UK agency and legislative context - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 71

authorised for such use. In addition to the scale of any development, significant effects are
likely to depend on the extent of routine discharges of radiation to the environment. In
this context EIA is unlikely to be required for installations where the processing or
storage of radioactive waste is incidental to the main purpose of the development (e.g.
installations at hospitals or research facilities).

(h) Installations for hydroelectric energy production. In addition to the physical scale of the
development, particular regard should be had to the potential wider impacts on hydrology
and ecology. EIA is more likely to be required for new hydroelectric developments which
have more than 5 MW of generating capacity.

(i) Wind farms. The likelihood of significant effects will generally depend upon the scale of

the development, and its visual impact, as well as potential noise impacts. EIA is more
likely to be required for commercial developments of five or more turbines, or more than
5 MW of new generating capacity.

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9.

Industrial and manufacturing development

New manufacturing or industrial plants of the types listed in the Regulations may well require
EIA if the operational development covers a site of more than 10 ha. Smaller developments
are more likely to require EIA if they are expected to give rise to significant discharges of
waste, emission of pollutants or operational noise. Among the factors to be taken into account
in assessing the significance of such effects are:

• whether the development involves a process designated as a “scheduled process” for the

purpose of air pollution control;

• whether the process involves discharges to water which require the consent of the

Environment Agency;

• whether the installation would give rise to the presence of environmentally significant

quantities of potentially hazardous or polluting substances;

• whether the process would give rise to radioactive or other hazardous waste;

• whether the development would fall under Council Directive 96/82/EC on the control of

major accident hazards (COMAH) involving dangerous substances.

10. Infrastructure developments

(a) Industrial estates. EIA is more likely to be required if the site area of the new
development is more than 20 ha. In determining whether significant effects are likely,
particular consideration should be given to the potential increase in traffic, emissions and
noise.

(b) Urban development projects (including the construction of shopping centres and car
parks , sports stadiums, leisure centres and multiplex cinemas) . In addition to the physical
scale of such developments, particular consideration should be given to the potential
increase in traffic, emissions and noise. EIA is unlikely to be required for the
redevelopment of land unless the new development is on a significantly greater scale than
the previous use, or the types of impact are of a markedly different nature or there is a
high level of contamination.

Developments proposed for sites which have not previously been intensively developed
are more likely to require EIA if: