Provide environmental advice on proposed developments

"​This standard covers providing environmental advice on the impact of proposed developments on the environment. It involves the need to provide legally compliant advice within a statutory framework (comprising legislation, policy or regulations, including local by-laws) to allow decisions to be made about how best to consider the needs of the environment. This could include designing mitigation, compensation and enhancement (including Biodiversity Net Gain) plans in response to adverse development impacts.
The advice is given to others in order to help them make an informed and considered judgement or decision. Your advice may or may not be accepted or acted upon, or it can form the basis of any licence application subsequent to the approval being given.
This standard is likely to be of relevance to staff dealing with development proposals and applications, including Statutory Agency and Local Authority Staff, Access Officers, Ecologists, Geologists and Archaeologists, other Environmental Specialists (including Consultants and Environmental Policy Officers) and others who need to provide legislative advice connected with their area of work who then give advice to developers, planners, grant makers and colleagues."

"1. research information and documentation provided and identify environmental issues associated with the proposed development
2. identify any gaps in the information and documentation provided and seek clarification and further information to be able to provide advice on the environmental issues concerned
3. consider all relevant environmental issues and opportunities when reviewing the impact of the proposed development
4. carry out site visits, where required
5. provide legally compliant environmental advice to allow decisions to be made in accordance with the relevant strategy, policy, legal requirements, codes of practice and funding requirements
6. present your recommendations in the format required for the audience"

"1. how to research and interpret information and documentation to provide advice on environmental issues associated with the proposed development
2. where to access further information and when sufficient information has been obtained to be able to provide advice
3. the range of environmental issues and opportunities to be considered when reviewing the impact of the proposed development
4. the relevant legal requirements, codes of practice, strategy, policy, and funding rules for different circumstances and the implications of not adhering to these when providing advice
5. the relevant advice for different circumstances
6. how to advise on and monitor compliance
7. the required format for the presentation of recommendations to the audience"

"Audience:
* local authority planners
* funding advisors
* colleagues
* organised/community groups
* individual members of the public
* people with special interests in the development
* landowners
* the developer
* consultants, agents and other specialists asked to help make or assess an application
* planning inquiries
* judicial reviews
* *
Developments:
* planning applications
* environmental projects
* environmental policies
* environmental strategies
* licence applications
* grant applications
* environmental legislation
Environmental *issues and opportunities:*
* site designations
* listed buildings
* heritage assets
* public access and rights of way
* biodiversity, habitats and species
* presence of protected or non-native invasive species
* grant-funded environmental agreements
* current or previous use of the site
* other activities in the area
* physical (geographic location, climate, geology)
* natural capital
* sustainability
* Biodiversity Net Gain
* carbon reduction
* climate change
* flood risk
* value of nature
* environmental
* ecological
* green infrastructure communities
* placemaking
* visitors
* site infrastructure
* public access and rights of way
* legislation
* local, regional, national and global policies
* organisational policies
* social, cultural, aesthetic and economic factors
* health and wellbeing
Information *and documentation:*
* planning documentation
* environmental statement
* environmental impact and other site assessments
* maps (including information stored electronically on Geographical Information Systems (GIS))
* architects' plans
* correspondence
* grant applications
* environmental survey data
* historical survey data
* landscape survey data
* soil and geological survey data"