Drakelow Park ES 5 Environmental Statement Volume 5: Non Technical Summary Lead Author Waterman Energy, Environment and Design Ltd April 2009
Environmental Statement Volume 5: Non-Technical Summary DRAKELOW PARK, BURTON UPON TRENT
Drakelow Park: Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary INTRODUCTION Joint applicants Roger Bullivant Ltd and E.ON UK plc are seeking an outline planning permission to redevelop Drakelow Park (referred to as the Site ), which is situated immediately to the south of Burton upon Trent as shown in Figure 1. The application scheme (hereafter referred to as the Development ) comprises a mix of residential uses, including retirement apartments; employment uses; two local centres including retail, business and community uses and a primary school. An Environmental Impact Assessment has been undertaken by Waterman to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed Development. The findings of this Environmental Impact Assessment are presented in Volumes 1 to 4 of the Environmental Statement which has been prepared to accompany the planning application. This document, Volume 5 of the Environmental Statement, provides a non-technical summary of the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment, in non-technical language. THE SITE The Site is 109.48 hectares in area and is located off Walton Road, Drakelow. It is situated largely on low-lying ground to the south of the River Trent. Site levels generally fall from the high point in the southeast corner to the banks of the River Trent on the north western boundary. At present part of the Site is occupied by a foundation engineering and piling company operated by Roger Bullivant Ltd. The factory facilities comprise manufacturing units, offices, car parks and pile storage areas. The south-western part of the Site, which was previously occupied by a power station, is currently vacant and underutilised land. The Site also comprises areas of productive agricultural land and mature woodland. Darklands Brook extends through the centre of the Site flowing towards the River Trent. Several Grade II listed structures including a stable block and cottages; a sunken garden and a garden wall. The Site is bounded by the River Trent to the north-west, the National Forest freight railway to the northeast, Walton Road to the south-east and the site of the former Drakelow C power station to the southwest, which has now been demolished. A National Grid Substation compound adjoins the south-western corner of the Site. The boundary of the Site is shown in Figure 2. Land use surrounding the Site includes Branston Golf and Country Club to the north of the River Trent with the residential settlement of Branston and Burton upon Trent town centre beyond. The residential area of Stapenhill borders the north eastern boundary of the Site. Land to the south and east of the Site is largely open agricultural land. Walton on Trent village is located approximately 2.4 kilometres to the south-west of the Site. The Site is located within the administrative area of South Derbyshire District Council. The Site also borders the administrative area of East Staffordshire Borough Council to the north and west. The planning application has been submitted to South Derbyshire District Council for their determination. WHAT ARE THE PROPOSALS? The Roger Bullivant Ltd manufacturing facility currently located on Site would be relocated offsite onto adjacent land owned by E.ON UK plc. The key components of the proposed Development are shown in Figure 3 and can be summarised as: up to 2,239 dwellings of which 192 would be a retirement village with associated facilities and including a mix of dwellings types and sizes and a proportion of affordable housing; an Employment Park comprising general and light industry and research and development uses; two local centres comprising a mix of retail, office space, services, leisure and community uses, with each local centre including a public square; refurbishment and re-use of Grade II Listed stable block and cottages within the largest local centre; a new two-form entry primary school; EN6484.R/4.4.1/SR 1
N SITE LOCATION Drawing Title Project Title Drakelow Park Drawing No EN6484.GR.NTS.1A Date File Location Not to Scale WATERMAN ENVIRONMENTAL Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey maps with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty s Stationery Office, Crown copyright, Waterman Environmental, Kirkaldy House, 99 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0JF: Licence number 100012765. Figure 1: Site Location Plan April 2009 \\nt-lnss\wel\projects\en6400s\en6484\graphics\es\issued figures Energy, Environment & Design www.waterman-group.co.uk
N Site Boundary Drawing Title Project Title Drakelow Park Drawing No EN6484.GR.NTS.2A Date File Location WATERMAN ENVIRONMENTAL Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey maps with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty s Stationery Office, Crown copyright, Waterman Environmental, Kirkaldy House, 99 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0JF: Licence number 100012765. Not to Scale Figure 2: Planning Application Boundary April 2009 \\nt-lnss\wel\projects\en6400s\en6484\graphics\es\issued figures Energy, Environment & Design www.waterman-group.co.uk
N Drawing Title Figure 3: Land Use Framework Plan Project Title Drakelow Park Drawing No EN6484.GR.NTS.3A Date File Location April 2009 \\nt-lnss\wel\projects\en6400s\en6484\graphics\es\issued figures Energy, Environment & Design WATERMAN ENVIRONMENTAL Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey maps with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty s Stationery Office, Crown copyright, Waterman Environmental, Kirkaldy House, 99 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0JF: Licence number 100012765. www.waterman-group.co.uk
