CPT878 Written Assignment Plan
Choose a major recent development proposal that has been subjected to environmental
impact assessment (EIA), and assess to what extent the EIA process has improved the
sustainability of the proposal.
In carrying out this exercise, please bear in mind the following:
1) Look carefully at how sustainable development is being interpreted and recognise that
different interpretations may give explicit or implicit priority to particular dimensions. It may
be that actors give greatest weight to central government interpretations of sustainable
development, which you might note, but be aware that central government interpretations
are not neutral. The issue may not simply be whether sustainable development is delivered
or not, but whose interpretation of sustainable development prevails and why?
2) We are seeking a critical analysis, not a description of the proposal and plan or the outcome.
So, as well as acknowledging the multiple ways in which sustainable development may be
interpreted, think critically about how and why the plans or projects are taking the form that
they do; why certain outcomes are achieved but not others. Use existing literature on the
relevant subjects to help inform your analysis. Theories of knowledge and decision-making
have relevance here.
3) Do conduct investigations beyond the core documents concerned (e.g. the plan, or the
project proposal and EIA). You should try to obtain other documents pertaining to the
decision-making process: e.g. committee reports from the local planning authority;
inspectors’ reports; comments by pressure groups; decision letters. Some of these may be
obtained through internet searches. You might also find it useful to visit the planning office
dealing with the application and look at the files (ask permission first). With development
plans, it may be that new plans can be compared with previous plans, or with drafts.
4) It is up to you to choose a plan or project that interests you and it does not have to be from
the United Kingdom. However, you should be sure that the plan or project you are choosing
will allow you access to sufficient information to complete the task successfully. It is not
permissible for students to select a project from a country outside the UK and then complain
that there was insufficient information available for a proper analysis to be done.
, PLAN
Introduction
Environmental assessment is a procedure that ensures that the environmental implications
of decisions are taken into account before the decisions are made. Environmental
assessments for individual projects, such as a dam, motorway, airport or factory, are known
as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). EIAs assess the possible impact – positive and
negative – that a proposed project may have on the environment and this information is
submitted to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) or the Welsh Government1 in the form of an
Environmental Statement (ES) in order for it to be considered alongside a planning
application. - https://senedd.wales/media/t05p3r2o/qg12-0022-english.pdf
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been identified as an important instrument for
facilitating sustainability. However, to do so requires the integration of sustainability into EIA
theory and practice. The sustainability concept is a valid and important environmental
management perspective. However, many issues and obstacles need to be addressed
further if the concept is to be translated into practical strategies (Lawrence, 1997)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is potentially one of the most important
instrumental factors in environmental decision making. Ensuring that environmental
implications are taken into account before decisions are made, the environmental assessment
then must be integrated into sustainability in both theory and practice. Before this,
frameworks must be defined, so that the lines between sustainability and EIA do not become
blurred. Sustainability as a whole should be integrated with EIA frameworks, however, the
concepts need to be adapted to contexts along with being linked to the relevant associated
initiatives. This essay aims to critically assess the extent in which the EIA process has
improved the sustainability of a chosen major recent development that has been subjected to
the theories and concepts of the EIA. Furthermore, the essay aims to further critically explore
how and why plans are taking the forms that they do, as well as why certain outcomes are
achieved over other differing outcomes. Thus, this assignment seeks to understand the
different dimensions of the EIA, whilst recognising which of the varying interpretations of
sustainable development prevails and the reasons behind this.
Discuss the chosen development
This Landscape and Visual Statement has been prepared on behalf of Renewable
Connections Ltd for a proposed solar development on land at Marksbury Farm, Bath.
The statement considers the effects of the proposed solar development on
landscape character and visual amenity
The chosen development proposal that this essay is gearing its focus towards is located on
development land of Marksbury Farm in the city of Bath, Somerset, requested in March of
the year 2021. The proposal is the request for an EIA screening for construction,
maintenance, operation and decommissioning of a ground – mounted solar farm. The
proposed site required an EIA as whilst it is vast flat ground; ideally suitable for that of a
large solar farm, it is also the located with the Green belt. Covering a large about of ground, it
is extremely visible from many surrounding roads and viewpoints, also with access from
members of the public it is ideal for a EIA to be carried out. The site location plan was
written on behalf of the Bath and North East Somerset District Group of CPRE Avon and
