Whether environmental statements could be improved through a requirement that the statement reflects the broad social impact of development…

It would not be appropriate to require developers to address all material considerations in environmental statements.The minimum information requirements of environmental statements, are specified in regulations. The regulations also specify a wider range of information that must be included in environmental statements where reasonable in the circumstances of the case. This includes information on the proposal's cumulative effects and its effects on the population insofar as these are related to the environment. The regulations represent precisely the requirements of the European Directive on Environmental Impact Assessment.It is for the planning authority to ensure that all other material considerations, including social impact where appropriate, are taken into consideration along with the environmental statement in determining the application. Planning authorities have general powers to require applicants to submit further information which the authority requires to determine a planning application.