Welbeck Colliery
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Tetron Point LP WELBECK COLLIERY ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Welbeck Colliery, Meden Vale, Nottinghamshire Volume 1 - Main Text and Embedded Figures J B Landscape Associates redacted for data protection redacted for data protection Contents VOLUME 1. ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT TEXT AND EMBEDDED FIGURES Page No 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 2.0 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 5 3.0 METHODOLOGY 10 4.0 PLANNING AND POLICY CONTEXT 14 5.0 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT 33 6.0 ECOLOGY 48 7.0 GEOLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY, LAND USE AND CONTAMINATED LAND 61 8.0 HYDROLOGY 73 9.0 TRANSPORT 82 10.0 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS 93 11.0 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 102 12.0 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION 105 AA Environmental LLP UK Coal & Tetron Point LP 103186 Welbeck Colliery VOLUME 2. ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT FIGURES AND APPENDICES FIGURES FIGURE 1.1 SITE LOCATION PLAN FIGURE 1.2 SITE BOUNDARY PLAN FIGURE 1.3 PROPOSED BLOCK PLAN – RESTORATION (DRAWING NO. 2012-PL001 B) FIGURE 2.1 COLLIERY LAYOUT IN 1994 WITH ANNOTATIONS FIGURE 2.2 SITE FACILITIES IN 1994 WITH INDICATIVE SITE BOUNDARY FIGURE 2.3 PERMITTED RESTORATION SCHEME FIGURE 2.4 PROPOSED SITE INFRASTRUCTURE FIGURE 5.1 LOCAL PLAN POLICY AREAS FIGURE 5.2 POTENTIAL LINKS TO RECREATION NETWORKS FIGURE 5.3 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREA POLICY ZONES FIGURE 5.4 LAND USE OF SITE AND SURROUNDING AREAS FIGURE 5.5 LOCAL LANDSCAPE FEATURES FIGURE 5.6 LAND-USE FEATURES OF SITE AND SURROUNDING AREA FIGURE 5.7 VISUAL ENVELOPE FIGURE 5.8 PHOTO LOCATIONS FIGURE 6.1 NATURE CONSERVATION DESIGNATED SITES FIGURE 6.2 PHASE 1 HABITAT PLAN FIGURE 7.1 LOCATIONS OF TRIAL PITS AND BOREHOLES FIGURE 8.1 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY FLOOD MAP WITH INDICATIVE SITE BOUNDARY FIGURE 8.2 EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM WITH TARGET NOTES FIGURE 8.3 HISTORIC FLOOD EVENTS FIGURE 8.4 DRAINAGE PROPOSALS FIGURE 9.1 VEHICLE ROUTING STRATEGY FIGURE 10.1 SENSITIVE RECEPTORS PLAN FIGURE 10.2 WIND ROSE FOR WATNALL WEATHER STATION (EMBEDDED IN TEXT) AA Environmental LLP UK Coal & Tetron Point LP 103186 Welbeck Colliery APPENDICES APPENDIX 1.1 SCREENING AND SCOPING OPINIONS APPENDIX 2.1 PLANNING PERMISSION APPENDIX 2.2 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS APPENDIX 6.1 SPA MAP APPENDIX 6.2 DESK-TOP STUDY RESPONSES APPENDIX 6.3 INDICATIVE PLANT SPECIES LIST APPENDIX 6.4 EXTRACT FROM SPECIES CONSERVATION HANDBOOK APPENDIX 7.1 SITE INVESTIGATION RECORDS, LABORATORY CERTIFICATES AND CONSOLIDATED RESULTS TABLE APPENDIX 7.2 CONSENTS TO DISCHARGE APPENDIX 8.1 DRAINAGE CALCULATIONS PHOTO PLATES PLATES 1 TO 8 AA Environmental LLP UK Coal & Tetron Point LP 103186 Welbeck Colliery 1.0 INTRODUCTION Overview 1.1 UK Coal and Tetron Point LP propose to restore the northern section of the mineral workings at Welbeck Colliery in Meden Vale, Nottinghamshire. The site is located at National Grid reference SK 576 700 and is shown on Figure 1.1. 1.2 This document is the Environmental Statement (ES) which has been prepared as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and accompanies the planning application for the restoration of the northern part of the existing spoil heap. The purpose of an ES is to identify and evaluate the environmental effects that are likely to arise during construction and operation of new development. Where appropriate, it identifies any measures which can be introduced to avoid, reduce, and wherever possible, compensate for significant adverse effects on the environment (hereafter referred to as mitigation measures). Site Description 1.3 Welbeck Colliery was until recently an active coal mine, but is now currently disused. It covers a total area of approximately 127 hectares. In accordance with the existing planning permission the southern section of the spoil heap has been restored in line with the approved levels and has been landscaped. 1.4 Following the cessation of mining operations in May 2010, it is now apparent that spoil from the colliery operations will be insufficient in quantity to complete the approved restoration scheme and, consequently, the northern part of the spoil heap remains un-restored. It is currently bare and un-landscaped. This un-restored area covers approximately 35.9 hectares and it is the area of the site required for the permanent restoration. 1.5 In addition to the northern part of the spoil heap, the site includes an area of approximately 5.4 hectares made temporarily available for construction. This includes the disused railhead and an area to the north-east of the former colliery buildings, to be used as a Soil Management Area. The total area of the site is approximately 40.3 hectares and shown on Figure 1.2. Overview of Proposed Development 1.6 The proposals are to complete the formation of the spoil heap to a similar restoration profile, but with enhanced landscaping, ecology and recreational potential. However, to achieve this it will be necessary to import suitable material from other sources. 