Environmental Outcome Reports (EORs): risks and opportunities around a new approach to environmental assessment

The UK government is currently consulting on replacing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) with Environmental Outcome Reports (EORs).

EORs are intended to filter the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan into plans and projects, while providing greater certainty for developers, reduced legal risks and enhanced accessibility of environmental information. EORs will be a fundamental change for the development and infrastructure industry, replacing over thirty years of practice and case law with a new solution.

Infrastructure planning and consulting

Delivering transformative infrastructure is critical to short-term recovery and long-term growth across the United Kingdom. Effective planning ensures we get the decisions about development right and deliver meaningful outcomes for the economy, environment and communities.

Environmental Assessment and Management

Due to heightened environmental awareness, public interest in sustainable development, and stringent environmental protection laws and regulations, projects often require environmental approvals prior to being launched.

Are digital environmental impact assessments a step towards “faster, better, greener” planning of transformative infrastructure?

Environmental impact assessments (EIA) identify the key environmental and social effects of infrastructure and development, and detail ways that these effects can be avoided, prevented, reduced, offset and where environmental and social enhancement can be attained.