Former Parkside Colliery, Newton-le-Willows

Transcription

1 Former Parkside Colliery, Newton-le-Willows Parkside Regeneration LLP Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary Revision C - 11 January 2018

2 Spawforths has been accepted as a registrant to the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment's (IEMA) EIA Quality Mark scheme. The EIA Quality Mark demonstrates Spawforths commitment to excellence when providing environmental impact assessment services. This Environmental Statement is prepared in associa on with: Report Author... Jenny Ray Report Date January 2018 Project Number Document Reference... P0 TP SPA RP P C 2

3 Contents Introduc on... 4 EIA Process... 4 Site Descrip on... 6 Development Descrip on... 8 Planning Policy Context Need Considera on of Alterna ves Preferred Op on Design Evolu on Ground Condi ons and Contamina on Traffic and Transport Drainage and Flood Risk Landscape and Visual Impact Ecology and Nature Conserva on Socio Economic Noise and Vibra on Air Quality and Dust Cultural Heritage and Archaeology U li es Energy Waste Synergis c (interac on of Effects) Cumula ve Effects Conclusion

4 Introduction This is the non-technical summary for an Environmental Statement (ES) which has been prepared on behalf of Parkside Regeneration LLP to accompany an outline planning application for the redevelopment of the Former Parkside Colliery site with logistic/warehouse uses. This document is a summary of the ES that has been submitted as part of the outline planning application with all matters reserved, except for access, having regard to the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (as amended 2015). The report describes the physical characteristics of the development, its land use requirements, an outline of the main alternatives considered and a description of the effects on the environment which are likely to be effected by the development. EIA Process These include: Direct, indirect or secondary effects Cumulative effects Short, medium or long term effects Permanent or temporary effects Positive or negative effects The report also identifies any measures required to mitigate potential adverse impacts of the proposals within and around the application site. Full details can be found within the Environmental Statement. Identify Proposed Development Scoping Submission LPA 5 Week Review Period Review Response & Prepare EIA Report Identify Baseline Predict Impact on Environment Assess Significance of Impacts Feedback and consideration of alternatives / Update and amend masterplan for site Consider mitigation Prepare / Finalise Environmental Statement 4

5 Introduction Le : Loca on Plan Below: Indica ve Masterplan 5

6 Site Description The Application Site is located within the North West of England, within the local authority area of St Helens. The local authority areas of Warrington and Wigan are located to the south and north respectively, with Warrington Borough abutting the southern and eastern boundaries of the application site itself. The site is within the Liverpool City Region. The Application Site is to the east of the settlement of Newton-le-Willows, which together with Earlestown are identified in the St Helens Local Plan Core Strategy (October 2012), as a second order settlement, behind the main settlement of St Helens. The Application Site is part of the wider Former Parkside Colliery site. The West Coast Mainline Railway runs in a northeastsouthwest direction to the north-western boundary of the Application Site. The Liverpool to Manchester Railway Line (also known as the Chat Moss Line) is to the north of the Former Parkside Colliery. This railway line runs in an east-west direction with Newton-le- Willows Station nearby to the northwest. The M6 Motorway runs in a northwest-southeasterly direction to the east of the Application Site and wider Former Parkside Colliery site. Junction 22 of the M6 Motorway is to the south east of the Application Site. South of this, the M6 Motorway connects with the M62 Motorway at Junction 21a of the M6 Motorway and Junction 10 of the M62 Motorway. The M62 Motorway runs east-west, approximately 2.5km (1.5 miles) to the south of the Application Site. The A49 Winwick Road runs north-south to the west of the Application Site, providing access to Newton-le-Willows to the north and the M62 Motorway to the south, at Junction 9. The Application Site is approximately hectares ( acres) in extent and is currently vacant. It formed part of the Lancashire Coalfield although the colliery use ceased when the pit closed in The Application Site is currently within the Green Belt, which surrounds the settlement of Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown. It is however safeguarded within the Core Strategy as a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) and is identified as an Employment Allocation (to be removed from Green Belt) in the emerging Local Plan (Preferred Options, December 2016), which will replace the Core Strategy once adopted. The character of the areas to the west and northwest is urban and to the south and east, more rural and open. Properties on Winwick Road are beyond the western boundary of the Application Site. To the north is the wider Former Parkside Colliery site. Beyond the southern and eastern boundaries of the Application Site are agricultural fields and a number of scattered properties, including the small settlement of Hermitage Green. Newton Park Farm and its associated buildings are set within the wider Former Parkside Colliery area, but outside of the Applicant s landownership. This farm abuts the northern boundary of the Application Site. There are two Grade 11 Listed Buildings within Newton Park Farm (Newton Park Farm House and Barn). Access to the Application Site is from the A49 Winwick Road to the west of the Site, via an existing access road that served the colliery when it was in use. As such, there is an existing wide access point with Winwick Road and a surfaced access road into the Application Site. This access road runs in an east-west direction across the Application Site and also provides access to the primary substation, which is located to the centre of the Former Parkside Colliery site, and within the Application Site. The primary substation is in operation and connects to a series of pylons and overhead cables to the south and east of the substation that subsequently run in north-easterly and southerly directions, crossing part of the Application Site to the south and east. The Application Site itself includes part of the former pit yard site and other land associated with the colliery, including part of the spoil heap. The Site is predominantly rough grassland (semi-improved grassland, some of which is classed as poor) with some scattered trees and areas of woodland. There are areas of hardstanding that were associated with the Former Parkside Colliery site. To the southern boundary is a belt of trees and a watercourse known as Oswalds Brook. 6

7 Above Le : Na onal Context; Above Right: Regional Context; Bo om: Local Context 7

8 Development Description The Phase 1 Planning Application proposals are the first phase of a comprehensive development of the Former Parkside Colliery site to help to meet the current short term logistics need for the St Helens area. The Phase 1 Planning Application will be an Outline Planning Application as described below: The outline application (all matters reserved except for means of access) comprises the construction of up to 92,900 m2 (gross internal) of employment floorspace (Use Class B8 with ancillary B1(a) offices) and associated servicing and infrastructure including car parking and vehicle and pedestrian circulation and alteration of existing access road into site including works to existing A49 junction, noise mitigation, earthworks to create development platforms and bunds, landscaping including buffers, works to existing spoil heap, creation of drainage features, substations and ecological works. All matters, except for the Means of Access are reserved for consideration at a later date. The Proposed Development will be accessed from the A49 Winwick Road at the point of the existing access to the Application Site. The access with Winwick Road will be in the form of a traffic-lit T-Junction. The Primary Internal Access Road will run east/west into the Application Site and Secondary Internal Access Roads will extend from this to serve each of the employment units, including access up to the northern boundary of the Application Site which in time, will provide access to the future Phase 2 Development (the Phase 2 Development is not the subject of this planning application, but is anticipated to include a further phase of logistic/warehouse development to be accessed via the future proposed Parkside Link Road connecting to the M6 Motorway to the east). Landscape buffers and bunds will be created around the edges of the Site (as mitigation to protect existing residential amenities and visual amenity) to the southern, western and northern boundaries (to the south of Plots A/B and C; to the west of Plots A/B and D; and to the north of Plot D). Landscaped bunding on the western boundary will commence as a natural 1:3 slope from a point of 10m from the rear fence of gardens of properties on the A49. Once implemented, the bund will crest at a distance of some 36m from its commencement (i.e. 46m from the rear boundaries). In the north this will mean a bund height from commencement to crest of approximately 8.4m, halfway down the boundary of approximately 11m and in the south 11.9m. The general extent and eastern flank of the Spoil Heap, located to the east of Plot C, will also be retained and enhanced with planting to create a landscape and visual buffer to the east of the Application Site with ecological benefits. The western flank of the Spoil Heap will be the subject of selective excavation to form development platforms and will then be the subject of additional planting. The B8 uses will consist of a series of buildings accessed from the Internal Site Access Road through the Application Site. The Planning Application is to be made in outline and as such indicative details are provided to show how the site could be developed. However, through scheme evolution, a number of Parameters have been fixed, and form the basis of the Environmental Assessments. These Parameters will be controlled by a suitably worded planning condition on any future planning permission and all reserved matters submissions will have to adhere to the Parameters that are agreed as part of the outline permission. The Parameters set the maximum parameters for the Proposed Development, and as such, set the basis for the environmental assessment. These are as follows: Development Cells (including uses, building heights and finished floor levels) Green Infrastructure: Drainage Utility Corridors and Easements Access and Circulation Noise Safeguarded Rail Area 8

9 Development Description Parameter Plans Top Le : Green Infrastructure Plan; Middle: Development Cells; Bo om Le Drainage 9

