Planning Services

Environmental Assessment

What is Sustainable Development?

Environmental protection and enhancement have become extremely important in today's society. The issue of climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather conditions has led to a greater awareness of the importance of our natural environment and how we treat it. This is not a new issue although it continues to gain public awareness. One way to help reduce the impact of our actions on the natural environment is to employ the principles of sustainable development.

'Sustainable development' is a phrase which has been used to describe the most appropriate way by which the present generation can address environmental concerns. The term has a number of definitions. One of the most widely used ones is: 'development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.

Sustainable development is not something which can be achieved overnight. It is something which will take many years to become a reality and can only be achieved if there is a strong and real commitment by governments throughout the world.

Planning and sustainable development

Planning has a key role to play in moving towards more sustainable forms of development in terms of the provisions of Section 2 of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 and Scottish Government Guidance on Planning and Sustainable Development. It can contribute by promoting more energy efficient homes, thus reducing CO² emissions, directing development to the most appropriate locations, facilitating renewable energy developments, promoting green travel (reducing car borne journeys), encouraging sustainable design and construction, safeguarding biodiversity, protecting finite built and natural heritage resources, encouraging recycling/waste reduction and ensuring that potentially environmentally harmful developments are properly mitigated against.

A number of processes have been introduced into Scottish legislation designed to prevent and/or reduce adverse impacts upon our environment. These processes have clear links to planning and the Council are keen to ensure that these processes are carried out in the correct manner and hence achieve their desired objectives. Some of these processes are described below.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was introduced into Scottish legislation through The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. These Acts implement Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament.

SEA is the process by which the plans, programmes and strategies of all local authorities and public bodies are assessed in order to determine their likely impact upon the environment. The purpose of the assessment is to protect the environment by ensuring that environmental considerations are taken into account at the outset of the decision making process.

The SEA process follows a number of key stages:

  • Pre-screening
  • Screening
  • Scoping
  • Environmental Report
  • Adoption
  • Monitoring

Please click on the following links to view the relevant reports:

A useful source of further information on SEA is the Scottish Government's website (www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/14587)

Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used to predict the environmental impacts of a project at an early stage. Assessing the impacts of a project prior to its development presents an opportunity to fully explore the extent of impacts upon the environment, consider where alternative approaches may be more suitable and to consider where appropriate mitigation measures will be required.

The procedure requires the applicant to compile an Environmental Statement (ES) which describes the likely significant effects on the environment and the proposed mitigation measures which will be used to reduce such impacts. The ES will be circulated to a list of statutory consultees and a view regarding the acceptability of that Statement and its conclusions must be reached by the Council prior to the determination of the related planning application.

  • EIA Screening opinions
  • EIA Scoping opinions
  • Environmental Statements

Appropriate Assessment

Appropriate Assessment is a requirement of European Directive 92/43/EEC (The Habitats Directive). Its purpose is to carry out an assessment of plans and projects that either alone or in combination with other plans and projects are likely to have a significant effect on a European designated site (part of the Natura 2000 network).

The Natura 2000 network includes Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The network also includes Ramsar sites although there are no such sites within South Ayrshire at present. There are two SPAs (Ailsa Craig and Glen App and Galloway Moors) and two SACs (Lendalfoot Hills Complex and Merrick Kells). Any plan or project which is likely to have an impact upon any of these sites is required to undertake an appropriate assessment.

The assessment will consider all of the policies, proposals and recommendations contained within a plan or project proposal and whether or not any of these are likely to result in a negative impact upon any of the identified sites. Should a conclusion be reached during the formation of the plan or project that a negative impact would result, then the relevant section of the plan or project would require to be altered.

Appropriate Assessments should be carried out through close working with the local Scottish Natural Heritage office. At the completion of an appropriate assessment the assessed document should be sent to SNH for their approval prior to it being sent to the Scottish Ministers.

Sustainable Development Team

Specific queries relating to sustainability/sustainable development should be addressed to the Sustainable Development Section of the Council which deals with the full range of sustainable development matters.