| 1. Case Details | |||
| Case Reference | 15/06934/FU | Brief description of the project / development | Amendments and Extension of time from 31.12.2025 to 31.12.2035 for LDO 3 - District Heating Network comprising of pipes, cables and wires, heat exchange equipment, street furniture, informational signage and ancillary engineering works within defined areas of land in the City of Leeds, as shown on Map LDO 3 |
| Developer | Leeds City Council | ||
| LPA | Leeds City Council | ||
| 2. EIA Details | |||
| Is the project Schedule 1 development according to Schedule 1 of the EIA Regulations? | No | ||
| If YES, which description of development (THEN GO TO Q4) | |||
| Is the project Schedule 2 development under the EIA Regulations? | Yes | ||
| If YES, under which description of development in Column 1 and Column 2? | 3(a & b) and 10(a & i) | ||
| Is the development within, partly within, or near a ‘sensitive area’ as defined by Regulation 2 of the EIA Regulations? | Yes | ||
| If YES, which area? |
Site of Special Scientific Interest Scheduled Ancient Monuments |
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| Are the applicable thresholds/criteria in Column 2 exceeded/met? | Yes | ||
| If yes, which applicable threshold/criteria? | The proposed work area exceeds 0.5ha and 1ha | ||
| 3. LPA/SOS SCREENING | |||
| Has the LPA or SoS issued a Screening Opinion (SO) or Screening Direction (SD)? (In the case of Enforcement appeals, has a Regulation 37 notice been issued) | No | ||
| If yes, is a copy of the SO/SD on the file? | |||
| If yes, is the SO/SD positive? | |||
| 4. Environmental Statement | |||
| Has the developer supplied an ES for the current or previous (if reserved matters or conditions) application? | No | ||
| Question |
(Part 2a) / (Part 2b) – Answer to the question and explanation of reasons (Yes/No or Not Known (?) or N/A) |
(Part 3a) / (Part 3b) (only if Yes in part 2a) – Is a Significant Effect Likely? (Yes/No or Not Known (?) or N/A) |
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Briefly explain answer to Part 2a and, if applicable and/or known, include name of feature and proximity to site (If answer in Part 2a / 2b is ‘No’, the answer to Part 3a / 3b is ‘N/A’) |
Is a significant effect likely, having regard particularly to the magnitude and spatial extent (including population size affected), nature, intensity and complexity, probability, expected onset, duration, frequency and reversibility of the impact and the possibility to effectively reduce the impact? If the finding of no significant effect is reliant on specific features or measures of the project envisaged to avoid, or prevent what might otherwise have been, significant adverse effects on the environment these should be identified in bold. |
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| 5. Natural resources | ||||
| 5.1 Will construction, operation or decommissioning of the project involve actions which will cause physical changes in the topography of the area? | Yes | Engineering and built development | No | Significant effects are unlikely as the level, appearance and use of the land would be returned to its original status in line with the Reinstatement requirement of LDO 3. Above-ground furniture and signage would not be of a scale to result in significant effects and can be regulated via the Permitted Development identified in LDO 3, or by planning application if development is not permitted under LDO 3. |
| 5.2 Will construction or operation of the project use natural resources above or below ground such as land, soil, water, materials/minerals or energy which are non-renewable or in short supply? | No | N/A | ||
| 5.3 Are there any areas on/around the location which contain important, high quality or scarce resources which could be affected by the project, e.g. forestry, minerals? | Yes | Leeds river and canal network, inclusive of the River Aire and the Leeds - Liverpool Canal SSSI | No | Significant effects on the water environment are unlikely to occur given that the DHN is restricted to the highways network and Council-owned land, and does not take water from the river/canal network. Condition 9 of LDO 3 requires suitable mitigation via construction management details to include the means of protecting water and waste water infrastructure. |
| 6. Waste | ||||
| 6.1 Will the project produce solid wastes during construction or operation or decommissioning? | No | N/A | ||
| 7. | ||||
| 7.1 Will the project release pollutants or any hazardous, toxic or noxious substances to air? | No | N/A | ||
| 7.2 Will the project cause noise and vibration or release of light, heat, energy or electromagnetic radiation? | Yes |
Noise Vibration Dust Dirt |
No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely to arise as the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions of LDO 3. |
