Opinion obtained from the LPA and preliminary assessment of the various environmental aspects of EIA is undertaken in the form of a Scoping Study to identify potentially significant issues.

- Formal EIA—where the issues identified during the scoping stage as being potentially significant are studied and assessed in depth, with the potential degree of magnitude determined and relevant mitigation measures identified.

The resulting EIA is produced in the form of an Environmental Statement, with Non-Technical Summary as required.

Golf courses are covered by Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (EIA) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, where proposed golf course developments of an area greater than 0.5 hectares are subject to the regulations. The LPA is then to determine, via the screening process, whether the EIA process is considered necessary.

Topics

When an EIA is deemed necessary by the LPA, the environmental topics to be covered by the EIA process can be wide ranging and often include:–

- Ecology

- Landscape

- Water Quality

- Air Quality

- Noise and Vibration

- Traffic and Transport

- Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

- Land Use

- Socio-economic issues

The methodology used in the assessment of these issues varies from topic to topic, but will include assessment of baseline conditions and potential impacts via correspondence with relevant Statutory Consultees (such as the

Environment Agency, SEPA, English Nature, Local Authorities), review of available plans/aerial photographs and via walkover surveys.

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