Habitats regulations assessment

Stage 1: Screening – the initial process which identifies the likely impacts of a plan or project on a Natura 2000 site. It considers whether the impacts are likely to be significant.

Stage 2: Appropriate Assessment – if the screening stage has determined that proposals are likely to have a significant adverse impact on a Natura 2000 site, a more detailed assessment is required. If adverse effects are identified, an assessment of mitigation options is undertaken to determine the effects on the integrity of the site. If the mitigation options cannot avoid adverse effects, consent will only be granted if the next stages are followed.

Stage 3: Assessment of alternative solutions – alternative methods of achieving the objectives of the plan or project are considered that avoid adverse impacts on the site.

Stage 4: Assessment where no alternative solutions exist and where adverse impacts remain – assessment to determine if the plan or project is required for imperative reasons of overriding public interest (IROPI) and, if so, the compensatory measures that are required to offset any impacts on the site.