Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary Issue/Revision Draft Final Date January 2013 April 2013 Prepared by Project Team Project Team Checked by Marian Cameron Andrew Malcomson Andrew Malcomson Project Reference 9616/A5/EIA/NTS 9616/A5/EIA/NTS Barton Willmore 7 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QD Tel: 0207 446 6888 Our Ref: 9616/A5/ES NTS Date: April 2013 COPYRIGHT The contents of this document must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Barton Willmore LLP. All Barton Willmore stationery is produced using recycled or FSC paper and vegetable oil based inks.
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Bloor Homes Ltd is seeking part outline and part full planning permission for a mixed use development at land at Hunters Moon, Chippenham (hereafter referred to as the Application Site ). The development includes the following (hereafter referred to as the Proposed Development ): 1. An outline planning application 1 for up to 450 dwellings, 2.33 ha of employment, land for a new primary school, public open space, landscaping and all associated infrastructure works; and 2. A detailed planning application the first 103 houses and ten employment 'starter units' (c.0.5ha). 1.2 The location and extent of the Application Site (which is situated within the administrative area of Wiltshire Council) is shown on Figures 1.1 and 1.2. 1.3 This report provides a non-technical summary (NTS) of the Environmental Statement (ES) prepared to accompany the planning application. The ES presents the findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment 2 (EIA) undertaken in support of the planning application. 1.4 The full findings of the ES are presented in a comprehensive set of documents that can be viewed at Wiltshire Council, Development Services, Monkton Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1ER. Additional copies of the NTS (no charge), ES ( 100 plus postage) and the Technical Appendices ( 200 plus postage) are available from Lawrence Turner at Barton Willmore LLP, 101 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6PU. The complete ES can also be obtained on CD for 20 (plus postage) from the same address. The Application Site 1.5 The Application Site, approximately 30 hectares (ha) in area and shown on Figures 1.1 and 1.2, is located on land at Hunters Moon Farm approximately 2.5 km southwest of Chippenham town centre, Wiltshire. The Application Site is located to the southeast of the Junction of the A4 Bath Road and the A350 West Cepen Way. The Application Site boundaries are defined by Easton Lane, with Methuen Park beyond, to the north/northwest; Hatts Hire Depot to the north east; the B4528 Saltersford Lane, with the Bath to Swindon railway line beyond to the east; and the A350 West Cepen Way and its associated bund to the south/south-west. 1 Applications for outline planning permission seek to establish whether the scale and nature of a proposed development would be acceptable to the local planning authority, before a fully detailed proposal is put forward. 2 Prepared in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 9616/A5/NTS2013 1 April 2013
1.6 There are a few residential properties within close proximity of the Application Site boundary: these include Hunters Moon Farm, Taffswell Far m and Queensbridge Cottages. Hunters Moon Farm, a single storey dwelling is located within the Application Site boundary at its northern extent. 1.7 The urban area of Chippenham is located in the wider surrounds of the Application Site, to the north and northeast. The land to the south and west of Chippenham form a mosaic of farmland interspersed by the settlements of Corsham to the south west and Calne to the east. 1.8 The Application Site comprises a group of 11 large fields that slope gently away from a high - point at the centre. The southern area of the Application Site is divid ed into two discrete parts by B4528 Saltersford Lane. 1.9 The Application Site is well connected to the local highways network, with the A4, A350 and B4528 within close proximity. There are also a number of Public Rights of Way within the vicinity of the Application Site, which provide links to Chippenham. In addition, a n on-road section of National Cycle Route 403 3 passes close to the Application Site on Easton Lane. 1.10 The Application Site is not subject to any statutory or non-statutory landscape or nature conservation designations. It comprises ten grass fields used for permanent pasture and one arable field. The habitats within the Application Site are known to be used by badgers, bats, birds and reptiles. The Application Site is located within an area which is classified as being at a low risk of flooding. 1.11 The Application Site is not subject to any statutory or non-statutory cultural heritage designations. However prehistoric buried archaeological features, including Mesolithic flint tools have been identified on the Application Site. A number of designated heritage assets have been identified within the Application Site s wider environs including : Corsham Court Grade II* Listed Registered Park and Garden 4 ; Corsham, Easton Royal and Chippenham Conservation Areas 5 ; and a number of Grade II Listed Buildings 6. The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 7 is situated approximately 3.5km to the west of the Application Site and the South Fringes of the Cotswolds Special Landscape Area 8 is located approximately 3 Part of the National Cycle Network, which provides over 10,000 miles of safe cycle routes for use by commuters and for leisure. 