Review of Consents (RoC)

The Habitats Directive and UK Habitats Regulations require CCW and other authorities to ‘assess the implications for European Sites and European Offshore marine sites’ of their consents, decisions and projects.

CCW has a dual role in this process. As a ‘competent authority’, CCW is required to undertake a review of its own decisions and consents. As a statutory consultee and ‘the appropriate nature conservation body’ for Wales, CCW is required to comment on any ‘appropriate assessment’ that may result from reviews of existing consents and decisions being undertaken by other authorities including the Environment Agency and Local Authorities.

Countryside Council for Wales - Review of Consents

CCW issues a number of consents under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended by the CROW Act 2000.

Consents issued by CCW include Section 28 consents for potentially damaging operations on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Wales and Section 15 and Section 16 Management Agreements with landowners, occupiers and managers on SSSIs.

CCW undertook a Review of Consents process for its own consents for every European Site in Wales. CCW no longer has dedicated Review of Consents staff working on its own consents however CCW RoC queries can be forwarded to regional contacts via our central Enquiries Service.

Environment Agency - Review of Consents.

The Environment Agency in Wales and England (and its forerunners) granted many permissions and consents to control emissions to air, land and water and to control water abstraction before the Habitats Directive came into being in 1992.

The Environment Agency were required to review impacts of all permissions granted without consideration of the Habitats Directive and between 2000 and March 2010, the Environment Agency ‘Review of Consents’ was undertaken in consultation with CCW and Natural England.

Local Authority - Review of Consents.

CCW administer a Welsh Government funded programme aimed at enabling Local Authorities in Wales to plan and undertake a Review of Consents of their own relevant permissions, consents and projects.

This programme began in 2007 and has helped Local Authorities in Wales fund their RoC process and build capacities and expertise. Annually, a facilitated workshop was held for Local Authority RoC participants to enable exchange of expertise and experience.

By 2011 a total of 15 Local Authorities in Wales have received funding for their RoC process and have either wholly or partially completed their reviews.

Grant funding for the Local Authority RoC has now ceased, however some Local Authorities have sourced funding and capacity to undertake their RoC process and are commencing work.

CCW will continue to encourage remaining Local Authorities to start their review processes and for others to complete RoC for all relevant European and Ramsar Sites. CCW has published guidance for Local Authorities in Wales on the Review of Consents.