Drakelow Park: Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary green space comprising retained and enhanced woodland areas, parks with sports pitches, five children s play areas, other informal public spaces, ponds and structural landscape planting; transport infrastructure comprising access from Walton Road, a public transport hub in each local centre, primary road network, public transport corridor and pedestrian and cycle routes; and associated infrastructure such as roads, lighting and drainage systems. The maximum building height of 20 metres would be within the Employment Park. The local centres would comprise buildings of up to a maximum of 15 metres and the residential areas would comprise buildings up to 12.5 metres in height. The construction programme for the Development is expected to take between 16 and 22 years. It is currently anticipated that work on Site would commence in 2011. Owing to the scale of development, the construction works would be undertaken in three phases. The principal components of the Development as outlined above are shown in a series of parameter plans in the Environmental Statement, which show maximum building heights, maximum building densities, natural and public amenity open space and the location of transport infrastructure. The parameter plans form the basis of the outline planning application and are the basis for the Environmental Impact Assessment. APPROACH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY Environmental Impact Assessment is a formal process which aims to ensure that any potentially significant environmental impacts of a new development (which can be beneficial or adverse) are taken into account in deciding whether to grant planning permission. The Environmental Impact Assessment was undertaken by a team of consultants using established methods such as site surveys, reviews of available reports and data, computer modelling, consultations and specialist assessments. The first stage of the Environmental Impact Assessment process involved undertaking a Scoping Study. The purpose of the study was to identify the potentially significant environmental impacts arising from the proposed Development and therefore focus the content of the Environmental Impact Assessment. The findings of this exercise were presented in a Scoping Study report and submitted to South Derbyshire District Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council, along with details of the proposed methods for assessing the significance of each issue identified. The Scoping Study confirmed that the proposed Development would be likely to raise a number of issues that would need to be considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment. The issues identified were: transportation, air quality, noise and vibration, ground conditions and contamination, water resources, ecology, landscape and visual amenity, archaeology and cultural heritage, socio-economics, and cumulative impacts. A review of environmental planning policy at the national, regional and local level was also undertaken and summarised within the Environmental Statement. WHAT ARE THE LIKELY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND HOW WOULD THEY BE MINIMISED? The Environmental Impact Assessment has been carried out in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (as amended). An assessment of the impacts has been made and measures recommended to reduce adverse impacts are outlined below. Transportation The transport assessment considered the likely impacts of the Development during the construction phase and once it is completed and occupied in relation to the capacity and safety of the surrounding road network, public transport, pedestrian and cycling opportunities. It is considered that the local road network has the capacity to support the additional movements arising from construction-related traffic would be relatively low in number compared to existing traffic flows. A EN6484.R/4.4.1/SR 2
Drakelow Park: Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) should be developed and implemented to (amongst other measures) encourage Site employees to share vehicles or use public transport to reduce the dependency on private cars. The assessment showed that the principal transport impacts that would arise once the Development is completed and occupied relate to an increase in traffic congestion and delay on local roads as well as highway safety issues. A Travel Plan would be developed to promote sustainable modes of transport thus reducing the impact on the local roads through a range of initiatives and incentives. The Development includes the provision for improving accessibility to the Site from surrounding areas though the creation of walking, cycling and public transport routes. This would ensure that future residents of the Site and existing residents nearby can readily access public facilities. Air Quality The main potential impacts of construction on local air quality would be dust emissions from earthworks and vehicles. However, dust emissions and therefore dust nuisance at nearby residential areas would be reduced or prevented through routine environmental management control measures which could be implemented through a CEMP. Predictive computer modelling to assess traffic-related emissions to air was undertaken for each completed phase of Development. The results predict that future air quality at all modelled residential