§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 12 December ref. 86872, on environmental impact assessments, for what types of project an environmental impact assessment is mandatory. [87906]
§ Mr. LeslieProjects for which Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. Schedule 1 to the Regulations lists projects for which EIA is always required. Schedule 2 lists those that the planning authority must screen to establish whether they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, in which case EIA will be required. There is nothing to prevent a developer voluntarily undertaking an assessment for a project for which there is no statutory requirement for EIA.