Staff Profiles

Senior Lecturer in Environmental Assessment and Management

 

Modules taught

U37705 Environmental Sustainability

P38037 Environmental Management Systems

P38303 Principles of Environmental Assessment and Management

Supervision

Supervisor for UG and PGT dissertations

PhD supervisor 

Research interests and consultancy expertise

My research interests are in:
- environmental and social impact assessment and management – their relation, interconnection and the tools, policies and procedures to support the connection;
- the interaction between science and policy, particularly earth sciences and development policy and implementation;
- skills and knowledge development in professionals.

Please contact me if you are also interested in research in these areas.

I also undertake consultancy work in peer reviewing Environmental Statements for local planning authorities.

Research group membership

Member of the IAU research group based in the School of the Built Environment 

Research grants and awards

• 'The Effect of Offshore Wind on the Human Environment' 
• 'Cumulative Effects Assessment Mini Review' funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - link to report on NERC website
• 'Accounting for Carbon in Environmental Impact Assessment' funded by Oxford Brookes Central Research Fund and Santander Scholarship
• 'Professional Knowledge Development for Sustainable Communities' funded by Royal Town Planning Institute
• 'Skills Base in the Planning System' funded by  Local Government Authority (LGA)

 

Research projects

 Examples of past research and consultancy projects:

• Audit and Enhancement of Undergraduate Research Based Activities in the School of the Built Environment (Fellowship of the  Reinvention Centre for Undergraduate Research
• Comparison of UK and USA planning skills (with Erik Ferguson, Sharjah University, UAE)
• Skills Base in the Planning System (with John Glasson) for LGA/ODPM
• Planning Skills in Scotland (with Heriot Watt University) for Improvement Agency
• Professional Knowledge Development for Sustainable Communities (with John Glasson, Juliet Carpenter and Georgia Butina Watson) for Royal Town Planning Institute
• Survey of latent accommodation, Hinckley Point C socio-economic impact study (with John Glasson)
• Socio-economic study of Wheatley Campus for Oxford Brookes University (with John Glasson through Oxford Economic Observatory)
• CL:AIRE (Contaminated Land: Application in Real Environments) Sustainable Remediation Forum member and consultee on development of Sustainable Framework for the Remediation of Contaminated Land
• Peer review of research reports in Waste and Resources programme for DEFRA
• End-state public consultation of JET (Joint European Torus) site at Culham, Oxfordshire for UKAEA (with John Glasson and Tom Elsworth)
• Thames Gateway Evidence Review for ODPM (with Georgia Butina Watson, Juliet Carpenter, Alan Reeve, Sue Brownill)
• Linking Teaching with Research and Consultancy in Planning, Land and Property Management and Building (with Roger Zetter and Alan Jenkins at Oxford Brookes, Nick Bailey at Westminster University, Ron Griffiths at University of West of England and Pat Turrell at Sheffield Hallam University) for HEFCE

 

Further information

IAU Oxford Brookes website

LinkedIn profile - Bridget Durning

Research Gate profile - Bridget Durning

Books

• Perdicoulis A, Durning B, Palframan L, Furthering environmental impact assessment: towards a seamless connection between EIA and EMS, Edward Elgar Publishing (2012)
  ISBN: 9780857933270
  Abstract

  The environmental impact of development projects is currently studied and mitigated from two distinct perspectives: before and after project implementation, with environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental management systems (EMS) being the main instruments on the respective sides. This double perspective creates a discontinuity in the way environmental impacts are analysed, an issue that has been noted by both academics and practitioners. This book gathers and presents both theoretical and actual examples to link EIA with EMS and explores ways to overcome difficulties and provide innovative solutions. Academic researchers, advanced students, EIA practitioners and EMS practitioners will find the book essential for the theoretical explorations of how the link might occur and practical examples in which to explore and critique these theories.