locations, on the surrounding road network and within the Development, would comfortably meet current statutory UK standards. The proposed power stations, adjacent to the Site, are not predicted to have any adverse air quality impact on proposed residential areas within the Development. Steam plumes from the cooling towers of the power plant are predicted to reach ground level for approximately 26 hours per year and would only marginally impact on the Employment Park adjacent to the power station site boundary. Noise and Vibration A noise survey was undertaken in August/September 2008, to establish the existing ambient noise levels at the Site. The baseline noise measurements revealed that the existing Site noise levels are low but influenced by road traffic from the local highway network along its boundaries. No off-site sources capable of affecting the proposed Development, other than road traffic, were detected. In the early stage of construction, noise would not affect the majority of local properties because of their distance from the works and boundary screening at the Site. However, short term noise impact from the highways improvements at the junction between Rosliston Road and Walton Road would be likely. During later phases of construction works, on-site noise impacts would be likely for some residential properties and the primary school. During the construction phase, measures to mitigate and control noise and vibration would be implemented. The Development would lead to an increase in traffic on local roads and consequently an increase in noise could be experienced at properties adjacent to the existing local road network. However, the predictive modelling results show that for the majority of local roads, the increase is very slight and unlikely to be noticeable. The northern part of Walton Road is the only location where a noise increase could be perceptible. However, the predicted increases would occur gradually over a 13 year period as phased development is completed. Therefore the gradual increase of traffic noise would be unlikely to give rise to disturbance at nearby existing or proposed properties. The assessment of noise from activities within service yards at the Employment Park on proposed nearby residential areas found that impacts could occur during night-time only, if the Employment Park were to operate on a 24 hour basis. Noise from the school playground could also give rise to localised impact on nearby properties although this would be confined to very short periods during the daytime only. The assessment has shown that in term of noise the Site would be suitable for the proposed Development. It is considered that all design matters relating to internal noise and potential noise impacts can be dealt with by way of planning conditions during the detailed design stage. EN6484.R/4.4.1/SR 3
Drakelow Park: Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary Ground Conditions and Contamination Previous site investigations found soil and groundwater contamination in parts of the Site. Owing to the historical and current land uses of the Site, there is the potential for contamination and underground obstructions to be present. However, following demolition of the power stations work was undertaken in the area to remove underground structures, backfill and re-level the ground. Activities associated with redeveloping the Site may disturb contamination, which could harm human health, damage buildings and pollute local streams/rivers and groundwater. Obstructions, such as existing foundations, could affect the foundation design of new buildings. However, a ground investigation would be undertaken prior to construction, to establish the precise nature of ground conditions and contamination within the Site. A remediation strategy could be required to ensure that the Site is suitable for the intended uses and that there would be no unacceptable risks to the environment and future Site users. The identified impacts and risks would be reduced to acceptably low levels by adherence to good environmental practices and site management. Therefore the environmental impacts and risks associated with ground conditions and contamination arising from the construction and occupation of the proposed Development would be insignificant. Water Resources The site-specific Flood Risk Assessment and flood level modelling of the River Trent and Darklands Brook demonstrate that flood levels from an extreme flood event would have no significant impact on the proposed Development. This is because of the height of the site above the predicted River Trent flood level and the location of development away from those areas that could flood from the Darklands Brook. With the adoption of a sustainable form of surface water drainage which has been specifically design for the proposed Development, the rate and volume of surface runoff would be reduced in comparison to existing conditions. Surface water runoff generated from the Site would therefore not increase the risk of flooding of the River Trent downstream from the Site and in fact would provide a slight improvement. The proposed Development would increase local demand for water supply and would impact on the capacity of the local foul sewer network. However, the South Staffordshire Water Resources Management Plan indicates that water supply can meet demand to 2035 including likely new development. Upgrades to the existing sewerage system in the locality would be implemented to ensure adequate capacity to serve the proposed Development. Ecology There are no statutorily protected sites of ecological importance in the vicinity of the Site. There