Environmental Impact Assessment

We are consulted on all qualifying Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) projects in Wales. Environmental Impact Assessment is a process for identifying the environmental effects (positive and negative) of proposed developments before planning permission is granted.

Environmental Impact Assessments can be handled by local planning authorities or The Planning Inspectorate, depending on the type of development and application involved.

We are asked for advice on the following: 

• screening whether a  project is likely to have significant effects on the historic environment and an  Environmental Impact Assessment is required
• the ‘scope’ of an Environmental Impact Assessment in relation to the historic environment.

When responding to an Environmental Impact Assessment, we consider the impact of the project on the following historic assets:
 

• scheduled monuments  and their settings
• listed buildings and their settings  (when responding to The Planning Inspectorate)
• registered historic parks and gardens  and their settings
• registered historic landscapes
• protected wrecks
• World Heritage Sites.

Our assessments are made in light of Welsh Government’s land use planning policy and guidance contained in:

• Planning Policy Wales 
• Technical Advice Note 24: The Historic Environment
• Conservation Principles for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment in Wales
• Setting of Historic Assets in Wales.