Environmental Impact Assessment

What is an Environmental Impact Assessment?

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required to understand the extent to which a large infrastructure or development project may harm or enhance landscape value. An EIA may be required following a pre-application request for an EIA Screening Opinion from the Council.

EIAs consider various facets of a landscape and may include its historical and archaeological aspect.

They are mandated by The Town and Planning Regulations 2011 for projects falling under Schedule 1 and may also be sought by a local planning authority for Schedule 2-type projects following project screening and scoping.

 

What does it involve?

Border Archaeology’s experienced research team will prepare, where required, an early-stage Archaeological Desk-based Assessment to inform screening and scoping studies. This will establish the extent to which heritage may be affected by development and the scope of the relevant EIA chapter.

The EIA will review known archaeological and cultural heritage assets within the site and its environs to establish baseline conditions and propose a suitable method, such as geophysical survey or trial trenching, to identify the presence of – and potential for – buried archaeological remains that may be affected by the proposals.

The results will consider both the direct and indirect impact of the proposed development and whether these effects are likely to be adverse or beneficial.

What Happens Next?

Where significant adverse impact is identified, a robust strategy may need to be proposed in order to avoid or mitigate potential harm.

Meet some of our EIA Team

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