Environmental Impact Assessment

Quadrat Scotland have over seven years experience of carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required under the planning process for development projects that fall under schedules 1 and 2 of the Scottish Executive regulations on EIA, i.e. developments that may have a significant impact on the environment.  It is carried out at the cost of the developer.

EIA is the process of assessing, describing and proposing mitigation for any impacts that the development is likely to have on the environment and assessing the overall significance of impacts. Quadrat Scotland carry out EIA using the following stages:

• Gather required environmental information (see ecological surveys)
• Describe and assess base-data (see GIS)
• Predict and describe impacts
• Describe suitable mitigation
• Carry out or take part in appropriate public consultation
• Consult with specialist environmental bodies
• Assess the significance of any impacts + mitigation
• Produce the Environmental Statement (ES)

Projects for which EIA has been carried out include:

• Wind farms
• Small hydro-schemes
• Roads
• Overhead power-lines
• New buildings