ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Volume 3: Appendices
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ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Volume 3: Appendices PHX-RDG-XX-XX-RP-T-00003 Appendices Appendix 2.1 Informal Scoping Note Appendix 2.2 LPA Informal Scoping Response Appendix 4.1 Processes Note Appendix 6.1 Policies of the Wansbeck Local Plan Appendix 6.2 National Planning Policy Framework Policies Appendix 6.3 Policies Emerging Northumberland Local Plan Appendix 7.1 Ecological Appraisal Appendix 7.2 Ornithological Appraisal Appendix 7.3 Biodiversity Metric Appendix 7.4 Proposed Compensation Measures at Potland Burn Appendix 8.1 LVIA Methodology Appendix 8.2 Visualisation and ZTV Study Appendix 9.1 Transport Statement Appendix 9.2 Framework Travel Plan Appendix 10.1 Noise Legislation and Guidance Appendix 10.2 Construction Noise Calculations Appendix 10.3 Construction Road Traffic Calculations Appendix 10.4 Construction Vibration Appendix 10.5 Operational Road Traffic Scoping Assessment Appendix 10.6 Location Specific Parameter Differences Appendix 10.7 Operational Vehicles Noise Calculations Appendix 10.8 Noise and Vibration Survey Appendix 11.1 Policy and Legislation Appendix 11.2 Consultation with Northumberland County Council Appendix 11.3 Construction Dust Assessment Appendix 11.4 Model Input and Verification Appendix 11.5 Construction Phase Traffic Emission Results Appendix 11.6 Operational Phase Traffic Emission Results Appendix 11.7 Professional Experience Appendix 14.1 Major Accidents and Disasters Risk Table Appendix 2.1 Informal Scoping Note INFORMAL SCOPING NOTE: PROPOSED GIGAPLANT AT NEP3, BLYTH ON BEHALF OF BRITISHVOLT OCTOBER 2020 INFORMAL SCOPING NOTE: PROPOSED GIGAPLANT AT NEP3, BLYTH. October 2020 Prepared for Britishvolt Prepared by Contact Ridge and Partners LLP Jenny Henderson Thornbury House Senior Planner 18 High Street [email protected] Cheltenham Gloucestershire Guy Wakefield GL50 1DZ Partner [email protected] Tel: 01242 230066 Version Control Project 5013422 Issue Date October 2020 Originator JH Checked GW Version 1.1 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 3 The Requirement for an Environmental Statement 3 Project Team 4 Report Structure 5 2. THE SITE AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 6 Application Site Context 6 Planning History 6 The Proposed Development 7 3. GENERAL APPROACH TO THE EIA ASSESSMENT 9 Content of the Environmental Statement 9 Consideration of Alternatives 10 Significance Criteria 10 Mitigation Measures and Residual Effects 11 Cumulative Effects 12 4. TOPICS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS 13 Ecology 13 Transport & Access 13 Noise 13 Air Quality 17 Climate Change 23 Major Accidents and Disasters 26 Socio-Economics 28 5. TOPICS WHERE SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ARE UNLIKELY 30 Landscape and Visual Impact 30 Lighting 34 Hydrology and Flood Risk 38 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 43 Ground Conditions and Contamination 48 Coal Mining and Minerals 52 6. STRUCTURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 56 2 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. This Scoping Report has been prepared on behalf of Britishvolt (the ‘Applicant’) in respect of an emerging application for a Battery Manufacturing Plant at Northumberland Energy Park Phase 3 (NEP3). The Requirement for an Environmental Statement 1.2. The aim of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to protect the environment by ensuring that the Local Planning Authority (LPA) grants planning permission for a project in full knowledge of the likely significant effects on the environment 1 . As set out in Regulation 4(1) of the EIA Regulations, an EIA is a process comprising three parts: (a) “The preparation of an environmental statement; (b) Any consultation, publication and notification required by, or by virtue of, these Regulations or any other enactment in respect of EIA development; and (c) The steps required under regulation 26.” 1.3. Regulation 4(2) states an EIA must identify, describe and asses in an appropriate manner, in light of each individual case, the direct and indirect significant effects of the proposed development on the following factors: (a) Population and human health; (b) Biodiversity; (c) Land, soil, water, air and climate; (d) Material asserts, cultural heritage and the landscape; and (e) The interaction between the factors referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d). 1.4. The 2017 EIA Regulations categorise proposed developments into 2 types. Schedule 1 of the 2017 EIA Regulations lists developments that always require EIA, and Schedule 2 of the EIA Regulations lists developments that may require EIA if it is considered that they could give rise to significant effects. 1.5. The application qualifies as EIA development under Schedule 2, Category 10 (a) which relates to ‘Infrastructure Projects’ of which the proposal would fall under ‘industrial estate development 1 PPG: Paragraph: 002 Reference ID: 4-002-20140306. 3 projects’. Category 10 (a) sets out the threshold as the area of the development exceeding 0.5 hectares. 