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The Secretary of State is a designated[1] Minister for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972[2] in relation to the requirement for an assessment of the impact on the environment of projects likely to have significant effects on the environment. The Secretary of State accordingly makes the following Regulations, in exercise of the powers conferred by that section. Citation, commencement and application 1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment)(Amendment) Regulations 2006 and shall come into force on 15th January 2007. (2) These Regulations apply in relation to England only except for regulation 22 which inserts provisions that apply in relation to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. (3) These Regulations shall apply in relation to applications lodged or received by an authority, and any enforcement notice issued under section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990[3], on or after the date these Regulations come into force. Amendment of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 2. The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999[4] are amended as set out in regulations 3 to 24. Application of the Regulations 3. In regulation 1 (citation, commencement and application)—
(b) after paragraph (3) add—
Amendment of regulation 2
(c) in the definition of "environmental information" after "further information" insert "and any other information";
(b) where the relevant planning authority maintains a website for the purpose of advertisement of applications, by publication of the notice on the website;
(2) In regulation 2(6) after "these Regulations" insert "except regulation 37".
(i) in accordance with Article 2(3) of the Directive (but without prejudice to Article 7 of the Directive), or (ii) if the development comprises or forms part of a project serving national defence purposes and in the opinion of the Secretary of State compliance with these Regulations would have an adverse effect on those purposes. (b) Where a direction is given under paragraph (4)(a) the Secretary of State must send a copy of any such direction to the relevant planning authority.
(4A) Where a direction is given under paragraph (4)(a)(i) the Secretary of State must—
(b) consider whether another form of assessment would be appropriate; and (c) take such steps as are considered appropriate to bring the information obtained under the other form of assessment to the attention of the public.".
Amendment of regulation 7
Amendment of regulation 8
Amendment of regulation 9
Amendment of regulation 13
(b) after paragraph (2), at the end, add—
Amendment of regulation 14
Amendment of regulation 15
(c) in paragraph (3)(d) to (g) and (j) and in paragraphs (4), (5) and (6) after "further information" insert “or any other information; (d) in paragraph (5) for "three" substitute "two"; (e) in paragraph (7)—
(ii) after "further information" insert "or any other information"; and
(f) in paragraphs (8) and (9) after "further information" insert "or any other information,".
Amendment of regulation 20
(b) in paragraph (1)(c)(ii) after "on which the decision is based" insert "including, if relevant, information about the participation of the public"; and (c) at the end of paragraph (1)(c)(iii) add—
Amendment of regulation 22
24A. —(1) This regulation applies to Schedule 2 development for which a local planning authority propose to grant planning permission by local development order. (2) Where this regulation applies, the local planning authority shall not make a LDO unless they have adopted a screening opinion or the Secretary of State has made a screening direction. (3) Paragraphs (4) to (6) apply where—
(b) the Secretary of State makes a screening direction under these Regulations,
to the effect that the development is EIA development.
(b) the authority has first taken the environmental information into consideration, and they state in their decision that they have done so.
(5) In a case to which this regulation shall have effect these Regulations shall apply subject to the following modifications—
(b) in regulation 4—
(ii) in paragraph (2)(b) for "relevant" substitute "local"; (iii) in paragraph (4) for "relevant" substitute "local"; (iv) in paragraph (6) omit sub-paragraph (ii); and (v) in paragraph (9) for "relevant" substitute "local";
(c) for regulation 10(1) substitute—
13. —(1) Where a statement referred to as the environmental statement has been prepared in relation to EIA development for which a local planning authority proposes to grant planning permission by a local development order, the local planning authority shall—
(b) send a copy of the statement to the consultation bodies and inform them that they may make representations; and (c) notify any particular person of whom the authority is aware, who is likely to be affected by, or has an interest in, the application, who is unlikely to become aware of it by means of a site notice or by local advertisement, of an address in the locality in which the land is situated where a copy of the statement may be obtained and the address to which representations may be sent.
