Environmental Impact Assessments

Predominantly used to inform an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, a Verified View is a render of a 3D model demonstrating a proposed development. It is similar to a photomontage, except that the position and key points of the camera are recorded by a Geospatial Surveyor. This allows the 3D model to be positioned with verifiable accuracy within a photograph of the potential site.

When is an EIA required?

Environmental Impact Assessments apply to a small – but nonetheless significant – proportion of projects submitted each year.

As per the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, the relevant planning authority must establish whether a proposed project falls within one of two “schedules”. This will in turn determine whether an EIA is necessary.

Schedule 1

While a wide range of projects fall within Schedule 1, they are generally typified as major industrial or infrastructure-related developments. Examples include motorways and express roads, hazardous waste disposal installations, and petroleum storage sites with a capacity of 200,000 tonnes or more (a full list can be found here). All Schedule 1 projects require an EIA.

Schedule 2

For projects that are classified within Schedule 2, the relevant planning authority must consider whether it is likely to have a significant impact on the environment. Examples of such projects include gas-carrying installations of more than one hectare, shipyards measuring more than 1,000 square metres, and chemical production plants of over 1,000 square metres (a full list can be found here).

If the type of project appears within Schedule 2 and exceeds the relevant thresholds or criteria, it must be screened by the planning authority to assess whether an EIA is required. Additionally, Schedule 2 projects located within a sensitive area must be screened, regardless of whether they exceed the thresholds.

Our environmental impact assessment methods

At Technics, we use Verified View technology to facilitate the planning application by demonstrating the visual impact of any future development.

A Verified View is a high-quality photograph in which the relationship between the camera position and the detail in the photograph is known, allowing a computer-generated image of the proposed development to be accurately inserted, demonstrating the visual impact.