Does Your Planning Application Need EIA? New Thresholds To Come Into Effect

The government has announced that it will raise the thresholds above which residential, urban development and industrial estate proposals must be screened to determine whether environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required

The background

What some may see as over-relaxation of planning control others see as a welcome sense check on unnecessary regulations and restrictions. The present Westminster administration has not been shy in bringing forward changes and seeking to reduce perceived unnecessary regulatory burden, particularly where that affects the house building industry. Major overhaul has slowed ahead of the general election in May, but the government is still keen to push through tweaks to the system.