  Website 

Journal articles

• Durning B, Broderick M, 'Development of cumulative impact assessment guidelines for offshore wind farms and evaluation of use in project making'
  Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 37 (2) (2018) pp.124-138
  ISSN: 1461-5517 eISSN: 1471-5465
  Abstract The offshore wind energy sector in the UK has grown rapidly since the first turbine generators were installed in 2000: by 2016 there were over 1400 installed turbines with combined capacity of 5.1GW.  The sector is considered by UK Government as essential to the development of a low carbon economy and to meeting binding targets on carbon reduction and renewable energy generation.  The Crown Estate, responsible for licensing development on the sea bed around the UK, has held 3 rounds of licensing since 2000 for wind developments. Some of the projects in the first two rounds suffered long delays due to uncertainty of project level impacts, particularly cumulative impacts.  A number of key stakeholders identified a need for cumulative impact assessment methodology to be developed that was definitive and endorsed by regulators and industry to aid unblocking barriers to delivery.  This paper explores the background to the development of such guidelines and how they were ‘co-created’ with industry and regulators.  We evaluate to what extent they have been used to shape and develop practice. Website 
• Durning B, 'Benefits of coupling environmental assessment and environmental management to aid disaster risk reduction and management'
  Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 16 (3) (2014)
  ISSN: 1464-3332 eISSN: 1757-5605
  Abstract

  The tsunami which devastated Japan in 2011 highlighted the consequences of natural disasters on an area considered to be ‘best prepared’ for such an event.  Learning from the direct environmental, social and economic impacts and temporally and spatially displaced indirect global impacts, is important.  When seeking to identify and mitigate the impact of proposed developments the process is carried out from two distinct perspectives:’ before’ and ’after’ implementation with environmental impact assessment and environmental management the main ‘instruments’ on either side.  Drawing on examples from financial institutions and disaster response agencies, this paper explores the theory that coupling the two ‘instruments’ can aid disaster risk reduction and management.  It concludes that there is no simple answer and that further research is needed to inform practice.

  Website 
• Watkins J, Durning B, 'Carbon definitions and typologies in environmental impact assessment: greenhouse gas confusion?'
  Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 30 (4) (2012) pp.296-301
  ISSN: 1461-5517 eISSN: 1471-5465
  Abstract

  Estimation of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) is becoming an established part of assessing sustainability within environmental impact assessment (EIA). However, a comparative study of 25 environmental impact statements (EISs) to analyse the practice of accounting for emissions during the EIA process suggests that consideration of the effects of development on emissions of GHG is poorly understood. The extent to which assessment is actually carried out is also inconsistent and sporadically implemented. A key indicator appears to be the varying and sometimes contradictory use of technical terminology, particularly of the term"carbon" and its similar phraseology. This paper provides a critical evaluation of the differing terminology that is applied to GHG assessments undertaken as part of EIA process and explores the effect that misuse of these terms could have on an impact EIS.

  Website 
• Durning B, Carpenter J, Glasson J, Butina Watson G, 'The spiral of knowledge development: professional knowledge development in planning'
  Planning Practice and Research 25 (4) (2010) pp.497-516
  ISSN: 0269-7459
  Abstract

  This paper explores knowledge development in professional planners in England, in both the public and private sectors. Through an exploration of how they engage and interact with a rapidly expanding knowledge base, the paper identifies how knowledge and expertise are developed that thereby inform their professional practice. It identifies the role, position in the career and level of expertise of the planner as influential to the drivers for knowledge development and the tools and techniques employed. It proposes that the level of expertise in professional planners should be seen as a spiral rather than a linear transition, and that the planning professional will move in and out of this spiral during their career in response to the changing demands of their professional practice. This paper adds to the body of academic work on the subject of practical knowledge development in planners, which is so far limited in the peer-reviewed literature.

  Website 
• Perdicoulis A, Durning B, 'An alternating-sequence conceptual framework for EIA and EMS integration'
  Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 09 (385) (2007)
  ISSN: 1464-3332
  Abstract The integration of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS) has been approached several times in recent years. This article reviews existing conceptual frameworks and specific issues regarding the EIA-EMS integration, and recommends a new conceptual framework which is based on an alternating sequence of EMS and EIA. It also proposes adaptations in key documents of both processes. The recommendations are adaptable to the varied practice of EIA across the globe, and conform to the ISO14001-compliant EMS protocol.
   
