Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
EIA process. The EIA Regulations identify those that warrant investigation as those that are
“likely to be significantly affected by the development”.
2.3.6 Conclusions about significance are derived with reference to available information about the
project description and the environmental receptors (or ‘receiving environment’), and to
predictions about the potential changes that the proposed wind farm would cause to the
affected receptors.
2.3.7 In each of the environmental topic chapters, professional judgement is used in combination
with relevant guidance to assess the interaction of the receptor’s value (importance or
sensitivity) against the predicted magnitude of change to identify the overall level of effect. In
some cases, the judgement can be guided by quantitative values, whilst in other cases
qualitative descriptions are used.
2.3.8 In general terms, and in order to assist interpretation of the final results of the EIA, receptor
value, magnitude of change and level of effect for each environmental topic are described
consistently throughout the ES, as shown in Table 2.2. A definition of how the terms are
derived for each topic is set out in the specialist topic chapters. Where this approach is
inappropriate, the relevant explanation and amended descriptions of receptor importance,
magnitude of change and significance of effect are provided.
2.3.9 The approach to establishing the level of effect is derived from a variety of sources including
industry and professional guidance, codes of practice, advice from statutory consultees and
other stakeholders, as well as expert judgement of the EIA practitioners undertaking the
technical assessments.
2.3.10 One of three methods to determining the level of effect is employed depending on the
assessment topic: matrix (as shown in Table 2.2), criteria (as shown in Table 2.3), and
descriptor (as identified in paragraph 2.3.14).
2.3.11 Where sufficient information exists to value a receptor and to understand the magnitude of
change, the assessment methodology often uses a matrix to determine the level of the effect.
In this approach the effect is determined by a combination of the value of the receptor being
affected and the magnitude of change resulting from the proposed development. This is the
case for example with ecological and cultural heritage designations which have clear relative
values (e.g. a site designated at a national level is valued more highly than one that is
undesignated or designated at a local level).
2.3.12 Each topic assessment has been carried out using the effect levels and associated criteria
derived from relevant guidance for that topic. Where possible topic chapters have aligned
their levels of effect to the criteria set out in Tables 2.2 and 2.3 and this is set out in the
methodology section of each assessment topic chapter.
2.3.13 In the absence of a recognised assessment methodology general levels of effect using
criteria defined in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) 2 Volume 11:
Environmental Assessment (2009) are frequently employed (Table 2.3 is based on
significance criteria set out in the DMRB).
2 Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Volume 11 Environmental Assessment, 2009
March 2013 2-20 ES Chapter 2
The EIA and Scoping Process
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