BATH QUAYS WATERSIDE PROJECT

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1 Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary PREPARED FOR Bath & North East Somerset Council 29 August 2014

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3 Details of document preparation and issue: VERSION NO. PREPARED BY REVIEWED BY AUTHORISED FOR ISSUE ISSUE DATE ISSUE STATUS A0 Ed Ferguson Emma Stevens Emma Stevens First issue to Client. B0 Ed Ferguson Matthew Clegg Matthew Clegg Final B&V project no Notice: This report was prepared by Black & Veatch Limited (BVL) solely for use by Bath & North East Somerset Council. This report is not addressed to and may not be relied upon by any person or entity other than Bath & North East Somerset Council for any purpose without the prior written permission of BVL. BVL, its directors, employees and affiliated companies accept no responsibility or liability for reliance upon or use of this report (whether or not permitted) other than by Bath & North East Somerset Council for the purposes for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. In producing this report, BVL has relied upon information provided by others. The completeness or accuracy of this information is not guaranteed by BVL. EIA Quality Mark This Environmental Statement, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out to identify the significant environmental effects of the proposed development, was undertaken in line with the EIA Quality Mark Commitments. The EIA Quality Mark is a voluntary scheme, operated by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), through which EIA activity is independently reviewed, on an annual basis, to ensure it delivers excellence in the following areas: EIA Management EIA Team Capabilities EIA Regulatory Compliance EIA Context & Influence EIA Content EIA Presentation Improving EIA practice To find out more about the EIA Quality Mark please visit: BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY i

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5 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY Introduction Bath & North East Somerset Council (the Council) and the Environment Agency are working in partnership to deliver a project called Bath Quays Waterside (referred to as the Project from now on). The Project has the following three primary objectives: to reduce existing and future flood risk to important roads and residential and commercial properties on the south side of the River Avon; to make improvements to the way the waters of the River Avon will flow and be managed during times of flood in order to enable future developments associated with the Council s Innovation Quays Project; to enhance the riverside environment to the benefit of wildlife, local people and visitors to Bath. The Project is submitting an application for planning permission and is therefore also subject to the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/ 1824) (referred to as the EIA Regulations ). In accordance with these Regulations, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been carried out to understand the effects that the works which comprise the Project will have on the environment. The results of the EIA, including details of how potentially adverse effects will be prevented or reduced, are reported in an Environmental Statement, which will accompany the planning application. This Non Technical Summary summarises the important findings of the EIA. Project location The Project is located close to the centre of Bath between Churchill Bridge and Midland Bridge (as shown in Figure 1). Figure 1: Location of Bath Quays Waterside Project BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 1

6 Origins of the Project The recently Adopted Bath and North East Somerset Core Strategy (adopted on 10 th July 2014), includes for several new developments along the corridor of the River Avon in Bath. Some of the areas identified for regeneration are located within the flood plain of the river and, under current Government policy, are therefore not permissible for development without suitable measures to alleviate flood risk being in place. Hence, we are proposing to provide the flood mitigation and improvement works required to enable future regeneration works in Bath Quays North, Bath Quays South and Manvers Street. It was also recognised early on in the development of the Project that there would be opportunities to reduce existing and future flood risk to key roads and residential and commercial areas; as well as opportunities to enhance the local riverside for the benefit of wildlife and people. Alternative options considered The Council has previously carried out computer modelling of flood events in the River Avon and its floodplain. This modelling was used to assess the likely impact on the passage of flood water (conveyance) and flood water storage from future developments (Bath Quays and Manvers Street). The results showed that the principle impact of ground raising within the future development areas would be a loss of flow conveyance, rather than a loss of flood storage. A range of alternative approaches were then considered to address this problem including: increasing channel capacity (dredging the channel); providing compensatory storage areas upstream of Bath; and, providing compensatory flow conveyance (i.e. locally increasing the amount of space available for flood water flows to pass down the river channel). The modelling concluded that the best solution for mitigating the likely future increase in flood risk as a result of the proposed developments was to provide compensatory flow conveyance. Alternative options to provide the compensatory flow conveyance considered: the location of options for compensatory flow conveyance; design and routing of new flood defences; design of flood protection on affected buildings; and, the composition and locations of landscaping works. The solution (the proposed Project) In order to achieve the Project s objectives, a range of works are proposed. These include: local widening of the upper parts of the river bank; improvements to existing flood defence walls; new stretches of flood defence walls; replacement of windows and doors on buildings currently vulnerable to flooding; a local road realignment with associated highways works; and, landscaping works. The preferred option consists of seven interlinked elements. The first element, which would be carried out prior to construction, is the removal of the trees and vegetation that must be taken out before the rest of the Project elements are built. The other six elements are distinct construction activities, some of which can be carried out alongside each other whilst others must follow on from each other. The location of the six construction stage Project elements are shown in Figure 2 and all seven elements are described further in Table 1. BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 2