   
  Website 
• Durning B, 'Challenges in the recruitment and retention of professional planners in English planning authorities'
  Planning Practice and Research 22 (1) (2007) pp.95-110
  ISSN: 0269-7459
  Website 
• Durning B, Glasson J, 'Delivering the planning system in England: skills' capacity constraints'
  Town Planning Review 77 (4) (2007) pp.457-484
  ISSN: 0041-0020
  Abstract The planning system in England has recently undergone revision. At the same time local planning authorities are being required to implement new government initiatives, reviews and recently enacted EU legislation. All these changes are bringing in new ways of working for local authorities and sending the English planning system into a period of fl ux. Drawing on recent research the authors consider whether there is the capacity in terms of skills within local planning authorities in England for them to deliver the outcomes required by these changes.Website 
• Durning B, Jenkins A, 'Teaching/research Relations in Departments: the Perspectives of Built Environment Academics'
  Studies in Higher Education 30 (2005) pp.407-426
  ISSN: 0307-5079 eISSN: 1470-174X
  Abstract

  This article presents an analysis of the perceptions of built environment academics in four post‐1992 universities in the UK on teaching/research relations. Whilst set in particular departments, institutions and disciplines, it addresses issues that are of central concern worldwide. This study indicates that securing effective teaching/research links is potentially vital for ensuring that students learn of the complexity of knowledge and develop high order academic and ‘professional’ skills. However, it also demonstrates how issues of department organisation and culture—in particular the effective policy separation between teaching and research—result in failures to support staff to achieve potential synergies between these activities. Evidence is also provided that, in built environment disciplines there are distinctive features of teaching/research relations that need to be considered in department policies (and national funding). This study questions the policies of those governments and institutions that in effect seek to separate teaching from research. However, it leaves uncertain the extent to which all staff need to be involved in high‐level research, or whether ‘scholarship’ is adequate to effectively underpin student learning in these disciplines.

  Website 
• Durning B, Jenkins A, 'Teaching/research relations in departments and disciplines: the perspectives of built environment academics in four UK institutions'
  Studies in Higher Education (2005)
  ISSN: 0307-5079 eISSN: 1470-174X
  
• Temple M, Durning B, 'Learning from LINK'
  Brookes eJournal of Learning and Teaching 1 (1) (2004)
  ISSN: 1744-7747
  Abstract The paper provides an overview of the FDTL funded LINK project ('linking teaching and research in selected Built Environment disciplines') run by Oxford Brookes between 2000 and 2004. The learning process inherent in the project; what was learned about the LINK; its generic applicability beyond the Built Environment disciplines; and the importance of institutional support in embedding the LINK in the student experience are considered. The paper also explains how a shift in project focus from educational development to pedagogic research occurred as the extent of the gaps in understanding what it means to link teaching and research became clear.
• Durning B, 'Planning academics and planning practitioners - two tribes or a community of practice'
  Planning Practice and Research (2004)
  ISSN: 0269-7459
  Website 

