TABLE OF CONTENTS The need for formal Environmental Assessments (EA) was set out by the Department of the Environment (DoE).4 This followed implementation of the European Community Directive No. 85/337 in the 1988 UK Town and Country Planning Regulations.
EA is required if the particular development proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment. Some guidance is given on thresholds for different types of development needing EA. Those most likely to affect traffic engineers are:
Manufacturing industry: sites > 20 hectare.
Industrial estates: sites > 20 hectare or with more than 1000 dwellings within 200 metres of the site boundary.
Urban developments: sites > 5 hectare or with more than 700 dwellings within 200 metres of the site boundary or providing more than 10000 square metres gross floorspace of shops, offices or other commercial uses.
Urban roads: where more than 1500 dwellings lie within 100 metres of the centre line of the road.
Other projects: sites > 100 hectare.
The EA involves collecting information on the likely environmental effects of the development on human beings and on flora, fauna, soil, water, air, climate, landscape, material assets and cultural heritage.
The assessment includes indirect effects such as those caused by traffic.
The planning authority will advise whether an EA is required. If it is required then an Environmental Statement containing the information collected during the EA is to be provided with the planning application.
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