Alternative site assessment ASA
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ensures that the environmental effects of a proposed development are properly considered. For more information see: Environmental Impact Assessment. It provides the local planning authority with better information about certain types of projects, enabling them to make a more informed decision about whether permission should be granted and to allow imposition of more appropriate conditions and obligations to mitigate possible negative impacts.
It will typically include assessment of appropriate alternatives, including an alternative site assessment (ASA).
[edit] Purpose
The purpose of an ASA is to explore whether or not the site proposed for a development is the most suitable one, or whether alternative sites could be preferable.
Due to the impact they may have on the outcome of the planning process, it is important to have ASAs undertaken during the very early stages of a project - not as a process of post-rationalisation after a site has already been selected, and very early appraisals of potential sites may be carried out by a surveyor before the appointment of the consultant team during the business justification stage.
[edit] ASA guidance
There is no formally prescribed process or methodology for undertaking an ASA. The process should be adapted to the characteristics of different projects. However, the Surrey County Council offers suggested stages of an ASA, including:
[edit] Assessment of requirements
- Physical, including size of site and building requirements.
- Access, including distance to and from roads.
- Location, including desirability based on the existing or proposed area of operations.
- Relationships, including proximity to any existing/remaining premises, suppliers, markets.
[edit] Criteria for ASAs
- Whether the site is previously developed land or in active use for the proposed development.
- Likely visual impact.
- Standard of access.
- Likely impact on residential amenities.
- Distance from designated (i.e. environmentally sensitive) areas.
- Flood risk.
- Site availability (e.g. evidence of whether the site is listed for sale).
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.