ABSTRACT
Over the last three decades there has been a remarkable growth of interest in environmental issues-in sustainability and the better management of development in harmony with the environment. Associated with this growth of interest has been the introduction of new legislation, emanating from national and international sources, such as the European Commission, that seeks to influence the relationship between development and the environment. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an important example. EIA legislation was introduced in the USA over 35 years ago. A European Community (EC) directive in 1985 accelerated its application in EU Member States and, since its introduction in the UK in 1988, it has been a major growth area for planning practice. The originally anticipated 20 environmental impact statements (EIS) per year in the UK have escalated to over 600, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. The scope of EIA continues to widen and grow.
