Environmental Impact Assessment Report
5.—(1) An application for planning permission for EIA development must be accompanied by an environmental impact assessment report (“EIA report”).
(2) An EIA report is a report prepared in accordance with this regulation by the developer which includes (at least)—
(a)a description of the development comprising information on the site, design, size and other relevant features of the development;
(b)a description of the likely significant effects of the development on the environment;
(c)a description of the features of the development and any measures envisaged in order to avoid, prevent or reduce and, if possible, offset likely significant adverse effects on the environment;
(d)a description of the reasonable alternatives studied by the developer, which are relevant to the development and its specific characteristics, and an indication of the main reasons for the option chosen, taking into account the effects of the development on the environment;
(e)a non-technical summary of the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d); and
(f)any other information specified in schedule 4 relevant to the specific characteristics of the development and to the environmental features likely to be affected.
(3) Where a scoping opinion (or scoping direction) is issued, the EIA report must be based on that scoping opinion (or scoping direction, as the case may be), and include the information that may reasonably be required for reaching a reasoned conclusion on the significant effects of the development on the environment, taking into account current knowledge and methods of assessment.
(4) With a view to avoiding duplication of assessments, account is to be taken of the available results of other relevant assessments in preparing the EIA report.
(5) In order to ensure the completeness and quality of the EIA report—
(a)the developer must ensure that the EIA report is prepared by competent experts; and
(b)the EIA report must be accompanied by a statement from the developer outlining the relevant expertise or qualifications of such experts.