Guidance

Apply for a consent decision

Updated 19 December 2024

Applies to England

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To change uncultivated, semi-natural and rural land under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Regulations, you must:听

  1. Check if you need a screening decision.听

  2. Apply for a screening decision. 听

Your screening decision will either:听

  • allow your work to go ahead听
  • require you to apply for a consent decision听

A consent application is the second step of a potentially 2-step application process.

Use consent application form EIA4 to apply for a consent decision. If you바카라 사이트檙e using an agent, they should fill in an agent authorisation form EIA2 and consent application form EIA4 on your behalf.听

Your application must include an environmental statement.听You should include a map of the project area with your form.

Complete an environmental statement听

You should use an experienced specialist, such as an environmental or archaeological consultant, as appropriate to the project, to complete your environmental statement. The person that prepares the environmental statement must state their relevant expertise and qualifications.听听

The environmental statement must include a description of the following factors that are likely to be significantly affected by the project:听

  • population and human health听听
  • biodiversity, with focus on species and habitats protected under the 听
  • land, soil, water, air and climate听听
  • material assets, cultural heritage and the landscape听听
  • the interaction between these factors听听

The environmental statement must also include:听听

  • the location, design, size and other relevant features of the project 바카라 사이트� including a map will help meet this requirement听听
  • the alternatives you considered and reasons for your choice听
  • what measures you바카라 사이트檒l take to avoid, prevent, reduce or offset significant adverse effects on the environment听
  • social or economic impacts which might result from a consent or refusal听
  • 바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트媋 non-technical summary covering the main points in your environmental statement听听
  • 바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트媔nformation stated within your 바카라 사이트榮coping opinion바카라 사이트� 听
  • any additional information, in accordance with , relevant to the characteristics of the project and the environmental features likely to be affected

You can apply for a 바카라 사이트榮coping opinion바카라 사이트� to help produce your environmental statement. Your screening decision letter will also provide details of what Natural England considers likely significant effects on the environment. 听

Apply for a scoping opinion 听

To apply for a scoping opinion, complete application form EIA3 and email or post it to Natural England. This is free of charge.听

The scoping opinion will help you understand what information you must put in the environmental statement.听听

Natural England may not have the information it requires to make a consent decision and may reject your application, unless you:听听

  • apply for a scoping opinion听
  • act on a screening opinion when writing an environmental statement听听

Once it receives your application for a scoping opinion, Natural England will:听

  • use the information from the screening decision听听
  • consult with relevant bodies听
  • send you a scoping opinion within 5 weeks if your request is valid听

When you바카라 사이트檙e ready to submit your consent application, send Natural England your completed:听

Natural England needs the hard copy of your environmental statement for the public consultation. If you do not send one, Natural England will print it and may charge you for it.听

Natural England will check your application and:听

  • publish the environmental statement for a 6-week public consultation听
  • advertise where it will be available for comment locally and nationally听
  • consult with appropriate statutory consultees and bodies听

Following the consultation, Natural England may need to request additional information from you in order to make the consent decision.

When Natural England publishes consent applications for public consultation, they will be available on the public register of decisions. 听

Natural England will make its consent decision after considering comments and advice from听its consultations. 听

Natural England will send you one of 3 decisions:听

  • consent given听
  • consent given with conditions听
  • consent refused听

바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트婭f you바카라 사이트檙e granted consent, or consent with conditions, y바카라 사이트媜u must start your project within one year of the decision date and complete it within 3 years. If you do not do this, you must reapply for consent.听

Natural England will publish its consent decision in a newspaper, or by any other means it considers reasonable. 听听

Decisions are also recorded on the public register of decisions.听

If you want to appeal against a consent decision, you must do so in writing within 3 months of Natural England바카라 사이트檚 decision and:听

  • describe the decision听
  • state the grounds of appeal听

Details explaining how to appeal will be provided in the consent decision letter.

Send your appeal to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by email:听eia-appeals@defra.gov.uk.

You can also send your appeal by post:

Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Appeals Team听
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Second floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
SW1P 4DF

Contact Natural England听听

For more advice contact:听

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Unit听
Natural England听
Horizon House 听
Deanery Road听
Bristol听
BS1 5AH听听

Email eia.england@naturalengland.org.uk
Freephone 0800 028 2140

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