EIA Apply for our consent

Get the right information

Please ask us which countryside organisations you need to contact in order to get the information that will enable you to address all issues relevant to your project. This information will help you prepare your Environmental Statement.

Hold a scoping meeting

It is essential that all relevant parties (Natural Resources Wales's representatives, consultees and interested parties) meet to develop a clear understanding of the issues involved and how these might be considered within the scope of the project. This is standard procedure and is referred to as a 'scoping' meeting.

For more information about setting up and attending scoping meetings, please read the Scoping Meeting guide.

Prepare an Environmental Statement

The purpose of an Environmental Statement is to provide Natural Resources Wales and other interested parties with a full understanding of the consequences of specific proposals.

For more information on how to prepare your Environmental Statement, please read Undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment in Forestry and Preparing an Environmental Statement.

Preparing the application

You should draw the boundaries of the proposed work on a map or plan (a clear Ordnance Survey map at a scale of 1:10,000 or 1:2,500).

Provide a brief description of the proposed work and the possible or potential effects on the environment. This could be a written summary or be provided as part of a grant scheme or felling licence application.

Prepare and gather information

Prepare an Environmental Statement for the work which includes the issues raised at the scoping meeting.

Gather together any other information that might be relevant, for example, species maps, plans, surveys, photographs etc.

Sending your application

Please send your documents to Natural Resources Wales, Forestry Permitting Team, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW.

We may ask for multiple copies of the application documents, to send on to consultees as necessary.

Publicise the Environmental Statement and consultation

Once we are satisfied that the Environmental Statement addresses all the issues of concern, as agreed at the scoping meeting, a public notice must be prepared.

You must place a public notice (advertisement) in two local newspapers. Please note that you are responsible for the cost of doing this. For details about the contents of the notice, see the EIA guidance booklet or ask us for advice.

Copies in public places

You must also make copies of the application available in public places, such as the local library or post office. We will help you decide on suitable locations.

Appropriate consultation

We will also give details of the application to appropriate consultees, statutory bodies and local authorities. These parties are required to give us their comments within 28 days. Comments received may be made available to other interested parties.

Proposals to carry out new planting or felling will appear on the Register of Grant Schemes and Felling Applications.

Final decisions

Our decision about your application will be one of the following:

• Consent granted subject to standard conditions (that the work must be started within five years of the date of consent and finished no later than 10 years from the date of consent)
• Consent granted subject to standard and other conditions
• Consent refused

Making our decision public

After notifying you and other interested parties about the decision, we will advertise our decision in the same newspapers in which the notice of the application for consent was placed. Natural Resources Wales will be responsible for the cost of this notice.