7 Figure 2: Overview plan of proposed works (construction elements) BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 3

8 Table 1: Descriptions of the seven elements of the Project ELEMENT Pre construction Tree and Vegetation Clearance Bath Quays North Highways Works Bath Quays South Flood Resilience Works Bath Quays North Bank Re Profiling Surface Water Pumping Station Green Park Landscaping Works Bath Quays South New and Replacement Flood Defence Walls DESCRIPTION OF WORKS Tree and other vegetation removal. This will be the first activity for the Project so that it can occur prior to the bird nesting season. Establishment of north bank site compound (see Figure 3); constructing the new highway; and reconfiguring existing roads to provide for the diversion of Green Park Road (including works to Avon Street, Avon Street Coach Park and Car Park, Corn Street and Ambury). Establishment of south bank site compound (see Figure 3) and building works to Bayer Building, Camden Mill and Waterfront House. Installation of flood resilience measures includes: replacement windows and new balustrades. Constructing the conveyance strip on the north bank of the River Avon (including landscaping works and the narrowing of Green Park Road). New surface water pumping station, to pump surface water from Lower Bristol Road into the River Avon when water cannot discharge to the river by gravity due to high river levels. Green Park landscaping works (which include the local realignment of the riverside footpath and removal of a hedgerow in order to provide visual enhancements and improve access to Green Park and the riverside). Constructing the new stretches of flood defence wall on the south bank, improving (replacing, repairing and raising in certain sections) the existing flood defence walls on the south bank and installing nonreturn valves on existing surface water outfalls. The extent of the construction operations, including locations of key temporary constructionstage works areas (such as access points and site compounds), is provided in Figure 3. BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 4

9 Figure 3: Construction working areas and site access BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 5

10 Stakeholder engagement and consultation Engagement with stakeholders brings great benefit to the EIA process. The Council and Environment Agency have consulted with experts within their own organisations and a wide range of other stakeholders (statutory consultee organisations and non statutory groups as well as individual members of the public with an interest in the Project). Detailed consultation has also been carried out on a topic by topic basis as needed. For example, to inform the flora and fauna assessment, meetings were held with a range of biodiversity specialists. Exhibitions have been held within the Guildhall and Green Park Station and feedback has been incorporated into the outline designs for the Project. The Council will formally issue the Environmental Statement to statutory consultees as part of the planning application process. All the EIA and planning application documents will also be made available to any interested parties on the Project s dedicated pages on the Council s website: ( and building control/major projects/bathquays waterside reconnecting bath its). Stakeholder engagement events, including public exhibitions, have been carried out as part of the Project and information gathered has helped shape the outline design. BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 6

