Based on feedback received during engagement with planning officers, the Scottish Government and consultation bodies several specific elements/complexities related to the EIA process were identified and subsequently covered as part of the training programme.
The aspects covered were as follows:
- The role of EIA in relation to applications for planning permission under Section 42
- How EIA links with requirements for other environmental assessments
- Planning authority involvement in the EIA process of other consenting regimes
- Applying the Rochdale Envelope (/design parameters) within EIA
- Considering cumulative effects in the EIA process
These five aspects were covered across two webinars in March 2026. The slide decks are available below:
The modules, delivered in March 2026, consist of a video of each webinar – and the related slide decks, which are available to download:
- How EIA links with: Section 42, Other Assessments and Other Regulatory Processes (Download the presentation)
- Common Complexities: The Rochdale Envelope and Cumulative Effects (Download the presentation)
Links to further information on these aspects of the EIA process (the slides include reference to the following EIA resources):
- Scottish Government Planning Circular 3/2022: Development Management Procedures – notably Annex H - provides general coverage of Section 42 applications and a cross reference to need to consider requirements of the EIA Regulations.
- Scottish Government Circular 1/2017 The T&CP (EIA) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 – includes coverage on cumulative effects
- Scottish Government PAN 1/2013 Environmental Impact Assessment – includes coverage of Rochdale Envelope
- Historic Environment Scotland & NatureScot - EIA Handbook 3rd Edition – includes coverage of cumulative effects, the Rochdale Envelope and links to other and multi-regime consents (Sections B.5 and E.2).
Wider Scottish Government/Consultation Body guidance relevant to topics covered on this page:
- Rochdale Envelope guidance - jointly produced by Marine Scotland and the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in relation to applications and EIA as applied under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Note this guide was not produced in relation to Scotland’s planning system; however, concepts within it may be of interest.
- Cumulative effects guidance for onshore wind projects in relation to landscape and visual effects produced by NatureScot in 2021:
- Cumulative effects guidance for onshore wind projects in relation to birds produced by NatureScot and updated in 2025:
The slide decks related to this module also make reference to EIA related guides produced in the UK’s other nations where they include coverage of one, or more, of the topics discussed& here. Links are not provided here for brevity, but the documents may prove of interest to those who wish to read more widely around any/all of these aspects of the EIA process.
The video recordings are available for the above mentioned learning events.
