Screening is the first stage of an EIA, and determines whether a scheme is EIA development or not based on thresholds set out by the EIA Regulations; the size, scale and location of a scheme, sensitivity of receptors and the characteristics of any potential impacts. Our EIA Co-ordinators can provide advice on whether screening is likely to be required and produce comprehensive screening letters and reports that are tailored specifically to your scheme. They also have the knowledge and expertise to recommend preliminary surveys, if required, which in some cases can be used to ‘screen out’ schemes that exceed EIA Regulations thresholds.
Wardell Armstrong can undertake screening as a standalone service, or as part of our wider EIA co-ordination services.
Scoping is an optional stage of EIA; however, it is a useful tool to determine and agree the scope of the Environmental Statement (ES) with the relevant planning authority. Our EIA Co-ordinators have the technical expertise to identify the correct scope of work for all schemes, ensuring that the ES is proportionate and appropriate to the scheme. During scoping we will liaise with technical experts, whether from within Wardell Armstrong or third-party organisations, to produce a comprehensive Scoping Opinion Request. Following submission of the request, our EIA Co-ordinators will liaise with the planning authority during the scoping process to identify potential issues as soon as they arise.
Wardell Armstrong can undertake scoping as a standalone service, or as part of our wider EIA co-ordination services.
Wardell Armstrong has expert EIA Co-ordinators who can co-ordinate EIAs, working closely with a project team of your choice.
Our Co-ordinators have a range of experience and expertise and act as a central point of contact between you and the project team. They oversee all technical assessments, reviewing all draft work and ensuring each technical chapter included in our Environmental Statements is consistent, focused and appropriate for your scheme. Where environmental constraints are identified by the project team, our EIA Co-ordinators will relay this to you, and will work with you and the project team to find the best way to avoid or mitigate these constraints.
As part of Wardell Armstrong’s EIA co-ordination service, we will produce the non-technical chapters of the ES (including the site and project description, legislative context and alternatives considered), setting out the information required to ensure adherence to the EIA Regulations. Our EIA co-ordinators also produce summaries of the key effects, including cumulative effects.
The EIA Regulations require that a Non-Technical Summary (NTS) is also submitted as a standalone document, summarising the Environmental Statement in non-technical language.
As part of our EIA co-ordination services, we will review and summarise all aspects of an Environmental Statement to produce a succinct but comprehensive NTS, ensuring that it contains information in-line with legislation and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment’s good practice guidance.
Environmental Statements are complex and technical documents that can be a point of challenge during the application process. Wardell Armstrong offers an independent Environmental Statement peer review service, ensuring that the Environmental Statement accords with the EIA Regulations thus reducing the risk of potential issues following submission. Our specialist and experienced EIA Co-ordinators review the Environmental Statement and provide constructive feedback to the consultant responsible for the production of the document.
renewable energy, waste facilities, utilities and minerals.