10 Planning Policy Context Section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Act 2004, states that applications should be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The statutory Development Plan for the consideration of this application comprises: St Helens Core Strategy (CS), October 2012 St Helens Unitary Development Plan 1998 (Saved Policies) Joint Merseyside and Halton Waste Local Plan (WLP) July 2013 The Site is identified in the statutory Green Belt which covers a significant proportion of land in the adopted Unitary Development Plan (UDP) (see Proposals Map extract below). In line with the planning history of the Site at that time, which included a live planning application at the time of commencement of the Core Strategy, Parkside and land to the east of the M6 was identified as a strategic location for an SRFI based on the proximity to the M6/ M62 and the Liverpool-Manchester and West Coast Mainline Railways. That application was withdrawn and the proposals have not been delivered. As indicated below, there is an emerging Policy approach that seeks to reserve the opportunity for such a facility to the east of the M6 (in this location), but outside of the Former Parkside Colliery Site except for a potential rail reversing leg. Parkside is referenced throughout the Core Strategy including through Policy CAS 3.2 and Table 6.2 which indicates that with Parkside, the distribution of economic development would be skewed in spatial terms to Newton-le-Willows & Earlestown, and without Parkside, it would mean just 6% of economic development would be provided here. This position has changed markedly in the light of the new evidence base, but the importance of Parkside to Newton and St Helens remains high. Policy CAS 3.2 of the Core Strategy identifies Parkside as a strategic location for a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange. The policy is criteria-based and reflects a planning application that was submitted for this use, but subsequently withdrawn. In the Core Strategy, the Site is identified as a Major Development Site on the Key Diagram (see plan to the right). Above Le : Unitary Development Plan (UDP) Proposals Map extract; Above Right: Core Strategy Key Diagram 10

11 Planning Policy Context The location has been identified on the basis that there is potential for access to both the M6 and M62 Motorways and also rail links provided by the Chat Moss Line and the WCML. Other relevant considerations are the National Planning Policy Framework (The Framework) and National Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) as well as St Helen s emerging Local Plan. Following adoption of the Core Strategy, the Council commenced work on a more detailed Site Allocations document. However, following a review of evidence to inform the emerging Local Plan, it became clear that the employment land requirement was substantially greater than the previous evidence identified ( Ha), and as such the Council resolved in November 2015 to commence a brand new Local Plan for St Helens. The New Local Plan for St. Helens is currently at Preferred Options stage which was consulted on in December 2016-January It is understood that the next stage of consultation may be due in late Within the emerging Local Plan, Parkside is identified as a new employment allocation (ref. EA9) (Use Class B2/ B8) outside of the Green Belt. The Application Site is identified as Parkside West with an overall area of approximately Ha of which c.12.1 Ha is taken up by a spoil heap and 5.5 Ha is given to facilitate a future potential rail connection to be used in conjunction with a SRFI to be located to the east of the M6. This follows on from the Core Strategy designation at this location. This Planning Application is for a first phase of employment development at Parkside in line with this emerging Local Plan approach. Provision has also been made within the application to ensure that the development does not prejudice the delivery of a future SRFI. The emerging Local Plan document represents a relatively early stage in the plan-making process and therefore it is acknowledged that the weight that may be afforded to the Local Plan is diminished at this time. However, the evidence base that has informed it is highly material as it fits in with other research and evidence being presented at the City Region and national levels. This includes both the economic land requirements and a Green Belt Review. Emerging Local Plan extract (Preferred Op ons, November 2016) 11

12 The Need There is a significant history to the Site which supports the need for its redevelopment and regeneration for employment uses and this is summarised below. The need for the development of the Site can be categorised into development needs, regeneration needs and delivery needs. Together these needs justify the Site s redevelopment as an employment development. Site History The Application Site has been subject to a history of planning applications relating to the Former Parkside Colliery. Following closure of the colliery in 1993, there has been a range of planning applications for a range of significant development proposals. The colliery was opened in In 1955, permission was sought for a new colliery. The application was subject to a public inquiry and permission was granted in The Minister of Housing and Local Government stated in his decision letter that, a requirement to clear the site eventually and restore it to agriculture would not be justified, in view of the probably heavy cost of the operation, and its uncertain value at so distant a future date. This confirms that there are no restorative conditions in respect of the colliery. It was inferred that the quantity of coal present was such that it was not expected that the colliery would close for some considerable time. In 1957 works commenced and the shafts were completed in In 1960 permissions were granted for the tipping of material. There were two planning applications made in 1997 by British Coal as part of a proposal for employment development on the former colliery, part of which was to be occupied by a distribution warehouse to be operated by Wm Morrisons supermarkets. However Morrisons withdrew their element of the application as a facility was found elsewhere and as the application was called in. Following this, British Coal sought to sell the Site. Railtrack progressed a scheme for a rail freight facility comprising 168,000 sqm of warehouse distribution units. This proved ultimately unsuccessful, but was followed by a more significant application by Astral (subsequently taken over by Prologis) for a strategic rail freight interchange of up to 715,000 sqm of rail served warehouse and distribution buildings. This application formed the basis for a designation in the St Helens Core Strategy in respect of this Site. However, before the Core Strategy could be adopted, due to adverse market conditions during the global economic downturn, the application was formally withdrawn. The Site was then formally purchased by Parkside Regeneration LLP in 2015 with a clear remit to progress employment development of the Site. Development Need The Application is made in the context of a considerable shift in economic evidence that is informing the emerging Local Plan for St Helens. There are various initiatives that are underway in the City Region and across the Northern Powerhouse, that recognise the importance of the employment and logistics sector. The Northern Powerhouse logistics strategy predicts that the logistics sector will grow by 83% between 2013 and The Liverpool City Region Growth Plan 2014 & 2016 seeks the creation of over 100,000 additional jobs in the Liverpool City Region by 2040 with a net increase of 20,000 businesses across the same period. It identifies a need to close the wealth gap as well as business and skills gaps. It highlights the importance of Superport and Liverpool2 as catalysts for growth. Parkside was identified as a Category 1 site that is key to the delivery of a Logistics Hub project. The Economic Development Evidence Base Paper (EEBP) identifies the growing needs of the Port of Liverpool in their study Liverpool City Region SuperPort: An Analysis of the Supply of, and Demand for, Distribution Space within the Liverpool City Region. It examines the factors that will drive demand for Port related employment land and premises. Some ha of land in 69 sites of greater than 5 ha each was identified in the Study, with a 100 ha site at Parkside identified as a key site within this total. Of the 69 relevant sites identified in the Study, 12 are considered to be high quality immediately available sites covering 233 ha of land. Parkside was identified as a Category 1 site that is key to the delivery of a Logistics Hub project. There is a significant need for new employment floorspace particularly for logistics in the UK. It is a significant growth sector. There is a significant need for logistics floorspace to serve the North West and Liverpool City Region. It has been established that there is a need for significant economic growth in St Helens to address demand in the City Region and also economic disadvantage in the 12

13 The Need borough. It has also been established that to achieve this, given the significant proportion of the borough being in Green Belt, and lack of available sites to deliver this, there is a need to release land in Green Belt. Parkside has already been identified as a development site for large scale logistics in the Core Strategy Policy CAS3.2 as part of a rail freight interchange. The Council has identified that the SRFI may now go on the eastern side of the M6 with an area of the colliery safeguarded for a reversing rail leg only. It should be noted that the Policy context for economic development has changed with the significant uplift in employment land requirement (SuperPort and Parkside projects) to benefit St Helens. The Core Strategy minimum need of c. 37 ha of employment land is considered to be superseded by the latest evidence base which projects that St Helens would have an employment land requirement of ha between 2012 and This regional, sub-regional and St Helen s wide need for employment sites is considered to be a significant factor in showing the need for this Site to come forward for employment uses. Regeneration Need The Site has been vacant since the colliery closed. Despite more recent proposals and planning applications to redevelop the Site and wider colliery site and bring it back into use for employment-related uses, the economic decline has meant that these proposals have not come to fruition and the colliery has not been redeveloped and remains vacant. The site is in a sustainable location, on the edge of Newton-le-Willows and also close to the Strategic Highway Network (M6 and M62 Motorways), providing easy access to the north, south, east and west of England. have wider environmental benefits that can only be realized through the Site s redevelopment. There is also a wider regeneration need for the Borough. St Helens suffers from high levels of deprivation, with the Borough ranked within the 20% most deprived areas in England in terms of the overall rank of deprivation. There are particularly high levels of deprivation in terms of income, employment and health. The Proposed Development will help address the employment levels within the Borough by creating 716 net additional FTE (full time equivalent) jobs within St Helens. This would represent a noticeable boost to the economy. In addition, many of the jobs would be accessible to new entrants to the labour market and those who are currently unemployed. The Proposed Development will therefore have a significantly beneficial impact on the local labour market, and have regeneration benefits. Delivery Need To realise this need and the benefits the development will bring, there is a need for these Proposals to be delivered now. This is supported by the local policy context (SHC Core Strategy, October 2012) and emerging local policy context (SHC Local Plan) and its evidence base. The delivery of the Site will bring direct and indirect employment opportunities, in the short-term for construction and, as the Site is developed, longer-term employment opportunities. In turn the Proposals will also lead to in-ward investment and confidence in the market, bringing about further investment and development opportunities. This is all of direct benefit to the Borough and its regeneration. The Proposals will bring back into use a significant area of previously developed land, regenerating it, addressing the remaining hotspots of contamination and also providing new areas of landscaping and new and enhanced ecological habitats. It will also be subject of a management agreement for longer term maintenance. The Site is currently inaccessible, however the Proposals will provide pedestrian and cycle circulation, including a permissive route from the access road, around Units A/B and C. There is therefore a clear regeneration need that will also 13

