PREPARED BY PEGASUS GROUP | JANUARY 2020 P18-0847 | ROBERT HITCHINS LTD. ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT VOLUME 1: MAIN TEXT Pegasus Group Project Directory Statement of Competence The following competent experts have been involved in the preparation of this Environmental Statement on behalf of the Applicant. Pegasus Group is a Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and one of the founding members of the IEMA Quality Mark. Competent experts involved in the co-ordination of the Environmental Statement include Chartered members of the Royal Town Planning Institute and IEMA. The Economics team at Pegasus Group leads on socio-economic analysis as part of Environmental Impact Assessments, regularly undertaking demographic and economic research around the country to support planning applications. The team is comprised of demographers and economists, while Pegasus Group is also a member of the Institute of Economic Development. Competent experts involved in the assessment and preparation of the Air Quality chapter have full membership of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (MIEnvSc) and Institute of Air Quality Management (MIAQM). Competent experts involved in the assessment, preparation and checking of the Traffic and Transport chapter variously have Chartered membership of the Institute of Logistics & Transport (CMILT), Membership of the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation (MCIHT) or Membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE). Competent experts involved in the assessment, preparation and checking of the Hydrology and Flood Risk chapter variously have full membership of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (MCIWEM) and are Chartered Water and Environmental Managers (C.WEM) and Chartered Environmentalists (CEnv) or are Chartered Engineers registered with the Engineering Council. Competent experts involved in the assessment and preparation of the Ground Conditions chapter have full membership of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (MCIWEM), Chartered membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers (MIStructE), Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE) and are fellows of the Geological Society (FGS). Competent experts involved in the assessment and preparation of the Noise chapter have full membership of the Institute of Acoustics (MIOA). Competent experts involved in the assessment and preparation of the Ecology chapter have full membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and are suitably licensed with regard to protected species surveys and mitigation requirements. MHP is a LI Registered Practice and the LVIA has been prepared by a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute. The Arboricultural survey as been carried out by a member of the Arboricultural Association. RPS Consulting Services specialise in varied projects, including input to numerous EIAs in the form of Cultural Heritage chapters covering both buried archaeological remains and built heritage. RPS is a Registered Archaeological Organisation with the CIfA. ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Contents CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Assessment Methodology 3. Application Site and Proposed Development 4. Alternatives 5. Socio Economics 6. Landscape and Visual 7. Biodiversity 8. Cultural Heritage 9. Transport and Access 10. Air Quality 11. Noise and Vibration 12. Hydrology, Flood Risk and Drainage 13. Ground Conditions and Contamination 14. Summary JANUARY 2020 | P18-0847 LAND AT OAKLEY FARM, CHELTENHAM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Contents FIGURES 1. Introduction Figure 1.1 Site Location Plan Figure 1.2 Application Site Boundary 2. Assessment Methodology Figure 2.1 Cumulative Sites Plan 3. Application Site and Proposed Development Figure 3.1 Land Use Parameter Plan Figure 3.2 Building Heights Parameter Plan Figure 3.3 Green Infrastructure Parameter Plan Figure 3.4 Access and Movement Parameter Plan 4. Alternatives Figure 4.1 Illustrative Masterplan 5. Socio Economics No Figures 6. Landscape and Visual No Figures – See Appendices 7. Biodiversity Figure 7.1 Site Location and Ecological Designations Figure 7.2 Ecological Features Figure 7.3 Protected Species Figure 7.4 Bat Activity Survey Results April 2019 Figure 7.5 Bat Activity Survey Results May 2019 Figure 7.6 Bat Activity Survey Results June 2019 JANUARY 2020 | P18-0847 LAND AT OAKLEY FARM, CHELTENHAM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Contents Figure 7.7 Bat Activity Survey Results July 2019 Figure 7.8 Bat Activity Survey Results August 2019 Figure 7.9 Bat Activity Survey Results September 2019 Figure 7.10 Bat Activity Survey Results October 2019 Figure 7.11A Overall Bat Activity Survey Results 2019 Figure 7.11B Main Areas of Use by Bats 2019 Figure 7.12 Breeding Bird Survey Results April 2019 Figure 7.13 