MSc Environmental Impact Assessment & Management / Course details

This module will provide you with practical experience of undertaking elements of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for a project based in the Greater Manchester area. It develops practical knowledge and skills in relation to project design and planning and undertaking environmental impact assessment.  Each student is to provide advice to a client organisation that has land holdings in the Greater Manchester area and seeks to take forward medium- to large- scale, mixed-use development of a particular site.

 

1. To provide experience in undertaking the early stages of an EIA to provide advice to a client.
2. To provide experience in site evaluation, project development and approaches to impact assessment.
3. To enable students to develop self-learning capabilities and to demonstrate them in small group sessions
4. To provide experience in writing reports relating to the preliminary stages of EIA.
5. To gain experience in project management and team work.
6. To present work, using a variety of means, to an appropriate professional standard.

There are three sections to this course unit based around three assignments.  The context for any development proposals is the core strategy prepared by the relevant local authority, which will guide the analysis of constraints relating to the site and potential alternatives for future development, followed by the approach to assessing the impacts of the alternative(s) identified. The brief consists of two stages: Site analysis and development of potential development options, and Identification of key impacts and outlining an approach to their assessment.

Students work initially in a group collecting and analysing data about their ‘site’, and following presentation of the outputs, move forward as an individual to focus on key impacts and the provision of guidance to the ‘notional’ client.

Introductory lectures to each stage, 

Bespoke GIS for EIA session

Workshops with practitioners on assessing various impact types

Weekly drop-in sessions (group)

Initially you will work in small groups to undertake research on the site and gather relevant materials, data, etc., for the group presentation on key site features and potential options for development. Following the group presentation, you will work as individuals, and draw on the presentation and your own further analysis to explore potential impacts and their assessment. 

Understand some of the practice-based challenges in EIA

Undertake research and data aquisition relevant to the context of a project

Present work to a professional standard in bot written and verbal formats

Prepare written reports in detail relating to the EIA process

Work effectively as a member of a group in producing work

Overcome challenges, both as a member of a team and as an individual through appropriate team management

Group presentation (10 minutes) 30% weighting

Group presentation (15 minutes) 30% weighting

Individual Report (1000 words) 40% weighting

Feedback on submitted work is provided within 15 working days via Turnitin

Indicative Reading List

Glasson, J., Therivel, R. and Chadwick, A. (2019) Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, Routledge, Abingdon, 5th edition.

Landscape Institute/Institute of Environmental Assessment (2013) Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment third edition, Routledge, London. Full text available online through University Library.

Morris, P. and Therivel, R. (eds.) (2018) Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment, UCL Press, London, 4th edition

Online resources

Communities and Local Government, UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/planning-system

You should explore issues relating to planning policy, guidance, etc.

Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 No. 571 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/571/contents/made

Department of Transport (nd) Environmental Assessment Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 11 (updated), HMSO, London.

http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ha/standards/dmrb/vol11/index.htm

European Commission:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/home.htm

European Commission (2001) Guidance on EIA: EIS Review, Directorate General for Environment, EC, Brussels: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/eia/eia-guidelines/g-review-full-text.pdf

European Commission (2001) Guidance on EIA: Scoping, Directorate General for Environment, EC, Brussels: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/eia/eia-guidelines/g-scoping-full-text.pdf

European Commission (2001) Guidance on EIA: Screening, Directorate General for Environment, EC, Brussels: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/eia/eia-guidelines/g-screening-full-te