14 Consideration of Alternatives As part of the consideration of the alternatives, the most appropriate location and the consideration of sites for the Proposed Development have been considered. This is addressed fully within the Alternative Sites Assessment (Appendix 13 of the ES Part 1 Report) and summarised in the Alternative Sites Assessment subsection below. A series of alternatives associated with scheme design have also been considered as part of the evolution of the Proposed Development. These are as follows and are also summarised below: Do nothing Preferred Option Preferred Option - Scheme Evolution Alternative Site Assessment The Application Site is designated as Green Belt. In line with National Policy and the adopted Development Plan requirements, development that is identified as being inappropriate in Green Belt should not be approved except in very special circumstances. The case for very special circumstances is set out as part of the planning justification within the Planning Statement. The Alternative Sites Assessment report considers whether there are potential alternative sites that could accommodate the proposed development in whole or in part. This is not in itself a test of national Green Belt policy, but where there is a lack of alternatives to accommodate a development, this may form a part of the case for development. SHC has acknowledged through published needs studies as part of the evidence base for its emerging Local Plan that to meet development needs in St Helens, particularly through large scale developments, there will be a need to use land that is currently in Green Belt. The Alternative Site Assessment therefore considers whether there are any sites that are deliverable to meet the scale of needs accommodated within the Phase 1 Development Proposals. In assessing potential alternative sites, consideration was given to any allocated employment sites remaining in the adopted UDP 1998 (Unitary Development Plan) that are over 3.8ha in area, including residential sites. The residential sites were however discounted due to their unsuitable location and irregular shape. Sites with permission for employment development and sites that have been promoted and are identified in the emerging Local Plan are also considered. A list of sites is identified in the Council Economic Evidence Base Paper 2015 (EEBP) and these are included in the assessment. The assessment went through three stages to assess the 25 sites identified. The first looked at whether they met the minimum requirements for logistics development (i.e. accessibility and connectivity and relationship to sensitive uses); the second stage considered the site s suitability for the development; and the third assessed the sites against the purposes of Green Belt (with any sites not in the Green Belt, meeting all the purposes ). This demonstrated that the Phase 1 Development Site is the most appropriate site in overall planning and regeneration terms and as such the Proposed Development should be directed here and not elsewhere. Furthermore, no other site will deliver the regenerative benefits and the long awaited delivery of development at the Former Parkside Colliery. Do Nothing To do nothing with the Site would mean that the Site would remain as existing and therefore a vacant, underused former colliery site that is inaccessible (except for authorized access). The hot spots of contamination would also not be remediated. Whilst the existing vegetation and Site levels would therefore be retained, and the Site remain undisturbed, the do nothing would not realise the significant economic, social and environmental benefits that the Site s redevelopment would bring. This includes the job creation and inward investment that such development brings (such as during the three year build period 283 gross jobs, 73.5 million of constructed related expenditure and 12.9 million per annum of GVA; and during operation 1,327 gross full time equivalent jobs, 74.4 million per annum GVA and approx. 2.2 million of business rates revenue per annum). 14

15 Consideration of Alternatives To do nothing would also not make effective and efficient use of a sustainably located site that has a long established intention for re-development. It would also not bring the ecological benefits, new landscaping, longterm management and authorized access for pedestrians and cyclists. Preferred Option Compliance with the Development Plan The application proposals which seek to provide employment development through regeneration of a former colliery site (formerly a significant source of local employment) which includes derelict land, goes to the heart of the development plan approach of the need for growth and regeneration of St Helens. The proposals do not prejudice the delivery of the SRFI in this general location as referred to in Policy CAS 3.2 of the SHC Core Strategy (2012); however this policy is considered to be out of date. Whilst the Proposed Development is not rail-linked, evidence put together by consultants for the Council as well as work undertaken on behalf of the applicant has demonstrated that the dimensions of the former colliery are not optimal for delivery of an SRFI of a medium or large scale. Part of the Site has however been safeguarded for a rail reversing leg (as controlled through the Parameter Plans) to allow multi-directional travel on the rail network, although the bulk of the SRFI facility should be provided on the eastern side of the M6 Motorway. The application site is part brownfield, part greenfield land and therefore the application proposals bring forward both regeneration and derelict land benefits. The compliance of the development proposals has been considered with the Policy requirements of both the Core Strategy and the Joint Waste Plan and it has been concluded that the only non-compliance is in respect of certain aspects of Policy CAS 3.2. In this regard however it is considered that this non-compliance does not render the application proposals non-compliant as a whole with the Development Plan as the Proposed Development supports the general thrust of the Policy requirements to deliver employment and regeneration. The emerging Local Plan reserves the opportunity for an SRFI on land to the east of the M6. This is considered to be a very long term option which currently has no developer backing or no deliverable scheme. The Proposed Development does not however prejudice this future potential as it reserves the rail reversing leg as set out above. The preferred option will enable all the socio economic benefits identified in the do nothing scenario to be realised throughout the temporary construction phase and long-term operational phases of the Proposed Development. These benefits are significant. As is shown through this ES, whilst the development will have impacts on the environment, some of which are adverse, their significance will be managed and where possible reduced through suitable mitigation and balanced by the significant benefits that the proposals will bring. 15

16 Preferred Option Design Evolution Following the confirmation of the preferred use for the site, the proposals have evolved, with consideration of the technical constraints and environmental impacts being key to the design evolution. The Development team is a long established team who has worked closely together to ensure the Proposed Development takes full account of all the specific technical issues and site constraints and opportunities. This has also been heavily influenced by the Environmental Assessment as well as community and stakeholder engagement. Consideration of the PLR has also been key in the design evolution and has required the need to work closely with SHC and the PLR Development team to ensure the proposals fully align. In summary, the evolution of the design has taken account of the following: Consideration of the emerging Local Plan and its evidence base, including the need to safeguard land for a reversing rail leg associated with the potential for a future SRFI on the eastern side of the M6 Motorway. Embracing the concept of maximizing material re-use on site. The Proposals have included developing a cut and fill model that allows for 100 % of suitable materials to be re-used on the site. The retention of the general extent of the existing spoil heap which has benefits for visual screening and retention of ecological habitat. Further planting will have benefits for ecological habitats and the visual impact of the Proposed Development. The consideration of finished floor levels in order to accommodate the material on the Site. In combination with this the overall height of the proposed units has had to be carefully considered to ensure the impact in visual and amenity terms is managed in combination with the bund heights required to aid the screening of the Proposed Development. This proposed bunding to the Site boundaries has also been considered in terms of its height and optimum location to ensure it provides suitable mitigation in terms of visual amenity and noise. This has also necessitated the need to consider the construction of the bund and as such the requirement to create a 1:3 gradient slope which does not require any engineering. The need to attenuate noise egress from the site during the operational phase has also been a key factor in influencing the proposed bunding within the Site. Through iterative use and assessment of detailed SoundPLAN noise models, the location and height of these bunds have been refined to provide effective mitigation. This has led to the current bunding proposals. The orientation of units and the location of loading bay / service yards has also been considered carefully in order to minimise noise impact at sensitive receptors. The retention of the woodland in the southern part of the Site (including Gallows Croft LWS) and the grassland/scrub mound in the eastern part of the Site. Consideration of the drainage strategy for the Site meant that an additional water body could be incorporated for ecological mitigation in order to create habitats of nature conservation importance. Initially the site access was designed as a standard roundabout with three arms. A signalised junction has however been decided as the preferred option as this will provide slower speeds around the access junction as well as designated right turning phases in and out of the Site. More traditional drainage methods were considered but the inclusion of proposed Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) will achieve higher levels of water quality and treatment for stormwater. The existing foul/waste discharge consents to the Brook system were considered but have been designed out and replaced with connections to the local sewer authorities waste assets which improve the water quality of the Brook. The Landscape proposals seek to mitigate the loss of existing habitats by, where possible, removing the need for level changes. This allows for the retention of mature existing trees as well as self-seeded trees on the eastern mound. The location of existing HV pylons and overhead cables, and the future access and easements of these has influenced the scheme design. 16