Book chapters

• Broderick M, Durning B, Sánchez L, 'Cumulative effects assessment' in Therivel R, Wood G (ed.), Methods of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (4th ed.), Routledge (2017)
  ISBN: 9781138647640 eISBN: 9781317236528
  Abstract The environmental effects of development are mitigated from two distinct perspectives – ex ante (before), through ESIA, and ex post (after), through environmental management systems (EMS). The need to ensure that the outcomes of environmental assessment are carried through into environmental management, and that management practices are adaptive, was first recognised in the 1970s (e.g. Holling 1978). The use of management plans, particularly Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), to ensure that mitigation measures identified during ESIA are implemented and monitoring is carried out, has been a steadily evolving area of ESIA practice since the 1990s. A study by the Institute for Environmental Assessment and Management (IEMA) into the state of EIA practice in the UK reported that 80 per cent of its survey respondents would welcome inclusion of the requirement to develop Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) 1 as mandatory in EIA legislation (IEMA 2011). Bennett et al. (2016) observed that 95 per cent of the practitioners interviewed for their UK based study dealt with EMPs ‘either all the time or fairly regularly’. Interest in and use of ESMPs is increasing globally with impetus coming from International Financial Institutions (e.g. the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)), which include the requirement for management plans within their policies and performance requirements when providing project finance.Website 
• Durning B, Broderick M, 'Environmental and Social Management Plans' in Therivel R, Wood G (ed.), Methods of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (4th ed.), Routledge (2017)
  ISBN: 9781138647640 eISBN: 9781317236528
  Abstract The environmental effects of development are mitigated from two distinct perspectives – ex ante (before), through ESIA, and ex post (after), through environmental management systems (EMS). The need to ensure that the outcomes of environmental assessment are carried through into environmental management, and that management practices are adaptive, was first recognised in the 1970s (e.g. Holling 1978). The use of management plans, particularly Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), to ensure that mitigation measures identified during ESIA are implemented and monitoring is carried out, has been a steadily evolving area of ESIA practice since the 1990s. A study by the Institute for Environmental Assessment and Management (IEMA) into the state of EIA practice in the UK reported that 80 per cent of its survey respondents would welcome inclusion of the requirement to develop Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) 1 as mandatory in EIA legislation (IEMA 2011). Bennett et al. (2016) observed that 95 per cent of the practitioners interviewed for their UK based study dealt with EMPs ‘either all the time or fairly regularly’. Interest in and use of ESMPs is increasing globally with impetus coming from International Financial Institutions (e.g. the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)), which include the requirement for management plans within their policies and performance requirements when providing project finance.Website 
• Durning B, Broderick M, 'Environmental and social management plans' in Therivel R, Wood G (ed.), Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment (4th Ed), Routledge (2016)
  
• Durning B, 'Environmental management plans - origin, usage and development' in Perdicoulis A, Durning B, Palframan L (ed.), Furthering environmental impact assessment - towards a seamless connection between EIA and EMS, Edward Elgar (2012)
  ISBN: 978 0 85793 327 0
  Website 
• Perdicoulis A, Durning B, 'Framework for EIA and EMS integration' in Sheate W (ed.), Tools, techniques and approaches for sustainability, World Scientific (2007)
  
• Broderick M, Durning B, 'Environmental impact assessment and environmental management plans - an example of an integrated process from the UK' in Martin-Duque J, Brebbia J, Emmanouloudis D, Mander U (ed.), Geo-environment and landscape evolution II WIT transactions Ecology and the Environment, WITPress (2006)
  ISBN: 978-1-84564-168-9 eISBN: 978-1-84564-233-4
  Abstract Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a mature process implemented around the globe to identify significant impacts from development and provide mitigation measures to reduce these impacts. Increasingly in the UK the process is being supplemented through the integration of an environmental management plan (EMP) into the resulting environmental statement. The EMP specifically aims to manage the impacts during the construction phase of the development. This paper presents an example of practice from the UK in this integrated process for the installation of a high pressure natural gas pipeline through open countryside. It demonstrates the added benefit that the integrated process provides in managing and reducing environmental impacts from the development. Keywords: environmental assessment, environmental management, construction, pipeline. 1 Introduction The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is a well established method used around the globe in the identification and mitigation of the impact of developments on the environment. It consists of a series of studies and discussions which are designed to: • identify which legislation is relevant to the proposals (screening) • assess the scope of the project (scoping+consultations)Website 

