Progress should not come on the expense of an already fragile surroundings, warned the Institute for Environmental Administration and Evaluation (IEMA), following the Chancellor’s announcement final week of plans to exchange Environmental Influence Evaluation with a brand new system in an effort to “lower purple tape and velocity up planning software approvals”.
The group stated the self-discipline of affect evaluation, together with the well-known environmental affect evaluation (EIA) and strategic environmental assessments (SEA) have been a cornerstone of the planning system within the UK for many years.
They allow native authorities, regulators, statutory our bodies and the general public to know the doubtless important results of growth on individuals and the pure surroundings, and subsequently assist to result in efficient decision-making.
IEMA believes that plans to exchange EIA and SEA with Environmental Consequence Studies (EOR) in England, might in the end be detrimental to the surroundings within the long-term.
Ben Goodwin stated: “IEMA helps the federal government’s twin dedication to the crucial problem of delivering new housing and infrastructure whereas safeguarding the surroundings for future generations.
“Nevertheless, we’ve important considerations in regards to the adequacy of the proposed Environmental Outcomes Studies (EORs) in sustaining environmental safeguards and addressing sensible implementation challenges. Notably when no particulars have been revealed about what EORs will comprise and the way they are going to be introduced ahead.
“Environmental Influence Evaluation (EIA) and strategic environmental assessments (SEA) have been a cornerstone of the planning system within the UK for many years.
“But the present EOR proposals lack ample element on how environmental outcomes will probably be measured, monitored, and enforced.
“Actually, neither the earlier Conservative Authorities nor the present Labour Authorities have been clear about what constitutes a ‘good environmental consequence’.
“The Authorities has criticised the ‘voluminous paperwork’ that some environmental affect assessments have develop into, however their very own 10-page response to the Workplace of Environmental Safety overview of the Environmental Evaluation Regimes, doesn’t do justice to the evidence-based analysis and stakeholder engagement that went into that overview.“
“As their identify suggests, EORs supply a possibility to enhance environmental outcomes. Nevertheless, while making certain that their implementation avoids diluting protections or creating loopholes that undermine sustainability, it’s additionally vital to think about that introducing this stage of change too shortly dangers creating better uncertainty for builders and the Authorities not attaining its targets of dashing up the consenting course of.”
Key suggestions and observations:
- Preserve Sturdy Environmental Protections: IEMA has constantly emphasised that “streamlining” the planning system should not compromise the prevailing environmental safeguards offered by EIA and SEA. For examples the watering down or elimination of social and local weather impacts inside EORs. Whereas EORs supply a possibility for enchancment, their implementation should keep away from diluting protections or creating loopholes that undermine sustainability.
- Handle Capability and Expertise Shortages: Profitable implementation of reforms requires addressing the shortage of capability and experience inside native authorities and statutory consultees. With out ample funding in coaching, assets, and abilities, the reforms danger delays, inconsistent software, and lowered environmental oversight.
- Proof-Based mostly Choice-Making: The transition from EIA/SEA to EORs should be underpinned by strong, evidence-based analysis. Present proposals lack ample element on how environmental outcomes will probably be measured, monitored, and enforced, creating dangers of authorized uncertainty and lowered confidence amongst stakeholders.
- Improve Public Participation and Transparency: Public participation is a cornerstone of efficient environmental governance. Any transfer to streamline processes ought to strengthen, not diminish, alternatives for public engagement, entry to environmental info, and safeguard routes for professional environmental and social based mostly challenges to selections.
- Combine Local weather Change and Biodiversity Targets: EORs should explicitly align with the UK’s authorized commitments on web zero, biodiversity web acquire, and different worldwide sustainability targets. These concerns must be totally built-in into planning reforms.
- Strengthen Monitoring and Accountability: Efficient monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are essential for attaining the meant environmental outcomes. IEMA advocates for unbiased oversight and a nationwide database to help transparency, knowledge-sharing, and adaptive administration of EORs.
Mr Goodwin continued: “IEMA urges the federal government to have interaction intently with environmental evaluation and planning professionals within the growth of its EOR roadmap and Planning Reform proposals to boost their effectiveness whereas safeguarding environmental integrity.
“That might embrace establishing a Nationwide Environmental Evaluation Unit to make sure that transferring to an EOR regime doesn’t danger delivering worse outcomes for individuals and the pure surroundings. Whereas mandating the usage of competent consultants and making certain extra significant public participation within the planning system.
“IEMA has made constant requires proportionate EIA and printed suggestions on how to do that. There may be additionally a lot that may be carried out to drive velocity and effectivity via digital affect evaluation of which we’ve additionally developed steerage and proposals.
“One easy, sensible step that the federal government might take is to create a nationwide database to help transparency and knowledge-sharing throughout the occupation.”