Nottingham Trent Left Bank Flood Alleviation Scheme Environmental Statement VOLUME 1 OCTOBER 2008 Environment AgReenfceyre n Tcietl en umber IMM1000642 W e are The Environment Agency. It's our job to look after your environment and make it a better place - for you, and for future generations. Y our environment is the air you breathe, the water you drink and the ground you walk on. Working with business, Government and society as a whole, we are making your environment cleaner and healthier. The Environment Agency. Out there, making your environment a better place. PUBLISHED BY: Environment Agency Midlands Region Olton Court 10 Warwick Road, Olton, Birmingham, B92 7HX Tel: 0870 8506506 Email: [email protected] www.environment-agency.gov.uk © Environment Agency All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced with prior permission of the Environment Agency. Environment Agency Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS ES Midlands Region Volume 1 CONTENTS NOTTINGHAM TRENT LEFT BANK FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT CONTENTS NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY II 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1 1.1 General............................................................................................................................1 1.2 The Environmental Impact Assessment........................................................................1 1.3 Purpose and Structure of the Environmental Statement................................................2 1.4 Background to the Project..............................................................................................2 1.5 Nottingham Trent Left Bank Flood Alleviation Scheme Objectives...........................3 1.6 Previous Environmental Statement................................................................................4 1.7 Further Information........................................................................................................6 2 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED 9 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................9 2.2 Alternative Options........................................................................................................9 3 PROPOSED PROJECT 17 3.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................17 3.2 Outline of the Proposed Project...................................................................................17 3.3 Programme of Implementation....................................................................................25 3.4 Construction Activities.................................................................................................26 3.5 Operational Phase.........................................................................................................31 3.6 Use of Natural Resources and Waste Generation.......................................................32 4 PLANNING CONTEXT 35 4.1 National and Regional Plans........................................................................................35 4.2 County and Local Authority Plans...............................................................................35 4.3 Other Non-Statutory Plans...........................................................................................40 4.4. Consents and Approvals...............................................................................................42 4.5 Conclusions..................................................................................................................45 5 CONSULTATION 55 5.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................55 5.2 Internal Consultation....................................................................................................55 5.3 External Consultation...................................................................................................55 5.4 Environmental Statement Consultation.......................................................................58 5.5 Future Consultation......................................................................................................59 6 METHODOLOGY, APPROACH AND SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT 61 6.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................61 6.2 Scope of EIA................................................................................................................61 6.3 Methodology for Assessment of Impact Significance................................................61 6.4 Mitigation.....................................................................................................................63 7 SUMMARY OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT, ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 65 7.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................65 7.2 Baseline Surveys..........................................................................................................65 7.3 Human Population........................................................................................................69 7.4 Health Impact Assessment...........................................................................................85 7.5 Flora and Fauna............................................................................................................95 October 2008 iii Environment Agency Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS ES Midlands Region Volume 1 7.6 Noise and Vibration..................................................................................................115 7.7 Air Quality.................................................................................................................125 7.8 Landscape and Visual Amenity................................................................................131 7.9 Water..........................................................................................................................139 7.10 Traffic and Transport................................................................................................149 7.11 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology..........................................................................155 7.12 Soil, Geology and Hydrogeology.............................................................................163 7.13 Land Use....................................................................................................................171 7.14 Cumulative Impacts...................................................................................................179 8 EFFECTS ON THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES 181 8.1 Background................................................................................................................181 8.2 Extent of Impact........................................................................................................181 8.3 Mitigation Measures..................................................................................................181 9 ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENTS 185 9.