PPS 12 Housing in Settlements·Page 9·14
Environmental Assessment Exemption
The Department considers that publication of an environmental assessment under the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (NI) 2004 is not required, as the Sustainability Appraisal substantially covers the matters that would be examined under the new regulations.
The Department is of the opinion that it is not required to publish an environmental assessment as specified in the new legislation because the first formal preparatory act (publication of draft PPS 12) was prior to the commencement date of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (NI) 2004 (2004 No.280). The Department is also of the opinion that the Sustainability Appraisal of this PPS substantially considers those matters which would have been examined under the new regulations and that there is no merit in commencing a fresh assessment.
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