17 Preferred Option Design Evolution Indica ve Masterplan 17

18 Ground Conditions and Contamination The Ground Conditions and Contamination ES Technical Paper has been prepared by Cundall and summarises the likely impacts, their significance of effect to the environment, proposed mitigation and the residual effect in relation to Ground Conditions and Contamination. Risks are predominantly limited to the construction phase and therefore will be transient. These include exposure of site workers and neighbours to the site to dust which might be contaminated, exposure of site workers to contaminated soil while working, and, exposure of neighbours to the site to contaminated dust from lorries as they leave site, and, the risk of contamination reaching the Oswald Brook. Risks post construction are likely to be much more limited, and these include exposure of the site workers to soils with contamination that have been re-used during earthworks, and, the risks of contamination reaching the Oswald Brook and Principal Aquifer beneath the western half of the site. Risks during the construction phase can be managed and mitigated by using good construction practice together with formal controls detailed in a Remediation Strategy document. These controls include dust management & control, the use of PPE for site staff together with appropriate hygiene and welfare procedures, and, putting in place procedures to prevent contamination impacting the Principal Aquifer and Oswald Brook including bunding and sealing any stockpiles of contaminated soils to prevent run off. Risks following construction will be largely mitigated in design i.e. the risk of leachate generation and contact for site users / ecology will largely be prevented by the new buildings, roadways and car parks which will break the pollutant linkage. In other areas of the site generally soft landscaping areas - the risk of leachate generation and contact for site users / ecology will be prevented by the use of a clean cover layer which will create a suitable growing medium for plants, and break the pollutant linkage pathway to site users, the underlying Principal Aquifer, and, other ecological receptors. The Traffic and Transport ES Technical Paper has been prepared by Curtins Limited (Curtins). Curtins has been commissioned to provide the traffic and transportation advice for the development of the Former Parkside Colliery at Newton-le-Willows by Langtree. The Technical Paper outlines how the traffic and transport effects have been considered, relying in part upon the separate Transport Assessment (TA) and Travel Plan (TP) reports which Curtins has produced in order to accompany the planning application. Those reports are appended to this Paper. Likely impacts, significance of effect, mitigation and residual. Traffic and Transport The impacts being examined within this Paper are directly linked to the additional traffic which will be added to the road network as a result of the development proposals. The likely traffic impacts can be divided into the following categories: Driver Delay Pedestrian Delay and Amenity Fear and Intimidation Severance Accidents Whilst the proposed development is being built, there will be a number of construction vehicles arriving on the site each day. The amount of traffic this will create has been predicted to be less than the amount of traffic cre- 18

19 Traffic and Transport ated by the development when it is completed and occupied by various businesses. The completed development has therefore been the focus of the assessment with regard to the likely impacts listed above. The Driver Delay impact is the only category where the development traffic is predicted to have an impact which would require proposals to reduce the impact to a level that is considered be acceptable. The proposals which reduce the impact are referred to as mitigation. The A49 Winwick Road, from the M62 Motorway Junction 9 at Winwick up to the traffic signal junction at Hollins Lane, is a section of road and junctions which have been identified to require mitigation. The mitigation takes the form of a combination of improvements to the layout of the road, with widening to create extra traffic lanes and improvements to how the traffic signals are controlled. Following the delivery of these highway improvements (the mitigation) the likely traffic impacts are considered to be within acceptable levels and therefore the development should not affect other road users. 19

20 Drainage and Flood Risk The Drainage and Flood Risk ES Technical Paper summarises the likely impacts, their significance of effect to the environment, proposed mitigation and the residual effect in relation to Drainage and Flood Risk items, including Hydrogeology in relation to water pathways. Excavations created during construction have the potential to collect water during heavy periods of rainfall. This could both pose a flood risk for site operatives and a potential pollutant pathway for contaminants seen as a minor risk to the environment. With a comprehensive construction plan that avoids unnecessary earthworks, provides coverage to disturbed ground and treats water prior to discharge, this will neutralise the effect. During construction, until the storm water system is installed, the site may have to deal with additional overland flows which would have a minor adverse impact on the receiving waters. With the install of temporary drainage or installing portions of the attenuation early in the programme this will be neutralised. Any existing drainage currently on the site could be cut off during the construction works or the permeant works if it originates north of the development Site and could cause minor local flood risk. Through diversions and on-site management this risk will be neutralised. The same existing drainage systems have the capacity to convey contaminants from the Site although with the treatment of any water to be discharged to these and the management of any groundworks to ensure they are properly sealed and only opened where necessary would neutralise the effect. The development will increase areas that require storm water drainage and have the potential to increase flows and therefore flood risk offsite if not controlled. Through the design of drainage systems which restrict the flow to an equivalent green field run off rate, cope with increased storm events and provide protection against future climate change projections the development would provide a minor benefit to the environment. The proposed development will collect and convey new storm water flows direct to Oswalds Brook. Due to developing existing grassland with new buildings, car parking, roads and service yards, the potential of increasing the likelihood of polluting the watercourse could cause an adverse effect on the receiving waters quality. The proposal to include drainage measures to filter water, remove and treat contaminants would provide betterment and benefit to the environment when compared to the existing situation. The risk of contaminants transferring to the ground below through infiltration in the ground could also cause an adverse effect on the water resources underground. No direct connection from the new surfaces to the ground are proposed and due to the treatment levels provided as part of the drainage system, any water that did come into contact with the natural ground would neutralise the effect. A portion of the Site development sits directly over the top of a groundwater recharge zone (an aquifer an area that relies on being topped up with natural water for future extraction). Development will have a negligible impact on water resources as any rainwater will be collected and conveyed south to the much lower brook which closely follows the existing groundwater model. 20

21 Landscape and Visual Impact 21

22 Landscape and Visual Impact The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) has been undertaken by LAYER. It focuses on assessing the potential effects of the development in two key areas: Assessing the potential effects of development upon the physical nature and features of the receiving landscape as well as landscape character and quality. Assessing the potential visual effects of developments upon the visual amenity of people (referred to as visual receptors) in terms of the properties and locations to which the public has access. In the case of private properties, e.g. residential, the assessment is made judged from the best publicly available location. Evidence of the former colliery are still evident in the site in the form of hard standings and the disconnect that exists between the surrounding local landscape in which it is located. Local field patterns have been lost and the most notable feature is the tall spoil mound located on the east of the site which, although supporting regenerating vegetation cover, is still a somewhat artificial feature within the predominantly flat and gently rolling landscape. Landscape character studies undertaken at both national and local level that have been reviewed share a common analysis that the local and wider landscape is one which has been disturbed and degraded by existing and previous industrial land uses as well as by large scale infrastructure such as the M6 Motorway. Both the site and the local landscape are not within a designated landscape and the emerging local plan seeks to amend the Green Belt boundary to exclude it from the Green Belt. The LVIA recognises that development of the nature proposed will result in a major change to the landscape of the site which is experiencing woodland regeneration and its effects will impact beyond its boundary. Due to its existing condition and low value, however, the overall effect upon the local landscape is assessed as being adverse but not significant, but for the site itself it will experience significant adverse effects. Visual effects have determined where some or all of the development is likely to be visible. To assist in this assessment a series of photographs have been taken from viewpoints which have been agreed with the St Helens Council and other statutory consultees. For a selection of viewpoints, wireframe images of the development have been superimposed to show the proposed development as accurately as possible. It has been assessed that visual receptors will primarily be close to the site on the western and northern boundary with the proposed development generally visible further afield to the east of the site. There are a number of residential receptors who will experience significant adverse effects and these are located primarily adjacent to the site along the A49 Winwick Road but also east of the site by residential receptors on the edge of Hermitage Green. Road users of the A49 will also be experience significant adverse effects. For the other receptors identified, however, whilst varying degrees of adverse visual effects are predicted these are not considered significant. Mitigation for adverse landscape and visual effects has been incorporated into the Proposed Development. Where feasible this has included the retention of boundary vegetation and topography and the lowering of building platforms to reduce the visible height of buildings. Building cladding will also be carefully selected to use muted and non-reflective surfaces. The opportunity has also been taken to combine landscape and ecological mitigation through the establishment of natural woodland mixes and various habitat creation measures to provide additional screening as well as to support species diversity. The nature and scale of the proposed development will result in adverse landscape and visual effects, that is effects which cannot be fully mitigated for at the completion of construction and the commencement of operations. The landscape masterplan for the development incorporates large areas of woodland planting which, over time, will establish and mature to provide improved screening of the large buildings proposed. The LVIA includes an assessment comparing the effects of development at year 1 and year 10. Whilst certain effects are not fully reversible, developing woodlands cover will provide some reduction to the severity of effects, particularly to the western side of the site where disturbance is initially likely to be the greatest. 22