1.7 The formation and proposed landscaping is shown on Figure 1.3 (Drawing No. 2012-PL001 B). The construction works associated with the restoration will be restricted to the north- eastern part of the site and will include the railhead to facilitate the importation of suitable material. Once the restoration is complete, this temporarily available area will be released and utilised as part of a masterplan for economic regeneration of the colliery workings (agreed with UK Coal Ltd. and Welbeck Estates). 1.8 The proposed restoration works will include the following activities: importation of suitable fill material via rail and road; operation of the railhead; earthworks during the restoration works using suitable plant (e.g. dozers and excavators); and temporary offices, welfare facilities and car parking for site operatives. 1.9 Access to the site will be via the A616 and/or Elkesley Road for site operatives, but all Heavy Goods Vehicles will be routed via the A616 in accordance with haulage routes that are to be agreed through consultation during the planning process. These access routes are as existing with no modifications required to the road network. AA Environmental LLP 1 UK Coal & Tetron Point LP 103186 Welbeck Colliery 1.10 Although the importation and restoration works will be completed as quickly as possible, the actual programme will largely be determined by adequate sources of suitable material, however it is anticipated that the formation levels and planting will be undertaken over a 3 to 5 year period. 1.11 Formation works will only occur during day time working hours to be approved by the Planning Authority. The only night time works will be restricted to train movements and unloading of material. 1.12 Enhancement measures will be incorporated into the completed scheme, which will include the following: the retention and management of existing planting (albeit immature) and other habitats already established on the partially completed spoil heap and surrounding area; creation and management of new habitats (woodland, grassland etc.) for nature conservation and amenity value; provision of a series of footpaths with a viewing platform and picnic areas (including a circular route for horse riders, cyclists and walkers). If the local land owners, community and Councils provided the necessary means, it may be possible to connect these routes to the wider existing amenity network; additional ponds to act as surface water attenuation basins as well as habitats for water and wetland based flora and fauna; and new car park adjacent to the sports ground for joint use by users of the sports ground/community area and new amenity area1. Requirement for an EIA 1.13 EIA is a procedure required under the terms of European Directives 85/337/EEC and 97/11/EC on assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. Article 2 of the Directive requires that: ‘Member States shall adopt all measures necessary to ensure that, before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of their nature, size or location are made subject to a requirement for development consent and an assessment with regard to their effects.’ Article 8 then requires that: ‘The results of consultations and information gathered pursuant to [the EIA procedure] must be taken into consideration in the development consent procedure.’ 1.14 These European Directives were most recently enacted into current legislation by The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England & Wales) Regulations 1999 (Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 293) (as amended by the 2011 Regulations). 1.15 The EIA Regulations include Schedule 1 developments for which an EIA is mandatory and Schedule 2 developments for which an EIA may be required depending upon certain criteria; including, the nature and scale of potential environmental effects and the sensitivity of the receiving environment. 1.16 The proposed development at the site falls under Schedule 2 of the EIA Regulations, specifically: Item 11(b), referring to ‘Installations for the disposal of waste’, where the area of development exceeds 0.5 hectare. 1 This facility is subject to a separate planning application and does not form part of this assessment AA Environmental LLP 2 UK Coal & Tetron Point LP 103186 Welbeck Colliery 1.17 Nottinghamshire County Council have confirmed that an EIA is required. A copy of the Screening Opinion, dated 8th July 2011, is attached at Appendix 1.1 along with the Scoping Opinion, dated 20th September 2011. Scoping the EIA 1.18 Scoping is not a mandatory requirement under the EIA regulations, but is seen as best practice. The purpose of which is to ensure that the environmental studies undertaken during the EIA provide all the relevant information on the likely significant environmental effects of the proposals. 1.19 The EIA regulations allow for a developer to request a formal Scoping Opinion from the planning authority, in this case Nottinghamshire County Council.