Environmental impact assessment


As part of the planning process BT must undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposals. This assessment is undertaken by specialist consultants and their findings are reported in an Environmental Statement (ES). The ES will be submitted with the planning application and will be available for the public to view.

The EIA process is a means of drawing together, in a systematic way, an assessment of a project's likely significant environmental effects. This helps to ensure that the importance of the predicted effects over the life of the development, including construction, are properly understood by the public and the planning department before it makes its decision. It also means that any likely effects can be lessened by putting mitigation measures in place or by refining the design.

We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and welcome continued opportunities to discuss our wind turbine plans with the local community.

During the EIA many organisations will be consulted, a number of these are listed below:

  • Local Planning Authority
  • Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
  • Coal Authority
  • Local Wildlife Trust
  • Environment Agency
  • English Heritage
  • Highways Agency
  • Natural England
  • National Air Traffic Services (NATS)
  • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
  • Local branch of Friends of the Earth

The planning department and the organisations above will be asked to comment on the scope and methods proposed in undertaking the EIA. Their comments will be recorded by BT and the environmental specialist will take note of these during their assessments.

Topic areas that are addressed as part of an EIA include:

  • Landscape and Visual Assessment;
  • Ecology and Nature Conservation;
  • Noise and Vibration;
  • Archaeology and Cultural Heritage;
  • Geology and Hydrogeology;
  • Hydrology and Flood Risk;
  • Access and Traffic;
  • Air Quality;
  • Social and economic, including tourism;
  • Utility, Telecommunications and Electromagnetic Issues;
  • Aviation; and
  • Health & Safety