| 7.3 Will the project lead to risks of contamination of land or water from releases of pollutants onto the ground or into surface waters, groundwater, coastal waters or the sea? | No | N/A | ||
| 7.4 Are there any areas on or around the location which are already subject to pollution or environmental damage, e.g. where existing legal environmental standards are exceeded, which could be affected by the project? | Yes | River Aire | No | Existing water quality would be unaffected because of the measures contained at Conditions 8 and 9 of LDO 3. As such, no significant environmental effects are considered likely. |
| 8. population and human health | ||||
| 8.1 Will there be any risk of major accidents (including those caused by climate change, in accordance with scientific knowledge) during construction, operation or decommissioning? | Yes | High Risk Coal Mining Areas – including instability, geological hazards, gas, and spontaneous combustion of coal | No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely given the management and mitigation required by Condition 7 of LDO 3. |
| 8.2 Will the project present a risk to the population (having regard to population density) and their human health during construction, operation or decommissioning? (for example due to water contamination or air pollution) | Yes | High Risk Coal Mining Areas – including instability, geological hazards, gas, and spontaneous combustion of coal. | No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely given the management and mitigation required by Conditions 7, 8 and 9 of LDO 3. |
| 9. water resources | ||||
| 9.1 Are there any water resources including surface waters on or around the location which could be affected by the project? | Yes |
River Aire Leeds – Liverpool Canal SSSI Becks Aquifers |
No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely given the management and mitigation required by Conditions 5, 8 and 9 of LDO 3. |
| 10. BIODIVERSITY (SPECIES AND HABITATS) | ||||
| 10.1 Are there any protected areas which are designated or classified for their terrestrial, avian and marine ecological value, or any non-designated/non-classified areas which are important or sensitive for reasons of their terrestrial, avian and marine ecological value, located on or around the location and which could be affected by the project? | Yes |
Leeds – Liverpool Canal SSSI & LWS, Leeds Habitat Network, Halton Moor LNR/LWS, Temple Newsam Estate Wood LWS/LNR, Silver Royd Hill LWS, Halton Moor Wood Ancient Woodland, Middleton Woods Ancient Woodland, Gotts Park Ancient Woodland, Battye Wood Ancient Woodland, Sugar Well Hill LWS and Woodhouse Ridge LWS |
No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely given the wording of ‘Development Not Permitted’ within LD0 3 which states ‘no works within 15m of an Ancient Woodland and a SSSI’ and ‘no works within the defined boundary of a LNR or LWS’. Should works need to take place within these limits then impacts would be considered as part of a separate planning application. |
| 10.2 Could any protected, important or sensitive species of flora or fauna which use areas on or around the site, e.g. for breeding, nesting, foraging, resting, over-wintering, or migration, be affected by the project? | Yes | Protected, important and sensitive species of i) Flora and ii) Fauna (breeding, nesting, foraging, resting, over-wintering/migration) | No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely given the wording of ‘Development Not Permitted’ within LD0 3 which states ‘no works within 15m of an Ancient Woodland and a SSSI’ and ‘no works within the defined boundary of a LNR or LWS’. Should works need to take place within these limits then impacts on flora and fauna would be considered as part of a separate planning application. |
| 11. landscape and visual | ||||
| 11.1 Are there any areas or features on or around the location which are protected for their landscape and scenic value, and/or any non-designated/non-classified areas or features of high landscape or scenic value on or around the location which could be affected by the project?[1] | Yes |
River Aire Leeds – Liverpool Canal Green Spaces/ Open spaces Registered and non-registered parks and/or gardens |
No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely to arise as the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions set in LDO 3. |
| 11.2 Is the project in a location where it is likely to be highly visible to many people? (If so, from where, what direction, and what distance?) | Yes | Close-medium-long distance views of highways and Council-owned land | No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely to arise as the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions set in LDO 3. |
| 12. CULTURAL HERITAGE/ARCHAEOLOGY | ||||
| 12.1 Are there any areas or features which are protected for their cultural heritage or archaeological value, or any non-designated/classified areas and/or features of cultural heritage or archaeological importance on or around the location which could be affected by the project? | Yes |
