Critical Evaluation

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A Critical evaluation of the Croxley Rail Link Environmental Impact Assessment
1) Discuss the extent to which environmental considerations have shaped the planning and design of the Croxley Rail Link.
Introduction
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been broadly defined as an assessment process in which the environmental considerations of a development proposal are taken into account in the decision making process. In its official definition the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) describes EIA as:
"the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made" (IAIA,2009).
Similarly, Glasson et al (2012) define EIA as a systematic process that evaluates environmental consequences of the development process in advance, with a focus upon preventative measures. Whilst the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in its guidance of EIA outlines the aims of EIA to:
"prevent, reduce or offset the significant adverse environmental effects and enhance positive ones" (DCLG,2006).
These definitions of EIA all stress the need for the environment to be involved within the planning process for developments. The outline process of EIA, as shown in Figure 1, in the words of Glasson et al (2012) provides planners with a systematic, holistic and multidisciplinary framework to assess the impacts of development upon the environment.

The requirement for...

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...d desire for the reinstating of the former Croxley Green Rail Link upon which the development focused (Mouchel, 2011b). As such, three key objectives of the proposal were defined (Mouchel, 2011b):
• to enhance sustainable travel links within Watford
• to improve local travel connectivity within Watford
• to provide a sustainable and value for money alternative to car travel, with a specific emphasis on reducing noise and greenhouse gas emissions.
On the basis of these stated objectives it does appear that environmental concerns, in terms of sustainable transport use and greenhouse gas emission reductions, have been considered in the proposal. However this doesn't necessarily indicate whether the environment has been definitely considered in the design process of the proposal, or whether this is a reflection of the social and economic influences upon the proposal.

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