4 A register of historic parks and gardens held by English Heritage for parks and gardens of particula r historic importance. 5 A Conservation Area is an area of special environmental or historical importance that is protected from changes by law. 6 Grade II Listed Building are considered to be of national importance and special interest 7 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are areas of precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation s interest to safeguard them. 8 A Special Landscape Area is a non-statutory conservation designation used by local government in some parts of the United Kingdom to categorise sensitive landscapes which are, either legally or as a matter of policy, protect ed from development or other man-made influences. 9616/A5/NTS2013 2 April 2013
1km to the west of the Application Site and approximately 2.5km to the southeast of the Application Site. 2.0 EIA METHODOLOGY Assessment Methodology 2.1 EIA is a systematic procedure that uses best practicable techniques and available sources of information to determine the potential environmental effects (beneficial, adverse, negligible, temporary, permanent, direct, indirect, cumulative and interactive) of a development. This enables the importance of predicted effects to be considered by a local p lanning authority (in this case Wiltshire Council) before a decision is made about the planning application. The prediction of such effects for the Proposed Development was made in relation to both the construction activities and the completed development phase of the Proposed Development i.e. when complete and occupied. 2.2 Within the ES the significance of each environmental effect has been identified. The significance reflects the relationship between: The sensitivity, importance or value of the affected resource or 'receptor' (such as people or wildlife); and The actual change taking place to the environment (i.e. the 'magnitude' or severity of an effect). 2.3 The three levels of significance defined are: Major an effect which, on its own, could have an influence on the decision making process; Moderate an effect which, on its own, could have some influence on decision making, particularly when combined with other similar effects; or Minor an effect which, on its own, is likely to have a minor influ ence on decision making but when combined with other effects could have greater influence. 2.4 Table 1.1 shows the relationship between the value of the receptor and the magnitude of an effect used to determine the significance of an effect. 9616/A5/NTS2013 3 April 2013
Table 1: Significance Matrix Sensitivity/Value of Receptor High (England, UK, International) Medium (County, Regional) Low (Local, District) Magnitude of Effect High Medium Low Major Major/ Moderate Moderate Major/ Moderate Moderate Moderate/ Minor Moderate Moderate/ Minor Minor 2.5 Effects are also described as: Adverse i.e. detrimental or negative effects to an environmental resource or receptor; or Beneficial i.e. advantageous or positive effect to an environmental resource or receptor. 2.6 Where an effect is considered to be not significant or have no influence, irrespective of other effects, it is classified as negligible. Cumulative Effects 2.7 Within EIA, the cumulative effects of a development in conjunction with other consented but not yet built development in the area are considered. Cumulative effects are generally considered to arise from the combination of effects from the Proposed Development and from other proposed or permitted schemes in the vicinity. The following cumulative schemes are considered in the ES and are shown on Figure 2.1: Embankment Site, Bath Road, Chippenham (Application Number 10/00537/FUL) Construction of five dwellings; Former Cattle Market, Cocklebury Road, Chippenham (Application Number 10/03558/FUL) Construction of nine dwellings; Westinghouse Recreation Ground, Park Avenue, Chippenham (Application Number 11/00134/FUL) Construction of 76 dwellings; Bucklands Garage, 140-142 London Road, Chippenham (Application Number 11/00449/FUL) Construction of 14 dwellings; and Land at North Chippenham, Hill Corner Road, West of A350, Chippenham (Application Number 12/00560/OUT) Mixed use scheme for up to: 750 dwellings; 12,710 sqm employment space (B1, B2, B8); A local centre; Primary School ; and new Link Road. 9616/A5/NTS2013 4 April 2013
