HC Deb 13 March 2001 vol 364 cc535-7W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the reasons for which an environment statement is required for the Slapton to Streetgate road. [153192]

Ms Beverley Hughes

An environmental statement is required for any development listed in Schedule 1 or in the case of developments listed in Schedule 2 where it is likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of facts such as size, nature and location, of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. In this case it is for Devon county council to determine whether the work they propose to undertake requires an Environmental Statement. The Secretary of State can be called upon to give a Direction on the need for and/or scope of any EIA and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this case.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement about the criteria used in deciding whether to apply environment impact regulations; and how many times they have been invoked in the last year in the consideration of planning applications; [153190]

(2) under what circumstances an environment statement is required prior to approval of planning applications. [153191]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 give effect to the requirements of Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. The Regulations apply to categories of projects specified in Schedules 1 and 2 of the Regulations. For development listed in Schedule 1 of the Regulations environmental impact assessment is always required before planning permission may be granted. For development listed in Schedule 2, an assessment is required if the development is likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location.

Local planning authorities are required to screen all planning applications for projects that fall within a class of development listed in Schedule 2 of the Regulations to identify development requiring EIA. In doing so they have to take account of prescribed selection criteria relating to the characteristics, location and potential impact of the development.

An environmental statement is required in support of every planning application which is subject to EIA. It is estimated that approximately 300 applications have been subject to EIA in the last year.