{"value":{"id":147449,"askingMemberId":1415,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","uin":"214064","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, under what circumstances an environmental impact assessment can be requested when a housing development is proposed; and if he will make a statement.","answeringBodyId":7,"answeringBodyName":"Department for Communities and Local Government","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":true,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":4009,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>An environmental impact assessment is required for development proposals which are likely to have a significant impact on the environment. The procedure for establishing whether an environmental impact assessment is necessary (the screening process) is set out in planning regulations and explained in planning guidance (<a href=\"http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/\" target=\"_blank\">http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/</a>).</p><p>The guidance makes it clear that only a very small proportion of developments should require a formal environmental impact assessment. We have consulted on proposals to reduce the number of residential cases that local planning authorities have to screen (<a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/339528/Technical_consultation_on_planning.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/339528/Technical_consultation_on_planning.pdf )</a> and we will publish the Government's response in due course.</p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Housing: Construction","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/147449","method":"GET"}]}