Statutory Instruments 1999 No. 293
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999
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Scoping directions of the Secretary of State
     11.  - (1) A request made under this paragraph pursuant to regulation 10(7) shall include - 

    (2) When a person makes a request under paragraph (1) he shall send to the relevant planning authority a copy of that request, but that copy need not include the matters mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of that paragraph.

    (3) The Secretary of State shall notify in writing the person making the request of any points on which he considers the information provided pursuant to paragraph (1) is insufficient to enable him to make a scoping direction; and may request the relevant planning authority to provide such information as they can on any of those points.

    (4) The Secretary of State shall not make a scoping direction in response to a request under paragraph (1) until he has consulted the person making the request and the consultation bodies, but shall, within five weeks beginning with the date of receipt of that request or such longer period as he may reasonably require, make a direction and send a copy to the person who made the request and to the relevant planning authority.

    (5) Before making a scoping direction the Secretary of State shall take into account the matters specified in regulation 10(6).

    (6) Where the Secretary of State has made a scoping direction in response to a request under paragraph (1) neither he nor the relevant planning authority shall be precluded from requiring of the person who made the request additional information in connection with any statement that may be submitted by that person as an environmental statement in connection with an application for planning permission for the same development as was referred to in the request.

Procedure to facilitate preparation of environmental statements
    
12.  - (1) Any person who intends to submit an environmental statement to the relevant planning authority or the Secretary of State under these Regulations may give notice in writing to that authority or the Secretary of State under this paragraph.

    (2) A notice under paragraph (1) shall include the information necessary to identify the land and the nature and purpose of the development, and shall indicate the main environmental consequences to which the person giving the notice proposes to refer in his environmental statement.

    (3) The recipient of - 

shall - 

    (4) Subject to paragraph (5), the relevant planning authority and any body notified in accordance with paragraph (3) shall, if requested by the person who intends to submit an environmental statement enter into consultation with that person to determine whether the body has in its possession any information which he or they consider relevant to the preparation of the environmental statement and, if they have, the body shall make that information available to that person.

    (5) Paragraph (4) shall not require the disclosure of information which is capable of being treated as confidential, or must be so treated, under regulation 4 of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992[
24].

    (6) A reasonable charge reflecting the cost of making the relevant information available may be made by a body, including the relevant planning authority, which makes information available in accordance with paragraph (4).



PART V

PUBLICITY AND PROCEDURES ON SUBMISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENTS

Procedure where an environmental statement is submitted to a local planning authority
     13.  - (1) When an applicant making an EIA application submits to the relevant planning authority a statement which he refers to as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations he shall provide the authority with three additional copies of the statement for transmission to the Secretary of State and, if at the same time he serves a copy of the statement on any other body, he shall - 

    (a) serve with it a copy of the application and any plan submitted with the application (unless he has already served these documents on the body in question);

    (b) inform the body that representations may be made to the relevant planning authority; and

    (c) inform the authority of the name of every body whom he has so served and of the date of service.

    (2) When a relevant planning authority receive in connection with an EIA application such a statement as is first mentioned in paragraph (1) the authority shall - 

    (a) send to the Secretary of State, within 14 days of receipt of the statement, three copies of the statement and a copy of the relevant application and of any documents submitted with the application;

    (b) inform the applicant of the number of copies required to enable the authority to comply with sub-paragraph (c) below; and

    (c) forward to any consultation body which has not received a copy direct from the applicant a copy of the statement and inform any such consultation body that they may make representations.

    (3) The applicant shall send the copies required for the purposes of paragraph (2)(c) to the relevant planning authority.

    (4) The relevant planning authority shall not determine the application until the expiry of 14 days from the last date on which a copy of the statement was served in accordance with this regulation.

Publicity where an environmental statement is submitted after the planning application
    
14.  - (1) Where an application for planning permission has been made without a statement which the applicant refers to as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations and the applicant proposes to submit such a statement, he shall, before submitting it, comply with paragraphs (2) to (4).

    (2) The applicant shall publish in a local newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land is situated a notice stating - 

    (3) The applicant shall, unless he has not, and was not reasonably able to acquire, such rights as would enable him to do so, post on the land a notice containing the information specified in paragraph (2), except that the date named as the latest date on which the documents will be available for inspection shall be not less than 21 days later than the date on which the notice is first posted.

    (4) The notice mentioned in paragraph (3) must - 

    (5) The statement, when submitted, shall be accompanied by - 

    (6) Where an applicant indicates that he proposes to provide such a statement and in such circumstances as are mentioned in paragraph (1), the relevant planning authority, the Secretary of State or the inspector, as the case may be, shall (unless disposed to refuse the permission sought) suspend consideration of the application or appeal until receipt of the statement and the other documents mentioned in paragraph (5); and shall not determine it during the period of 21 days beginning with the date of receipt of the statement and the other documents so mentioned.