Determining the Content of the ES 2.8 Scoping' involves focusing the study (and hence the ES) on environmental issues of potential significance. The scope (content) of the ES was established by the project team at the start of the EIA process. A request for a Scoping Opinion 9 was sent to Wiltshire Council on the 10 th August 2012. Wiltshire Council adopted a Scoping Opinion on the 18 th October 2012. The adopted Scoping Opinion confirmed that in general terms, the scope and methodology was considered to be acceptable. The Scoping Process identified that the following environmental topics were to be addressed within the ES: Landscape and visual effects; Ecology and nature conservation; Transport and access; Air quality; Noise and vibration; Water resources; Archaeology and cultural heritage; Socio-economics; and Agriculture and Soil Resources. Consultation Process 2.9 As part of the design of the Proposed Development consultation has been undertaken with the local community and key stakeholders including: Wiltshire Council; the Environment Agency; Natural England; Wessex Water; English Heritage; Wiltshire and Swindon Historic Environment Records; and the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC). Bloor Homes Ltd also held a public exhibition in November 2012. The public exhibition outlined information on the Proposed Development and planning application progress and provided an opportunity for local residents to feed back their comments on the proposals. Involvement with the local community will continue throughout the planning process and into the construction phase of the Proposed Development. 3.0 ALTERNATIVES 9 A Scoping Opinion is a written statement of the local authority s opinion as to the information to be provided in the ES, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2011. 9616/A5/NTS2013 5 April 2013
3.1 The EIA Regulations 10 require that an applicant provides an outline of the main alternatives considered. Bloor Homes Ltd has considered alternative designs for the Proposed Development following identification of the constraints and opportunities on the Application Site. The layout and design of the Proposed Development has been informed by: the considerations and constraints within the Application Site; the key design principles necessary to ensure the vision for the Proposed Development is achieved; and has considered feedback from the public exhibition. 4.0 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 4.1 The description of the Proposed Development is set out below: 1. An outline planning application [1] for up to 450 dwellings, 2.33 ha of employment, land for a new primary school, public open space, landscaping and all associated infrastructure works; and 2. A detailed planning application the first 103 houses and ten employment 'starter units' (c.0.5ha). 4.2 Development parameters have been established for the entire Application Site and are shown in a series of parameter plans 11. These set out details of the limits necessary to define and fix those aspects of the Proposed Development capable of having significant environmental effects, as defined in the EIA Regulations. These limits or development parameters are shown on the parameter plans, Figures 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5, and are described below. Land Use 4.3 The Proposed Development comprises residential and commercial development, along with space for a single form entry primary school, which will include the main land uses are shown on Table 4.1 and Figure 4.1. Table 4.1: Allocation of Land Uses Land Use Class Use Area (ha) Residential Up to 450 residential dwellings 16.02 School Single Form Entry 1.40 Employment Business, Industrial, Storage and Distribution 2.33 10 The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 [1] Applications for outline planning permission seek to establish whether the scale and nature of a proposed development would be acceptable to the local planning authority, before a fully detailed proposal is put forward. 11 Parameter plans are a series of drawings that set the types of land use, the heights of the future buildings, main points of access, and landscaping proposals. They do not show individual buildings or roads but set out where the key parts of a development will be located on a site. 9616/A5/NTS2013 6 April 2013
Land Use Class Use Area (ha) Public Open To include areas of play, sports pitch and central hill-top 10.42 Space park. 9616/A5/NTS2013 7 April 2013
Residential Dwellings 4.4 Up to 450 residential dwellings will be provided in a mixture of types. The types of houses will vary throughout the Proposed Development, responding to a number of factors including density. The housing mix for the Proposed Development will be confirmed at the detailed design stage. The Proposed Development will provide 30% affordable homes. Building Heights and Density 4.5 The residential dwellings will be a mixture of two and three storeys. The distribution of heights of buildings within the Proposed Development has been established in response to a combination of topography and existing building heights within the surrounding area. The heights of buildings within the Proposed Development are as shown in Table 4.2 and Figure 4.2. Views to the hill-top have been a key consideration when defining building height. Table 4.2: Building Heights Land Use Maximum Height (m above existing ground level) Residential Development 11.5 Employment 15 School 8 4.6 The average housing density will range across the Application Site from areas of between 20-25 dwellings per hectare to 25-32 dwellings per hectare, as shown on Figure 4.3. Public Open Space 4.7 The landscape and open space arrangement for the Proposed Development is shown on Figure 4.4. A landscape strategy for the Proposed Development has been designed with particular consideration to the landscape constraints and opportunities identified on the Application Site, as well as the surrounding existing green infrastructure 12. 4.8 The landscape strategy is based on the following concepts: A natural hill top on the Application Site providing green open space, accessible to the public and providing views across the wider countryside to the south, and views to the town to the north, and incorporating play and sports provision areas; Retain the existing area of woodland within the east of the Application Site to provide publically accessible areas and enhanced biodiversity value through management; 12 Green infrastructure is a planned network of green spaces and other natural features including street trees, gardens, community woodland and parks. 9616/A5/NTS2013 8 April 2013
