EIA Update | September 2011

IEMA's update on the publication of new EIA legislation and guidance

IEMA webinar and workshops

On 10 August, more than 150 members listened to IEMA’s first EIA-related webinar. The session provided an opportunity to gain updates on UK EIA for members unable to attend the summer workshops. IEMA now plans to run further lunchtime EIA webinars later in the year.

More than 450 members attended the Institute’s 14 EIA workshops held across the UK in July and August. The presentations provided by IEMA, EIA Quality Mark registrants and guest presenters are available to download from IEMA's website.

New EIA Regulations

The English Town and Country Planning EIA Regulations came into force on 24 August.

The Regulations consolidate amendments made to the original 1999 Regulations and changes made to the EIA Directive (85/337/EEC). The 2011 Regulations also include further changes to take account of recent case law – R (on the application of Baker) v Bath and North East Somerset Council [2009] EWHC 595; and R (on the application of Mellor) v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2009] EWCA 1201 and European case C-75/08, 30 April 2009 – as well as other amendments.

Guidance on interpreting the Regulations is expected to be placed on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government in the next few weeks and a consultation on the Welsh Town and Country Planning EIA Regulations is expected to start later this month.

IEMA can confirm that Wales will follow Scotland and England in consulting on a move to consolidate its EIA Regulations related to planning.

Planning checklist

The Planning Portal has made the EIA screening checklist used by the Planning Inspectorate and National Planning Casework Unit available for download from its website. The checklist provides a framework that local authorities could voluntarily adopt to ensure they effectively record screening opinions.

SEA in Ireland

In May, the Republic of Ireland launched amendments to its Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Regulations with the updates influencing the SEA of plans in various sectors. A presentation by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, including discussion of the main changes, can be downloaded from IEMA's website.

Environment Agency guidance

The Environment Agency has published a revised version of its document, titled Strategic environmental assessment and climate change: Guidance for practitioners. The guide applies to England and Wales and provides useful advice and links to data sources for different aspects of climate change.