Assessment & Permitting

Sustainable progress through smart permitting

Isabelle Cantin
Head of Environment, Climate & Ports
Get in touch

Undertaking environmental and social assessments empowers our clients to make well-informed decisions, reduce risks, and unlock the full potential of their projects—ensuring long-term value and positive impact for both business and community.

We help our clients succeed by securing the licenses they need to move forward. Through our socio-environmental studies, we ensure that projects are not only compliant with environmental and urban regulations but also aligned with societal expectations and follow the best environmental practices. Thanks to our integrated teams, environmental and social impacts are fully considered from the very first stages of design: our environmental specialists work side by side with engineers to assess and analyze project impacts on the physical, biological, and socio-economic environment. Conservation measures and ecosystem balance management are embedded into civil engineering works from the outset, ensuring that both ecosystems and human communities are protected. This enables our clients to implement and operate their projects smoothly, with reduced risk and increased stakeholder acceptance.

From feasibility studies to impact assessments, permitting or resettlement and biodiversity action plans, we provide end-to-end support that anticipates future challenges. Tractebel supports clients in obtaining regulatory approvals across multiple frameworks, including French, Belgian, German, and international requirements: Water Law files, Natura 2000 impact assessments, environmental impact notes, and nuclear-specific regulatory files, among others. We also regularly carry out complementary regulatory support missions as part of project management assignments. By actively monitoring regulatory compliance and aligning with international standards, we help clients build resilient, future-proof projects that meet both business and community needs.

Clients choose Tractebel for our proven ability to deliver complex projects with care and credibility. Our multidisciplinary teams bring deep expertise in complex projects. With a strong track record in large-scale ESIAs and in international frameworks and financing institutions, we help clients avoid, minimize, and compensate impacts, ensuring their projects are both responsible and feasible. Beyond impact management, Tractebel conducts ecological restoration studies, including diagnostics, sustainable management of high-stakes areas, works programs, and wetland restoration, helping clients leave a lasting positive legacy on the landscapes and ecosystems they operate in.

Through strong stakeholder engagement, we build trust early on, reducing risks and strengthening project acceptance. Our Resettlement Action Plans meet international standards and ensure fair, transparent processes when relocation is needed.

Assessment & Permitting solutions

Your opportunities

  • Scoping and screening studies

  • E&S impact assessment

    Studies and permitting

  • Resettlement action plans

    Livelihood restoration frameworks and plans

  • Biodiversity action plans

  • Regulatory dossiers (International Standards expertise)

  • Ecological restoration studies (including wetlands)

Our value

  • Integrated engineering and socio-environmental expertise: we deliver comprehensive environmental and social assessments that align engineering excellence with societal and ecological priorities.

  • End-to-end permitting support: from feasibility studies to securing licenses, we guide clients through every regulatory step to ensure smooth project implementation.

  • Global standards and local impact: our work is grounded in international best practices, with a strong track record in projects financed by international financial institutions in developing countries.

  • Multidisciplinary collaboration: we bring together experts across fields to co-create tailored, sustainable solutions that optimize project design and operations.

  • Proven experience in complex projects: with a distinctive history in large-scale infrastructure, including dam projects and resettlement planning, we help clients navigate sensitive environmental and social challenges.

References

Our contribution in Environment & Climate Resilience

All references

Digital Solutions

Re-imagine your impact with our digital solutions

All digital app