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................185 9.2 Enhancement Opportunities......................................................................................185 10 IMPACTS IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER KNOWN PLANS OR PROJECTS 187 10.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................187 10.2 Other Developments..................................................................................................187 10.3 Conclusion.................................................................................................................189 11 RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES 191 12 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 193 13 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN 213 13.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................213 13.2 Generic Clauses.........................................................................................................215 13.3 EAP Clauses..............................................................................................................217 14 ABBREVIATIONS 235 15 GLOSSARY 239 16 REFERENCES 245 Annexes Annex 1 Planning Policies Annex 2 Background and Methodologies for Flora and Fauna Impact Assessment Annex 3 Methodology for Landscape and Visual Amenity Assessment Annex 4 Drawings Appendices (issued as separate reports) Appendix A Sawley and Trent Meadows Appendix B Attenborough, Erewash and Rylands Appendix C Meadows and Colwick Country Park Appendix D Colwick October 2008 iv Environment Agency Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS ES Midlands Region Volume 1 List of Tables Table 1.1 The Appendices of the Environmental Statement...................................................6 Table 2.1 Generic Options for Nottingham...........................................................................10 Table 2.2 Summary of Option Selection...............................................................................14 Table 3.1 Summary of Proposed Works within Erewash Borough Council Jurisdiction (Sawley and Trent Meadows)................................................................................18 Table 3.2 Summary of Proposed Works within Broxtowe Borough Council Jurisdiction (Attenborough, Erewash and Rylands)..................................................................19 Table 3.3 Summary of Proposed Works within Nottingham City Council Jurisdiction (Meadows and Colwick Country Park).................................................................23 Table 3.4 Summary of Proposed Works within Gedling Borough Council Jurisdiction (Colwick)...............................................................................................................25 Table 3.5 Proposed Delivery Programme..............................................................................26 Table 4.2 Administrative Counties, Local Planning Authorities and Associated Development Plans......................................................................................................................35 Table 4.1 Relevant National and Regional Plans and Strategies to the Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS..............................................................................................................36 Table 4.3 Local and National Habitat Biodiversity Action Plans Relevant to River Trent Floodplain..............................................................................................................41 Table 4.4 Local Priority Species Biodiversity Action Plans Relevant to River Trent Floodplain..............................................................................................................42 Table 4.5 Scheme Reaches Requiring Planning Permission.................................................43 Table 5.1 Local Planning Authority Screening Opinions......................................................57 Table 6.1 Determination of Impact Assessment....................................................................62 Table 6.2 Duration of Impacts.............................................................................................63 Table 7.1 Environmental Survey Details...............................................................................66 Table 7.2 Sensitivity of Human Receptors and Magnitude of Effect...................................70 Table 7.3 Number of Properties Presently at Risk of Flooding from a Flood Event with a 1% Annual Probability of Occurrence.........................................................................71 Table 7.4 Key Local Businesses Potentially Affected by the Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS........................................................................................................................72 Table 7.5 Key Recreational Resources..................................................................................74 Table 7.6 Number of Properties in Close Proximity to the Scheme......................................75 Table 7.7 Summary of Sensitive Sites in Close Proximity to the Scheme and Potential Impacts...................................................................................................................78 Table 7.8 Summary of Impacts on Recreation Resources for each Scheme Area................79 Table 7.9 Bat Roosts along the Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS.....................................101 Table 7.10 Sites of District Importance for Invertebrates Affected by the Scheme..............103 Table 7.11 Summary of Land Take within Attenborough SSSI............................................105 Table 7.12 Land Take within SINCs/LWS............................................................................105 Table 7.13 Depreciation in Plant Noise Emissions with Increasing Distance from Source..116 Table 7.14 Human Receptors within 200m of the Proposed Defences.................................117 Table 7.15 Areas of Works that will result in a Significant Level of Landscape and Visual Effects..................................................................................................................133 Table 7.16 Recurring Landscape and Visual Impacts with Potential Mitigation and Reinstatement Measures......................................................................................134 Table 7.17 Sensitivity of Water Receptors and Magnitude of Effect...................................140 Table 7.18 Main Waterbodies and Watercourses Next to Works..........................................141 Table 7.19 Chemical and Biological GQA Water Quality Grades........................................142 Table 7.20 Water Quality Grades for Watercourses..............................................................142 Table 7.21 Estimated Lorry Movements...............................................................................150 Table 7.22 Sensitivity of Agricultural Land (provisional, pre-revision system)...................172 Table 7.23 Existing and Increased Footprints of New and Raised Defences........................173 October 2008 v Environment Agency Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS ES Midlands Region Volume 1 Table 8.1 Summary of Impacts and Proposed Mitigation Measures for Nottingham’s Surrounding