Environmental Statement – Chapters 11-16
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DOCUMENT 5.2 (Part 2 of 2) Environmental Statement – Chapters 11-16 National Grid (Richborough Connection Project) Order Regulation (5)(2)(a) Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 and TEN-E Regulation EU347/2013 Application Ref: EN020017 January 2016 Page intentionally blank Richborough Connection Project Volume 5 5.2 Environmental Statement National Grid National Grid House Warwick Technology Park Gallows Hill Warwick CV34 6DA Final January 2016 Page intentionally blank Richborough Connection Project – Volume 5, Document 5.2 Document Control Document Properties Organisation Amec Foster Wheeler Author Richborough EIA Project Team Approved by Karen Wilson and Chris Chadwick, Amec Foster Wheeler Title Environmental Statement Document Reference 5.2 Version History Date Version Status Description/Changes 04/01/16 1 Final 1st Issue Richborough Connection Project – Volume 5, Document 5.2 Page intentionally blank Richborough Connection Project – Volume 5, Document 5.2 Table of Contents – Part 2 of 2 (Chapters 11 to 16) 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 General introduction 1 1.2 The applicant 1 1.3 The national transmission system 2 1.4 The need for new infrastructure and the Richborough Connection project 3 1.5 Overview of the proposed development 4 1.6 Planning Act 2008 and TEN-E Regulation EU 347/2013 5 1.7 The need for an Environmental Impact Assessment 5 1.8 Purpose of the Environmental Statement 6 1.9 Consultation and engagement 12 1.10 Structure of the Environmental Statement 14 1.11 Other DCO documents 14 2. NEED FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED 15 2.1 The need for the proposed development 15 2.2 National Grid’s duties 18 2.3 National Grid’s project development process 18 2.4 Consideration of alternatives for the Richborough Connection project 20 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 55 3.1 Summary description 55 3.2 Construction programme 59 3.3 Proposed development site and surroundings 62 3.4 400kV overhead line construction 64 3.5 132kV overhead line diversion works 89 3.6 132kV overhead line dismantling 91 3.7 Project design evolution and mitigation 95 3.8 Construction Environmental Management Plan 96 4. PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT 101 4.1 Introduction 101 4.2 National Policy Statements 102 4.3 National planning policy and guidance 107 4.4 Development plans 108 4.5 Other Local Planning Authorities 109 4.6 Other legislative requirements 110 5. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS 113 5.2 Environmental Impact Assessment terminology 114 5.3 Environmental Impact Assessment scoping and scheme evolution 115 Final i January 2016 Richborough Connection Project – Volume 5, Document 5.2 5.4 Project design and EIA scope evolution 127 5.5 Identification of baseline conditions 127 5.6 Assessment years 128 5.7 Overview of assessment methodology 129 5.8 Approach to cumulative effects 130 6. LANDSCAPE 145 6.1 Introduction 145 6.2 Policy and legislative context 146 6.3 Data gathering methodology 157 6.4 Environmental Impact Assessment consultation 159 6.5 Overall landscape baseline 165 6.6 Embedded environmental measures incorporated into the proposed development 197 6.7 Scope of the assessment 201 6.8 Assessment methodology 210 6.9 Assessment of effects: Landscape elements 216 6.10 Assessment of effects: Landscape character 227 6.11 Assessment of effects: Landscape designations 235 6.12 Assessment of effects: Wider study area – National designations 240 6.13 Conclusions of significance evaluation 242 7. VISUAL 247 7.1 Introduction 247 7.2 Policy and legislative context 248 7.3 Data gathering methodology 250 7.4 Environmental Impact Assessment consultation 252 7.5 Overall visual baseline 257 7.6 Embedded environmental measures incorporated into the proposed development 266 7.7 Scope of the assessment 269 7.8 Assessment methodology 276 7.9 Assessment of effects: Views within 1km 282 7.10 Assessment of effects: Views between 1 - 3km 322 7.11 Assessment of effects: Views beyond 3km 331 7.12 Conclusions of significance evaluation 335 8. HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT 355 8.1 Introduction 355 8.2 Policy and legislative context 355 8.3 Data gathering methodology 364 8.4 Environmental Impact Assessment consultation 365 8.5 Overall historic environment baseline 370 8.6 Embedded environmental measures incorporated into the proposed development 377 8.7 Scope of the assessment 379 Final ii January 2016 Richborough Connection Project – Volume 5, Document 5.2 8.8 Assessment Methodology 386 8.9 Assessment of effects: Direct effects on Heritage Assets 391 8.10 Assessment of Effects: Change to setting of heritage assets 414 8.11 Assessment of Effects: Historic Landscape Character 449 8.12 Conclusions of