Retain and enhance mature trees and hedgerows where possible; Provide new street tree planting along the access road, to eventually provide tree canopies to break up the rooflines of development; Create a connected network of open spaces and green routes throughout the Proposed Development; Provide play areas, including natural play areas along public access routes in open spaces, as well as sports pitch provision; Provide new and robust planting to the rear of the neighbouring property, Hunters Moon Farm; and Protect Easton Lane s dense tree and hedgerow boundary, vegetation and semi-rural character, which is part of the National Cycle Network 13, green route. Play and Sports Space 4.9 Play and sport provision is proposed as part of the green infrastructure network. Informal play opportunities are included in the centre of the development providing a centralised Local Equipped Play Area in the hill top park. There is also the provision of a Local Area of Play and a Multi Use Game Area, both also located within the boundaries of the hill top park. This approach is in accordance with Wiltshire Council policies. Access 4.10 Access into the Proposed Development will be achieved at three different points on Easton Lane, which is located along the northern boundary of the Application Site as shown on Figure 4.5. 4.11 The primary vehicular access (the furthest west of the three) will be via an extension of the Methuen Business Park access road, and would cross Easton Lane just west of the existing Hunters Moon Farm. 4.12 The central vehicular access point will provide a link to an area of employment use within the Proposed Development. The furthest east of the vehicular access points on Easton Lane will be located approximately 200m west of its junction with B4528 Saltersford Lane, 250m east of the proposed primary access and link to the Primary Route as shown on Figure 4.5. Car and Cycle Parking 4.13 Car parking will be designed to be safe and secure with natural surveillance. In terms of 13 The National Cycle Network provides over 10,000 miles of safe cycle routes for use by commutes and for leisure. 9616/A5/NTS2013 9 April 2013
allocations for residential dwellings there will be a minimum of: one space for one bedroom dwellings; two spaces for two and three bedroom dwellings; and a minimum of three spaces for houses with four or more bedrooms. In addition there will be non-allocated visitor parking. Sustainable Drainage Measures 4.14 The drainage strategy has been designed in accordance with current legislation and policies and following discussion with the Environment Agency. 4.15 The Application Site has a central hill which creates two separate catchments, north and south. The northern catchment will collect surface water run off via a network of new storm sewers, which will discharge to a new pond in the north east of the Application Site. Controlled outflows from this pond will then be conveyed by a new surface water sewer built under B4528 Saltersford Road which will then flow into an existing highway ditch which subsequently drains into Pudding Brook. The southern catchment follows a similar philosophy with a pond provided at the southern end of the ordinary watercourse which will be retained within a green corridor through the Application Site. These features will provide flood attenuation and provide new wetland habitats, increasing biodiversity on the Application Site. Construction Programme 4.16 Construction will commence in 2013 and be completed nine years later in 2022. It is assumed that construction of the built development will be more or less continuous throughout this period. A Construction Environmental Management Plan will be prepared for the Proposed Development that will provide the methods of managing environmental issues for all involved with the construction activities. 4.17 Wiltshire Council will want to regulate the hours of work by imposition of an appropriate condition prior to the commencement of the works. It is anticipated that these wi ll be 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays. All work outside these hours will be subject to prior agreement, and/or reasonable notice, by Wiltshire Council, who may impose certain restrictions. Night time working will be with the agreement of Wiltshire Council and restricted to exceptional circumstances. 5.0 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL 9616/A5/NTS2013 10 April 2013
