EIA Screening Opinions - Public forum - Planning Advisory Service (PAS)

I have a similar situation and would be interested to know what feedback was received.

This is a very general observation, but in my experience the best way to approach this is apply your own interpretation based on the advice in circular 02/99. The EIA regs are not there to be necessarily applied 'hard and fast', but allow authorities to apply judgements on how the development impacts on the site specific circumstances of the local environment. It is therefore down to the judgement of the authority on each individual case to set out the reasons to screen yes or no. For a single wind turbine, landscape impacts and whether it will affect an SPA/SAC in terms of migrating birds (which may trigger Appropriate Assessment) are the most obvious potential harmful environmental impacts. Cheers

A t Herefordshire we have set up a Screening Opinion Checklist to take you through the process. It works well. I am happy to provide this - so please conatct me if you are interested

For a single turbine it is importnat to bear in mind the potential implications of asking for an EIA on overall development viability. In such circumstances we have not required a full EIA for single turbines, just a proportionate environmental assessment. The guidance checklist on the link below is very helpful: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/eia-guidelines/g-screening-full-text.pdf

To Mike Willmont I would be grateful to have a copy of your checklist. jackie.palmer@northtyneside.gov.uk Thanks Jackie

To Mike Willmont I would also be grateful to have a copy of your checklist please. graeme.thorpe@ribblevalley.gov.uk Kind regards, Graeme

To Mike Wilmont I would also be most grateful to have a copy of your checklist. achapman@wellingborough.gov.uk Many thanks...P.S. If Graeme or Jackie have already received a copy the prehaps you may ping me a copy...just in case

Mike, Would would you feel comfortable posting a copy of the checklist on this forum? It seems that many people would be interested in sharing the approach that you have developed, and it will save you having to email individual copies.

Dear All I've been following this thread with some interest. Many planning authorities in Scotland are now dealing with two and three applications a week for turbines. Because Feed In Tariffs for bigger turbines may be reduced next April, there's a rush for the bigger stuff. For small to medium sized turbines, in many cases funding is a bigger problem than planning. I'd be happy to see this checklist posted or to receive a copy directly. Screening is now becoming a big topic since various screening requirements can obviously affect costs and outcomes of applications. Thank you - Les H

Would be grateful to have sight of the checklist as well please; and how others have recorded their opinion so we meet Reg 7 requirements as well.

Dear Mike, I would also be grateful of the checklist your authority has compiled to ascertain whether turbine applications would fall outside the requirements. E-mail address: magnusgallie@yahoo.co.uk Many thanks, Magnus Gallie

NPCU and PINS have recently uploaded an EIA screening template on the planning portal - (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/appeals/online/tutorialshelp/onlineappealservicelpahelp/onlineappealservicehelpforlpas) The new EIA Regulations of 24 August 2011 also add 3 new regulations to give LPAs greater clarity on the screeningprocess. In essence, as a brief steer on the original query re how to handle screening of a single wind turbine, the key issue is likely to be whether the turbine is in proximity to a sensitive site, as defined by the EIA Regs. If it is, then the threshold for EIA triggered by column 2 of Schedule 2 will be met, and an EIA will be required to address risk of significant impact on the particular sensitivities of that site to wind turbine effects (see Martin White's comments above). Hope that this helps. Bernice

If you have difficulty with Bernice's link above, remove the end bracket

Mike I would also be most grateful to have a copy of your checklist. Shirley.Ross@eastriding.gov.uk Kind regards Shirley

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