CgMs Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Statements Bulletin

Context

Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental (EIA) is a procedure that must be followed when seeking planning permission for certain types of development. The requirement for EIA comes from a European Directive (85/33/EEC as amended by 97/11/EC). The procedure requires the developer to compile an Environmental Statement (ES) describing the likely significant effects of the development upon the environment and proposed mitigation measures. The ES must be circulated to statutory consultation bodies and made available to the public for comment. Its contents, together with any comments, must be taken into account by the local planning authority before it may grant consent.

There are two classes of developments that need to follow the EIA procedure as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, as amended in 2008.
Schedule 1 projects (such as power stations, major airports and ports, long distance railway lines and waste disposal installations), have a mandatory EIA requirement and Schedule 2 projects are those where the local planning authority is required to consider whether the project is likely to have significant effect on the environment- if so, then an EIA must be undertaken.

Why should I be concerned about this?

Planning applications covered by the Regulations may be deemed to be invalid if not accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES).

The EIA process can have significant programming implications and therefore needs to be considered at the outset of the development process, carefully planned and properly resourced in order to minimise delays.
The ES often becomes the key document informing the planning authority, statutory bodies and the public and will have a major influence on the decision-making process (particularly if a case goes to appeal). It must therefore be robust.
If planning permission has been granted without having thoroughly assessed the significant environmental impacts of development, the permission is at risk of being successfully challenged by third party objectors in the Courts .

How can CgMs Consulting Help?

CgMs Consulting can provide you with the following advice specifically relating to the EIA procedure and in the preparation of the Environmental Statement(ES).

• Seeking "Screening Opinions" from the Local Planning Authority to determine whether an EIA is required ;
• Where an EIA is required, undertaking a scoping exercise and negotiating with the Local Planning Authority and other bodies so as to identify the significant environmental impacts that need to be assessed and to obtain a scoping opinion;
• Project management of the EIA process, including preparation of the ES, working with the appointed specialist consultants to ensure that
  • the environmental impacts are thoroughly assessed, in accordance with best practice;
  • where adverse impacts are identified, these are designed out as far as possible;
  • the identified mitigation measures are cost effective and reasonable so as to ensure the viability of the development;
  • agreement is reached with the local planning authority, statutory bodies and other key consultees regarding the conclusions of the EIA and the proposed mitigation measures;
  • procedures and public consultation of the ES have been undertaken in accordance with the Regulations.
  • the ES complements and supports the planning case for the proposed development.
• Using our own in house specialist teams to assess the impact that the development might have upon Cultural Heritage; the historic built environment, archaeology or other heritage issues as part of the EIA;
• Subsequent negotiation of the planning conditions and/or section 106 agreement in the light of the conclusions of the ES;
• Providing an independent assessment of EIAs undertaken by others, in accordance with IEMA guidance.

Examples of EIAs project managed by CgMs Consulting

Commercial Development

CgMs Consulting were appointed by Helioslough Ltd to coordinate the preparation of an Environmental Statement for their Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) and Country Park scheme at Radlett, near to St Albans. The planning application related to a 419 hectare site comprising 8 parcels of land and sought permission for the construction of a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) comprising an intermodal terminal and rail and road served distribution units (331,665m2 in Use Class B8 including ancillary B1/B2 floorspace) with associated road, rail and other infrastructure facilities and works.

CgMs was appointed by Helioslough Ltd to co-ordinate the preparation of an Environmental Statement for their Inland Port Scheme in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The planning application being submitted related to 562,000 sq m of Class B8 floorspace on a 397.4 hectare site comprising of 3 main areas of land. The planning application sought permission for the construction of a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) rail and road served distribution units and an intermodal terminal, with associated road, rail and other infrastructure facilities and works.

Retail Development

CgMs was appointed to project manage the preparation of the Environmental Statement on behalf of London Business Centres Ltd for a mixed use development comprising of 663 dwellings and 8,570 sq m of commercial floorspace in a series of building blocks varying in height from one to twenty two storeys at Cannon Wharf, Evelyn Street, London, SE8 5RT.  

