In recent news, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government’s plan to replace Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) with Environmental Outcome Reports (EORs) by mid-2026. This transition is aimed to help streamline planning application approvals, which is designed to boost economic growth by making it quicker and easier for developers to get their projects approved.
This change is designed to make it easier for developers to get projects approved while ensuring positive environmental outcomes. The emphasis will be on the actual results of projects rather than just the procedural steps.
Confused? To see the difference a little more clearly, we’ve used a simple analogy of building a new park as an example:
EIAs: Before starting the construction of your park, you’d need to conduct an EIA. This involves a detailed study to predict how the park might affect the environment, like the impact on local wildlife, noise levels, and air quality. You’d also need to propose ways to reduce any negative impacts. The whole process can be quite lengthy and detailed.
EORs: Instead of focusing heavily on the process, with EORs, the emphasis is on the results. Using the same park example, you’d focus more on measuring the actual outcomes of building the park, such as how many trees were preserved, improvements in local air quality, and the benefits to the community once the park is built. The idea is to streamline the process and ensure that the focus is on achieving positive environmental outcomes.
Put another way, moving from EIAs to EORs will mean less paperwork and more emphasis on delivering real environmental benefits more efficiently.
The timeline:
The government has outlined a plan to start with pilot projects in mid-2025, followed by a broader rollout towards the end of the year. The introduction will happen in several phases:
- Initial Planning (Early 2025): The government will outline the framework and guidelines for EORs. This phase involves consultations with experts, stakeholders, and the public to ensure a comprehensive approach.
- Pilot Projects (Mid-2025): Selected projects will begin using EORs to test the new process. This phase aims to identify any potential challenges and refine the guidelines based on real-world applications.
- Rollout (Late 2025 – Early 2026): The use of EORs will expand to more projects across different regions. The government will provide training and resources to ensure a smooth transition for all stakeholders involved.
- Full Implementation (Mid-2026): This is when EORs should fully replace Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all applicable projects. With the assurance that continuous monitoring and feedback will ensure that the new system meets its goals of efficiency and positive environmental outcomes.
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