Breeding Bird Survey Results May 2019 Figure 7.14 Breeding Bird Survey Results June 2019 8. Cultural Heritage Figure 8.1 Cultural Heritage Assets 9. Transport and Access Figure 9.1 2024 AM Peak Hour Link Flows without Proposed Development Figure 9.2 2024 PM Peak Hour Link Flows without Proposed Development Figure 9.3 2024 AM Peak Hour Link Flows with Proposed Development Figure 9.4 2024 PM Peak Hour Link Flows with Proposed Development 10. Air Quality Figure 10.1 Receptor Locations Figure 10.2 Monitoring Locations Figure 10.3 20m Distance Band Around Application Site Boundary Figure 10.4 20 m Distance Band around Roads Used by Construction Traffic Within 200 m of the Site Exit 11. Noise and Vibration No Figures 12. Hydrology, Flood Risk and Drainage No Figures JANUARY 2020 | P18-0847 LAND AT OAKLEY FARM, CHELTENHAM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Contents 13. Ground Conditions and Contamination No Figures 14. Summary No Figures JANUARY 2020 | P18-0847 LAND AT OAKLEY FARM, CHELTENHAM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Contents APPENDICES 1. Introduction No Appendices 2. Assessment Methodology Appendix 2.1 Scoping Opinion Request Appendix 2.2 Cheltenham Borough Council Scoping Opinion 3. Application Site and Proposed Development Appendix 3.1 Agricultural Land Classification Survey 4. Alternatives No Appendices 5. Socio Economics No Appendices 6. Landscape and Visual Appendix 6.1 Figures and Viewpoints Appendix 6.2 Arboricultural Survey and Statement 7. Biodiversity Appendix 7.1 Information obtained from MAGIC Appendix 7.2 Weather Conditions during Bat Surveys 2019 Appendix 7.3 Habitats Regulations Assessment – Cotswold Beechwoods SPA Appendix 7.4 Suitable Examples of Bat Boxes Appendix 7.5 Suitable Examples of Bird Boxes 8. Cultural Heritage Appendix 8.1 Built Heritage Statement Appendix 8.2 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Appendix 8.3 Geophysical Survey Appendix 8.4 Archaeological (Trial Trench) Evaluation JANUARY 2020 | P18-0847 LAND AT OAKLEY FARM, CHELTENHAM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Contents 9. Transport and Access Appendix 9.1 Transport Assessment Appendix 9.2 Residential Travel Plan 10. Air Quality Appendix 10.1 Construction Dust Assessment Procedure Appendix 10.2 Modelling Methodology Appendix 10.3 EPUK & IAQM Planning for Air Quality Guidance Appendix 10.4 Professional Experience Appendix 10.5 Construction Mitigation 11. Noise and Vibration Appendix 11.1 Noise and Vibration Technical Report 12. Hydrology, Flood Risk and Drainage Appendix 12.1 Flood Risk Assessment & Drainage Strategy 13. Ground Conditions and Contamination Appendix 13.1 Geoenvironmental Desk Study Report Appendix 13.2 Phase 2 Ground Investigation Report 14. Summary No Appendices JANUARY 2020 | P18-0847 LAND AT OAKLEY FARM, CHELTENHAM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Glossary, Acronyms and References GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS Term / Acronym Description AEP Annual Exceedance Probability. Used to express flood frequency E.g. A 1% AEP Flood has a 1% chance (1 in 100) of being exceeded in any year. Air quality Policy target generally expressed as a maximum ambient objective concentration to be achieved, either without exception or with a permitted number of exceedances within a specific timescale (see also air quality standard). Air quality standard The concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere which can broadly be taken to achieve a certain level of environmental quality. The standards are based on the assessment of the effects of each pollutant on human health including the effects on sensitive sub groups (see also air quality objective). ALC Agricultural Land Classification AOD Above Ordnance Datum - Baseline standard for measuring height usually measured in metres. AQMA Air Quality Management Area AQAP Air Quality Action Plan Appropriate Assessment An assessment required by the Habitats Directive where a project (or plan) would be likely to have a significant effect on a European site, either alone or in combination with other plans or projects (part of the Habitats Regulations Assessment process in the UK and the Appropriate Assessment process in Ireland). ATC Automatic Traffic Count - Two pneumatic rubber tubes, which are laid on either side of a carriageway. The tubes are connected to a separate recording device, to record traffic flow and speed by classification and time. BAP Biodiversity Action Plan. UK strategy for the conservation of biological resources, now largely succeeded by The ‘UK Post- 2010 Biodiversity Framework’ but lists of priority species and habitats and forms the basis of much biodiversity work. Baseline Existing environmental conditions which are described in the ES Bedrock deposits The main mass of rocks forming the Earth and present everywhere, whether exposed at the surface in outcrops or concealed beneath superficial