7. What to include in a Community and Linguistic Impact Assessment
In certain instances, as explained in section 5, it may be considered that a Community and Linguistic Statement is not sufficient for assessing the potential impact of proposed development on an area and/or community. Such developments may be substantial in their scale and likely impacts. If this is the case the LPA will require a Community and Linguistic Impact Assessment to assess in greater detail any potential impacts on a community and its cultural and linguistic character.
The methodology comprises a checklist to allow the developer and/or LPA to make an assessment of the likely impact of a development proposal against five aspects of community life, namely population; quality of life; the economy; infrastructure; and the social and cultural life of the community.
The CLIA methodology is a subjective process intended to establish the probable impacts stemming from a development proposal or policy. When applicants and officers use the checklist, each question should be answered with a positive, negative or neutral score reflecting the perceived impact of the development against the five sets of issues. Numerals need to be inserted as the answer to each checklist question, with numeral +1 representing a perceived positive impact, numeral -1 a perceived negative impact, and numeral 0 for a perceived neutral impact.
A matrix that identifies those impacts that have a relatively high positive or negative impact, and is accompanied by a commentary, will help decision-makers to determine the most sustainable option. The importance or weight to be given to a checklist question will vary for different policies and development proposals, and that judgment is for those making the assessment. For example, the developer and local planning authority will need to make a judgment on how much weight to give those checklist answers that are concerned with the shorter or longer term.
The final part of the assessment methodology is an Overall Impact Assessment Index. This comprises a measurable summary table that permits the assessor to develop a positive, negative or neutral score relating to the perceived impacts likely to occur. The score will then form a material consideration in the assessment of an application for planning permission within development control, or an indicator in the assessment of whether or not to adopt a policy or proposal.
The Overall Base Index Score may then be used to calculate Language Impact Scores. These scores are divided into three variations - to represent the degree of importance of the language in that particular location. The use of `high', `middle' and `low' significance for language importance is a matter for the local planning authority, and is determined by where the development is intended to be located and the results of the Linguistic Profiling exercise.