Energy

National Grid - CgMs Consulting are managing the environmental assessment process for major electricity infrastructure projects on behalf of National Grid. CgMs are directing environmental consultant teams and ensuring that ESs are fit for purpose, liaising with planning authorities, statutory bodies and the department for Energy and Climate Change.

Residential Development

CgMs was instructed by Mast Quay Development Limited to prepare and project manage an Environmental Statement (ES) to support their planning application for 218 flats in two blocks (14 and 22 storeys) and B1 & A3 units (totalling 938 sq m) at a site fronting the Thames adjacent near the Woolwich Ferry. A scoping report was prepared and submitted, and the ES was prepared in conjunction with a number of specialist environmental consultants.

Examples of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (Built Heritage and Archaeology) as part of the ES

CgMs boasts an experienced archaeological consultancy team and a well regarded historic buildings team. These departments regularly provide ES cultural heritage assessment for our clients, usually beginning with a baseline study in the form of an archaeological desk based assessment or a built heritage baseline study to identify which will establish existing conditions, constraints and opportunities. These studies may inform the evolving masterplanning process and can subsequently form technical appendices to the subsequent ES chapter. Chapters can be provided as a combined 'cultural heritage' chapter or as two defined 'Archaeology' and 'Built Heritage' chapters depending on client preference.

The CgMs archaeology and historic buildings teams have provided the necessary input into over 1,000 Environment Statements and listed below are some notable examples of the type of work we have recently undertaken.

Wind Farms - various

CgMs has prepared over 15 ES Cultural Heritage assessments for on-shore wind farm developments and has an established track record in the field. Our consultants follow a tried and tested approach; identifying heritage assets within a defined radius from turbines; researching those assets and areas; visiting assets within the agreed study radius; undertaking consultation with county archaeologists, conservation officers and English Heritage advisors, and assessing impacts. The ES chapter addresses direct and indirect impacts upon listed buildings, registered parks and gardens, scheduled ancient monuments, conservation areas and unscheduled archaeological remains. Close liaison is maintained with the author of the landscape chapter for continuity and consistency of approach and impact assessment is informed by wireframes, ZTVs and photomontage where applicable. Mitigation is suggested and expert witness is provided if public inquiry follows.

The Bata Estate, Tilbury

CgMs was instructed by Colonnade Land LLP to prepare a cultural heritage ES chapter. The chapter appraised the direct and indirect impacts associated with proposals for residential development delivering between 200-500 family homes and associated infrastructure on part of The Bata Estate. The Bata Estate developed from 1933 centred on a shoe factory with workers living on the wider estate . Baseline studies provided details of existing conditions and the evolution of the site. Impact assessment paid particular attention to the remains of a large Bronze Age ditched enclosure and field boundaries; the adjacent East Tilbury Conservation area, the demolition of two buildings on site and the setting of 15 nearby listed buildings.. Assessment found no significant harmful impacts and some minor beneficial impacts upon built heritage and the need for archaeological excavation prior to construction, providing mitigation leading to no significant effects on archaeological remains once the proposed development was completed and occupied.

Kings Cross Station, London

CgMs was engaged by Network Rail to prepare a Cultural Heritage ES chapter in relation to a long term masterplanning project for a new concourse at King’s Cross Station. The concourse was to replace the southern concourse which only has a temporary permission. King’s Cross is a Grade One listed building and the project involved on-going discussions with Camden Council, English Heritage, CABE and the Mayor.

Beckton Gasworks, London

CgMs was instructed by National Grid Property Holdings to prepare an archaeology ES chapter in relation to the redevelopment of the former gas works on the north Thames bank. This included detailed below ground deposit modelling to demonstrate that the proposed development will have limited impacts on archaeological deposits.

Land At Felpham, Bognor Regis

CgMs was instructed by Hallam Land Management to prepare a cultural heritage ES chapter in relation to large residential scheme and link road/by pass. This involved lengthy negotiations with the local authority to ensure that all archaeological evaluation was undertake as a condition of outline planning permission rather than as part of the ES.

Bishop's Stortford Schools

CgMs were instructed by Hertfordshire County Council to undertake an archaeological desk based assessment, evaluation and production of an archaeology ES chapter in support of planning applications for two new schools.

Contact

For further information about how we can help you prepare, negotiate and submit your environmental assessments please contact:

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