23 Landscape and Visual Impact Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) and View Point Locations 23

24 Ecology and Nature Conservation The ecology and nature conservation ES Technical Paper has been produced by ARUP and consists of an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) that assesses the potential impact of the proposed development on the ecology and nature conservation interest of the Site and surrounding area. The assessment covers the potential for impact on designated sites, habitats and species, with particular reference to any species that are protected under national and international legislation. The nearest statutory designated site is Highfield Moss (Site of Special Scientific Interest) SSSI which is located approximately 1.2km to the north east. Gallows Croft Local Wildlife Site (LWS) is within the southern part of the Site. Newton Brook 03 LWS and and Newton Brook 05 LWS are located 100m and 400m respectively to the east of the Site. The main habitats on Site are broadleaved woodland and semi-improved grassland. There is also a hardstanding area in the centre of the Site which is the location of the former colliery; this area has become encroached by ephemeral/short perennial vegetation and scattered scrub. There are three waterbodies on Site, one of which is dry. Oswalds Brook forms the southern boundary of the Site. The areas of semi-natural broadleaved woodland on the Site were assessed to qualify as Section 41 habitats of principal importance. Through desktop study and field survey the site was assessed for the presence of bats, badger, amphibians including great crested newt, reptiles, breeding birds, invertebrates, otter, water vole and invasive plant species. The Site was identified to provide habitat for foraging/ commuting bats, breeding birds, invertebrates, West European hedgehog and common toad. The Site was identified to have invasive plant species comprising Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica, Himalayan balsam Impatiens glandulifera, rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum and wall cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis. It is assessed that following the proposed mitigation measures, there will be no significant impacts during construction with the exception of the loss of approximately 11.7ha of semi-improved grassland which is considered significant at the local geographic scale. It is assessed that there will be no significant impacts during the operational phase once the proposed mitigation measures are implemented. The mitigation measures include the following: Creation of buffer zones between construction and Gallows Croft LWS of atleast 8m. Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) to identify measures to control dust and pollution prevention measures. Drainage controlled to greenfield run off rates. Planting scheme to compensate for habitat loss on Site consisting of woodland/trees, scrub, species-rich grassland, hedgerow and the creation of three new waterbodies. A survey for and a method statement to prevent the spread of any invasive species. Ecological/Landscape Management Plan (ELMP) for the Site to maintain habitats post-construction. This will also include a combination method of planting native bluebells and digging up Spanish/hybrid bluebells and orchid translocation within the Site. Soft felling of four trees with the potential for bat roosts, even though they have a low suitability for bat roosts. Control of lighting both during construction and operation, Site vegetation clearance works are to be undertaken outside of the bird nesting season (March August), where possible to do so. Otherwise pre-start checks and if nests found, works in the vicinity to cease until birds have fledged. Pre-start surveys for badgers. Installation of bat roosting features i.e. bat boxes. Installation of a network of bird boxes. 24

25 Ecology and Nature Conservation Ecology and Nature Conservation Plan of Main Receptors 25

26 Socio Economic The Socio Economic ES Technical Paper produced by Amion assesses the potential significant effects of the Proposed Development in terms of the socio-economic impacts on the local and wider sub-regional economy. It covers a range of socio-economic impacts, both beneficial and adverse, with regard to temporary and long-term employment opportunities, increased economic output, new business rate revenue, the creation of new training and apprenticeship opportunities, local labour market effects, the impact on out-commuting, effects on local services and facilities, and wider impacts such as stimulating further economic growth locally. Through the redevelopment of the Application Site for new B8 floorspace, the Proposed Development will create 938 person years of construction employment (the equivalent of 313 jobs being supported over a three year construction period). Further jobs will be created during the Construction Phase due to supply chain expenditure and workers on the development spending money in local shops and facilities. The overall economic impact of the construction phase is estimated to be approximately 14 million per annum. Other impacts during the Construction Phase will include the provision of new training and apprenticeship opportunities. It is envisaged that the Construction Phase could provide the opportunity for at least 78 new trainee placements. There is the potential for adverse impacts as a result of the proposed construction works, including in relation to increased demand for local services and facilities and the disruption to local residents and businesses. However, the scale of these adverse impacts is not expected to be significant. It is unlikely that the Construction Phase will result in many new people moving into the area, thereby limiting the additional demand placed on services such as Primary and Secondary schools and GP surgeries. A Construction Environmental Management Plan will also be put in place to limit any disturbances caused during the Construction Phase. After the development has been completed, it is estimated that 1,327 jobs could be created on-site through the attraction of new businesses from the logistics sector, along with further new employment opportunities in the local economy due to additional economic activity being generated off-site. In total, once the site has been fully occupied, it is estimated that the economic impact of the scheme will be around 74 million per annum. In addition, the Proposed Development will lead to an increase in business rates within St Helens, estimated to be approximately 2.2 million per annum. A key principle of the scheme will continue to be that the benefits to local people are maximised. This will involve work with local partners to raise the awareness of future opportunities and equip local people with the necessary skills to access the new jobs that will be created. In doing so, the scheme will contribute towards addressing the current relative lack of suitable employment opportunities that exist within parts of St Helens and provide the opportunity for people to work closer to home, rather than having to commute to other parts of the region. More generally, the Proposed Development will also serve to improve perceptions of the Borough as a place to invest and work. The redevelopment of the Application Site, in combination with other large sites in the Borough, has the potential to be transformational by making St Helens a location of choice for large-scale logistics and employment development. This will help to encourage developer investment, attract new business and enable existing businesses to expand. The logistics sector in particular is seen as providing an opportunity to drive growth in St Helens, with the Borough enjoying a competitive advantage as a result of its location and strong transport links. 26

27 Socio Economic 27

28 Noise and Vibration The Noise and Vibration ES Technical Paper has been produced by Cundall. It summarises the likely impacts, their significance to the surrounding environment, proposed mitigation measures and the residual effects in relation to Noise & Vibration. Both the Construction and Operational Phases of the development have been considered. Measured baseline noise conditions are set out and are used as the basis of the noise impact assessment. Reference is made to appropriate noise and vibration rating and assessment standards and guidance documents. The assessment concludes that the proposals may have minor adverse impact on the most affected sensitive receptors at this stage. The impacts are not considered significant. The control of construction noise and vibration will be addressed by an appropriate Construction Management Plan, developed by the main contractors, as part of future Reserved Matters planning applications. A number of best practice construction noise mitigation measures have been provided. Outline mitigation measures have been set out for the control of noise impacts during the development s operational phase, and these will be refined as part of future Reserved Matters planning applications, once development proposals are finalised. A number of general mitigation methods to limit the potential for noise impacts have been presented, and these should be adopted within any development of the scheme. Air Quality and Dust The Air Quality and Dust ES Technical Paper has been produced by RPS to assess the impacts of the Proposed Development on air quality and dust. The Parkside development is located within the administrative area of St Helens. The local planning authority, St Helens Council (SHC), has designated four areas as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution from road traffic. The Newton-le-Willows High Street AQMA is located 750 m north-west of the development site and the M6 AQMA is 900m to the north. This Air Quality Assessment, undertaken to accompany the planning application, considers the air quality impacts from the construction phase and once the Proposed Development is fully operational. The assessment has been undertaken based upon appropriate information on the Proposed Development provided by Parkside Regeneration LLP and its project team. In undertaking this assessment, RPS experts have exercised professional skills and judgement to the best of their abilities and have given professional opinions that are objective, reliable and backed with scientific rigour. These professional responsibilities are in accordance with the code of professional conduct set by the Institution of Environmental Sciences for members of the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM). For the construction phase, the most important consideration is dust. Without appropriate mitigation, dust could cause temporary soiling of surfaces, particularly windows, cars and laundry. The mitigation measures provided within this report should ensure that the risk of adverse dust effects is reduced to a level categorised as not significant. For the operational phase, arrivals at and departures from the Proposed Development may change the number, type and speed of vehicles using the local road network. Changes in road vehicle emissions are the most important consideration during this phase of the development. Detailed atmospheric dispersion modelling has been undertaken for the years 2021 and Pollutant concentrations are predicted to be within the relevant health -based air quality objectives at the façades of existing receptors. Therefore, air quality is acceptable at the development site, making it suitable for its proposed uses. The operational impact of the Proposed Development on existing receptors is predicted to be negligible taking into account the changes in pollutant concentrations and absolute levels. Using the criteria adopted for this assessment together with professional judgement, the operational air quality effects are considered to be not significant overall. Detailed atmospheric dispersion modelling of the cumulative traffic will be undertaken and the results submitted in an addendum. The Parkside development does not, in air quality terms, conflict with national or local policies, or with measures set out in SHC s Air Quality Action Plan. There are no constraints to the development in the context of air quality. 28

29 Noise and Vibration / Air Quality and Dust Above Top: Noise Parameter Plan; Above Bo om: Air Quality Receptor Plan and Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) 29

