Environmental Outcomes Report EOR

[edit] An alternative to EU originated Environmental Impact Assessments

The idea of uisng an alternative to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) had been discussed for sometime, really since Brexit as EIAs stemmed from related EU directives. The proposals represented bringing forward a new domestic framework for all the environmental assessment regimes which originated from the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (EIA) and Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Strategic Environmental Assessment or SEA) Directive.

[edit] Inititial consultation on the use Environmental Outcomes Reporting

The use of the Environmental Outcomes Report (EOR) as a replacement was more formally proposed by the Sunak Conservative Government in 2023 via the consultation 'Environmental Outcomes Report: a new approach to environmental assessment' published 17 and closing 9 June 2023. The aim of the new approach being to be more effective as a tool for managing the effects of development on the natural environment, supporting better, faster and greener delivery of infrastructure and development, by simplifying and streamlining the assessment process making a more effective tool to support the delivery of environmental commitments.

[edit] Existing environmental assessment regimes

The proposals highlighted the need for rationalisation of existing environmental assessment regimes, listing those currently in existing and the departments responsible for them:

• The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes 2004DLUHC
• The Town and Country Planning (TCPA) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 DLUHC
• The Infrastructure Planning (NSIP) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 DLUHC
• The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2006(and as amended, 2017) Defra
• The Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999(and as amended 2017) Defra
• The Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 1999 (and as amended 2017) Defra
• The Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003Defra
• Harbours Act 1964, Schedule 3(I)DFT
• The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007/1518Defra
• Highways Act 1980, Part VADFT
• The Transport and Works Act 1992, sections 13A, 13B, 13C and 13 D DFT
• The Transport and Works (Applications and Objections Procedure) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 DFT
• The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 DESNZ
• The Public Gas Transporter Pipe-Lines Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 DESNZ
• The Pipe-line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2000 DESNZ
• The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipelines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999 DESNZ
• The Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020DESNZ
• The Nuclear Reactors (Environmental Impact Assessment for Decommissioning) Regulations 1999

The Government aims to go further and faster on planning reform in bid for growth in particlular focussing on reform that addresses a number of what it considered as central issues of inefficiency, duplication, risk aversion, loss of focus, issues with data.

[edit] The contents of Environmental Outcomes Reports

EORs will succinctly summarise and signpost underlying technical work carried out for the development of the plan or project. By way of example, for an application under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 at the project level, an EOR should contain (Clause 139 - Environmental outcomes reports for relevant consents and relevant plans) :

• a short introduction (which references the project details in the accompanying Planning Statement)
• a short, high level, summary of how reasonable alternatives and the mitigation hierarchy were considered early in the development of the project
• an assessment of contribution towards achieving an outcome supported by the indicators set out in guidance - this will include
• the residual effects on the environment identified through the underlying technical work, with relevant conclusions in the technical work clearly pinpointed
• the current baseline and relevant trend data, similarly identified
• commentary on levels of uncertainty for that data or indicator set
• proposed mitigation, and
• monitoring proposals
• a summary of the contribution of the cumulative effects of the project as a whole on outcomes and how this relates to the conclusions of any strategic or plan level assessment.

[edit] Development and nature recovery under planning reform

Under the Labour Government that came into power mid 2024, a number of different propsals were put forward looking primarily at reform of the planning system to support development and economic growth. In December 2024 the Policy paper "Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery" was published. It concluded with reference to the role of the proposed Environmental Outcomes Reports noting that 'The approach proposed in this paper reflects the government’s commitment to prioritising outcomes over process. Shifting to a strategic and more outcomes-focused approach to impact assessment and nature recovery has great potential to support the environment as well as helping us deliver the housing and infrastructure we need. This shift to focussing on outcomes aligns with the ongoing work to implement Environmental Outcomes Reports.'

By January the Chancellor announced 'Government goes further and faster on planning reform in bid for growth' outlining a number of further changes following the changes to the NPPF, looking towards infrastructure. The announcement also reiterated the role of EORs and the environment saying:

"The government is also reforming environmental impact assessments, which have strayed from their original purpose of supporting decision making and have become voluminous and costly documents that too often support legal challenges rather than the environment. They will be replaced by Environmental Outcome Reports which will be simpler and much clearer, which will support growth by saving developers time and money, whilst still protecting the environment. The government will publish a roadmap for the delivery of these new Environment Outcomes Reports in the coming months."

"This follows a working paper on development and nature published by the government before Christmas setting out a new approach that will turbocharge the delivery of housing and infrastructure while securing positive environmental outcomes. Developers will be able to pay into the Nature Restoration Fund which will allow them to discharge relevant environmental obligations for protected sites and species and focus on building, safe in the knowledge that appropriate action will be taken to support nature’s recovery."

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• A guide to the updated National Planning Policy Framework.
• Brownfield Passport.
• Consultation on proposed reforms to NPPF and other changes to the planning system.
• Environmental impact assessment.
• Environmental plan.
• Golden rules for the release of land.
• Grey belt.
• London plan.
• National planning policy framework.
• National planning practice guidance.
• NPPF consultation briefing notes on terms.
• NPPF inquiry.
• Outline planning permission.
• Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act.
• Planning legislation.
• Planning permission.
• Planning policy replaced by the NPPF.
• Strategic Environmental Assessment.
• Sustainability.
• Sustainability appraisal.

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