Other publications

• Glasson J, Durning B, Welch K, Olorundami T, Carnie J,, 'Socio-economic impacts of Offshore Wind Farm (OWF)'
  (2019)
• Durning B, 'Shedding light on the dark side'
  The Environmentalist (2016) Website 
• Allen J, Durning B, 'EIA and nationally significant infrastructure'
  (2015)
• Durning B, 'Assessing cumulative impacts at project level: a review of practice for offshore windfarms'
  (2015)
• Durning B, Broderick MA, 'Mini review of current practice in the assessment of cumulative environmental effects of UK Offshore Renewable Energy Developments when carried out to aid decision making in a regulatory context'
  (2015) Website 
• Durning B, 'EIA and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPS)'
  (2015)
• Durning B, 'Development of normative values for assessing cumulative environmental impacts of marine renewable energy projects currently within the planning system'
  (2014)
• Durning B, 'Climate change and EIA'
  (2013)
• Durning B, 'Furthering environmental assessment through continuing assessment into management as an aid to integrating disaster risk reduction measures into development'
  (2012)
• Durning B, 'Carbon counting and EIA process'
  (2012)
• Durning B, Broderick M, 'Reflection on appreciate inquiry as a possible tool for effective public participation in environmental and social impact assessment'
  (2012)
• Durning B, 'The spiral of knowledge development: professional knowledge development in planning'
  (2011)
• Broderick M, Durning B, Ferguson D, 'Equator principles and the minerals industry'
  (2010)
• Durning B, Broderick M, 'Follow-up in ESIA as an aid to greening economies'
  (2010)
• Durning B, Ferguson E, 'UK and US planning skills - a comparative study'
  (2009)
• Durning B, 'Developing undergraduate research opportunities to deliver responsible global citizens'
  (2009)
• Durning B, Broderick M, Ferguson D, Evans S, 'Impact of the Equator Principles on EIA practice - implications for improving practice in UK and Ireland'
  (2008)
• Durning B, et al, 'Memorandum to Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Committee on Planning Skills. Publishded in Starkey, P. Planning matters - labour shortages and skills gaps. Eleventh report of session 2007-2008, HC 517-11'
  (2008)
• Durning B, 'Strategic EMS - a future governance and legislative tool?'
  (2008)
• Durning B, 'Making spaces in a flux: do planners in English planning authorities have the skills and knowledge capacity to do it?'
  (2007)
• Glassson J, Durning B, Elsworth T, 'JET site (Culham, Oxfordshire) - end-state consultation and recommendations to the JET site stakeholders group, UKAEA'
  (2007)
• Glasson J, Chadwick A, Durning B, Lawton-Smith H, 'A local socio-economic impact assessment of the Wheatley campus of Oxford Brookes University'
  (2007)
• Durning B, Glasson J, Carpenter J, Butina Watson G, 'Professional knowledge development for sustainable communities'
  (2007)
• Higgins M, Brown C, Prior A, McCarthy J, Hachman V, Durning B, 'Scottish planning authorities skills assessment'
  (2007)
• Butina Watson G, Carpenter J, Brownill S, Durning B, Reeve A, 'Thames Gateway Evidence Review'
  (2006) Website 
• Durning B, Glasson J, 'Skills base in the planning system: survey results'
  (2004)
• Durning B, Glasson J, 'Skills base in the planning system: a literature review'
  (2004)
• Durning B, 'The role of the professional in planning education'
  (2003)

Membership of professional bodies

Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Geological Society of London

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Member of the International Association for Impact Assessment (Treasurer of the Ireland/Uk Branch)

Member of the National Infrastructure Planning Association (NIPA)

 

Conferences

Convenor and Session Chair - 

IAIA Special Symposium (2016)  Water and Impact Assessment: Investment, Infrastructure, Legacy
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) ǀ Lincoln, England, United Kingdom 1 - 2 September 2016

Conference papers

Durning B (2017) Cumulative effects assessment of offshore windfarms - an exploration of UK practice Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), Montreal, Canada, April

Durning B and Broderick M (2017) fostering collaboration in EIA to deliver stakeholder consensus – UK perspective. Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), Montreal, Canada, April

Allen J and Durning B (2015) EIA and Nationally Significant Infrastructure.  Presentation to the IEMA EIA & ESIA Masterclass, 3^rd November, London (invited speaker – joint presentation with Jon Allen of RoyalHaskoningDHV)

Durning B (2015) EIA and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).  Presentation to RTPI West Midlands Event ‘EIA: A changing environment’.  Birmingham, UK, 24^th June.

