Environmental Outcomes Reports: Environmental Policy Forum response
Following the passing of the Levelling-Up & Regeneration Act (LURA) in 2023, proposals to reform Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) began, leading to a consultation in 2023 on the proposed replacement regime: Environmental Outcomes Reports (EORs).
Responding to the consultation, several concerns were raised about how EORs would work in practice, including by the IES, which led to the transition to EORs being paused. One of the organisations responding to the consultation was the Environmental Policy Forum, a coalition of 17 professional bodies, including the IES.
For the latest news on Environmental Outcomes Reports, read our analysis on the future of EIA following the latest announcements. Find out more about the developments in 2023 by reading the IES response to the consultation, or our response to the consultation on the Levelling-Up Act.
Key messages from the Environmental Policy Forum:
- Missing details: There is a lot of important detail and evidence missing from this consultation.
- Absence of research and evidence to support claims: Beyond missing details, the EPF was concerned that claims were made without the appropriate research and evidence behind them.
- Consultation with the experts: The EPF called for greater consultation with expert voices throughout the process.
- Assurance of guidance and resource to support effective delivery: Recognising the challenge of delivering environmental policy, the EPF called for sufficient resources and guidance.
Find out more
The state of Environmental Outcomes Reports has moved on significantly since 2023. Read our analysis on the future of EIA for the latest information.
If you want to find out more about the Levelling-Up Act and its effects, read the IES response to the consultation, our briefing on the Levelling-Up Bill, or our response to the 2023 consultation on the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act. These documents were published at the time these changes were taking place, so you can also catch up on the latest news in our briefing on land and nature policy.
To support the work of the IES in standing up for evidence-informed environmental policy, become an Affiliate or join the IES.
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