is one non-statutorily protected site, namely Drakelow Wildfowl Reserve County Wildlife Site (CWS), within the area of the proposed Development. However, the Site is some distance from the CWS and impacts during construction would be unlikely because of the implementation of good construction practices. Once completed and occupied there could be increased predation from cats, although this can be avoided by inclusion of appropriate physical barriers. The proposed Development has been designed to retain the majority of the valued habitats. In accordance with published strategies and the aspirations of the wildlife agencies, new habitats would be created that are either currently not present within the Site, or which improve nature conservation by increasing the area of habitat available and by creating an interconnected network of wildlife habitats to enable movement of species within the Site and beyond. Inevitably there would be some habitat loss, including loss of wasteland habitat supporting notable plant species, together with the loss of some woodland and grassland of local value. However, the impacts would be mitigated by habitat creation, including the recreating of wasteland habitat on new building roofs, which represent best practice in biodiversity design in new developments. The Site supports a large number of bats with at least seven species recorded, several of which roost in the Stable Block and a nearby cottage. All roosts would be retained in the proposed Development, and a strategy has been devised to inform future detailed design to ensure that the bat populations would not be EN6484.R/4.4.1/SR 4
Drakelow Park: Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary adversely affected. Measures to safeguard badgers, otters, water voles, invertebrates and most bird species that have been recorded have also been identified. An Ecological Management Plan has been developed which aims to maximise the biodiversity potential of retained and newly created habitats alike. A programme of monitoring would ensure the Plan is as up to date as possible and therefore successful in delivering its intended objectives. The Plan would include measures to manage public access thereby minimising adverse impacts on valuable habitats. In addition, the local community would be encouraged to participate in managing wildlife habitats, alongside recognised specialists. This would promote ownership and sense of place for the new residents, in accordance with Government aspirations. Landscape and Visual Amenity Most construction activities would be screened by the mature woodland at the Site boundaries. However, close range views would be available into the north eastern corner of the Site and at widened Site accesses from Walton Road and properties in Stapenhill during the early phases of the Development. From further away, taller construction machinery such as tower cranes could be visible above the tree belts surrounding the Site and would appear in views from the edge of Branston to the north-west of the Site. Landscape character would be impacted during the construction phase, particularly the residential areas of Burton upon Trent, the open areas along the northern floodplain of the River Trent and the nearby areas of rolling countryside to the south east of the Site. On-site, some landscape features would be lost such as fields, trees and hedgerows in the northern corner of the Site, individual trees at the widened entrances and small areas of woodland towards the centre of the Site. On completion of the Development when new areas of tree and woodland planting have become established, these adverse impacts would be largely reversed with the removal of detracting industrial influences and from the establishment of woodland planting alongside Walton Road. Views along the corridor of Walton Road would be adversely affected through widened access points and new road junctions into the Site. However, mid-range and long-range views of the Development from the wider area would remain screened by the dense, mature tree belts surrounding the Site. The Development would also create improved public access through the Site and into the Stapenhill area and provide new open spaces, resulting in benefits to the open spaces along the northern banks of the river. The extent of new planting would result in a net gain in the amount of woodland across the Site in line with National Forest objectives, and the restoration of the sunken garden associated with the former Drakelow Hall would also make a positive contribution to landscape and views within and to the Site. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage The assessment identified limited potential for remains of prehistoric, Roman and medieval date on the Site. It was agreed with the archaeological advisors for Derbyshire and Staffordshire that a programme of further on-site works would be implemented through one or more planning conditions that would be attached to an outline planning permission for the Development. In the event that archaeological deposits were found they would be adequately investigated and recorded. The restoration and refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Stable Block and other structures would substantially improve their condition. The incorporation of the Listed buildings and structures into the main local centre within the proposed Development would be beneficial to the setting of the structures and also provides for their long term preservation. Socio-Economics The provision of public transport in the early phases of the Development would be needed to provide new residents, employees and secondary students with sustainable transport options to local health, education and other community facilities. Affordable housing units would be provided at Drakelow Park, although the precise mix and nature is to be agreed. The provision of affordable housing units would be negotiated with the Local Authority and with consideration of local needs and financial appraisal. EN6484.R/4.4.1/SR 5