30 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology BWB Consulting were appointed by Parkside Regeneration to assess the impact that their proposals will have on Cultural Heritage. The potential effects of the proposed development (with mitigation) on the identified cultural heritage resource are considered with respect to legislation, guidance documents and existing planning policies. Mitigation measures have been recommended where appropriate in order to minimise the effect on sensitive receptors during the construction and operational phases of the proposed development. Designated Assets No designated assets have been recorded within the development area but a number have been recorded within the wider area including Newton Park Farmhouse ( ) and Newton Park Barn ( ) both of which are grade II listed. These assets lie to the north of the proposed development area. The proposals will have an effect on the setting of the farmhouse and barn, however, retention of existing vegetation, sensitive design and the provision of landscaping and bunds will help to alleviate this. Further listed buildings lie within the wider landscape including Woodhead Farmhouse ( ), Woodhead Barn (107899) and the Huskisson Memorial ( ). The memorial commemorates W. Huskisson, a liberal MP for Liverpool who was killed during the opening celebrations of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in These assets are all listed at grade II and will not be directly impacted by the scheme. A number of the assets are screened by the existing built form and vegetation and where there is an impact on setting this will be alleviated through landscaping proposals. Located to the east of the site is St Oswalds Well ( ) which is designated as a scheduled monument and is grade II listed. It comprises a stone well that is supposedly situated at the place where St Oswald was killed at the Battle of Maserfelth in AD 642. This will not be impacted by construction activities given the intervening landscape and the proposed landscaping. Non-designated Assets A total of 36 non-designated assets have been identified within the study area which are recorded on the Cheshire and Merseyside Historic Environments Record. Five of these assets have been found within the site. It has been determined that parts of the site and large swathes of the immediate area have been disturbed by the former Parkside Colliery (9321) as evident from a number of aerial photographs and the geophysical survey that was completed in June and September Recorded within the southwestern part of site from aerial photographs are some potential enclosures whose origin is uncertain (9133 and 9138). The geophysical survey found no suggestion of significant archaeological activity within this area. From the analysis of cartographic sources and historical accounts it has been determined that the site formed part of a former medieval park (9311). This would have been a manorial hunting ground perhaps with an attached lodge. The site of the lodge is unknown but is thought to either lie to the south of the site or perhaps around Newton Park Farmhouse. Any features associated with the park will be recorded prior to groundworks and construction activities. It is purported that the site lay within the battlefield of the battle of Winwick Pass (13856). This was one of the last major engagements of the civil war in To the southwest of the Site is Gallows Croft which is thought to be where many of the prisoners captured were hanged (9129). Metal detecting and trial trenching survey work completed on the Site in November 2017 has shown no evidence of this. A recent Historic England consultation sought to consider part of the application site and land to the south as a registered battlefield. The applicant has made representations and is firmly of the position following expert analysis and survey work that the proposed designation does not meet the required criteria for such status. 30

31 Utilities The Utilities assessment mainly focuses on the following key areas: The existing infrastructure on the site, and associated disconnection, diversion and alteration works. Maintaining easements for asset owners to access and maintain network owned equipment. New utility services connections with sufficient capacities required for the Proposed Development. Identifying any potential environmental impacts associated. Potential impact or disruptions to existing residential receptors. To establish the existing infrastructure on site, all available Utility record drawings have been obtained and subsequent GPRS surveys undertaken. Relevant asset owners have been consulted to agree easements for future maintenance to network owned equipment. New utility services connection proposals, for the calculated required capacities for the Proposed Development, have been obtained from the relevant asset owners. Provision of a proposed services corridor has been detailed to run along the new PLR and access roads to each plot. The services corridor will contain the new utility services connections, any diverted utility services, and spare ducts for future additional services to be installed. All proposed new utility connections and alterations are to be installed underground and are co-ordinated with the proposed masterplan, therefore there will be no visual impact to local residential receptors. All new services connections, with the exception of the electrical HV service, will be connected in close proximity to the site entrance on the A49 Winwick Road, suitable traffic management will be provided and no disruption to local supplies are anticipated, therefore minimal disruption to local residential receptors is envisaged. The new electrical HV connection to the Proposed Development is to be taken from the Borron Road Primary Sub Station in Newton-le-Willows. The new underground HV cabling will be installed in a route subject to agreement with ENW, suitable traffic management will be provided and no disruption to local supplies are anticipated, therefore minimal disruption to local residential receptors is envisaged. 31

32 Energy The Energy Assessment focuses on the options available to deliver a development to meet the requirements of the St Helens Borough Council Core Strategy Document The environmental assessment identifies the following potential impacts: Increase in CO 2 emissions Increase in NO x emissions Increase in water consumption In doing this, the Energy Assessment has also considered the following: Opportunities and limitations of the site Baseline carbon emissions Technology and Design Strategy options Conclusion of recommendations and proposed Energy Strategy The site has a number of limiting factors that discount the use of certain technologies such as large scale wind power, on the use of large heat generating power plant such as anaerobic digestion etc. A further dictating factor of the energy strategy is the requirement to provide a flexible approach for future tenants and end users as they will all have different requirements and demands in terms of energy requirements and utility supplies. A commitment to a common central energy strategy solution at this stage may not suit the mix of future tenants requirements and hence a more flexible solution is required which will be progressed at the detailed design stage. The initial design concept of the warehouse units has been to focus on initial good practice design and promote passive measures such as good levels of thermal insulation and access to good natural daylight etc. These passive measures will reduce the initial energy use of the warehouse units and in the first instance and therefore promote the betterment required over and above the minimum Building Regulation Part L Standards. The next stage of the design was to consider and adopt the use of Energy efficiency technologies such as high efficiency light fittings, presence detection on lighting systems etc. These systems optimise the use of energy in the Warehouse units and again promote the requirements set out in the St Helens Core Strategy. The final stage of the report was to consider the use of Renewable and Low Carbon technologies and how these systems are built in to the overall energy strategy. The key aspect of this stage was to consider the flexibility for future tenants and end users and to promote systems and technologies that match their energy use. In respect of the effects on the environment, these are considered to be minor adverse as a worst case scenario, which is not considered to be significant. However through detailed design, the energy strategy will seek to minimise these effects. 32

33 Waste The Waste Technical Paper has been prepared by RPS and considers the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development in terms of waste generation and management. Waste will be generated as a result of construction and operation of the proposed buildings. The waste streams generated during these phases will comprise different types and volumes of waste that will require appropriate management measures. The assessment has been undertaken with regard to all relevant waste legislation, policy and guidance. Baseline information on the volumes of waste produced in the local area and existing waste management infrastructure has been gathered from publically available sources. The Proposed Development is located in the metropolitan borough of St Helens, which is one of the boroughs that makes up Merseyside. The Joint Waste Local Plan Implementation and Monitoring Report for the Merseyside and Halton Area (2013/2014) identified that 2,250,000 tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste and 999,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste were generated in the sub-region in 2013/2014. Of this, 67% of construction, demolition and excavation waste re-used on site or recycled, A key receptor for the waste assessment is the existing and proposed waste management infrastructure. There are over 60 existing waste transfer stations within the Waste Local Plan area, several of which are located within 10 km of the Proposed Development, However, it has been identified that there is a deficit in terms of available landfill space for non-inert waste in St Helens and that the area will have to rely on the neighbouring authorities for landfill provision of non-inert waste. Other receptors used in the assessment are the targets and policies specified in Waste Framework Directive and the waste management policies within the Waste Local Plan. There are a number of impacts associated with the construction phase of the proposed development, including the impact of waste generated on the capacity of existing/proposed waste management infrastructure. Spoil is likely to comprise the main type of waste generated during construction phase as a result of site levelling and other earthworks. A cut and fill balance has been achieved in the outline design, which would result in spoil being retained on site (subject to contamination results). Waste from the construction phase will be managed in accordance with a waste minimization and recycling programme set out in a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP). An Outline SWMP has been included in the Environmental Statement and is based on the available outline design information. It identifies the key types of waste that will be generated during the construction phase and how they would be managed. It also sets targets to divert construction waste from landfill which are based on targets from the Waste Framework Directive and industry best practice. The SWMP will be updated as the detailed design progresses and additional information on the design and construction of the proposed buildings becomes available. Similarly, an Operational Waste Management Strategy has been prepared which sets out the procedures that would be implemented to manage the environmental impacts of operational waste in accordance with duty of care obligations and the waste hierarchy principle. With the implementation of the above management plan and strategy it is predicted that the above impacts will be mitigated to the extent where any residual effects will range from negligible to minor adverse. 33

