The effect of environmental assessment on UK local planning authority decisions

Summary. Environmental assessm ent (EA) is intended to ensure that environmental consider-ations are properly weighed in the decision s made by local planning authorities on planning application s. This paper analyses whether, to what exten t, and how, EA has in ¯ uenced LPA decision s. Forty case studies were analysed by exam ining relevan t documentation and conducting interview s with participants in the EA process. EA appears to have had a gradual rather than a revolu tionary effect on decision-making. Its main bene ® ts have been the enhanced provision of environmental information and, to a lesser exten t, assistan ce in setting conditions and in modifying proposals. However, these bene ® ts are not occurring in all cases, and changes are needed if the expected advantages of EAÐ better integratio n of environmental consideration s into project planning and decision-makingÐ are to be fully realised in the UK