Durning B (2014) ‘Development of normative values for assessing cumulative environmental impacts of marine renewable energy projects currently within the planning system’. Annual UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference, Oxford, UK, 9-11^th September.

Durning B (2013) Climate Change and EIA. ‘Celebrating 25years of EIA in the UK’ Annual Conference of Ireland/UK Branch of International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), University of Liverpool, 10th June

Durning B (2012) Furthering environmental assessment through continuing assessment into management as an aid to integrating disaster risk reduction measures into development Japan-UK Joint Workshop: ‘Policy Integration between Environmental Assessment and Disaster Management’ Chiba University of Commerce, Ichikawa, Japan, 30th November – 3rd December

Durning B and Broderick M (2012) Reflection on Appreciative Inquiry as a Possible Tool for Effective Public Participation in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)Development Studies Association Annual Conference, 3rd November 2012, London

Durning B (2012) 'Carbon counting and EIA process'. Paper presented at 32nd Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) Energy Future: The Role of Impact Assessment Porto, Portugal, 27 May – 1st June

Broderick, M. Durning, B. and Ferguson, D. (2010) 'Equator principles and the minerals industry'. Paper presented at 30th Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) The role of impact assessment in transitioning to the green economy Geneva, Switzerland, 6-11th April

Durning, B. and Broderick, M. (2010) 'Follow-up in ESIA as an aid to greening economies'. Paper presented at 30th Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) The role of impact assessment in transitioning to the green economy Geneva, Switzerland, 6-11th April

Durning, B. (2009) 'Developing undergraduate research opportunities to deliver responsible global citizens'. Paper presented at the 15th Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference – Taking up the Global Challenge Utrecht University, Netherlands, 5-8th July

Broderick, M., Durning, B. and Glasson, J. (2007) 'Environmental Impact Assessment for Decommissioning Regulations 1999 (EIADR99): A review of the implementation of the Regulations in Great Britain'. UK Decommissioning and Waste Management Conference Penrith, Cumbria, September

Non-refereed conference/seminar papers

Durning, B. (2011) 'The Spiral of Knowledge Development' Future of the Planning Discipline Conference, Oxford, May

Durning, B. (2009) 'Researching research-based learning'. School of the Built Environment,Oxford Brookes University Breakfast Research Seminar Series

Durning, B. and Ferguson, E. (2009) 'UK and US planning Skills – a comparative study'. UK and Ireland Planning Research Conference, 1-3rd April, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Durning, B. Broderick, M. Ferguson, D. and Evans, S. (2008) 'Impact of the Equator Principles on EIA practice – implications for improving practice in UK and Ireland'. IAIA Ireland-UK Branch Event, 4th December, Oxford

Durning, B. (2007) 'Skills and knowledge development in planning professionals'. School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University Breakfast Research Seminar Series

Durning, B. (2007) 'Strategic EMS – a future governance and legislative tool?' IEMA EMS National Forum, London, November

Durning, B. (2007) 'Making spaces in a flux: do planners in English planning authorities have the skills and knowledge capacity to do it?' Planning Research Conference, Heriot Watt University, April

Durning, B. (2003) 'The Teaching/Research Interface – Lessons from Project LINK' LTSN Subject Centre for Education (ESCALATE) Heads of Department Forum

Durning, B. (2003) 'The role of the professional in planning education' Planning Research Conference, Oxford

Other experience

Founding Director (2013) of CSAT (Cheney School Academy Trust renamed Community Schools Alliance Trust in 2017).  Involved in school governance in Oxford since 2001. 

Prior to joining Oxford Brookes in 2000 I spent ten years working in environmental consultancy and local government

Further information

Twitter - @eam_oxfbrookes