11 The Environmental Impact Assessment It was established at a very early stage that the Project would require statutory EIA. Through a process known as Scoping, the Council provided its formal opinion on which aspects of the environment were likely to experience significant effects and therefore should be included within the EIA. The following aspects of the environment have been included for assessment through the EIA process: Human Beings (Population) Landscape and Visual Impacts Traffic and Transportation Flora and Fauna Soil, Contamination and Land Use Water (including flood risk assessment and the Water Framework Directive) Air and Climatic Factors (including Climate Change) Noise and Vibration Cultural Heritage Resources and Waste Cumulative Effects The EIA considered the existing condition of the environment and the way in which this may change as a result of construction and operation of the Project. When negative effects were identified, ways of preventing or reducing the magnitude (scale) of the effects were considered. In some cases it was possible to alter the design of the Project (to design in measures) in order to prevent or reduce adverse effects which may have otherwise arisen. For example, to reduce the adverse effects of unavoidable tree loss, the design has included extensive landscaping proposals which will see the planting of far more trees than are being removed. Where required the EIA also identified a range of mitigation measures that will be implemented to prevent or reduce environmental effects. All required mitigation has been set out in an Environmental Management Plan. This will be followed and updated as the Project progresses through the detailed design, construction and ultimately operational stages. The key findings of the EIA are summarised in the following sections. Human Beings (Population) The Project will reduce flood risk to 70 homes and 39 commercial properties. The new and improved flood defences will also make currently vacant land more attractive for development, helping to support future regeneration of the river corridor. There will however also be some unavoidable temporary disturbance (e.g. noise, vibration, dust and access restrictions) to residential, commercial, community and recreational areas during construction. Good construction site practices and detailed discussions with affected property owners will help to keep this disturbance to a minimum. A Traffic Management Plan will be produced and followed during the construction period to minimise disturbance from construction traffic impacts. It will be necessary to temporarily close areas of Green Park and to divert footpaths during the construction works for the safety of the Public. Alternative routes will be put in place to minimise any disruption. In the long term, the Project will bring permanent benefits through the provision of new and improved spaces for recreation and tourism and the provision of new walking, cycling and seating areas. There is a risk that a flood event during the construction works could present a hazard to the safety of site workers and the public. To reduce this risk, a site evacuation plan will be produced. The construction works supervisors will take account of weather forecasts and avoid BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 7

12 potentially risky activities at times of heavy rainfall and the site will also be signed up for flood warnings from the Environment Agency. Improving access to riverside areas at risk of flooding also presents the potential for safety risks once the Project is completed. Measures, such as the installation of signs to warn the public of flood risks and procedures for the closure and evacuation of the area at times of flood, will be implemented. Local realignment of Green Park Road will provide new and improved public spaces for recreation and tourism as well as new traffic free footpaths and cycle routes Landscape and Visual Impact The Project will permanently change the landscape and visual amenity of this particular area of Bath. In particular, the local reconfiguration of highways, provision of new and improved flood defence walls and the bank re profiling to provide improved flood conveyance will all change the landscape and appearance of the area. In places, the character of the landscape and views from sensitive locations (such as residential properties or culturally important landmarks) could be affected. A number of measures have been designed in to the Project to prevent or reduce adverse effects from arising to the landscape and visual amenity. These include: Planting of 158 new trees (including a high proportion of semi mature tree specimens) along the new amenity area on North Quay, and along South Quay in order to reduce the effect of the 70 trees (many of which are mature specimens) that will be removed for the Project. BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 8

