The preliminary environmental assessment of the Proposed Development, as presented in the PEIR, has been undertaken in accordance with the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, the Planning Act 2008 and relevant guidance.
The scope and methodology of the EIA has been consulted on with the Planning Inspectorate through a process called EIA Scoping. This includes identifying the potential environmental aspects that may be significantly impacted by the Proposed Development and setting out the methodology for the assessment of likely significant effects.
A request for an EIA Scoping Opinion, setting out the proposed scope and methodology of the EIA, was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 1 April 2019. In response, a Scoping Opinion was issued by the Planning Inspectorate on 9 May 2019. As a result, the following technical assessments have been scoped into the EIA:
- Agricultural Land Quality and Farm Holdings;
- Air Quality;
- Biodiversity;
- Climate Change Resilience;
- Cultural Heritage;
- Economics and Employment;
- Greenhouse Gases;
- Health and Community;
- Landscape and Visual;
- Major Accidents and Disasters;
- Noise and Vibration;
- Soils and Geology;
- Traffic and Transport;
- Waste and Resources;
- Water Resources; and
- Cumulative Effects.
As part of the EIA, the environmental effects of the Proposed Development under each of the above topics have been assessed both during the construction and subsequent operation of the Proposed Development. To retain flexibility in the final design, maximum parameters for the height and extent of proposed new buildings have been defined and used in this assessment to ensure a reasonable worst case has been assessed. The preliminary conclusions of this assessment are presented in the PEIR.
The EIA assesses environmental effects on resources (such as archaeology) and receptors (such as people). The effects are described in terms of changes to the existing situation (known as the baseline). The significance of environmental effects is then assessed, typically by judging the value and susceptibility of a resource or receptor to change and the predicted magnitude of change resulting from the Proposed Development.
The EIA also identifies measures to avoid or reduce adverse effects, these are known as mitigation measures. Throughout the EIA process, mitigation has been identified to avoid, reduce, and offset adverse effects, where practicable. Finally, the EIA provides a conclusion on the significance of the environmental effects, assuming that the proposed mitigation is implemented.
The NTS provides the preliminary outcomes of the EIA by describing the proposed mitigation measures, conclusions on likely significant effects following the implementation of mitigation and next steps with regards to completing the technical assessments.
The final conclusions of the EIA will be presented within an Environmental Statement (ES) submitted with the application for development consent. The ES will provide an update of all technical assessments presented within the PEIR to reflect any changes in the design of the Proposed Development, feedback from consultation and engagement with technical stakeholders. Chapter 5 of Volume 2 of the PEIR provides further information on the environmental assessment methodology.
Documents
PEIR Chapter 5 : Click Here
Appendices
5.1 Transboundary Screening : Click Here
5.2 Preliminary Light Obtrusion Assessment : Click Here
5.3 Noise requirements and compliance CAP 1616a : Click Here