LUC Director of Planning Jeremy Owen and Head of EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Joanna Wright delivered presentations at an East Midlands Councils CPD event for 80 local authority planners last week.

Jeremy is one of the country’s leading authorities on Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). He has undertaken over 50 SAs/SEAs and has acted as adviser to Government. LUC’s aim is to make Local Plans more sustainable, whilst ensuring that legislative requirements are met.

Jeremy described the key components of the SA/SEA process, and explained to the planners how to do them properly to produce better plans and to avoid things going wrong. He then ran a workshop which helped those attending put principles into practice.

Joanna leads EIA-related research projects, many of which have culminated in the preparation of good practice guidance. She discussed the latest developments in EIA, and looked forward to potential future changes to EIA requirements arising from the European Commission and UK Government.

LUC has a wealth of experience in EIA, working across the renewables, transport, housing, mixed use, minerals and waste sectors. Our involvement ranges from the early feasibility to post application stages, including Public Inquiry work, and the discharge of planning conditions.