Amended Statement

General Permitted Development Order (GPDO)

M25 Widening Junction 16 to Junction 23

Two Environmental Mitigation Bunds – Off Junction 17

1. Introduction This Statement is an Amendment to a Statement which the Skanska Balfour Beatty Joint (SBBJV or JV) submitted to Council in January 2009. The original Statement described the construction of an environmental mitigation bund to the east of the , north of Junction 17, in the area of Mill End in .

This Amendment does not repeat the review of the M25 Widening project which was described in the original Statement. The widening works started on 27 May 2009, four weeks later than planned as a result of the delay to the signing of the Highways Agency contract.

Since the submission of the original Statement in January 2009, the Highways Agency has held the Start of Works Exhibitions during March. During these events Local Authority representatives, local residents and other interested parties discussed the bund proposals with the Highways Agency and the JV.

As a result of these discussions, and residents’ concerns about the original design, Three Rivers District Council and the JV have reconsidered the opportunities to maximise the benefit of bunding in this area. This consultation has identified that a bund on the eastern side of the motorway, north of Junction 17, would benefit residents of Mill End and Rickmansworth. This bund would be smaller in design than the bund originally submitted. A second, small bund on the western side of the motorway, north of Junction 17, was promoted by a number of residents of Chorleywood. Its design is included in this Statement.

This Statement is supported by the following Appendices: Appendix A Bund locations Appendix B Environmental bunds, plan drawing and cross-sections Appendix C Bund locations identified by Highways Agency (Jan 2008) Appendix D Visual impact schedule Appendix E Indicative visual envelope

A similar opportunity to provide noise and visual screening to this level is unlikely to arise in the future. This represents a unique opportunity to provide significant environmental benefit to residents adjacent to the scheme.

Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9SW

The sites are situated within arable farm land north of Junction 17of the M25, lying between Shepherd’s Lane and Junction 17, and beside the motorway. See Appendix A. This GPDO notification applies to these locations.

2. Options Considered During public consultation following the publication of the Environmental Statement (ES), the Highways Agency identified a range of locations in response to requests for bunding to provide noise and visual screening to nearby properties. These locations are shown in the Highways Agency’s plan at Appendix C. Land to the east of the M25, north of Junction 17, has been selected for the development of a permanent bund and noise mitigation. Reasons and benefits: • Provides visual improvement to the widening construction which would otherwise involve a long sheet piled wall, supporting the new hard shoulder constructed on the anti-clockwise side of the motorway • Provides screening of motorway for adjacent properties – environmental (noise) barrier height 2.5m plus additional planting enhancements; Year 1 benefit compared to Year 15 continued visual impact • Provides noise reduction from motorway for adjacent properties – (Rickmansworth) potential reduction of noise levels by up to 4dB, reducing by approximately half, for many residential properties at Mill End • Requested by local community, visitors to ES exhibitions • Avoids unnecessary filling of the County’s limited landfill capacity • Sustainable solution, complying with Government sustainability guidelines • Construction traffic will access the site from Junction 17 southbound off-slip road, minimising the impact on the local road network (reduced carbon footprint) • Faster establishment of screening compared to just tree planting • Landowner agreement under negotiation

Land to the west of the M25, north of Junction 17, has been selected for the development of a permanent landscape, noise and visual mitigation bund.

Reasons and benefits: • Requested by local community • Provides visual improvement to the widening construction which would otherwise involve a long sheet piled wall, supporting the new hard shoulder constructed on the clockwise side of the motorway • Provides screening of the motorway for properties in Chorleywood, and for walkers and riders using the nearby public right of way • Crest height of 3m plus additional planting enhancements; Year 1 benefit compared to Year 15 continued visual impact • Provides potential noise reduction from motorway for properties in Chorleywood

Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9SW

• Avoids unnecessary filling of the County’s limited landfill capacity • Sustainable solution, complying with Government sustainability guidelines • Construction traffic will access the site from Junction 17 northbound on-slip road, minimising the impact on the local road network (reduced carbon footprint) • Faster establishment of screening compared to just tree planting • Landowner agreement under negotiation

3. Site Use Definition Landscape, noise and visual screening mitigation areas A construction design drawing of the bunds is provided at Appendix B. Description of construction methods • The topsoil will be stripped and retained in bunds (mounds) around the boundary of the site to a maximum height of 3m which will provide screening during the filling operations • Transfer inert subsoil arising from the motorway widening works to stripped area and distribute to raise ground levels in accordance with the attached design drawing o these soils comprise only naturally occurring clay and chalk, collected by excavating existing cuttings and embankments alongside the motorway between Junctions 16 and 18 only o dug by hydraulic excavator o loaded into rigid-bodied road lorries or articulated off-road dump trucks o spread by tracked bulldozer o compacted by rollers • Continue over period of approximately six months per bund • A fully designed drainage plan will be submitted to Three Rivers District Council and to County Council • Replace stored topsoil and landscape with some tree and shrub planting

A detailed contamination survey has been undertaken to identify the presence of any contaminated material along this stretch of the motorway. Only naturally occurring inert materials have been found.