    (7) If any person issues a certificate which purports to comply with the requirements of paragraph (5)(b) and which contains a statement which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular, or recklessly issues a certificate which purports to comply with those requirements and which contains a statement which is false or misleading in a material particular, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

    (8) Where it is proposed to submit an environmental statement in connection with an appeal, this regulation applies with the substitution, except in paragraph (2)(a), of references to the appellant for references to the applicant.

Provision of copies of environmental statements and further information for the Secretary of State on referral or appeal
    
15. Where an applicant for planning permission has submitted to the relevant planning authority in connection with his application a statement which he refers to as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations, or further information, and - 

the applicant shall supply the Secretary of State with three copies of the statement and, where relevant, the further information unless, in the case of a referred application, the relevant planning authority have done so when referring the application to him.

Procedure where an environmental statement is submitted to the Secretary of State
    
16.  - (1) This regulation applies where an applicant submits to the Secretary of State, in relation to an EIA application which is before the Secretary of State or an inspector for determination or is the subject of an appeal to the Secretary of State, a statement which the applicant or appellant refers to as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations.

    (2) The applicant or appellant shall submit four copies of the statement to the Secretary of State who shall send one copy to the relevant planning authority.

    (3) If at the same time as he submits a statement to the Secretary of State the applicant or appellant serves a copy of it on any other body, he shall comply with regulations 13(1)(a) and 13(1)(b) as if the reference in regulation 13(1)(b) to the relevant planning authority were a reference to the Secretary of State, and inform the Secretary of State of the matters mentioned in regulation 13(1)(c).

    (4) The Secretary of State shall comply with regulation 13(2) (except sub-paragraph (a) of that regulation) and the applicant or appellant with regulation 13(3) as if - 

and the Secretary of State or the inspector shall comply with regulation 13(4) as if it referred to him instead of to the relevant planning authority.

Availability of copies of environmental statements
    
17. An applicant for planning permission or an appellant who submits in connection with his application or appeal a statement which he refers to as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations shall ensure that a reasonable number of copies of the statement are available at the address named in the notices published or posted pursuant to article 8 of the Order or regulation 14 as the address at which such copies may be obtained.

Charges for copies of environmental statements
    
18. A reasonable charge reflecting printing and distribution costs may be made to a member of the public for a copy of a statement made available in accordance with regulation 17.

Further information and evidence respecting environmental statements
    
19.  - (1) Where the relevant planning authority, the Secretary of State or an inspector is dealing with an application or appeal in relation to which the applicant or appellant has submitted a statement which he refers to as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations, and is of the opinion that the statement should contain additional information in order to be an environmental statement, they or he shall notify the applicant or appellant in writing accordingly, and the applicant or appellant shall provide that additional information; and such information provided by the applicant or appellant is referred to in these Regulations as "further information".

    (2) Paragraphs (3) to (9) shall apply in relation to further information, except in so far as the further information is provided for the purposes of an inquiry held under the Act and the request for that information made pursuant to paragraph (1) stated that it was to be provided for such purposes.

    (3) The recipient of further information pursuant to paragraph (1) shall publish in a local newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land is situated a notice stating - 

    (4) The recipient of the further information shall send a copy of it to each person to whom, in accordance with these Regulations, the statement to which it relates was sent.

    (5) Where the recipient of the further information is the relevant planning authority they shall send to the Secretary of State three copies of the further information.

    (6) The recipient of the further information may by notice in writing require the applicant or appellant to provide such number of copies of the further information as is specified in the notice (being the number required for the purposes of paragraph (4) or (5)).

    (7) Where information is requested under paragraph (1), the relevant planning authority, the Secretary of State or the inspector, as the case may be, shall suspend determination of the application or appeal, and shall not determine it before the expiry of 14 days after the date on which the further information was sent to all persons to whom the statement to which it relates was sent or the expiry of 21 days after the date that notice of it was published in a local newspaper, whichever is the later.

    (8) The applicant or appellant who provides further information in accordance with paragraph (1) shall ensure that a reasonable number of copies of the information is available at the address named in the notice published pursuant to paragraph (3) as the address at which such copies may be obtained.

    (9) A reasonable charge reflecting printing and distribution costs may be made to a member of the public for a copy of the further information made available in accordance with paragraph (8).

    (10) The relevant planning authority or the Secretary of State or an inspector may in writing require an applicant or appellant to produce such evidence as they may reasonably call for to verify any information in his environmental statement.



