Environmental Impact Assessment Handbook: A practical guide for planners, developers and communities, Third edition

Contents Foreword to the first edition (2002) vii
Foreword to the second edition (2009) ix
Foreword to this edition xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xv
About the authors xvii
Abbreviations xix

1 EIA in context 1
1.1 What is EIA? 1
1.2 EIA’s purpose and benefits 2
1.3 Proportionate EIA 2
1.4 Key EIA terminology 3
1.5 The process of EIA 3
1.6 EIA and the law – legal basis, key concepts and challenge 4
1.7 Key stakeholders in EIA 5
1.8 Knowledge, skills and behaviours for effective EIA 9
1.9 The future – EIA, Brexit and beyond 10
References 11
Case law 11
Legislation 11

2 Is an EIA required? Screening and other pre-EIA activity 13
2.1 Introduction 13
2.2 EIA screening – determining the need for an assessment 14
2.3 Initial developer activities 27
References 29
Case law 29
Legislation 29

3 EIA pre-submission – the assessment and environmental statement 31
3.1 Getting the EIA started 31
3.2 Focusing the EIA (scoping) 34
3.3 Baseline studies 41
3.4 Assessment and evaluating significance 45
3.5 Enhancement, mitigation and monitoring 48
3.6 The environmental statement 56
References 58
Legislation 59

4 EIA and consenting – consultation, examination and decision 61
4.1 Introduction 61
4.2 Overview of EIA post-submission 62
4.3 Consultation and further information 64
4.4 Examination and reasoned significant effects 66
4.5 Committee report 68
4.6 Decision notice 68
References 69
Legislation 69

5 Integrating EIA with …. Design, delivery and other assessments 71
5.1 Integrating EIA with … an introduction 71
5.2 Sustainability and sustainable development 72
5.3 Strategic assessment 73
5.4 Project planning and design 76
5.5 Habitats Regulations assessments (HRAs) 77
5.6 Water Framework Directive assessments 81
5.7 Equality assessment 83
5.8 Natural capital, valuing the environment, ecosystem services and the net
gain principle 84
5.9 CEEQUAL 87
5.10 EIA’s role post-consent: delivery 89
5.11 Conclusion 91
References 92
Case law 95
Legislation 95

6 Non-planning EIA regimes 97
6.1 Introduction 97
6.2 Infrastructure consented via Acts of Parliament 97
6.3 Nationally significant infrastructure 98
6.4 EIA for highways and transport 98
6.5 EIA and flood risk management – land drainage 100
6.6 Marine works 100
6.7 Other regimes 101
References 104
Legislation 105

7 Environmental topics 107
7.1 Introduction 107
7.2 Human health 108
7.3 Biodiversity (ecology, flora and fauna) 114
7.4 Soil 119
7.5 Water 123
7.6 Air quality 128
7.7 Climate change 132
7.8 Cultural heritage 136
7.9 Landscape and visual impact 141
7.10 Noise 146
7.11 Agricultural land 151
7.12 Material assets 152
7.13 Transport 154
7.14 Major accidents and disasters 155
References 157
Legislation 161

Appendix 1 Links to key consultees, organisations and stakeholdes across the
UK’s EIA regimes 163
UK-wide EIA bodies 163
England 165
Scotland 166
Northern Ireland 167
Wales 167

Appendix 2 Overview of UK EIA guidance 169
UK government 169
European Commission guidance 169
EIA practice guidance 170
EIA topic guidance 170

Index 173