Applying principles of EIA post-project analysis in the context of suburban infrastructure development

•EIA can be an effective preventive tool for environmental protection.•In this study, PPA within the EIA process of the residential complex was performed.•Two selected environmental factors were re-analyzed.•The results were compared with reference measured, modelled, or predicted during the EIA process.•PPA is an opportunity to substantiate relevant data for discussion on the EIA process.•PPA can improve future predictions of possible cumulative and synergistic effects. Residential, commercial, and infrastructural construction is a worldwide phenomenon that is monitored and evaluated in various details in different countries in terms of environmental impact. The prediction verification approach in the sense of principles of post-project analysis (PPA) within the EIA process for a residential complex was performed in this study. Re-analyses for selected environmental factors were done, the results of which were compared with reference values measured, modelled, or predicted during the EIA process. Hydro chemical changes and noise levels were selected as the most important factors. The results of the comparison of individual predictions and measurements of noise levels indicate the accuracy of former EIA outcomes. However, it is possible to identify an ever-increasing rate of noise level loading, which is caused by an overall cumulative effect, due to which the predicted values will most probably be exceeded in upcoming years. The results of the comparison of hydro chemical parameters show certain changes after the implementation of the project for some measured factors, such as water saturation by oxygen or pH. In some parts of the monitored water profile, significantly higher values of chlorine ions, sulphates, or surfactants were measured. Results show that the prediction and conclusions regarding selected parameters of EIA evaluation were accurate for the construction phase and the first year’s use of the residential complex; however, they could not precisely identify medium to long-term cumulative effects. Similar studies in the sense of EIA PPA principles focuses on urban development are an opportunity for improving predictions within the EIA process and from the lessons gain more sustainable development could be achieved.