An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) specialist prepares the Environmental Statement (ES) required for major planning applications under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. They coordinate multiple technical consultants - ecologists, noise consultants, air quality specialists, transport planners - and compile their findings into a coherent ES that satisfies the local planning authority and statutory consultees such as Natural England and the Environment Agency.
What they do
- Manage the EIA process from screening through to ES submission
- Prepare and agree scoping reports with the local planning authority
- Coordinate specialist topic consultants (ecology, noise, air, water, heritage)
- Write the non-technical summary of the Environmental Statement
- Prepare mitigation and monitoring schedules
- Respond to statutory consultee queries during the planning process
- Prepare post-consent monitoring and management plans
- Advise on Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) requirements
When you need one
An EIA specialist is required when your project falls within EIA development under the 2017 Regulations, or when the local planning authority issues a positive screening opinion.
Typical costs (UK, 2025)
| Job type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Screening request preparation | £1,500 - £4,000 |
| Scoping report | £3,000 - £8,000 |
| Single ES chapter (e.g. noise, air quality) | £3,000 - £15,000 |
| Full ES for medium housing scheme | £20,000 - £60,000 |
| Full ES for major infrastructure | £100,000 - £500,000+ |
| Hourly rate (principal consultant) | £80 - £150 / hr |
Costs vary significantly with project complexity and the number of technical topics requiring specialist surveys. Survey costs (ecology, noise monitoring, air quality modelling) are typically additional to the ES writing fee.
Qualifications to look for
Full Membership of IEMA (MIEMA) or Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) status is the recognised professional standard for EIA practitioners. IEMA also offers an EIA Quality Mark scheme for consulting firms. Check membership at iema.net.
Senior EIA managers often hold additional memberships relevant to their technical specialisms - MCIEEM (ecology), MCIWEM (water), MIOA (acoustics) or MCILT (transport). These confirm technical competence in the relevant ES chapters.
How to find a reputable EIA specialist
Related Calculators
Extension Cost Calculator New Build Cost Calculator Commercial Build Cost CalculatorFrequently asked questions
When is an Environmental Impact Assessment required in the UK?
An EIA is required for EIA development as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. Schedule 1 projects (e.g. motorways, large power stations) always require an EIA. Schedule 2 projects (e.g. large housing, commercial, industrial) require an EIA if they are likely to have significant environmental effects. A screening opinion from the local planning authority determines whether Schedule 2 projects need an EIA.
How much does an Environmental Impact Assessment cost?
EIA costs vary enormously with project scale. A simple EIA for a medium-sized housing scheme might cost £15,000-£40,000. A major infrastructure project EIA can run to several hundred thousand pounds. Individual topic chapters (ecology, noise, air quality) are typically commissioned separately and cost £3,000-£15,000 each depending on complexity and survey requirements.
What qualifications should an EIA specialist have?
Look for Full Membership of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (MIEMA) or Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) status. Many EIA consultants also hold membership of relevant topic-specific bodies such as CIEEM (ecology), CIWEM (water) or IOA (acoustics). Always check they hold professional indemnity insurance appropriate to the scale of your project.