Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)

An Environmental Impact Assessment aims to protect the environment by ensuring any likely significant effects are identified before planning permission for a proposed project is granted. Typically, only large schemes require an EIA, but this is subject to a screening assessment.

Following screening, a scoping assessment is undertaken to determine which issues are required to be considered and an Environmental Statement (ES) is prepared to support the planning application. This is a collaborative process, covering multiple environmental disciplines; including water, ecology, noise, pollution, and requires input from a number of technical specialists.

Water Environment have extensive experience of the ES process and in preparing the ‘Water’ chapter, which covers all aspects of water resources, hydrology, hydrogeology and flood risk. We are also frequently required to undertake bespoke hydraulic modelling and produce detailed Flood Risk Assessments to support the ES report.