Technical Planning Services

EIA is required under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) for projects above defined thresholds or where significant effects are likely. Early EIA screening is strongly recommended to confirm the requirement before design investment is made.

Screening determines whether an EIA is legally required for a given project. Scoping, which follows a positive screening determination, defines the topics, level of detail, and methodologies to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). Both stages occur pre-application and represent the most cost-effective point at which to align the assessment programme with planning authority expectations and reduce later risk.

An EIA typically takes 6 to 18 months depending on project complexity, required ecological surveys, seasonal constraints, and the volume of technical assessments needed. Programmes must account for surveys that can only be conducted in specific seasons, particularly ecological surveys for birds, bats, and habitats. Early scoping and parallel workstreaming are essential to avoid programme slippage at the planning submission stage.

Environmental permits are required where a project involves activities that could impact air quality, controlled waters, land, or waste, including certain construction operations, discharges, and site operations. Licences are issued by the EPA. Planning permission and environmental permitting are separate legal processes and both must be secured before development commences.

Compliance is demonstrated through a combination of environmental reports (EIA, Flood Risk, Heritage, Ecology), permit applications, construction and environmental management plans (CEMP), monitoring frameworks, and adherence to conditions imposed by regulatory authorities. For procurement and tendering, ISO 14001 environmental management certification, held by Entrust, provides additional assurance of systematic compliance management.

Environmental due diligence identifies risks that can materially affect site viability, value, and programme, including ground contamination, protected habitats, flood risk, heritage constraints, and proximity to designated sites. Identifying these constraints pre-acquisition allows developers and investors to price risk accurately, negotiate conditional contracts, or avoid non-viable sites. Entrust provides pre-acquisition environmental appraisals and planning feasibility assessments to support informed investment decisions.

An FRA is required where a project could impact floodplains, drainage, or surface water management, in line with the Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines (OPW/DEHLG). FRAs are commonly required for solar farms, substations, water infrastructure, and large-scale ground-disturbing works.

An environmental risk assessment evaluates the potential impacts of a proposed development on air quality, water resources, soil and geology, ecology, human health, and cultural heritage. It identifies the likelihood and magnitude of each risk and proposes proportionate mitigation measures. For infrastructure projects, this assessment underpins both planning submissions and environmental permitting, and informs the project’s CEMP and operational monitoring requirements.