Drakelow Park: Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary It is anticipated that over the long term the proposed Development would require additional health and community facility provision to adequately support the needs of new and existing local communities. Discussions have taken place with the Derbyshire County and South Staffordshire Primary Care Trusts to estimate potential health provision requirements, and to plan for adequate future provision. These discussions would continue to ensure appropriate levels and methods of provision. Negotiations with Staffordshire County Council would need to take place to establish the scope for students living at Drakelow Park to be accommodated in secondary schools in Burton upon Trent, and any appropriate off-site contributions. Overall, it is considered the mixed-use Development for the Site would contribute to providing a balance of housing and employment with associated community, education and health facilities, extensive open and green space, and improved access to existing woodlands. This would facilitate sustainable development and sustainable growth in the local area. Drakelow Park is located in the South Derbyshire District, but is geographical and functionally related to the East Staffordshire Borough. It has been assessed that the Site has potential to meet housing and employment requirements in both local authorities and in both the East and West Midlands regions. Cumulative Impacts During the construction phase, some local receptors could experience a combination of nuisance impacts from noise, vibration and dust as well as visual impacts. The assessment found that this would be most likely to occur in the northern part of Walton Road, which would experience noise and dust impacts throughout all three phases as well as reduced visual amenity during Phase 2. Residents at Stapenhill could experience dust and vibration impacts during Phases 1 and 2, although noise is unlikely to be a problem in this location. Future on-site residents are also likely to experience some noise and dust nuisance where construction works are taking place nearby. The measures implemented through the Considerate Contractors Scheme would help to minimise these nuisance impacts on local residents. Even though Drakelow D and Drakelow E power stations and pedestrian and cycle bridge adjacent to the Site are likely to coincide with Phase 1 of the proposed Development, traffic, dust and noise impacts would be unlikely to be exacerbated due to the adequate operational capacity of the local roads, the distance between construction areas and properties and the screening effect of natural barriers such as the woodland belts. An assessment of the air quality impact of Drakelow D and Drakelow E power stations on proposed residential areas within the Site has been undertaken. This found that pollutant contributions to ground level air quality from the power station would be relatively small and all air quality standards would continue to be met within the Drakelow Park Development. Noise-sensitive uses were designed to be located away from the power stations and as a result there would be unlikely to be any noise nuisance caused by the power stations on future residents. A ground investigation would be carried out on the Site and any potential contamination would be identified and remediation undertaken, if necessary, to ensure the Site is suitable for use. Consequently, the likelihood of cross contamination between the sites would be low. No cumulative flood risk impacts are predicted as surface water drainage for the Drakelow Park Development has been designed to prevent this. Some cumulative habitat and tree loss is likely as a result of the Development, the power stations and pedestrian and cycle bridge. However, the bridge has been designed to avoid impacts on water vole and otter and tree loss will be minimised. Mitigation for bats and other ecological management within the Drakelow Park site would also be implemented. Following completion of the Development, given the lack of visibility of the scheme due to the surrounding mature tree belts and the benefit of improved access that the bridge would provide it is not considered that there would be any cumulative impacts resulting on the landscape or visual amenity. EN6484.R/4.4.1/SR 6
Drakelow Park: Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? Following the submission of the application, there will be an opportunity for any interested parties to make their views clear. The Environmental Statement and a set of documents supporting the planning application can be viewed at the following location: South Derbyshire District Council Planning Services Civic Offices Civic Way Swadlincote Derbyshire DE11 0AH The Environmental Statement will also be available for purchase at the address below: Waterman Energy, Environment and Design Ltd Civic House 156 Great Charles Street Birmingham B3 3HN Tel: 0121 212 7700 Fax: 0121 212 7701 Email: benvironmental@waterman-group.co.uk Additional copies of the Environmental Statement can be purchased from Waterman on request. The Non-Technical Summary can be obtained at a cost of 10. A CD version of the Environmental Statement can be purchased at a cost of 20. EN6484.R/4.4.1/SR 7