Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a means of drawing together, in a systematic way, an assessment of the likely significant environmental effects arising from a proposed development.
Developments falling within a description in Schedule 1 to the 2011 EIA Regulations always require EIA. Development of a type listed in Schedule 2 to the 2011 EIA Regulations will require EIA if it is likely to have a significant effect on the environment, by virtue of factors such as its size, nature or location.
Policy Aims
- The requirement for EIA comes from European Directive (85/33/EEC as amended by 97/11/EC, 2003/35/EC, and 2009/31/EC). Link to EIA Directive
- In Scotland, the EIA Directive has been brought into Scottish law through a number of Scottish Statutory Instruments relevant to individual consenting regimes. These pages relate to the Town and Country Planning EIA regime - information on other Scottish EIA regimes is available.
Recent changes
New Circular 4/2011: Direction revoking the Town and Country Planning (Demolition which is not Development)(Scotland) Direction 2001. In future the complete demolition of any building will be development for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended and will be subject to the relevant planning and EIA requirements
Legislation, guidance and advice