Environmental Impact Assessment
When assessing planning applications, consideration is given to potential environmental impacts. Common issues that are considered are:
- Potential noise from transport (e.g. road traffic noise) that may adversely impact on proposed housing.
- The air quality in a proposed housing area or the potential for pollution arising from and industrial/commercial development.
- The previous use of a proposed development site may result in the need for the land to be cleaned up prior to development.
- Hours of operation
- Limitations on working hours and noise limits during construction
However, under certain circumstances there may be other legislation to control activities during/after development and the planning laws cannot replace this primary legislation.
Other environment related topics – such as traffic growth and management – may also be considered by officers of other sections within the Council.
Generally, the main issues considered by the Environmental Strategic Development Section relate to noise, odours, working hours, air quality and soil contamination.
Comments are passed to the relevant Development Control Planning Officer who will then consider all comments before determining the planning application.
Detailed Environmental Impact Assessments can only be required where the proposed development meets the criteria specified in regulations.
Where this is the case, the Council would normally discuss the proposals with the applicant, identify the potential issues at an early stage, comment on a subsequent report submitted by the applicant (a Scoping Report) and then finally determine if the Environmental Statement and Environmental Impact Assessment address the issues of concern.