5.1 The ES has included an assessment of the effect of the Proposed Development on the landscape and views to and from the Application Site for the construction and completed development phases. To inform the assessment, an appraisal of the current landscape and visual amenity of the Application Site and its surroundings was undertaken. 5.2 The Application Site comprises an agricultural landscape bound by busy roads and a railway which along with tree belts along the eastern and western boundaries lead to it to being well contained. 5.3 During construction there will be a loss of undeveloped land, which will be seen in context of the existing form of Chippenham, and will not adversely affect the open nature of the wider countryside. In terms of visual amenity, there will be local partial or glimpsed views of construction activities seen amongst the retained mature trees and hedgerows from Methuen Park, Easton Lane road bridge, Easton Lane, B4528 Saltersford Lane, Daniell Drive and Pewsham Way at the edge of Pewsham. 5.4 Once completed the presence of new housing, employment areas and a school within the existing fields will have local adverse effects on landscape char acter. However, the retention of existing mature trees and hedgerows and creation of a public open space on the hilltop in the centre of the Application Site will help integrate the Proposed Development into the landscape. The new street planting, together with new tree planting within the network of new public open spaces once mature, will further minimise the views of new buildings and houses as they will be set amongst the trees and hedgerows. 5.5 There will be local moderate adverse visual effects within views from Easton Lane and Methuen Park, and also from the unclassified road to the west of the A350 West Cepen Way. In these views, the new housing and employment area will be seen in context with existing development, the A350 West Cepen Way and overhead electricity lines and pylons. In the long term these effects will reduce as the new trees grow to maturity and soften the appearance of new development. 5.6 There will be no significant adverse or beneficial visual effects during construction or completed development on the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 14, Special Landscape Areas 15 or upon Corsham Park Grade II* Registered Park and Garden. 14 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are areas of precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation s interest to safeguard them. 15 A Special Landscape Area is a non-statutory conservation designation used by local government in some parts of the United Kingdom to categorise sensitive landscapes which are, either legally or as a matter of policy, protected from development or other man-made influences. 9616/A5/NTS2013 11 April 2013
5.7 There will be no cumulative landscape or visual effects arising from the Proposed Development in conjunction with other development schemes. 6.0 ECOLOGY AND NATURE CONSERVATION 6.1 The ES has included an assessment of the effect of the Proposed Development on the wildlife and nature conservation for the construction and completed development phases. 6.2 There are no statutory or non-statutory designated sites within the Application Site. The fields used for pasture and crops within the Application Site are bound by hedgerows with trees. There are also a series of ditches within the fields. These habitats were found to support bats, badgers, birds and reptiles. 6.3 During construction the pasture, arable land and some of the trees and hedgerows present on the Application Site will be lost. This will potentially result in habitat fragmentation and thus a reduction in area available for foraging for bats, badgers, birds, reptiles and amphibians giving an overall moderate adverse effect. However the effects will be minimised through the combination of good practice measures and the protection of existing retained trees and hedgerows to be implemented through the Construction Environmental Management Plan. 6.4 During completed development, once the substantial new and enhanced habitats have matured, there will be moderate beneficial effects for bats, birds, reptiles and amphibians through the provision of greater habitat diversity compared to those habitats currently present. 6.5 It is considered that there will be no cumulative effects associated with the Application Site in relation to other on-going or proposed developments in the local area. 7.0 TRANSPORT AND ACCESS 7.1 The effects of traffic from the Proposed Development on the existing road network were assessed during construction and completed development phases. 7.2 The Application Site is located to the south of the A4 Bath Road and to the east of the A350 West Cepen Way with the existing Methuen Park access road running north from the boundary of the Proposed Development to the Methuen Park Roundabout on the A4 Bath Road. 9616/A5/NTS2013 12 April 2013