1.6. Regulation 6 of the EIA Regulations makes provision for a developer to request a ‘Screening Opinion’ from the LPA to ascertain whether an EIA is required if the development meets the above thresholds. This decision is based on the likelihood of significant environmental effects arising in relation to the development proposals. However, given the scale of the development, a Screening Opinion has not been requested from Northumberland County Council (NCC) and an Environmental Statement (ES) will be submitted with the application. 1.7. In accordance with Regulation 15(1) of the EIA Regulations 2017, ‘a person who is minded to make an EIA application may ask the relevant planning authority to state in writing their opinion as to the scope and level of detail to be provided in the Environmental Statement (a ‘scoping opinion’)’. This Scoping Report has been submitted informally to aid discussions with NCC regarding the scope of the EIA. However, a formal Scoping Request has not been submitted. 1.8. Whilst submitted on an informal basis, this Scoping Report provides the necessary information as set out in Regulation 15(2) under the EIA Regulations. This includes: • a plan sufficient to identify the land (Appendix 1); • a brief description of the nature and purpose of the development, including its location and technical capacity; • an explanation of the likely significant effects of the development on the environment; and • such other information or representations as the person making the request may wish to provide or make. Project Team 1.9. This Scoping Report has been co-ordinated by Ridge and Partners LLP with input from the following competent experts (Table 1): Table 1: Technical Experts ORGANISATION CONSULTANT PROJECT ROLE/EIA INPUT Guy Wakefield • EIA Co-ordination Ridge and Partners • Planning LLP Jenny Henderson LDA Design Nicola Longland Landscape and Visual Impact Penn Associates Rachel Penn Ecology and Nature Conservation 4 E3 Ecology Tony Martin Northern Archaelogical Penny Middleton Heritage and Archaeology Associates Crowd Dynamics Tommy O'Hagen Transport Chris Rush Air Quality Hoare Lea Karl Simpson Noise Dominic Merrick Lighting Ground Conditions and Contamination Rolton Group Allan Rose Water Resources and Flood Risk Coal Mining and Minerals Ernst & Young LLP Colin Edwards Socio-economics Joanna Wright Climate Change LUC Katie Norris Major Accidents and Disasters 1.10. The Project Team will be responsible for the preparation of the ES Chapters and Supporting Technical Reports that will accompany the planning application. Report Structure 1.11. In terms of the structure of this report, the site context is provided at Chapter 2 which also includes a brief description of the nature and purpose of development. Chapter 3 sets out the general, approach, scope and methodology that the EIA will undertake. Chapter 4 outlines the topics with the potential for likely significant effects, which are scoped in for inclusion within the ES. Chapter 5 highlights those topics where significant effects are unlikely, that have been scoped out of the ES. Chapter 6 outlines the proposed structure of the ES including its technical chapters. 5 2. THE SITE AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Application Site Context 2.1. The site of the proposed development is located on previously developed land that was formerly used for the storage of coal for the former Blyth Power Station. The site consists of flat, low-lying land with exception to two PFA (pulverised fuel ash) mounds located in the north east of the site which rise up to 12m AOD and 24m AOD. The land is generally open apart from a number of scattered trees and scrub across the low-lying ground. Trees to the western slopes of the PFA mounds were planted approximately 20 years ago and are well established. Tree belts are found in the south-west of the site enclosing an area of 1930’s housing off Harbour View. 2.2. Other localised features include a railway line to the north of the site which continues south along the eastern boundary, albeit this section is now disused. Railway sidings are located in the north of the site associated with this infrastructure. A bridge over the railway to the east of the site provides a connection to the village of Cambois. Two water courses are found within the site, Maw Burn and Cow Gut, which flow in a west to east direction across the site. Both are culverted through the centre of the site. A line of electricity transmission pylons crosses the site generally along its western boundary in a north-south direction. 2.3. The proposed development is located within the area variously referred to as the ‘Cambois Zone of Economic Opportunity’, the ‘Blyth Estuary Strategic Employment Area’ or ‘Energy Central’. This location has historically been a focus for industry, including the former Blyth Power Station and industries associated with the River Blyth and the port. To the south of the site lies Northern Energy Park Phase 1 (NEP1). The site is allocated as a strategic employment site in the current development plan, with a view to this status continuing in the replacement Local Plan that is currently in the advanced stages of preparation.