🧭 How EHDC Determines If a Consultee Is “Relevant to the Development”
EHDC must use professional judgment to decide which consultees are relevant based on these six practical questions:
- 📍 Is the site located in or near a sensitive area?
- Example:
- If the site is in a flood zone, consult the Environment Agency or the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA).
- If the site is near a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), or contains protected species/habitats, consult Natural England.
- Example:
- 🧱 What is the type and scale of the development?
- Example:
- A 150-home development may strain GP services, school capacity, or wastewater networks → consult NHS/ICB, HCC Education, and Southern Water.
- An industrial estate near the A3 may increase freight traffic → consult National Highways.
- Example:
- 🏞️ Will the development affect specific infrastructure or services?
- Example:
- If it involves a new access road or high volumes of traffic, consult the Local Highway Authority.
- If drainage is affected in a non-fluvial area, still consult the LLFA (surface water risk).
- Example:
- 📈 Is there cumulative pressure from nearby developments?
- Example:
- Even if the individual site is small, it may share a GP catchment or sewer line with 3 other developments nearby.
- This means combined pressure → consult infrastructure providers like NHS, water companies, or education authority.
- Example:
- 🏗️ Is this part of a phased or linked development?
- Example:
- If the application is the 2nd or 3rd phase of a larger masterplan, you must consider the full impact across phases.
- This often requires consulting multiple bodies again.
- Example:
- 🗺️ Is the site within a consultee’s official zone of influence?
- Use mapping tools and published data to check:
- Flood Zone Map → Environment Agency
- MAGIC Map → Natural England designated areas
- GP catchment maps → NHS ICB
- Wastewater or drinking water zones → Water companies
- School zones → Education Authority
- Use mapping tools and published data to check:
✅ Final Policy Phrase You Can Use
“EHDC will determine which consultees are relevant based on the development’s location, scale, type, and potential to affect environmental or infrastructure capacity. Relevance is judged using known constraints, published service areas, past decisions, and cumulative development context.”