7.3 During construction of the Proposed Development it is anticipated that any effects on transport and access will be effective mitigated through the implementation of a Construction Traffic Management Plan and any effects will be negligible. 7.4 Upon completion of the Proposed Development it is considered that there would be minor beneficial effects on pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users as the Proposed Development will provide enhanced footway/cycleways and bus services that will be available for use by the existing residents of south west Chippenham as well as future residents and employees on the Proposed Development. 7.5 The implications of the additional traffic associated with the Proposed Development have been considered through the use of traffic modelling. This indicates that the effects of the additional traffic can be appropriately mitigated through minor modifications to the four roundabouts leading to a negligible effect on the operation of the highway network and driver delay. 7.6 In terms of cumulative effects there will be minor adverse effects resulting from the combined volume of construction traffic from the Proposed Development and other development schemes. This effect will reduce to negligible during completed development with effective implementation of appropriate mitigation measures associated with the development schemes. 8.0 AIR QUALITY 8.1 The ES includes an assessment of the effect of the Proposed Development on air quality during the construction and completed development phases. 8.2 The Application Site is outside any Air Quality Management Areas 16 (AQMA). A review of local air quality monitoring undertaken by Wiltshire Council indicates that nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter 17 levels on the Application Site not form a constraint for the Proposed Development. 8.3 During construction, releases of dust and particulate matter are likely to occur during general construction and earthwork activities. Through good site practice and the implementation of suitable mitigation measures that will be set out in the Construction Environmental Management Plan, the effect of dust and particulate matter releases will be effectively mitigated and the resultant effects are considered to be negligible. 16 An Air Quality Management Area is an area defined by the Environment Act 1995, where prescribed air quality objectives will not be achieved. 17 Nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (i.e. small particles) are the main pollutants associated with road traffic. 9616/A5/NTS2013 13 April 2013
8.4 During completed development the Proposed Development will result in an imperceptible change in air quality compared to existing levels and therefore a negligible effect on NO 2 and particulate matter concentrations at all receptors in the vicinity of the Application Site. 8.5 The cumulative effects of the Proposed Development in combination with the other development schemes are considered to be negligible as the NO 2 and particlaute matter concentrations will remain well below the relevant air quality objectives. 9.0 NOISE AND VIBRATION 9.1 An assessment of the suitability of the Application Site for residential properties along with an assessment of the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development in terms of noise and vibration during construction and completed development was undertaken as part of the ES. 9.2 The main current sources of noises at the Application Site comprise traffic noise from vehicles travelling along Easton Lane, A350 West Cepen Way and B4528 Saltersford Lane, and trains travelling along the railway. Noise levels from these sources are not considered to result in a significant constraint to residential development or open space use within the Application Site. 9.3 The demolition of the single storey dwelling west of Hunters Moon Farm has the potential to cause minor adverse effects at commercial receptors around the Application Site and will have negligible effects on more sensitive residential receptors. General construction best practice will reduce the construction noise and the effects of the demolition will be minimal and short term in nature. 9.4 Construction noise will affect the Proposed Development as it progresses and the residential properties become occupied. The implementation of mitigation measures through the Construction Environmental Management Plan will minimise effects on occupants resulting in a temporary negligible effect which will cease upon completion of the Proposed Development. 9616/A5/NTS2013 14 April 2013
9.5 Vibration will cease once the demolition of the single storey dwelling has been completed. Minor vibration from vehicles and use of plant during construction activities will affect residents once the Proposed Development starts to become occupied while construction activities are still ongoing elsewhere on the Application Site. The effects will be minimised through implementation of the Construction Environmental Management Plan and there would be a negligible residual effect. 9.6 During completed development, noise from traffic using A350 West Cepen Way has the potential for the most significant effect on future residential receptors within the Applicati on Site. A bund is already partly in existence along the western boundary and this together with appropriate glazing specification for new residential dwellings in this area would be sufficient mitigation. 9.7 Cumulative noise and vibration effects during the construction and completed development of the Proposed Development in conjunction with other development schemes will be negligible. 