UK Statutory Instrument 2017 United Kingdom

Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017

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At a glance

What's here

27 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides · 1 journey

Penalty landscape

2 of 27 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 25 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Applicant 10
  • Any Person 1
  • Operator 1

Plus 15 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

2 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Applicants also bound by 294 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Schedules

Browse 56 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch001

Crude‑oil refineries (excluding undertakings manufacturing only lubricants from crude‑oil) and...

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Waste disposal installations for the incineration or chemical treatment (as...

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Groundwater abstraction or artificial groundwater recharge schemes where the annual...

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(1) Works for the transfer of water resources, other than...

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Waste water treatment plants with a capacity exceeding 150,000 population...

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Extraction of petroleum and natural gas for commercial purposes where...

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Dams and other installations designed for the holding back or...

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Pipelines with a diameter of more than 800 millimetres and...

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Installations for the intensive rearing of poultry or pigs with...

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Industrial plants for— (a) the production of pulp from timber...

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Quarries and open‑cast mining where the surface of the site...

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(1) Thermal power stations and other combustion installations with a...

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Construction of overhead electrical power lines with a voltage of...

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Installations for storage of petroleum, petrochemical or chemical products with...

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Storage sites pursuant to Chapter 3 of Part 1 of...

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Installations for the capture of carbon dioxide streams for the...

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Any change to or extension of development listed in this...

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(1) Installations for the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel.

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(1) Integrated works for the initial smelting of cast‑iron and...

s.sch001

Installations for the extraction of asbestos and for the processing...

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Integrated chemical installations, that is to say, installations for the...

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(1) Construction of lines for long‑distance railway traffic and of...

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(1) Inland waterways and ports for inland‑waterway traffic which permit...

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Waste disposal installations for the incineration, chemical treatment (as defined...

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Interpretation

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Descriptions of development

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Agriculture, silviculture and aquaculture (a) projects for the restructuring of...

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Infrastructure projects (a) industrial estate development projects;

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Other projects (a) permanent racing and test tracks for motorised...

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Tourism and leisure (a) ski-runs, ski-lifts and cable-cars and associated...

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(1) Any change to or extension of development of a...

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Extractive industry (a) quarries, open-cast mining and peat extraction (where...

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Energy industry (a) industrial installations for the production of electricity,...

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Production and processing of metals (a) installations for the production...

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Mineral industry (a) coke ovens (dry coal distillation);

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Chemical industry (Projects not included in Schedule 1 to these...

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Food industry (a) manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and...

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Textile, leather, wood and paper industries (a) industrial plants for...

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Rubber industry - Manufacture and treatment of elastomer-based products.

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Characteristics of development

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Location of development

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Types and characteristics of the potential impact

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A description of the development, including in particular—

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A reference list detailing the sources used for the descriptions...

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A description of the reasonable alternatives (for example in terms...

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A description of the relevant aspects of the current state...

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A description of the factors specified in regulation 5(2) likely...

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A description of the likely significant effects of the development...

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A description of the forecasting methods or evidence, used to...

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A description of the measures envisaged to avoid, prevent, reduce...

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A description of the expected significant adverse effects of the...

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A non-technical summary of the information provided under paragraphs 1...

s.009

Considerations for screening decisions

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must consider specific criteria for EIA screening Crown / Minister / Government department
s.010

Application for a scoping opinion

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must provide a scoping opinion upon request Crown / Minister / Government department
s.026

Co-ordination

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must co-ordinate EIA and Habitats Regulation Assessments Crown / Minister / Government department
s.030

Decision notices

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must issue a detailed decision notice for EIA development Crown / Minister / Government department
s.035

Objectivity and bias

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State and authorities must ensure objective decisions Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 12 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.coronavirus: temporary modifications

Coronavirus: temporary modifications

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

Environment Agency

Primary

Environmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …

Planning Inspectorate

The Planning Inspectorate

Examines applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) under the Planning Act 2008, including large offshore wind farms, power stations, and transmission …

DEFRA

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …

Connected legislation

parent Act

These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.

Made under

Planning Act 2008, Part 3 2008 Primary Act

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Regulators

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