Natural England
December 6
16:17
2023
This guide explains what consultations you must do with the Environment Agency and Natural England. It applies to:
- local planning authorities
- combined authorities (Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West of England and Greater London)
- transport authorities
- elected mayors
Spatial development strategies, local plans and neighbourhood plans
Before you start your plan, you must consult the relevant agency if you think it affects their environmental interests.
Use this table to find out which agencies you must consult:
| Your plan | Consult Natural England | Consult the Environment Agency |
|---|---|---|
| requires a sustainability appraisal | Yes | Yes |
| requires a strategic environmental assessment | Yes | Yes |
| affects protected sites and areas, such as sites of special scientific interest, national parks or marine protected areas | Yes | No |
| affects the best and most versatile agricultural land | Yes | No |
| includes reclaiming land previously used for mining or waste management to agricultural use | Yes | No |
| affects protected species | Yes | No |
| affects ancient woodland and veteran trees | Yes | No |
| affects flooding and coastal erosion | No | Yes |
| affects waterbodies identified in river basin management plans by including plans to develop next to water bodies, restore water bodies to a more natural state or increase water efficiency | No | Yes |
| involves land that may be affected by contamination from a previous use such as disused railways | No | Yes |
| affects land for waste management or mineral extraction | No | Yes |
| includes sites that the Environment Agency regulates, such as intensive agricultural activity | No | Yes |
| identifies environmental opportunities that could be achieved such as green infrastructure and biodiversity improvements | Yes | Yes |
Use the Magic map to show the location of protected sites and protected areas including SSSIs, national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Spatial development strategies and local plans
What you need to send and how soon youll hear back will vary depending on your situation.
| What youre doing | What you need to send | When youll get a response |
|---|---|---|
| Deciding on the extent of the issues to be assessed in a sustainability appraisal (known as scoping) | Details on scope and level of detail of information to be included in sustainability appraisal | 5 weeks |
| Doing a sustainability appraisal for your plan | Draft plan Environmental report Draft habitats regulations appropriate assessment (if required) | Agencies will agree a time with you - usually 5 weeks |
| Preparing your draft local plan | Information about the content of the plan | Minimum 6 weeks |
| Asking for comments on your early draft local plan | Draft local plan Environmental report with evidence such as a strategic flood risk assessment Draft habitats regulations appropriate assessment (if required) | Agencies will agree a time with you - usually 6 weeks |
| Asking for comments on your final draft plan (known as the publication stage) | local plan Environmental report with evidence such as a strategic flood risk assessment habitats regulations appropriate assessment (if required) | Agencies will agree a time with you - usually 6 weeks |
| Asking for comments on your draft spatial development strategy | Draft plan Environmental report habitats regulations appropriate assessment (if required) | 12 weeks |
| Asking for comments on proposed modifications to your plan | Details of proposed changes | 6 weeks |
Neighbourhood plans
| What youre doing | What you need to send | When youll get a response |
|---|---|---|
| Giving an opinion on a plans environmental effects (known as screening) | A map of the plan area and the purpose of the plan | Agencies will agree a time with you - usually 6 weeks |
| Asking for comments from the agencies about a new plan | The plan | Agencies will agree a time with you - usually 6 weeks |
| Strategic environmental assessment (if required) | Evidence as an environmental report | Agencies will agree a time with you - usually 5 weeks |
Considering planning applications, permission in principle, technical details consent and development orders
Use this table to find out which agencies you must consult. You can consult the agencies on issues not covered in this table if the proposals affect their environmental interests.
| The proposal | Consult Natural England | Consult the Environment Agency |
|---|---|---|
| requires an environmental impact assessment (EIA) | Yes | Yes |
| requires a habitats regulations appropriate assessment of the effect it may have on European protected sites | Yes | No |