3A/3D/3E: EIA, LVIA, Assessment Process Flashcards
Explain the EIA Process
EIA is the process of assessing the effects of a development on the environment, by putting together an Environmental Statement, comprising several chapters of different reports from various disciplines, including the LVIA from a landscape architect (although you don’t have to be a LA to carry out an LVIA).
Firstly, in the early stages of the project, screening is carried out with the LPA to ascertain whether or not an EIA is required. If it is required, you would undergo a separate scoping process with the LPA to ascertain which chapters / disciplines would be needed.
I have actually worked on an LVIA for an NSIP before, which also required another level of detail before the EIA is carried out: a Preliminary Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), to inform the consultation process.
The assessment is then carried out by all relevant disciplines, coordinated by someone, usually planners in my experience, and collated to form the ES (Environmental Statement). Recommendations and mitigation strategies are also likely to form over this period, informing the planning application. A non-technical summary will also be produced to inform the general public of the findings of the EIA.
It then forms part of the planning application.
In an LVIA, when may you come across designations and what are their implications?
You would typically come across designations, whether they are landscape, planning or ecologically based, when carrying out the baseline analysis of the site and its surroundings.
Some of them may have a vital role in assessment, such as AONBs, National Parks, and Conservation Areas. These designations themselves will form landscape receptors, and in most cases will increase the value and sensitivity of the receptor, therefore directly impacting the assessment.
Others have secondary importance to an LVIA, such as SSSIs – depending on the proximity and characteristics, they may not be impacted at all by development, yet are still important to include in a baseline analysis in order to build up a picture of the site and its context.
Designations such as SSSIs, listed buildings or the presence of protected species will be important when suggested mitigation, and when making recommendations to the location, scale and character of the development.
Many designations are protected by law, and failure to pick these up may result in planning applications being refused, and us being liable for professional negligence.
What is the main legislation regarding EIA?
The European Impact Assessment Directive, Town and Country Planning Act.
What is an EIA?
It is the process [not report - ES is the report] of assessing the environmental impacts a development will have. It comprises an Environment Statement (ES) which is a series of technical reports from various disciplines, often including an LVIA, which assess the environmental impacts of development. This is an important consideration to the LPA in the planning application.
How is it determined whether or not a scheme will require an EIA?
Schemes will fit into one of two categories: Schedule 1 or schedule 2.
Schedule 1 schemes will always need an EIA, and include things like new roads or railways, power stations, waste management facilities.
Schedule 2 schemes will only require an EIA if they are expected to cause significant environmental effects. They include things like infrastructure projects, urban development, tourism and leisure and residential developments. Schedule 2 project then need screening by the LPA to check whether they need an EIA. They will consider whether it has a sensitive location, the scale of development, and the likely scale of the effects.
Can an EIA be required for outline and RM stages?
Yes - it is sometimes required at outline, in which case an addendum is normally submitted with an RM application.
What is screening and scoping in the EIA process?
Screening is the process of consulting an LPA to see if a scheme requires an EIA… LPAs have 21 days to get back to you.
Scoping is when the LPA is consulted to determine which technical disciplines will need to provide chapters to the EIA (e.g. ecology, acoustics, air quality, flooding, heritage etc). This is not a statutory requirement, and LPAs have 35 days.
What is landscape character assessment?
This is a tool for identifying features and characteristics that give an area a sense of place and distinctiveness.
Natural England provides guidance on landscape character assessment, and also produces the national character assessment: 159 national character areas defined by their landscape characteristics such as geology, watercourses, wildlife, culture, settlement pattern, landscape change, land use and more.
What are the main stages in landscape character assessment?
There are 6 stages:
- definition of scope: geographical scale, required outputs of study
- desk study
- field study
- classification and description
- make judgements - on things like value and sensitivity
- Make final judgements and conclusions
I have followed very similar processes for several townscape character analyses, and also for landscape character areas where there was no existing assessment, or to further “zoom in” on an area, such as within a site itself.
check guidance
What is landscape character analysis used for?
It can be used to guide local plans, carry out EIAs and to inform landscape design and landscape management.
What is an LVIA?
It is a tool to understand the landscape and visual context of a development within an ES report - it assesses the impact of development of landscape and visual receptors.
The level of effect is assessed by combining the magnitude of change with the sensitivity of the receptor.
Methodology is set out in the Guidelines for landscape and visual impact assessment (third edition) - GLVIA3.
What is the process of carrying out an LVIA?
Screening: is an EIA required?
Scoping: consultation with the LPA to determine which chapters of an EIA are required.
Baseline assessment: to understand the site and its context. What is the existing character, and its value and susceptibility to change?
Effects: what is the change being proposed, and how does this effect the various receptors?
Mitigation: analysis of the mitigation (ideally LVIA will be carried out in parallel with design development to ensure appropriate mitigation)
Summary of effects: impact (and nature of impact) on each receptor summarised.
What tools can be used for assessing L+V impact?
Desktop:
- ZTV
- GIS/google earth analysis to identify receptors such as listed buildings, parks, recreation routes, conservation areas, AONBs
Fieldwork:
- Viewpoints (usually viewpoint locations will be decided with the LPA’s landscape officer): photography can be used to create photomontages or wirelines.
- We also sometimes use augmented reality whilst on site to get a feel for the location and extent of development, and the likely effects on receptors
What is an LVA?
A landscape and visual appraisal is a tool similar to an LVIA, but does not form part of an ES and does not consider significance (this is an EIA requirement).
LVAs will vary in detail - they depend on the project and site, but typically follow the same format of an LVIA.
LVAs still are a useful tool to inform the planning process and design development of a scheme.
What is the typical format of an ES?
First there are several introductory chapters…
- Introduction
- Process and Methodology
- Proposed Development
- Alternatives
- Policy and Legal Background
- Consultation
Then there are the technical chapters… which can vary project-to-project but usually include the following…
- Ecology
- Hydrology
- Geology and Soils
- Landscape and Visual
- Heritage
- Noise
- Air quality
- Socio-economic
Then there are the summary chapters:
- Cumulative
- Mitigation and Management
- Summary of residual impacts
There will also be a non-technical summary of the whole report.
