FOI request (FOI219521)

Planning Development Information Request 2017.

Requested Wed 02 August 2017
Responded Wed 02 August 2017

I am currently a student at Newcastle University (Newcastle upon Tyne) studying towards a Master's degree in environmental law, and am researching for a dissertation project on the use and practice of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). 

I am writing to make a Freedom of Information request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, pertaining to planning development information. I have done my utmost to ensure this email arrives at the correct email address, however I would greatly appreciate if this email could be forwarded to the respective body/organisation/individual that could provide me with such information. It is my hope that this information is accessible and can be freely disclosed.

Specifically, I am interested in the total number of developments (as defined by the The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011) that took place between 1st June 2016 and 1st June 2017 within various planning authorities. Please find attached a document below my specific request; it would be appreciated if this could be filled out and returned, or the information forwarded by email. It is evident that some information handling teams and individuals oversee such requests for multiple local councils, therefore if this email has been received multiple times it is due to the fact I require information from each council; there is an option on the attached document to specify from which council the information has been gathered.

 (Local) Planning Authority:

1. Total number of applications for planning permission for all developments 4 made to yourselves as the (Local) Planning Authority that were passed (i.e. development was allowed).

2. Of these applications made for planning permission for development, please confirm the number of which had an accompanying Environmental Statement (ES).

2(i)  Of which the need for an Environmental Statement was decided via individual analysis of the planning permission development application’s merits (i.e. the number of applications decided to require an ES via case-by-case analysis5)

2(ii) Of which the need for an Environmental Statement was decided via reference to the EIA thresholds (i.e. the number of planning permission development applications decided via the assessment criteria set out in the EIA Regulations6).

[1] Please specify the council (whether borough, district or other) from which the following information was gathered.

Response

Q1 - 317 applications received and approved during period of 01/06/16 to 01/07/16.

Q2 i)ii) - None were EIA development.

Q3 - 6 - N/A