(2) The local planning authority shall not make the local development order until the expiry of 14 days from the last date on which a copy of the statement was served in accordance with this regulation.";
(ii) for paragraph (2) substitute—
(b) the address or location and the nature of the development referred to in the proposed LDO; (c) that a copy of the draft LDO and of any plan or other documents accompanying it together with a copy of the environmental statement may be inspected by members of the public at all reasonable hours; (d) an address in the locality in which the land is situated at which those documents may be inspected, and the latest date on which they will be available for inspection (being a date not less than 21 days later than the date on which the notice is published); (e) an address (whether or not the same as that given under sub-paragraph (d)) in the locality in which the land is situated at which copies of the statement may be obtained; (f) that copies may be obtained there so long as stocks last; (g) if a charge is to be made for a copy, the amount of the charge; and (h) that any person wishing to make representations about the LDO should make them in writing, before the date specified in accordance with sub-paragraph (d), to the local planning authority.";
(bb) omit "he" and "him" and substitute "the authority"; and
(iv) omit paragraphs (5) to (8);
(g) For regulation 17 substitute—
17. The local planning authority shall ensure that a reasonable number of copies of the statement referred to as the environmental statement prepared in relation to EIA development for which the authority proposes to grant planning permission by a local development order are available at—
(b) at such other places within their area as they consider appropriate.";
(h) in regulation 19—
(b) the address or location and the nature of the development referred to in the proposed LDO; (c) that further information is available in relation to an environmental statement which has already been provided; (d) that a copy of the further information may be inspected by members of the public at all reasonable hours; (e) an address in the locality in which the land is situated at which the further information may be inspected, and the latest date on which it will be available for inspection (being a date not less than 21 days later than the date on which the notice is published); (f) an address (whether or not the same as that given under sub-paragraph (e)) in the locality in which the land is situated at which copies of the further information may be obtained; (g) that copies may be obtained there so long as stocks last; (h) if a charge is to be made for a copy, the amount of the charge; (i) that any person wishing to make representations about the further information should make them in writing, before the date specified in accordance with sub-paragraph (e), to the local planning authority; (j) the address to which representations should be sent.";
(v) for paragraph (7) substitute—
(bb) after "number of copies of the" insert "further";
(vii) for paragraph (10) substitute—
(b) screening opinion; (c) screening direction; (d) direction under regulation 4(4); (e) the statement referred to as the environmental statement including any further information; (f) statement of reasons accompanying any of the above.";
(j) in regulation 21—
(ii) omit paragraphs (2) and (3); and
(k) in regulation 27—
(6) In paragraphs (6)(b)(i),and (c)(i) and paragraph (12) of article 2B of the Order[7] after "local development order" insert "the environmental statement" in each place where the words occur."
Amendment of regulation 25
(c) any particular person of whom the authority is aware, who is likely to be affected by, or has an interest in, the regulation 25 notice.";
(b) in paragraph (12)(b), after "any further information," insert "any other information";
(ii) for "in a local newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land is situated" substitute "by local advertisement"; and (iii) in sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) after "further information" insert "or any other information"; and
(e) in paragraph (17), for "in a named newspaper" substitute "by local advertisement".
Amendment of regulation 27
(b) in paragraph (6)(b) after "on which the decision is based" insert "including, if relevant, information about the participation of the public".
Amendment of regulation 28
(b) at the end of paragraph (2)(a) omit "and"; and (c) at the end of paragraph (2)(b), add—
(c) so far as he has received such information, notify those authorities and the public concerned of the content of any decision of the competent authority of the relevant EEA State; and in particular—
(ii) the main reasons and considerations on which the decision was based including, if relevant, information about the participation of the public; and (iii) a description of the main measures to avoid, reduce and, if possible, offset any major adverse effects that have been identified.".
Consequential Amendment
Projects serving national defence projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
36. —(1) If a development comprises or forms part of a project serving national defence purposes and in the opinion of the Secretary of State compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999[8] would have an adverse effect on those purposes the Secretary of State may direct that those Regulations shall not apply to a project specified in the direction. (2) The Secretary of State shall notify the Scottish Ministers prior to making a direction. (3) The Secretary of State shall send a copy of the direction to the Scottish Ministers and the relevant planning authority. Projects serving national defence purposes in Wales 37. —(1) If a development comprises or forms part of a project serving national defence purposes and in the opinion of the Secretary of State compliance with these Regulations as amended for Wales[9] would have an adverse effect on those purposes the Secretary of State may direct that these Regulations as amended for Wales shall not apply to a project specified in the direction. (2) The Secretary of State shall notify the National Assembly for Wales prior to making a direction. (3) The Secretary of State shall send a copy of the direction to the National Assembly for Wales and the relevant planning authority. Projects serving national defence purposes in Northern Ireland 38. —(1) If a development comprises or forms part of a project serving national defence purposes and in the opinion of the Secretary of State compliance with the Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999[10] would have an adverse effect on those purposes the Secretary of State may direct that those Regulations shall not apply to a project specified in the direction. (2) The Secretary of State shall notify the Department of the Environment prior to making a direction. (3) The Secretary of State shall send a copy of the direction to the relevant planning authority."
