Environmental Impact Assessment

CAAS is a leading authority on all parts of the EIA process.  We prepared the EIA Guidelines for the EPA and have been involved in other key publications such as the Landscape and Visual Assessment Guidelines for the (UK) Landscape Institute.  We have assisted numerous Local Authorities with their role in the EIA process, usually involving review of EISs and preparation of detailed reports to inform planning decisions and conditions.

The EISs that we have  reviewed in this way for have tended to be large scale complex projects with significant potential to create environmental impacts and where our specialist knowledge of EIA and planning is of most value.  It has sometimes involved representing Authorities in pre-application discussions with developers. We have assisted in the carrying out of over 60 EIAs across a range of sectors, including mining, wind power, fossil fuelled power generation, housing developments, port facilities, recreation (golf courses) and industry.

We anticipate an increased interest in this area in response to the requirement for consent authorities to have specialist EIA expertise during examination of EISs, which has been introduced by the new EIA Directive (2014/52/EU) and is likely to be reflected in the upcoming review of the EPA Guidelines.

We are specialists in the range of additional requirements which are included in the new Directive, including screening, assessment of the risks of climate change on projects, particularly flooding, Disaster Risk Assessment, monitoring procedures and co-ordination of EIA with the requirements of other Directives including the Industrial Emissions, Waste, Water Framework, Habitats and Public Participation Directives.