The Nuts and Bolts of Environmental Impact Assessments – A Seminar for Young Planners, Architects and Developers
Event Details
- Date: 18 September 2025
- Time: 9:00am
- Type: In person event
- Location: Carson McDowell, Murray House, Murray Street, Belfast, BT1 6DN
The seminar will look at common errors in the formulation of Environmental Statements and provide an overview and legal update on all the key elements of Environmental Impact Assessment including:
- The essential structure of an Environmental Statement;
- Screening / Scoping;
- The baseline – fixed and moving;
- Legal adequacy of an Environmental Statement;
- The importance of properly defining “the Project”;
- How important is survey age in law?
- The weight to be given to consultee responses;
- Pitfalls surrounding the submission of further information;
- EIA and Permitted Development rights;
- EIA and ‘subsequent applications’;
- EIA and retrospective permission;
- The differences between EIA and Habitats Regulations Assessments; and
- Case law update including Finch and the A5 judgments.
Speakers
Nicole McAlorum, Associate, Carson McDowell
Nicole is an Associate in the Planning & Environmental team at Carson McDowell.
Nicole attained a degree in Law (LLB honours) from Newcastle University in 2017 and subsequently obtained her professional qualification with distinction from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast in 2020.
Nicole joined Carson McDowell as a paralegal in August 2017 and qualified as a solicitor in September 2020 having completed her period of apprenticeship within the firm.
Nicole specialises exclusively in the Planning and Environmental Law team at Carson McDowell. Her work includes:
- Assisting in the instigation and defence of judicial reviews of planning and environmental decisions.
- Providing general planning and environmental law advices.
- Assisting in providing due diligence support for corporate transactions.
Sophie Hunter, Solicitor, Carson McDowell
Sophie graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2021 with a degree in Law with French and French Law. As part of her degree, she spent a year studying at Université de Toulon in Toulon, France.
Sophie joined the firm in 2022 and obtained her professional qualifications from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Belfast in 2024. She qualified as a Solicitor in September 2024 having completed her period of apprenticeship within the firm and qualified into the Planning and Environment Team.
Sophie practices solely in the areas of planning and environmental law. She is currently assisting on matters related to:
- Major planning applications in Northern Ireland for significant infrastructure and energy projects the subject of public inquiry;
- The defence and instigation of judicial review proceedings against planning decisions and environmental consents/permits;
- The drafting and negotiation of planning agreements; and
- The defence of planning enforcement proceedings.
- Assisting in the instigation and defence of judicial reviews of planning and environmental decisions.
- Providing general planning and environmental law advices.
Agenda
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9.00am
Breakfast served
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9.15am
Seminar begins
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10.00
Seminar concludes
Register