Villages...........................................................................................183 Table 12.1 Summary of Environmental Impacts...................................................................197 Table 13.1 Environmental Action Plan for Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS.....................217 Table V1.1 Relevant Local Planning Policy for Human Population......................................251 Table V1.2 National and Regional Planning Policy in relation to Flora and Fauna...............256 Table V1.3 Relevant Local Planning Policy for Flora & Fauna.............................................260 Table V1.4 Relevant Local Planning Policy for Land Use and Landscape............................265 Table V1.5 Relevant Local Planning Policy for Cultural Heritage and Archaeology............267 Table V2.1 Protected Species Legislation..............................................................................275 Table V2.2 Criteria used to Assess the Likely Quality of Semi-Natural Habitats for Important Invertebrates........................................................................................................279 Table V2.3 Valuation of Ecological Receptors......................................................................280 Table V2.4 Criteria Used to Define Significance of Invertebrate Habitats............................281 Table V2.5 Magnitude of Change..........................................................................................282 Table V2.6 Guide to Determination of Ecological Impact Assessment*...............................282 Table V3.1 Summary of Sensitive Landscape Resources......................................................297 Table V3.2 Summary of Magnitude of Landscape Effects....................................................298 Table V3.3 Evaluation of Significance of Landscape Effects................................................298 Table V3.4 Summary of Visual Receptor Sensitivity.............................................................299 Table V3.5 Summary of Magnitude of Visual Effects...........................................................299 List of Figures In Main Text Figure 1.1 Individual Scheme Areas of the Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS........................7 Figure 4.1 Areas of Permitted Development, Planning Applications and Mitigation Measures: Erewash Borough Council.....................................................................................47 Figure 4.2 Areas of Permitted Development, Planning Applications and Mitigation Measures: Broxtowe Borough Council...................................................................................49 Figure 4.3 Areas of Permitted Development, Planning Applications and Mitigation Measures: Nottingham City Council.......................................................................................51 Figure 4.4 Areas of Permitted Development, Planning Applications and Mitigation Measures: Gedling Borough Council......................................................................................53 Figure 7.1 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Human Population.................................83 Figure 7.2 Attenborough Gravel Pits SSSI.............................................................................98 Figure 7.3 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Flora and Fauna...................................113 Figure 7.4 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Noise and Vibration.............................123 Figure 7.5 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Landscape and Visual Amenity...........137 Figure 7.6 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Water...................................................147 Figure 7.7 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Traffic & Transport..............................153 Figure 7.8 Areas of Archaeological interest at Sawley Village (Sawley and Trent Meadows Scheme Area)......................................................................................................156 Figure 7.9 Areas of Archaeological interest at Attenborough Village (Attenborough, Erewash and Rylands Scheme Area)..................................................................................157 Figure 7.10 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Archaeology and Cultural History.......161 Figure 7.11 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Soil, Geology and Hydrogeology........169 Figure 7.12 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Land Use..............................................177 Figures in Annex 2 Figure V2.1 Specialist Ecological Survey Locations Sawley Figure V2.2 Specialist Ecological Survey Locations Trent Meadows Figure V2.3 Specialist Ecological Survey Locations Attenborough, Erewash & Rylands Figure V2.4 Specialist Ecological Survey Locations Meadows & Colwick Country Park Figure V2.5 Specialist Ecological Survey Locations Colwick October 2008 vi Environment Agency Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS ES Midlands Region Volume 1 Figures in Annex 4 Figure V4.1 Scheme Overview 1 of 12 Figure V4.2 Scheme Overview 2 of 12 Figure V4.3 Scheme Overview 3 of 12 Figure V4.4 Scheme Overview 4 of 12 Figure V4.5 Scheme Overview 5 of 12 Figure V4.6 Scheme Overview 6 of 12 Figure V4.7 Scheme Overview 7 of 12 Figure V4.8 Scheme Overview 8 of 12 Figure V4.9 Scheme Overview 9 of 12 Figure V4.10 Scheme Overview 10 of 12 Figure V4.11 Scheme Overview 11 of 12 Figure V4.12 Scheme Overview 12 of 12 All the maps provided within this document having Ordnance Survey material are with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Environment Agency, 100026380, 2008. October 2008 vii Environment Agency Nottingham Trent Left Bank FAS ES Midlands Region Volume 1 This page is intentionally blank October 2008 i Nottingham Trent Left Bank Flood Alleviation Scheme Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary October 2008 This Non Technical Summary relates to the Environmental Statement which was compiled as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process for the Nottingham Trent Left Bank Flood Alleviation Scheme. Glossary Abbreviation Definition CIRIA Construction Industry Research and Information Association cSINC Candidate Site of Importance for Nature Conservation Critical Infrastructure Basic facilities and installations whose loss or compromise of would have a major impact on the well being of society. E.g. sewage works, water treatment works, electricity sub-stations. Ha Hectare (area of land) LWS Local Wildlife Site (called a SINC in Nottinghamshire) Penstock A valve mechanism for controlling water flows SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest SINC Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (called a Local Wildlife Site in Derbyshire) Steel sheet piles A series of steel plates that are driven into the ground to provide support for a structure or restrict groundwater flows. 1% annual probability of A flood event that has a 1 in 100 chance of occurring in any given year flooding 2% annual probability of A flood event with a 1 in 50 chance of occurring in any given year flooding The River Trent, Nottingham Environment Agency - i - Nottingham Trent Left Bank Flood Alleviation Scheme