Amendment of Schedule 1
Amendment of Schedule 2 (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations amend the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment)(England and Wales) Regulations 1999 in respect of England only, though regulation 22 inserts provisions that also apply in relation to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Regulations give effect to Article 3 of Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament of the Council of 26 May 2003 (OJ L 156, 25.6.2003, p17) ("the Directive") in so far as it affects public participation in the decision making process for applications and appeals relating to development for which environmental impact assessment is required. The Directive provides for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amends with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC (OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p.40) as amended by Directive 97/11/EC (OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p.5) and 96/61/EC (OJ L 257, 10.10.1996). The Regulations also apply the requirements of Council Directive 85/337/EEC, which requires the assessment of the likely environmental effects of major new development, to local development orders. Local development orders made under section 61A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 grant planning permission for development specified in the order or for development of any class specified. Regulation 3 amends regulation 1 to provide that regulations 36 to 38, inserted by these Regulations, shall apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively. Regulation 4 makes amendments to the definitions of "consultation bodies", "environmental information", "exempt development". It inserts new definitions of "by local advertisement" which provides another means of publicity using electronic means; "any other information", to apply to information other than that contained in the environmental statement and further information; "any particular person", which includes non-governmental organisations that promote environmental protection; "local development order" and "LDO". Regulation 5 amends the Secretary of State's ability to direct that a particular proposed development is exempted from the application of these Regulations. The Secretary of State may also direct that these Regulations will not apply to an application for development serving national defence purposes, where compliance is likely to have an adverse effect on such purposes. The regulation has been amended as a consequence of the removal of the exemption for national defence projects by Article 3(2) of the Directive. Regulations 6 to 10 insert provision for persons and environmental organisations likely to be affected by or having an interest in an application to be notified. Regulations 9, 11, 12, 16 and 17 reduce the number of copies of the environmental statement or further information to be sent to the Secretary of State. Regulations 13, 14, 18 and 19 extend the requirements in relation to further information to any other information provided by the applicant relating to the environmental statement. Regulation 15 amends regulation 21 (duties to inform the public and the Secretary of State of final decision) and requires more extensive notification of decisions and information to be provided on the right to challenge the decision. Regulation 17 inserts regulation 24A, which applies the requirements of Council Directive 85/337/EEC, the environmental impact assessment directive, to local development orders. Regulation 21 is a consequential amendment brought about by changes to article 20 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 made by SI 2006/1062. Regulation 22 inserts regulations 36 to 38. The requirements of Directive 85/337/EEC may not apply to projects serving national defence purposes, where otherwise their application might have an adverse effect on those purposes. The decision whether the requirements of the Directive should apply to such projects must be taken on a case by case basis. For developments that comprise or form part of a project serving national defence purposes situated in the areas of the devolved administrations, the decision not to apply the requirements of the Directive, as transposed by the relevant devolved administrations, will be taken by the Secretary of State, because national defence is a reserved matter. The Secretary of State may issue a direction that such projects are exempt from the relevant EIA requirements where, in her opinion, compliance with the relevant provisions will have an adverse effect on national defence purposes. Prior to making a direction, the Secretary of State shall notify the relevant devolved administration. Regulations 23 and 24 amend Schedules 1 and 2 in line with the new category introduced into Annex 1 of the Directive. This new category of project is a change to or extension of a Schedule 1 project where the change or extension itself meets the Schedule 1 thresholds for that type of project. A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in relation to the Regulations. It has been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament and copies may be obtained from the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU. Notes: [1] S.I. 1988/785.back [2] 1972 c.68. The enabling powers of section 2(2) were extended by virtue of the amendment of section 1(2) by section 1 of the European Economic Area Act 1993 (c.51).back [4] S.I. 1999/293, amended by S.I. 2000/2867.back [5] Regulations 36 to 38 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 relate to the Secretary of State's power to direct that the Regulations shall not apply to development that constitutes or forms part of a project serving national defence purposes. The decision as to whether a direction should be made in respect of projects situated in the devolved administrations will be taken by the Secretary of State as national defence is a reserved matter. See Paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998.back [6] Section 61A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 was inserted by section 40 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c.5).back [7] Article 2B of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 (SI 1995/419) was inserted by article 5(2) of the Town and Country Planning(General Development Procedure)(Amendment)(England) Order 2006 (SI 2006/1062).back [9] S.I. 1999/293 amended by S.I.2006/3009 for Wales.back
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