Despite being a well respected assessment tool, environmental impact assessment (EIA) in the UK is suffering from a chronic problem that is potentially reducing its value, says Josh Fothergill
EIA is becoming disproportionate, and developers can view it as an obligation rather than a real opportunity to fundamentally improve a development.
While the EIA community can’t fix this mentality, we can act to negate it by ensuring that UK EIA delivers a balanced assessment, which is effective as well as efficient and relevant. We cannot allow the immense worth of EIA to be undermined by what some see as an onerous approach, so we’re taking action to improve this vital part of the development process.
IEMA has long been championing the need for more proportionate assessment and reporting in EIA. Following a major summit on the subject in 2016, engaging 75 experts from 13 different stakeholder groups across the UK practice, IEMA has launched a strategy to deliver more proportionate EIA.
Launched at a North West regional event in Liverpool on 18 July, the strategy identifies four key themes for action:
- Enhancing people
- Improved scoping
- Collaborative responsibility
- Embracing innovation and digital
This strategy will allow EIA to evolve into a more modern and proficient process. If you want to be at the forefront of this change, join your upcoming event now.
The strategy develops a series of concepts and ideas, initially identified at the proportionate EIA summit in 2016. This involved dedicated discussions between EIA co-ordinators, topic specialists, lawyers, government, statutory bodies, contractors, professional bodies, local authorities, academics and more.
A series of case studies from across the EIA community have been identified, and IEMA’s Impact Assessment (IA) Network will play a key role in promoting the strategy and engaging with core stakeholder groups and bodies.
However, for the strategy to succeed, we must change the established precautionary culture. As such, we need you to engage in whatever way you can; why not start by joining the IA Network? Email [email protected]