13 Climbing plants, new species rich hedgerows and ground flora planting areass to soften and green the banksides.. Cladding materials have been chosen for the new and improved flood defencee walls to South Quay to match those off existing walls, in a style typical of the World Heritage Site (including Bath stone cladding where beneficial). Structural glass panels have been included within a stretch of the rebuilt flood defence wall between Camden Mill and Waterfront House in orderr to reduce impacts i on visual amenity arising from the higher flood defencee wall. It will take time for the tree planting and other landscaping proposals to establish and therefore in the short mediumm term there will be some moderate and minor adverse effects on the landscape and visual amenity for f some receptors. However, in thee long term planting and other landscaping proposals includedd as part of the Project will result inn beneficial effects on landscape and visual amenity. Traffic and Transportation Once completed, the Project will reduce flood risk to Lower Bristol Road. A Traffic Management Plan will be prepared and followed duringg construction to minimise disruption caused by additional traffic and temporary closures of some roads and cyclee routes. Thee local diversion of Green Park Road will change, but not significantly increase, the flows of traffic in the vicinity of the Project. Measures have been incorporated into the design to reduce r the potential forr adversee effects on drivers and pedestrians. Once construction is finished there will be negligible effects on drivers and there will be a significant beneficial effect for cyclists; arising from the provision of a new, traffic free,, cycle routes. Flora and Faunaa BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY A range of ecological surveys have been undertaken in order to understand which species are using the area surrounding the Project and to establish what measures may be required to prevent any harm to them. Species known to be in the area include birds (including kingfishers), otters, bats and fish. There are also a number of trees, scrub and a hedgerow throughh Green Park. As previously described, some of these trees will need to be cleared to complete the works required for the Project, but new trees will be planted to replace those that are felled and wildflower seeding and species During constructionn and in the short medium term, the loss of trees and foraging and rich hedgerows will be used to improve riverside habitats. commuting routes which they provide for bats is likely to give rise to significant adversee effects until replacement vegetation establishes. There are also likely to be short term disturbance effects on otters. Following sufficient time for the landscaping works and flora planting to mature, the Project is also likely to give rise to minorr ecological benefits; for example, through improved hedgerows and habitat for otters. Soils, Contamination and Land Usee The area surrounding the Project is urban,, with the majority of land comprising car parking, roads, footpaths, commercial yards, officess and builders merchants. The River Avon forms a major feature. 9

14 Historically much of the south bank of the Project area has seen industrial use. Consequently, there is a risk of areas of contaminated land within the Project area. However, testing carried out for contaminates has recorded only slightly elevated levels. Whilst caution will be required during construction, indications are that only limited contamination is likely to be present. Good practice measures will be followed during construction, including the careful management of soils. Earthworks will also adhere to working methods which control the risk of contaminated soils or contaminated surface water run off. Water (including flood risk assessment and the Water Framework Directive) The Project has been the subject of detailed flood risk modelling which has shown that properties and areas on the south bank of the River Avon will experience benefits through increased protection from flooding. As well as benefiting properties that would otherwise have directly flooded, the flood defence and resilience measures will also bring wider benefits to other people (for example residents of flats above ground floor which would otherwise have experienced disruption during flood events). The risk of temporary, localised, pollution of surface waters during construction will be managed by good site practice measures. Other measures will also be implemented to reduce potential effects during operation (such as the sealing of foul sewer manhole covers where cover levels will be reduced as part of the north bank re profiling works). The assessment has concluded that the Project complies with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. Air and Climatic Factors (including Climate Change) Management of air quality within Bath is an important focus for the Council and they have an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in place to limit potential polluting emissions. Parts of the Project works or access routes will fall within the AQMA. An assessment has concluded that there will be no significant effects on air quality, either within the AQMA or outside of its boundaries, during construction or once all the works are completed. This assessment was informed by the changes to traffic volumes and flows during construction and operation predicted by the detailed studies carried out for the Traffic and Transportation chapter. The Project design has incorporated measures to take into account anticipated future climatic conditions (such as changes in rainfall and surface water flooding). Noise and Vibration Monitoring has been carried out around the Project area to establish baseline noise levels. Estimations have also been made of the types of equipment and plant to be used during the construction stage and the duration that they will be used for. Using this information, detailed modelling has been carried out to establish anticipated noise levels arising as a result of the Project both during construction and during operation. A range of possible mitigation measures have been identified. Examples include the use of localised noise barriers during the use of hydraulic breakers and concrete/ floor saws. Prior to construction, the Project will be required to agree the precise measures that will be in place in order to obtain Section 61 consent from the Council for the works to progress. Despite the application of good practice and any further required measures to prevent or reduce noise, it is anticipated that some receptors (such as individual residencies in close proximity to works areas) will experience temporary significant adverse effects as a result of increased noise BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 10

