The Environment in NATA - Landscape and Environmental Capital seminar
Can a monetary value be put on the environmental impacts of widening a road through landscape such as a National Park? This question was debated at a seminar entitled The Environment in NATA – Landscape and Environmental Capital held jointly by Council for National Parks, Natural England and the Department for Transport on 7 March 2008 at Great Minster House. The agenda and seminar report can be downloaded here.
Transport impacts on the environment are appraised using a methodology called the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA). Currently, environmental impacts are unpriced. The Government is looking at the scope for pricing transport impacts on the environment starting with the natural landscape.
Presentations by four speakers to an audience of transport planners and environmental interest groups can be downloaded here:
1. NATA Refresh Context: David Thompson, Chief Economist, Department for Transport
A recent transport study by Sir Rod Eddington and a Climate Change Review by Sir Nicholas Stern recommended significant improvements to appraisal, notably, establishing the right price for the environment. The Department for Transport is consulting on a variety of changes to the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA Refresh) transport appraisal system.
2. Effectiveness of the Environmental Capital Approach: Paul Tomlinson, Head of Environmental Assessment and Policy, TRL
NATA uses the qualitative ‘environmental capital approach (‘what matters and why’), developed by the statutory environmental bodies and Government, to underpin the appraisal of transport impacts on landscape, heritage of historic resources, biodiversity and the water environment. Natural England has appointed consultants TRL to assess the effectiveness of current practice for assessing landscape impacts from transport schemes using the environmental capital methodology in NATA and to obtain feedback from practitioners.
3. NATA Refresh: Next Steps in Valuing Landscape: Peter Sellen, Assistant Economist, Department for Transport
In examining the scope for monetary valuation of environmental impacts as part of NATA Refresh, to be considered alongside the current appraisal system, the Department for Transport has commissioned a research project to develop monetary values for transport’s impact on the natural landscape. Phase 1 of the DfT's research project sets out a methodology for developing monetary values which can be transferred to similar landscape types.
4. Capturing the Full Value of Landscape: Anne Robinson, Trustee, Council for National Parks
CNP works to ensure that the full value of landscape, involving a wide range of factors such as its value to education, health, regeneration, tourism, quality of life, culture, memory, community and history is reflected in all decisions. Can monetary values capture the full value of transport’s impact on landscape or would it be better to improve non-monetary approaches?
CNP is interested in hearing your views on what should happen. Please contact Ruth Chambers, Deputy Chief Executive