Registered Park and Garden Listed Buildings Scheduled Ancient Monuments Conservation Areas (numerous) |
No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely to arise as the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions set in LDO 3, together with the wording ‘Development Not Permitted’ of the LDO 3 which states ‘no works within the curtilage of a Listed Building or Scheduled Ancient Monument, and their settings’ and ‘no above-ground development on land within 50 meters to the curtilage of a Listed Building or Scheduled Ancient Monument’. |
| 13. Transport and Access | ||||
| 13.1 Are there any routes on or around the location which are used by the public for access to recreation or other facilities, which could be affected by the project? | Yes |
Registered and non-registered parks and/or gardens, Listed Buildings, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Conservation Areas, River Aire, Leeds – Liverpool Canal, Green Spaces/ Open spaces, Highways, and other public spaces. |
No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely to arise as the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions set in LDO 3. |
| 13.2 Are there any transport routes on or around the location which are susceptible to congestion or which cause environmental problems, which could be affected by the project? | Yes |
Leeds City Centre A and B Roads |
No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely to arise as the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions set in LDO 3. |
| 14. land use | ||||
| 14.1 Are there existing land uses or community facilities on or around the location which could be affected by the project? E.g. housing, densely populated areas, industry / commerce, farm/agricultural holdings, forestry, tourism, mining, quarrying, facilities relating to health, education, places of worship, leisure /sports / recreation | Yes | Map LDO 3 has wide coverage | No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely to arise as the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions set in LDO 3. |
| 14.2 Are there any plans for future land uses on or around the location which could be affected by the project? | Yes | Map LDO 3 has wide coverage | No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely to arise on existing and future development projects as the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions set in LDO 3. |
| 15. land stability and climate | ||||
| 15.1 Is the location susceptible to earthquakes, subsidence, landslides, erosion, or extreme /adverse climatic conditions, which could cause the project to present environmental problems? | Yes | High Risk Coal Mining Areas | No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely given the management and mitigation required by Conditions 7, 8 and 9 of LDO 3. |
| 16. cumulative effects | ||||
| 16.1 Could this project together with existing and/or approved development result in accumulation of impacts together during the construction/operation phase? | Yes | Existing and future development within the Map LDO 3 area | No | Significant environmental effects are unlikely given the laying out of the DHN would result in temporary construction works with reinstatement, geographically phased and managed in accordance with the Conditions set in LDO 3. |
| 17. Transboundary effects | ||||
| 17.1 Is the project likely to lead to transboundary effects?[2] | No | N/A | ||
| 18. CONCLUSIONS – ACCORDING TO EIA REGULATIONS SCHEDULE 3 | ||
| The above EIA Screening Matrix indicates the proposed development, alone and cumulatively, would not result in significant environmental effects, having had full regard to its characteristics, location, and types and characteristics of the potential impact/s. Regard has also been had to the Conditions, mitigation and control measures identified LDO 3. As significant environmental effects are not likely, LDO 3 does not fall to be considered as EIA development. | ||
| 19. screening decision | ||
| If a SO/SD has been provided do you agree with it? | N/A | |
| Is it necessary to issue a SD? | No | |
| Is an ES required? | No | |
| 20. Assessment (EIA regs schedule 2 development) | OUTCOME | |
| Is likely to have significant effects on the environment | ES required | No |
| Not likely to have significant effects on the environment | ES not required | Yes |
| More information is required to inform direction | Request further info | No |
| NAME | Louise White |
| DATE | 05 September 2025 |
[1] See question 8.1 for consideration of impacts on heritage designations and receptors, including on views to, within and from designated areas.
[2] The Regulations require consideration of the transboundary nature of the impact. Due to the England’s geographical location the vast majority of TCPA cases are unlikely to result in transboundary impacts.