34 Synergistic Effects (Interaction of Effects) There are two key areas of interactions which are likely to occur, these being: Interaction of construction effects Interaction of operational effects The different types of receptors are categorised as follows: Humans- (a) long term human receptors- residents, business users; and (b) transient human receptors, including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and public transport users, construction workers. Property- residencies and business uses. Ecological- habitats, including protected sites or species. Historic Environment heritage assets Landscape - character areas Controlled waters- surface waters like water courses or groundwater (aquifers). The economy Local waste infrastructure i.e. landfills, recycle and recovery facilities Where all individual residual effects associated with a single receptor group are neutral or negligible there will be no incombination effects as these effects would not be significant. Where at least one effect on a receptor, after mitigation measures are determined, is minor adverse, or greater, then all identified effects (including neutral or negligible) have been reviewed to determine whether there are likely to be incombination effects upon this particular receptor. These are detailed for the construction and operation phases below and summarised in the respective tables. Construction For the construction phase the human, property and historic environment receptors are most likely to be subject to synergistic effects. The controlled water receptors are also vulnerable to synergistic effects, but as the assessment for the Phase 1 Development identified these effects as being no greater than negligible, it can be concluded that there will be no significant synergistic effects. In respect of the likely impacts on human and properties (which includes residents and businesses), the impacts associated with ground conditions and contamination, traffic and transport, drainage and flood risk, landscape and visual impact, socio economic, noise and vibration, air quality and dust, utilities and energy could combine to create a significant impact on humans, particularly those in close proximity to the site. In respect of socio economic, the effects associated with job creation, increased GVA and training and apprenticeship opportunities have been assessed as being beneficial. 34 In respect of ground conditions and contamination, the effects associated with inhalation or ingestion of dust by site workers or adjacent residents have been assessed as being neutral. The effects associated with surface water run-off and flood risk are considered to be negligible, as are socio economic impacts associated with the effect on local services and facilities and other wider socio-economic impacts; noise associated with construction traffic, vibration and dust arising from construction activities; the effects of utility disconnections and diversions; and the CO 2 and NO x emissions. These effects are therefore not considered to be significant when considered on their own and are unlikely to combine with other effects to become significant due to their negligible or neutral impacts. Minor adverse effects were assessed in respect of ground conditions and contamination and traffic and transportation with the effects associated with the increased construction traffic movement and the potential for the disposal of unsuitable soil off-site; construction noise on adjacent sensitive noise receptors (i.e. residential); the connection of a new electricity supply from the primary substation at Barron Road Primary Substation, Newton-le-Willows. These effects are therefore not considered to be significant on their own, however potential exists for these to be more significant when considered in combination with one another on a single receptor. The visual impact in respect of residential and from transport and PROW routes are considered to be adverse during construction, due to the change and disturbance that will occur to the landscape during this time. In particular, the Proposed Development is assessed as having an adverse impact on a number of the closest viewpoints to the Site (see Landscape and Visual Impact Section of this Report for the Viewpoint locations (VPs)). There are a number of physical measures that will be in place as part of the inherent mitigation (such as the bunding that will be created as part of the earthworks at an early stage in the construction) and a commitment to other mitigation such as the implication of a CEMP to manage construction activities and help mitigate the effects of the construction phase. There are still however potential for adverse synergistic effects on some receptors in respect of visual, earthworks, construction noise and vibration, construction traffic and the potential disruption caused by the physical connection of the electricity supply to the Site from the Barron Road Primary Sub-Station. The greatest effect will be on the nearest residential receptors (e.g. along the A49 Winwick Road) who are likely to be affected by all or some of these impacts at some point during the construction phase. The construction phase is however temporary, for a likely period of three years and is phased, meaning different parts of the Site will be worked at different times.

35 Synergistic Effects (Interaction of Effects) This aids to manage the combination of the likely impact on any one receptor. The phasing relates to site enabling works taking place in the first 12 months of construction, with the construction of buildings following in the latter two years of the construction phase. After the initial earthworks, the bunds will have been created, which will help to minimise the impacts on residential receptors, particularly in respect of construction noise, dust and visual impacts. Landscaping will also be planted as early as possible to help soften the impacts of the Proposed Development and enable it to start establishing as soon as possible. The synergistic effects are not considered to be any greater than those already assessed individually within the ES for the receptors at a greater distance from the Site, such as those at Hermitage Green Lane (VP3), Hermitage Green (VP5), Newton Park Drive Bridge (VP8) and the PROWs near Goldborne Road and Barrow Lane/ Parkside Road (A573) (VPs 4 and 6) and as such are not significant, except for the visual impact at Hermitage Green (VP5) which is already assessed as significant. For the human and property receptors at closer range to the Site, such as on Winwick Road, the in-combination of effects also have the potential to be significant. Effects will however be managed as identified above to minimise the effects so they are no greater than those assessed individually within the ES. In respect of the historic environment receptors, the likely incombination effects are associated with visual impact and impacts on the heritage asset, which in this case is indirect on the setting of the assets and in respect of noise (Grade II Listed Newton Park Farmhouse and Barn). The effects on potential archaeological assets are not considered to result in any synergistic effects and as such the effects on these will be no greater than assessed individually within the ES. The effects of the Proposed Development on the setting of Newton Park Farm and Barn and the impact of noise on this asset have been assessed as moderate adverse during construction. The visual impact generally on landscape character is minor/moderate adverse but is not considered to be significant. In combination the effects on these heritage assets has the potential to be significant. However, as identified above for the human and property receptors, mitigation will be put in place to manage and limit the individual and synergistic effects on these receptors through activities such as the creation of bunds and early landscape planting and with the implementation of a CEMP to control and manage the construction activities and their impact on receptors. The synergistic effects on the heritage receptors are therefore not considered to be any greater than those assessed individually within the ES. Summary of Construction Phase Potential Synergistic Effects A refers to Adverse, N refers to Neutral / Negligible, and B refers to Beneficial effects, after the consideration of mitigation. 35

36 Operation Synergistic Effects (Interaction of Effects) For the operation phase, the human, property, historic environment and controlled waters are the most likely to be subject to synergistic effects. Taking the likely impacts on human and properties (which includes residents and businesses) first, the impacts associated with ground conditions and contamination are assessed as beneficial, given the site will be remediated and brought into active use with clean cover and hard surfaced areas which break the pathway to any human and property receptors. As a drainage strategy is proposed that incorporates SUDs, swales and attenuation ponds with a control of flows from the site, there is a benefit to the human and property receptors in respect of drainage and flood risk. As such the interaction of these effects can only be beneficial to the human and property receptors. The effects on air quality in respect of traffic movements are assessed as negligible and therefore not significant. Effects in respect of socio economic are all beneficial (creation of long-term employment and effect on the labour market, increase in GVA and training and apprenticeship opportunities), except for the impact on services and facilities which is assessed as negligible, but therefore not significant. Operational effects in respect of utilities are assessed as neutral, given the utilities are installed at construction stage. The increase in traffic and the resulting effects on driver delay and amenity and severance for pedestrians and cyclists on the local highway network is assessed as minor adverse. However, driver delays further afield, such as on the Strategic Highway Network and in the vicinity of St Helens are assessed as negligible. The operational noise from the Site is assessed as minor adverse, however the noise resulting from the increase from traffic on the local road network is assessed as negligible. The increase in CO 2 and NO x emissions and water consumption is considered to be minor adverse as a worst case. The visual impact of the proposed Development in respect of residential and from transport and PROW routes are considered to be adverse during operation, due to the change that will occur to the landscape during this time. In particular, the Proposed Development is assessed as having an adverse impact on certain viewpoints closest to the Site. (see Landscape and Visual Impact Section of this Report for the Viewpoint locations (VPs)). There are a number of physical measures that will be in place as part of the inherent mitigation such as the bunding that will be created as part of the earthworks at an early stage in the construction phase that will also mitigate the operational phase; and significant landscape planting which will establish and mature over time and be managed and maintained with long terms management plans. There is also a commitment to other mitigation such as Travel Plan(s) to reduce the reliance on the private car and to reduce, manage and minimise vehicle movements; parameters to manage noise through detailed scheme design by such things as limiting the noisier activities such as service areas and loading bays close to sensitive boundaries with residential receptors; off-site junction improvements will help to manage and in some cases improve driver delay and pedestrian and cycle severance and amenities. These measures will all help to manage and mitigate the effects of the Proposed Development on receptors as well as the synergistic effects that could occur. There is still however potential for adverse synergistic effects on some receptors in respect of visual, traffic generation and operational noise from the Proposed Development. The greatest effects will be on those residents closest to the Site, such as on the A49 Winwick Road who are likely to be affected by all or some of these impacts at some point during the operational phase. With the mitigation and measures in place that are identified above, it is anticipated that these synergistic effects will be limited and be no greater than those assessed individually. In the short term there is potential for adverse synergistic effects associated with visual, traffic generated and noise. These effects are not however considered significant in the longer term as the Site s boundary planting matures and the scheme assimilates into the landscape. For the receptors at a greater distance from the Site, the synergistic effects are not considered to be any greater than those already assessed individually within the ES. These include those at Hermitage Green Lane (VP3), Hermitage Green (VP5), Newton Park Drive Bridge (VP8) and the PROWs near Goldborne Road and Barrow Lane/ Parkside Road (A573) (VPs 4 and 6) as the impacts and the interaction of the effects generally dissipate to a greater extent the further the receptor is from the Site and as such are not significant. The exception to this is for the visual impact at Hermitage Green (VP5) which is already assessed as significant, however given the distance from the Site, it is anticipated that the synergistic effects together with noise and traffic generation are limited on the receptors in this location. In respect of the historic environment receptors, the likely incombination effects are associated with visual impact and impacts on the heritage asset, which in this case is indirect on the setting of the assets (Grade II Listed Newton Park Farmhouse and Barn). 36

37 Synergistic Effects (Interaction of Effects) The effects of the Proposed Development on the setting of Newton Park Farm and Barn have been assessed as moderate adverse during the operational phase. The visual impact generally on landscape character is minor/moderate adverse but is not considered to be significant. In combination the effects on these heritage assets has the potential to be significant. However, as identified above for the human and property receptors, mitigation will be put in place to manage and limit the individual and synergistic effects on these receptors through activities such as the creation of bunds and early landscape planting which will have a long term management plan. The synergistic effects on the heritage receptors are therefore not considered to be any greater than those assessed individually within the ES. The effects on controlled waters are assessed as beneficial in respect of ground conditions and contamination due to the treatment of any contamination found on the Site. Most of the effects for drainage and flood risk are considered beneficial at operational stage in respect of removal of existing leachate and SUDs to treat surface water before it leaves the site. Minor adverse effects however remain in respect of ground water recharge and the potential impact to Highfield Moss SSSI. It is however unlikely that these effects will combine to create any significant effects on the receptors. Summary of Operation Phase Potential Synergistic Effects A refers to Adverse, N refers to Neutral / Negligible, and B refers to Beneficial effects, after the consideration of mitigation. 37