15 during construction. Following completion of the works, there will be permanent effects arising as a result of the Green Park Road realignment and changes to traffic noise. The change in traffic noise will only be significant in a small number of locations: one residential (Quasar student apartments on Ambury) will experience moderate adverse effects; whilst another residential and commercial building (Waterfront House on Lower Bristol Road) will experience moderate beneficial effects. Cultural Heritage Bath has a rich cultural heritage and there are a range of archaeological and heritage sites protected in and around the City. Most notable is the City of Bath World Heritage Site (WHS). Other notable cultural heritage features in and around Bath include Scheduled Monuments; the Bath Conservation Area; multiple Listed Buildings; designated heritage and archaeological sites; and, undesignated sites of cultural heritage interest. As well as the application of good site practice, the cultural heritage assessment has identified a range of site specific mitigation which will be applied during construction. These measures include monitoring; trial trenching investigations; archaeological watching briefs; and, the recording of heritage buildings and previously undiscovered archaeology within areas which have been assessed as being particularly vulnerable. Following the application of mitigation, the Project is not anticipated to give rise to significant adverse effects upon cultural heritage. The Project is in fact likely to produce an overall beneficial effect upon the cultural heritage resource due to the: increased protection from flood damage it will provide to built heritage receptors; increased value of the riverside environs as a public amenity and engagement with its history; enhancement of the settings of the built heritage along the river corridor. The Project would create an opportunity for the neglected areas surrounding the river to be developed which, if conducted in a considered fashion, could represent an important first stage in the transformation of this section of the City into a key element of the City of Bath WHS. Resources and Waste Ruined walls adjacent to the Grade II Listed Newark Works Constructing the Project will require significant volumes of materials including concrete, crushed stone, tarmac, geotextile, steel and other materials. Materials will be sourced locally wherever possible. Some materials arising from the construction of the Project will be directly re used within other elements of the works. All topsoil required for site reinstatement and landscaping works will be sourced from the topsoil excavated during the construction earthworks. The majority of the rest of the excavated spoil will not be able to be reused on site but will be made available for reuse elsewhere. A Site Waste Management Plan will be used to identify where material can be reused within the Project, which materials can be recycled, and suitable storage and disposal methods for waste that cannot be reused or recycled. BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 11

16 Cumulative effects The EIA has considered whether changes to the environment caused by the Project could interact with other projects to generate larger, more significant effects than would be caused by each project individually. A number of other planned developments were identified within the vicinity of the Project, including the Bath Western Riverside Development and an office building at Pinesgate East (Pines Way). It has been concluded that if appropriate good practice construction techniques are implemented, and works are planned in consultation with the Council, significant cumulative effects are unlikely to arise. Conclusions The Bath Quays Waterside Project has been developed in partnership between Bath & North East Somerset Council and the Environment Agency. The Project will have a significant beneficial effect of reducing flood risk to 70 residential properties, and 39 commercial properties and the important access route, Lower Bristol Road. The EIA identified a number of potentially significant adverse effects on the environment. Measures have been included within the design of the Project to prevent adverse effects where possible. Mitigation measures to minimise the scale of effects that cannot be prevented have also been developed. An Environmental Management Plan has been produced to capture all the measures that will require implementing during the detailed design and construction stages of the Project. The Environmental Management Plan included within the Environmental Statement, will be kept up to date as the Project develops and will be followed during construction. Despite the application of mitigation, there are still likely to be a small number of temporary significant adverse effects. During construction and in the short to medium term, the loss of trees and foraging and commuting routes which they provide for bats is likely to give rise to significant adverse effects until replacement vegetation establishes. There are also likely to be temporary disturbance effects on otters travelling through the area during the construction period. It is also anticipated that some locations will experience temporary significant adverse effects as a result of increased noise during construction. In the longer term, in addition to providing significant benefits through the reduction in flood risk, the Project is also anticipated to result in a number of minor benefits to the landscape and visual amenity, flora & fauna, cultural heritage and cyclists and pedestrians. Contact us For further details about the Bath Quays Waterside Project, please visit: Alternatively, please contact the Council s Project Delivery Team by at: development_regeneration@bathnes.gov.uk This Non Technical Summary and the full Environmental Statement are available to view at the following address: The One Stop Shop, 3 4 Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JQ Or online at: and building control/view andcomment planning applications BLACK & VEATCH NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 12