10.0 WATER RESOURCES AND FLOOD RISK 10.1 An assessment of the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development in ter ms of water resources and flood risk during construction and completed development was undertaken as part of the ES. 10.2 There is an existing minor unnamed watercourse running through a shallow valley in the southern part of the Application Site, which after leaving the Application Site continues to pass under the B4528 Saltersford Lane and railway line beyond through adjacent fields to the east. Pudding Brook, runs to the north of the Application Site, adjacent to the A4 Bath Road. Both watercourses form tributaries of the nearby River Avon. Furthermore there are several ditches currently across, and around parts of the perimeter, of the Application Site. The Application Site is not at risk of flooding from any source and there is no historic record of flooding on the Application Site. 10.3 During construction best practice will be adopted and implemented through the Construction Environmental Management Plan to minimise the risk of a pollution incident affecting quality of surface water runoff or off-site flooding during construction works. As a result the temporary effects to water quality within watercourses and flooding off-site during the construction process will be of negligible significance. 10.4 On completion of the Proposed Development the effective implementation of a system of swales (grass lined ditches), permeable surfacing and storage ponds incorporated directly 9616/A5/NTS2013 15 April 2013
into the Proposed Development will ensure that the water leaving the Application Site is of good quality and there will be no increase in the flow of surface water compared to the current situation. Furthermore existing long standing land drainage problems will be reduced or eliminated. Overall there will be: negligible effects on flood risk and demands on water supply and foul drainage; minor beneficial effects on rate of surface water run off and surface water quality; and moderate beneficial by decreasing flood risk to the neighbouring Queenbridge Cottages. 10.5 In terms of foul drainage the surrounding sewerage network is adequate to suppor t the Proposed Development once connections have been constructed between the Proposed Development and the existing surrounding networks. 10.6 Cumulative water resources and flood risk effects during the construction and completed development of the Proposed Development in conjunction with other development schemes will be negligible. 11.0 CULTURAL HERITAGE 11.1 The ES includes an assessment of the effects of the Proposed Development on potential features of archaeological importance and the built heritage featu res in proximity to the Application Site. 11.2 There are no designated or undesignated heritage assets of high significance present within the Application Site. The Application Site has been assessed as having relatively low archaeological value in the form of a low level of buried features, predominately of prehistoric date and historic hedgerows of post-medieval date. Further interest has also been identified in the form of a number of designated Heritage Assets lying within the Application Site s environs. These include a Grade II* Listed Registered Park and Garden (Corsham Court), three Conservation Areas and a number of Grade II Listed Buildings. 11.3 Proposed mitigation with regard to the buried archaeological resource and any sections of historic hedgerow which are proposed for removal within the Application Site s boundaries takes the form of archaeological monitoring during the early stages of site stripping during the construction phase. This monitoring allows for the effective excavation and recording of archaeological deposits and features as they are exposed and their preservation by record. 11.4 The settings of the local designated Heritage Assets and elements of the historic landscape will be preserved and enhanced through landscaping and additional p lanting/screening within, and on the peripheries of the Proposed Development. 9616/A5/NTS2013 16 April 2013
11.5 During construction the cumulative effect of the Proposed Development, in combination with the cumulative schemes represents a continued loss of archaeological resource. Assu ming mitigation is undertaken and the resource is effectively preserved by record, then a long - term minor adverse cumulative effect is predicted at a regional level. 11.6 During completed development, the cumulative effect of the Proposed Development, in combination with the other development schemes will potentially result in combined effects on the setting of designated monuments, such as Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Historic Parks and Gardens. Assuming mitigation is underta ken at all sites, and where appropriate sympathetic design methodologies are adhered to, then a negligible effect should result although locally minor adverse effects are likely to be unavoidable. 12.0 SOCIO ECONOMICS 12.1 The ES includes an assessment of the effects of the Proposed Development on socio economics in proximity to the Application Site during the construction and completed development phases. 12.2 During construction it is anticipated that 150 jobs per year will be generated by the construction of the Proposed Development. These will be supplemented with further indirect employment that may be generated due to requirements for building materials, plant, plant maintenance etc. during the build period. Local services such as restaurants, cafes, shops, petrol stations etc are also likely to experience a temporary boost through the provision of meals, refreshments and fuel to the workforce. 12.3 Once complete the Proposed Development will provide up to 450 residential dwellings with a mix of accommodation size, type and tenure, potentially providing homes for up to 1,045 people. An initial phase of 100 dwellings would provide an early delivery of accommodation for approximately 240 people. 12.4 The creation of an initial 106 jobs and a further 166 to 970 jobs, depending on the final mix of uses, by completion within the 25,000 sqm of employment space will provide a significance boost to the economic viability of Wiltshire creating a permanent major/moderate beneficial effect. Furthermore the provision of a primary school on-site will provide a sustainable source of both education and employment for the Chippenham area resulting in a permanent negligible effect on primary education provision. 9616/A5/NTS2013 17 April 2013