38 There are a number of other projects that have been considered given the likely impact they will have cumulatively with the Proposed Development. A geographical search area has been identified where it is considered that cumulative impacts could be caused together with the Proposed Development, as shown on the Cumulative Development Plan below. Within this geographical area and through discussions with SHC during the Scoping stage of the EIA process, a site sieve has been undertaken to include the following within the Cumulative Assessment: Development with planning permission that is not yet constructed. Site allocations within the Adopted Local Plan Core Strategy (October 2012). Employment allocations in Plan Period 1 of the emerging Local Plan (Preferred Options December 2016). Housing allocations in the Plan Period 1 of the emerging Local Plan (Preferred Options December 2016). These are identified on the plan opposite and the full details can be found in Section 9 of the ES Part 1 Report. The main potential for cumulative effects is with the Phase 2 Development and the PLR (shown as 1A and 1B respectively on the plan opposite (top) and masterplan opposite (bottom)) given their proximity to the Phase 1 Development Site and the timescales for the developments coming forward. The other projects will however be relevant in respect of socio economic impacts, traffic and transport, noise and vibration and air quality. The overall assessment of the Phase 1 Development when considered cumulatively with the Phase 2 Development and PLR in respect of noise and vibration, air quality, ground and contamination, drainage and flood risk, utilities, energy and waste are not considered to be significant. There are some significant adverse impacts arising as a result in the change to the landscape and the visual impact for some of the viewpoints closest to the site (see Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Section of this Report for the plan of the viewpoint locations (VPs)) at both construction and operational phases. Each development will however mitigate these impacts as far as possible with bunding and/or landscape proposals to try and soften their appearance and help to screen their presence in the landscape. There will be an overall loss of semi-improved grassland as a result of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Development at the Former Parkside Colliery Site. In the long term, the total area of semi-improved grassland will be permanently reduced and will not re-establish post-development. This is considered to be significant. Cumulative Effects Subject to any further archaeological assessment for the Phase 2 Development and PLR, there is the potential for a direct impact on identified archaeology. There will also be a cumulative impact on the setting of the Newton Park Farm and Barn (Grade II Listed) which will be significant, although no more significant than that identified for the Phase 1 Development. The PLR Development Team has compiled a Saturn Model for the traffic flow data as part of the preparation of the planning application for the PLR. This has therefore been used to inform the Traffic and Transport, Air Quality and Dust and Noise and Vibration cumulative assessments. Whilst the Traffic and Transport assessment demonstrate varying levels of driver delay and environmental impact at the operational phase, the projects included in the Saturn modelling are beyond what would usually be necessary for a cumulative assessment in respect of the Phase 1 Development. Furthermore, the highway mitigation for the cumulative development scenarios remain to be developed and hence this pre-mitigation situation is deemed an extreme worst case. During the operational phase, the cumulative impacts associated with traffic noise and the resulting air quality effects are considered to be significant. There will be significant cumulative benefits associated with socio economic in terms of GVA and job creation, which will significantly boost the local economy. the cumulative effects on employment creation would equate to over 16,500 gross jobs. This could generate approximately 830 million of gross GVA per annum, once the developments have all come forward and have been fully occupied. This is considered to be significantly beneficial for St Helens and the area. The new residential developments would both generate additional local household expenditure and Council Tax receipts for St Helens Council. Based on an average spend and the creation of 2,443 new households, the cumulative impact could amount to approximately 52 million of additional household expenditure, a significant proportion of which would be retained in the St Helens economy. This would support the creation of additional employment opportunities and an increase in economic output. Cumulative impacts are therefore no greater than assessed for the Phase 1 Development. except for those in respect of traffic and transport. But for the reasons noted above this assessment is extreme worst case. 38

39 Cumulative Effects Above Top: Cumula ve Developments Plan; Above Bo om: Comprehensive Masterplan (Phase 1 and Phase 2 Parkside and PLR) 39

40 Conclusion The main purpose of the ES is to provide an objective assessment of the environmental impacts of the Proposed Development. This Non-Technical Summary provides a summary of the main issues identified within the ES Part 1 and ES Part 2. The separate papers within the ES Part 2 contain the detailed analysis of impacts and mitigation and should be referred to for the complete assessment of impact. The ES Part 1 Report provides an overview of the predicted effects and how it is proposed to mitigate the impacts. It should be noted that the information submitted for this planning application is extensive given the nature of the Site and the Proposed Development. However the detailed mitigation strategies will be controlled via the use of planning conditions. A variety of mitigation measures are proposed to control, manage and reduce the effects of the Proposed Development. Further mitigation of environmental effects is also inherent in the design of the Proposals. All of the mitigation is devised to either mitigate individual effects or it is multi-functional to mitigate a number of effects. As a whole, the majority of the potential environmental impacts and their effects (with mitigation incorporated) are assessed as neutral, negligible or minor adverse at both construction and operational phases and as such are not significant. This is in relation to ground conditions and contamination, traffic and transport, drainage and flood risk, ecology and nature conservation, socio economic, noise and vibration, air quality and dust, utilities, waste and energy as well as some effects associated with cultural heritage and archaeology, and landscape and visual impact. There are a number of environmental impacts and their effects that are assessed as beneficial and these relate to the operational phase with the ground conditions and contamination through remediation and clean cover systems and the drainage and flood risk through a managed drainage strategy. Socio economic effects are significantly beneficial in respect of job creation, GVA and the opportunities for training and apprenticeships at both construction and operational phases, which has a benefit for the immediate settlement of Newton-le- Willows as well as the wider County/Sub-region and the Borough. There are however some significant adverse impacts associated with the effect on the Grade II Listed Newton Park Farm and Barn, which although are in derelict states, will experience indirect moderate adverse impacts on their setting at construction and operational phases due to their proximity to the Site. This will however be managed and limited as far as possible through the creation of bunds, location of the proposed buildings and significant mitigation planting that is proposed. The impact of the net loss of semi-improved grassland is considered to be moderate adverse and therefore significant. The proposals do involve significant planting across the site, some of which will be species-rich grassland (1.9ha) along with trees and woodland (6.94ha), scrub planting (1.8ha) and 270m of hedgerow. However this is not considered to fully compensate for the loss of the 11.7ha. Other significant effects are in respect of visual amenity as a result of the change and disturbance that will occur with the Site s redevelopment. At the construction phase this is in respect of views from Winwick Road and some parts of Hermitage Green. The effects of the Proposed Development will however be managed as far as possible with the early establishment of bunding to the Site s perimeter and early landscape planting where possible as well as the implementation of a CEMP. At the operational phase, the significant adverse effects are in respect of those receptors closest to the Site on Winwick Road, Hermitage Green Lane and Hermitage Green (VPs 1, 2, 3 and 5), which will experience moderate adverse and high adverse effects respectively at year 1. Whilst the significant mitigation planting will mature over time to soften the appearance of the Proposed Development in the landscape and ensure the longer term effects on VPs 1 and 3 are reduced so as not to be considered significant, the assessment of effects remain as significant in respect of receptors at Viewpoints 2 and 5 (A Winwick Road (residential) and Hermitage Green). 40

41 Conclusion The ES Part 1 also assesses the potential for the synergistic/interaction of effects and concludes that in the main these are not considered to be significant with the multi-functional mitigation that is proposed. The synergistic/interaction of effects which have the potential to be significant are as a result of the significant effects of visual impact, combined with the effects of traffic and transport and noise, which on their own are not considered to be significant. Cumulative impacts are assessed and take account of a number of developments in the area that either have permission or are likely to come forward in a similar timeframe to the Proposed Development. The main cumulative considered and that are relevant to all the technical topics are the Phase 2 Development at the Former Parkside Colliery and the PLR. The currently assessed cumulative impacts are not considered to be any more significant than those effects assessed as part of the main Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Phase 1 Development, except for traffic and transport. However for the reasons identified in this report and in more detail through the ES, this is an extreme worst case assessment and each cumulative project will need to identify necessary mitigation when they come forward. There are therefore not considered to be any potential environmental impacts that cannot be suitably mitigated and which would prevent the proposals from being granted planning permission. Those effects that are assessed as significant in environmental terms are limited to localised visual impact, loss of semi-improved grassland and indirect effects on the Grade II Listed Newton Farmhouse and Barn, which is in a derelict state. These significant effects are however considered to be outweighed by the significant benefits that the Proposed Development will bring to the area, particularly in respect of socio economic (job creation and GVA) as well as other benefits related to the regeneration of a former colliery site that has remained vacant for many years despite efforts to bring forward its redevelopment having been hampered by the economic climate. 41

42 Spawforths Junction 41 Business Court, East Ardsley, Leeds, West Yorkshire. WF3 2AB t: , f: , Spawforths is a trading name of Spawforth Rolinson Ltd. Incorporated in England, Company Registration Number