Note: the following are examples of materials not included in the bund construction: rubble, rubbish, contaminated material

4. Timescale Archaeological investigations, as agreed with the County Archaeologist, will be carried out prior to entry into the site, by agreement with the landowner.

Access to the land is to be taken as soon as possible from the date of the submission of this Statement, on the provision of landowner agreement. The JV would undertake

Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9SW these early works entirely at the company’s own risk, pending completion of the 28- day notice period. The following sequence would apply thereafter: • West bund (Chorleywood) Topsoil strip and place soil in perimeter bunding – June 2009 Construct bund as described above – June 2009 to November 2009 Re-soil and landscape by Spring 2010

• East bund (Rickmansworth) Topsoil strip and place soil in perimeter bunding – August 2009 Construct widened embankment – August 2009 to June 2010 Erect environmental barrier (noise barrier) – February 2010 Re-soil and landscape by Autumn 2010

5. Access West bund (Chorleywood) A purpose-designed access will be provided on/off clockwise on-slip road at Junction 17. All construction traffic will utilise this dedicated access point, with direct access from the widening works, thus ensuring all vehicle movements on the local road network are kept to a minimum. This bund will be constructed entirely during the clockwise widening period, until November 2009.

East bund (Rickmansworth) A purpose-designed access will be provided on/off anticlockwise off-slip road at Junction 17. All construction traffic will utilise this dedicated access point, with direct access from the widening works, thus ensuring all vehicles movements on the local road network are kept to a minimum. This bund will be constructed during both the clockwise and anti-clockwise widening periods, for completion by June 2010. Detail of the access and egress design will be submitted and approval sought from the Highways Agency.

6. Impacts & Mitigation SBBJV has registered the project with the Considerate Constructors Scheme, and abides by its principles. The JV recognises that the construction of the bunds has a number of impacts on their location and environment. These impacts have been considered and assessed as follows. i. Visual Impact West bund (Chorleywood) The site is set within arable farmland abutting the M25 and extending to the residential edge of Chorleywood, with a few properties having views of the motorway from beyond 500 metres. The land falls towards the M25 and the motorway is visible. Vegetation clearance to prepare for the widening works has further exposed the view of the motorway.

Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9SW

East bund (Rickmansworth) The site is set within arable farmland abutting the M25 and extending to the residential edge of Rickmansworth, with properties having views of the motorway within 300-500 metres. The land rises towards the M25 and has a distinct valley which partially exposes high sided vehicles. Vegetation clearance has taken place to facilitate the widening works and exposes views of all traffic. Landscape Effects Technical Report, Figures 6.8 and 6.10 (Appendix D and E) describe the visual impacts to the areas surrounding the proposed site without the inclusion of the proposed mitigation bund. Specifically, adverse visual impacts are predicted at properties in Long Lane, Home Way, Whitfield Way, Mill Way and Shepherd’s Lane. These locations have direct views of the M25 on embankment, formerly slightly filtered by existing planting now removed. The M25 is highly visible in these areas without further mitigation. The following extracts are taken from the Landscape Effects Technical Report. (6.5.4.2) The Scheme would remove significant areas of vegetation along the anti-clockwise length west of Rickmansworth, opening up views over the open landscape from Mill End and Rickmansworth. There would be limited opportunities to reinstate planting on the eastern side of the proposed Environmental Barrier where it is on embankment and combined with the proposed lighting the Scheme would result in increased visibility of the Scheme for the properties of Mill End and Rickmansworth on the horizon line. (6.5.4.3) Individual property receptors surrounding the Scheme would experience different types of views during the first year of operation including: • properties on the north eastern edge of Maple Cross and Mill End would experience clear views of increased traffic flows of high-sided vehicles, light columns and gantry and environmental barrier on the horizon. • properties at Rickmansworth adjacent to the Scheme and at Mill End would experience wider views of the Scheme on the horizon particularly of the environmental barrier and light columns (6.5.4.4) Generally these receptors would experience a moderate magnitude of impact upon visual amenity, as viewers have prolonged viewing opportunities and a high interest in their visual environment. (6.5.4.5) Overall, the significance of effects upon visual amenity for property receptors at Year 1 of operation between Junctions 17 to 18 would be moderate adverse. (6.5.6.3) Generally these receptors would experience a moderate magnitude of impact upon their visual amenity as new planting is limited and often screening would be the result of maturation of existing and offsite planting only. Overall, the significance of effects

Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9SW

upon visual amenity for property receptors at Year 15 of operation between Junctions 17 to 18 would be moderate adverse. The proposed mitigation bund provides the earthwork support for the widened motorway, instead of a sheet piled wall. The widened embankment would reach the same height as the motorway verge. In order to minimise the amount of land take no additional height is being provided. A 2.5m high absorbent environmental barrier would provide noise and visual screening of the motorway. The embankment slope would be planted with native trees and shrubs which would soften the outline of the fence over time. This proposal is much less visually intrusive than the sheet pile wall originally proposed at this location. In future, the M25 would be screened but not entirely. High-sided vehicles would be visible, as would structures such as lighting and gantries. Planting to the backslope of the bund would also provide screening to these taller elements over time. The backslope of the mitigation bund would be too steep to return to agriculture. A similar opportunity to provide visual screening to this level on both sides of the motorway is unlikely to arise in the future and this represents a unique opportunity to provide significant environmental benefit to residents adjacent to the scheme. ii. Ecology Minor adverse impact on ground-nesting birds. Site clearance has taken place outside the bird breeding season, and a ecological watching brief would be provided during topsoil strip to ensure that ground nesting birds are not disturbed. Minor adverse impact on over-wintering birds. However mitigation is not considered necessary as over-wintering bird populations are highly mobile and suitable feeding sites will remain available on adjacent land. No badger setts are directly affected by the construction of the bund. iii. Agriculture Both bunds will be constructed while taking the minimum amount of land out of agriculture. Consultation with the farmer concerned has identified that this loss is sustainable. iv. Archaeology Archaeological mitigation will be agreed with the County Archaeologist and carried out prior to construction of the bund. The principles of the archaeological mitigation strategy will be compliant with those set out in Section 12.5 of the Environmental Statement for works outside the scheme boundary. v. Water Surface water from the field will be managed and controlled during the construction works. Where possible, any excess water will be collected and will be re-used within the works.

Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9SW

The project Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) will include approved pollution protection measures. Pollution protection management will include liaison with the Environment Agency, concerning the use, control and storage of hazardous materials. No storage of hazardous materials will take place at this site. The permanent effects of the modified landform will be taken into account in the drainage design. vi. Noise There will be a temporary adverse impact during the construction works. However, operations will be managed to minimise the impact on residential properties, by minimising the use of reversing bleepers for example. Temporary screening in the form of a soil storage bund will mitigate the increase in noise as a result of these activities. Control of Pollution Act 1974 s.61 agreements are being prepared for submission to the Environmental Health Office of the District Council. These will include details of working methods, equipment and noise predictions for agreement. Noise levels will continue to be monitored during the project. The effect of the proposed mitigation bunds at this location will reduce the traffic noise levels at properties within 300m of the motorway . vii. Air Quality/Dust All construction activities operations will be subject to dust control procedures. Dust suppression will include the use of water bowers and seeding applied to the topsoil storage bunds. viii. Public Rights of Way Public Rights of Way (PRoW) are affected by both sites (F19 and F66 by the west bund and F21 by the east bund). The PRoWs and run along the M25 boundary. Applications will be submitted to temporarily divert the footpaths around the perimeter of the fields involved, while the bunds are under construction. The rights of way will be protected from the construction activities during this period, being located behind the soil storage bund. The PRoW will be permanently diverted to run along the foot of the bund embankment on completion of the bunds, outside the highway boundary fence. This will be agreed with the local authority. ix. Traffic Construction traffic will be routed into and out of the sites directly from the M25 slip roads at Junction 17. Therefore there will be no adverse impact on the local road network x. Security Access to the sites will be restricted to staff and authorised persons only.

Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9SW

7. Working Hours The construction contractual normal working hours are: 0730-1800hrs Monday-Friday 0730-1300hrs Saturday From time to time, dependent on progress and the nature of works on the motorway, overnight and additional working hours and Sunday working will be required. These additional hours will be agreed in advance with the Environmental Health Office of Three Rivers District Council.

8. Tree, Hedgerow & Site Reinstatement Where retained trees and vegetation are close to construction works, they will be protected compliance with BS 5837: Trees in Relation to Construction. Native tree and shrub planting will be carried out on the bund backslopes which will integrate the bunds into the landscape and over time provide further screening of the motorway.

9. Maintenance / Aftercare The DBFO concession company is responsible for maintenance of the M25 motorway for the next 30 years. This maintenance will include: 1. Maintenance of existing and new planting 2. Maintenance and repair of existing and new environmental (noise) barrier.

10. Community Relations Manager For further information and any questions, please contact the SBBJV Community Relations Manager, Andie Taylor: [email protected] 01923 727659 07736 056825

Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9SW

APPENDIX A

BUND LOCATIONS

Chorleywood bund

Rickmansworth bund

APPENDIX B

BUNDS PLAN DRAWING AND CROSS-SECTIONS

APPENDIX C

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED FOR MITIGATION BUNDING

The Highways Agency identified a series of locations during public consultation following the publication of the Environmental Statement in October 2007 where bunding could provide noise and visual screening receptors – see plan attached at this Appendix which reflects the locations identified.

APPENDIX D

VISUAL IMPACT SCHEDULE

Extract from full list at Figure 6.10 of Landscape Effects Technical Report, corresponding with receptors shown at Appendix E

APPENDIX E

INDICATIVE VISUAL ENVELOPE

Extract from Figure 6.8 sheet 2 of 5 of Landscape Effects Technical Report