Significance Evaluation 454 9. BIODIVERSITY 461 9.1 Introduction 461 9.2 Policy and legislative context 462 9.3 Data gathering methodology 469 9.4 Environmental Impact Assessment consultation 478 9.5 Overall biodiversity baseline 492 9.6 Embedded environmental measures incorporated into the proposed development 495 9.7 Scope of the assessment 505 9.8 Assessment methodology 517 9.9 Assessment of effects: Thanet Coast & Sandwich Bay SPA/Ramsar 521 9.10 Assessment of effects: Stodmarsh SPA/Ramsar 530 9.11 Assessment of effects: Stodmarsh SAC 537 9.12 Assessment of effects: Statutory sites West Blean and Thornden Woods SSSI 540 9.13 Assessment of effects: River Great Stour, Ashford to Fordwich Local Wildlife Site 544 9.14 Assessment of effects: Little Hall and Kemberland Woods and Pastures Local Wildlife Site 548 9.15 Assessment of effects: Chislet Marshes, Sarre Penn and Preston Marshes Local Wildlife Site 552 9.16 Assessment of effects: Ash Level and South Richborough Pasture Local Wildlife Site 558 9.17 Assessment of effects: Ancient woodland, veteran trees and lowland mixed deciduous woodland. 563 9.18 Assessment of effects: Hedgerows 569 9.19 Assessment of effects: Rivers 573 9.20 Assessment of effects: Ponds 577 9.21 Assessment of effects: Curlew (Non-breeding) 580 9.22 Assessment of effects: Lapwing (Non-breeding) 585 9.23 Assessment of effects: Dunlin (Non-breeding) 591 9.24 Assessment of effects: Marsh harrier (Breeding and Non-breeding) 597 9.25 Assessment of effects: Hobby (breeding) 601 9.26 Assessment of effects: Peregrine (Breeding and non-breeding) 604 9.27 Assessment of effects: Barn owl (Non-breeding and Breeding) 608 9.28 Assessment of effects: Cetti’s warbler (breeding) 611 9.29 Assessment of effects: Kingfisher (breeding) 613 9.30 Assessment of effects: Great crested newts 615 9.31 Assessment of effects: Reptiles 620 9.32 Assessment of effects: Badgers 624 9.33 Assessment of effects: Bat Assemblage 627 9.34 Assessment of effects: Dormouse 634 Final iii January 2016 Richborough Connection Project – Volume 5, Document 5.2 9.35 Assessment of effects: Water vole and Otter 639 9.36 Assessment of effects: Terrestrial invertebrates 646 9.37 Assessment of effects: Invasive Plant Species 650 9.38 Conclusions of significance evaluation 652 10. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT 667 10.1 Introduction 667 10.2 Policy and legislative context 667 10.3 Data gathering methodology 672 10.4 Environmental Impact Assessment consultation 672 10.5 Overall traffic baseline 678 10.6 Embedded environmental measures incorporated into the proposed development 690 10.7 Scope of the assessment 695 10.8 Assessment methodology 698 10.9 Assessment of effects: Construction traffic (all vehicles) 706 10.10 Assessment of effects: Construction traffic (HGV flows) 713 10.11 Assessment of effects: Pedestrian delay (users of PRoW) 725 10.12 Conclusions of significance of evaluation 737 11. NOISE AND VIBRATION 743 11.1 Introduction 743 11.2 Policy and legislative context 743 11.3 Data gathering methodology 751 11.4 Environmental Impact Assessment consultation 753 11.5 Overall noise and vibration baseline 762 11.6 Embedded environmental measures incorporated into the proposed development 765 11.7 Part A Construction noise - Scope of the assessment 767 11.8 Assessment methodology - construction noise and vibration 771 11.9 Assessment of effects – construction noise 775 11.10 Assessment of effects - construction traffic noise 788 11.11 Assessment of effects – construction vibration 789 11.12 Conclusions of significance evaluation for construction noise 790 11.13 Part B Scope of the assessment – operational noise 792 11.14 Assessment methodology - operational noise 796 11.15 Assessment of effects – operational noise 801 11.16 Conclusions of significance evaluation for operational noise 807 12. AIR QUALITY 809 12.1 Introduction 809 12.2 Policy and legislative context 809 12.3 Data gathering methodology 815 12.4 Environmental Impact Assessment consultation 816 12.5 Overall air quality baseline 820 Final iv January 2016 Richborough Connection Project – Volume 5, Document 5.2 12.6 Embedded environmental measures incorporated into the proposed development 822 12.7 Scope of the assessment 823 13. WATER ENVIRONMENT 827 13.1 Introduction 827 13.2 Policy and legislative context 827 13.3 Data gathering methodology 841 13.4 Environmental Impact Assessment consultation 844 13.5 Overall water environment baseline 850 13.6 Embedded environmental measures incorporated into the proposed development 866 13.7 Scope of the assessment 876 13.8 Assessment methodology 883 13.9 Assessment of effects on aquatic environment receptors 888 13.10 Assessment of effects on water resources receptors 896 13.11 Assessment of effects on flood risk receptors 899 13.12 Conclusions of significance evaluation 904 14. GEOLOGY, SOILS AND AGRICULTURE 911 14.1 Introduction