PART VI

AVAILABILITY OF DIRECTIONS ETC. AND NOTIFICATION OF DECISIONS

Availability of opinions, directions etc. for inspection
    
20.  - (1) Where particulars of a planning application are placed on Part I of the register, the relevant planning authority shall take steps to secure that there is also placed on that Part a copy of any relevant - 

    (a) screening opinion;

    (b) screening direction;

    (c) scoping opinion;

    (d) scoping direction;

    (e) notification given under regulation 7(2), 8(2) or 9(4);

    (f) direction under regulation 4(4);

    (g) environmental statement, including any further information;

    (h) statement of reasons accompanying any of the above.

    (2) Where the relevant planning authority adopt a screening opinion or scoping opinion, or receive a request under regulation 10(1) or 11(2), a copy of a screening direction, scoping direction, or direction under regulation 4(4) before an application is made for planning permission for the development in question, the authority shall take steps to secure that a copy of the opinion, request, or direction and any accompanying statement of reasons is made available for public inspection at all reasonable hours at the place where the appropriate register (or relevant section of that register) is kept. Copies of those documents shall remain so available for a period of two years.

Duties to inform the public and the Secretary of State of final decisions
    
21.  - (1) Where an EIA application is determined by a local planning authority, the authority shall - 

    (2) Where an EIA application is determined by the Secretary of State or an inspector, the Secretary of State shall - 

    (3) The relevant planning authority shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of a notification under sub-paragraph (2)(a), comply with sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (1) in relation to the decision so notified as if it were a decision of the authority.



PART VII

SPECIAL CASES

Development by a local planning authority
    
22.  - (1) Where the relevant planning authority is also (or would be) the applicant (whether alone or jointly with any other person), these Regulations shall apply to a Schedule 1 application or Schedule 2 application (or proposed application) subject to the following modifications - 

    (a) subject to sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph and to paragraphs (2) and (3) below, regulations 5 and 6 shall not apply;

    (b) paragraphs (2) to (7) of regulation 7 shall not apply, and paragraph 7(1) shall apply as if the reference to paragraph (3) of regulation 5 were omitted;

    (c) regulations 10 and 11 shall not apply;

    (d) paragraphs (1) to (3) of regulation 12 shall not apply, and regulation 12(4) shall apply to any consultation body from whom the relevant planning authority requests assistance as it applies to a body notified in accordance with regulation 12(3);

    (e) save for the purposes of regulations 16(3) and (4), regulation 13 shall apply as if - 

      (i) for paragraph (1), there were substituted;

        " (1) When a relevant planning authority making an EIA application lodge a statement which they refer to as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations, they shall - 

      (a) serve a copy of that statement, the relevant application and any plan submitted with it on each consultation body;

      (b) inform each consultation body that representations may be made to the relevant planning authority; and

      (c) send to the Secretary of State within 14 days of lodging the statement three copies of the statement and a copy of the relevant application and of any documents submitted with the application."

      (ii) paragraphs (2) and (3) were omitted;

    (f) regulation 16 shall apply as if paragraph (2) were omitted.

    (2) An authority which is minded to make a planning application in relation to which it would be the relevant planning authority may adopt a screening opinion or request the Secretary of State in writing to make a screening direction, and paragraphs (3) and (4) of regulation 6 shall apply to such a request as they apply to a request made pursuant to regulation 5(6).

    (3) A relevant planning authority which proposes to carry out development which they consider may be - 

may adopt a screening opinion or request the Secretary of State to make a screening direction, and paragraphs (3) and (4) of regulation 6 shall apply to such a request as they apply to a request made pursuant to regulation 5(6).

    (4) A request under paragraph (2) or (3) shall be accompanied by - 

    (a) a plan sufficient to identify the land;

    (b) a brief description of the nature and purpose of the development and of its possible effects on the environment; and

    (c) such other information or representations as the authority may wish to provide or make.

    (5) An authority making a request under paragraph (2) or (3) shall send to the Secretary of State any additional information he may request in writing to enable him to make a direction.

Restriction of grant of permission by old simplified planning zone schemes or enterprise zone orders
     23.  - (1) Any:

which has effect immediately before the commencement of these Regulations to grant planning permission shall, on and after that date, cease to have effect to grant planning permission for Schedule 1 development, and cease to have effect to grant planning permission for Schedule 2 development unless either:

      (i) the relevant planning authority has adopted a screening opinion; or

      (ii) the Secretary of State has made a screening direction,

    to the effect that the particular proposed development is not EIA development.

    (2) Paragraph (1) shall not affect the completion of any development begun before the commencement of these Regulations.

Restriction of grant of permission by new simplified planning zone schemes or enterprise zone orders
     24.  - No:

after the commencement of these Regulations shall:


Notes:

[24] S.I. 1992/3240, amended by S.I. 1998/1447.back

[25] S.I. 1995/418, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.back

[26] See section 83 and Schedule 7 to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8).back

[27] See sections 88 and 89 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8) and Schedule 32 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65).back



 
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