12.5 In terms of cumulative effects, during construction there would be a negligible effect on population, housing, healthcare and education. In contrast the creation of construction jobs and indirect jobs resulting from the Proposed Development in combination with the other development schemes would result in a temporary moderate beneficial effect. 12.6 On completion, the Proposed Development in combination with the other development schemes would create a permanent moderate beneficial effect on population and housing by increasing the numbers and mix of dwellings within the area around Chippenham. There would also be a permanent moderate beneficial effect on primary education as a result of new schools and a permanent major/moderate beneficial effect on employment as a result of the creation of new employment space. 13.0 AGRICULTURE 13.1 The ES includes an assessment of the effects of the Proposed Development on agriculture in proximity to the Application Site during construction and completed development phases. 13.2 The agricultural land on the Application Site is classified predominantly as moderate quality with a quarter of the site classified as good quality. The fields are managed by one farm business. The soil resources of the Application Site would be widely disturbed by the Proposed Development. They do not have any particular attributes other than their agricultural unity. Subject to appropriate handling, the value of the displaced resources will be retained and used within the Proposed Development for engineering and landscaping purposes. As such, it is considered that the residual effect of the Proposed Development on soil resources would be of permanent negligible significance. 13.3 The Proposed Development would affect one tenanted farm holding. The loss of this land is expected to be compensated by the landowner through t he provision of other land. Therefore the Proposed Development is expected to have a permanent negligible effect on agricultural holdings. 13.4 In terms of cumulative effects the Proposed Development in combination with Land at North Chippenham, Hill Corner Road, West of A350, Chippenham would result in the loss of a large area of best and most versatile land around Chippenham which would be a permanent effect of moderate adverse significance in the region. 14.0 RESIDUAL EFFECTS AND CONCLUSIONS 9616/A5/NTS2013 18 April 2013
14.1 In summary, the Proposed Development will comprise up to 450 dwellings; up to 2.5 ha of employment development; a primary school; public open space; landscaping; and all associated infrastructure works. 14.2 The Proposed Development will result in the following beneficial effects: Creation of direct and indirect employment opportunities during construction; Creation of an initial 106 jobs and a further 166 to 970 jobs on completion associated with the employment space; Creation of up to 450 dwellings which would contribute towards required housing growth in Wiltshire, accommodate population growth and would provide a mix of dwelling size, type and tenure; Creation of a new primary school; The creation of swales, permeable surfacing and flood attenuation ponds w ill manage surface water on the Application Site while improving water quality, regulating water flow leaving the Application Site and providing additional new wildlife habitats and landscape features; The retention of existing mature trees and hedgerows; creation of a public open space on the hill top in the centre of the Application Site; new street planting and new tree planting within the network of new public open spaces, once mature will help integrate the Proposed Development into the surrounding landscape and also provide greater habitat diversity which will benefit bats, birds, reptiles and amphibians. 14.3 The ES has also identified a number of adverse effects which will mainly occur during construction, including the following: Views of vehicles and machinery being used during the construction period; Views into the Proposed Development from sensitive landscape receptors; Temporary disruption to users of the local road network; Potential for mobilisation of contaminants resulting in the deterio ration of surface and ground water quality; Potential for dust emissions resulting from the groundworks and general construction activities; and Potential for noise disturbance to the nearby residents in the local area. 14.4 However, the implementation of the mitigation measures during construction such as the use of site hoarding, dust and noise suppression measures and temporary drainage will result in many adverse effects being reduced or avoided. 9616/A5/NTS2013 19 April 2013
9616/A5/NTS2013 20 April 2013