Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)

Where a proposed scheme is determined to be 'EIA development', developers may write to the Borough Council requesting an opinion on what information should be included within an environmental statement. Regulation 15 the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 sets out what scoping opinion requests are expected to include. In general, scoping opinion requests in relation to an application for planning permission are expected to include the following:

• a plan sufficient to identify the land 
• a brief description of the nature and purpose of the development, including its location and technical capacity 
• an explanation of the likely significant effects of the development on the environment 
• any other relevant information or representations 

The Borough Council is required to consult upon the scoping opinion with the relevant consultation bodies before it can be adopted. The Borough Council must adopt the scoping opinion within five weeks following receipt of the request, unless a longer period is agreed in writing with the person making the request. 

For more information on scoping opinion requests, please email the Strategic Planning Team and see the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017.