The EcIA process includes:

• Screening (EIA only) – A formal screening opinion may be sought from the Local Planning Authority (LPA) to determine the need for an EIA.
• Scoping – This identifies what needs to be covered in the EcIA. Where an EIA is required, the LPA (and their consultees) will provide a scoping opinion which will identify any required habitat and protected species surveys, statutory and non-statutory nature conservation sites which need to be considered, identify any likely significant ecological effects and identify requirements for avoidance of impacts, mitigation, enhancement and biodiversity net gain. The scoping opinion may also identify other developments in the local area for which the cumulative impacts should be assessed.
• Impact Assessment – Once the importance of ecological features which are to be affected is determined, potential impacts are identified and characterised based on their extent, duration, reversibility, whether the effect is positive or negative etc. The significant impacts in the absence of mitigation are determined. Measures are formulated to mitigate or compensate for the likely significant impacts on ecological features and identify opportunities for ecological enhancement. The residual effects of the development are then determined, based on the mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures being implemented. Finally, an assessment of cumulative effects of the development with other developments in the local area, and their significance.

We follow current CIEEM Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the UK and Ireland (2018). A number of our ecologists have undertaken formal EcIA training by CIEEM.