As part of a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), the regulators require evidence and information before a project is carried out on a protected site. APEM’s niche specialist teams support our clients throughout the process, including providing baseline, ecological and impact studies.
The APEM team work on marine, coastal, freshwater and terrestrial sites that include features of interest such as rivers, estuaries, wetland habitats, marine mammals, fish and birds.
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is a process that identifies if a plan, programme or project has the potential to have an adverse effect on a protected ‘European site’, due to the project’s nature, size or location. Examples of European sites include Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites.
The HRA is carried out by the decision maker as the competent authority under the Habitats Regulations. The developer is required to submit sufficient scientific evidence to enable the authority to complete the HRA and this evidence is submitted in the form of a ‘report to inform’ or ‘shadow’ HRA.
If an HRA has been necessary, it is also likely that a proposed project will need an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). APEM’s experienced staff will provide the baseline, ecological and impact studies that are necessary components of the EIA.
We also provide developers, regulators and statutory advisers with a peer review service of HRA reports prepared by other consultancies.
The team at APEM would be happy to answer any questions you have about HRAs and EIAs. Please use the form below to get in touch.
