th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 Joint Note: Development that should have been assessed as part of the cumulative assessment Statement on behalf of: LB Hillingdon, Slough BC, South Bucks DC and Bucks CC. 1. Project 1: Western Rail Link to Heathrow th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 Highways England Comment 1.1 The Western Rail Link to Heathrow proposal it not yet either a committed project nor is it the subject of a live application. Its details and effects are not yet known. 1.2 The proposal was announced on 5 February 2014 following consideration of four options by Network Rail. At the time the assessment for the M4 Junctions 3 to 12 Smart Motorway scheme (the "Scheme") was undertaken, the proposal was at “early stages of development” following its inclusion in the Route Utilisation Strategies published in March 2010. As such, it was not at a sufficiently developed stage to be included in the cumulative assessment for the Scheme and did not come within the guidelines set out in Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (“DMRB”) for those committed, reasonably foreseeable developments that should be included in an assessment. It is understood that an application may be brought forward in due course. Any application for the construction of the Western Rail Link will be required to take the M4 Scheme into account when assessing the effect of its proposals, rather than the reverse. 1.3 Network Rail submitted a Scoping Report (Environmental Impact Assessment – Scoping Report, Western Rail Link to Heathrow, Jacobs, April 2015) to the Planning Inspectorate in April 2015 that set the principles of the proposed approach to the construction of the relocated depot. Chapter 18 of the Scoping Report covers the subject of cumulative assessment. Table 18.2 provides a summary of the major infrastructure projects and developments considered within the cumulative assessment together with the decision taken on whether to include the project or not. An extract from Table 18.2 is provided below, from which it can be seen that it is proposed to include the M4 Junctions 3 to 12 Smart Motorway scheme within the assessment for the Western Rail Link but to exclude Heathrow Airport third runway, HS2 Heathrow spur and Heathrow Express depot. th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 Table 18.2 Major infrastructure projects and other developments near to the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (abstract) 1.4 The Scoping Opinion for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow, published by the Planning Inspectorate in June 2015, also provides the following in relation to proposed access, construction, operation and maintenance: Proposed access “All access points under consideration for construction, operational and maintenance phases of the proposed development should be detailed in the ES. The ES should detail the environmental impacts of each option considered, including a worse-case scenario. The ES should also describe the th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 anticipated type, nature and extent of any other works necessary to construct the accesses (e.g. demolition works, road widening, footpath/pipeline diversions and vegetation clearance).” “Table 1-A of the Scoping Report confirms that Hollow Hill Lane would be permanently closed as a result of the proposed development. The ES should consider fully the impacts associated with the loss of this route as well as any opportunities to maintain an enhanced, diverted access. The applicant’s attention is drawn to South Bucks and Buckinghamshire County Council’s (BCC) comments in this respect. The applicant should continue to engage with Highways England and the local highways authorities regarding the effects of potential construction haulage and access routes. South Bucks comments regarding closure of the M4 motorway bridge at Old Slade lane should be noted as should Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) comments regarding weight restrictions through Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury.” Construction “The number of full time equivalent construction jobs expected to be generated by the proposed development is not included in the Scoping Report. The Secretary of State requests that this figure, along with an explanation of how it has been calculated, is provided in the ES. Details of construction working hours, including any unsocial hours of working anticipated, should also be provided. The size and precise details of construction compounds and material/plant storage areas are not clarified in the Scoping Report. Whilst it is appreciated that this information may not be available at this stage in the evolution of the proposed development, applicants are reminded that this information will be required and should be included within the ES. The Secretary of State considers that information on construction including: phasing of programme; construction methods and activities associated with each phase; ……..siting of construction compounds (including on and off site);………. and number, movements and parking of construction vehicles (both HGVs and staff) should be clearly indicated in the ES. Operation and maintenance “Information on the operation and maintenance of the proposed development should be included in the ES and should cover but not be limited to th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 such matters as: the number of full/part-time jobs; the operational hours and if appropriate, shift patterns; the number and types of vehicle movements generated during the operational stage. The applicant should confirm whether the line is proposed to be used by operational rail freight and assess this accordingly. From the foregoing Scoping Opinion it can be seen that the project remains at an early stage of development and until the supporting information is published it is not possible to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the Western Rail Link. 1.5 It is therefore considered that no additional assessment is required by the Scheme to take in to account the proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow proposals, as it is too early in the scheme’s development for such an assessment to be proportionate. Moreover, as confirmed in the extracts above from the Western Rail Link Scoping Report, the assessment carried out by the Western Rail Link will take the M4 Junctions 3 to 12 Smart Motorway Scheme within the scope of their assessment. th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 2. Project 2: HS2 th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 Highways England Comment 2.1 The implementation of HS2 is dependent on the HS2 Bill receiving Royal Assent and, without such approval, it cannot be regarded as committed, although the policy of the Government is that it will be delivered. Nevertheless, Highways England has carried out a review of published documentation in respect of the construction and operation of HS2 and in particular, the sections of the scheme that pass through the jurisdictions of the four local authorities who have produced this joint statement. 2.2 The published documentation that has been reviewed includes the Community Forum Area Reports (HS2 London – West Midlands Environmental Statement, Volume 2, Community Forum Area Reports, November 2013). The impacts arising from the construction and operation of HS2 in the Colne Valley are summarised within Area Report CFA7. The outcome of the review of interactions with the Scheme is summarised below. th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 Operational Impacts – Colne Valley 2.3 The potential impacts arising from the operation of HS2 within the Colne Valley area are summarised in paragraphs 12.5.3 and 4 of Area Report CFA7 as follows: “The operational traffic and transport impacts within this area will arise from the realignment of PRoW. Occasional traffic may access areas of the Proposed Scheme for maintenance purposes. However, these infrequent vehicle movements will be very low and will not have a significant effect.” 2.4 Given this assessment, Highways England does not consider that it is necessary for the Scheme to take account of HS2 once the HS2 has been completed and is in operation because HS2 traffic will be so limited. Construction Impacts – Colne Valley 2.5 The potential impacts arising from the construction of HS2 within the Colne Valley area are summarised in paragraph 12.4.2 of Area Report CFA7 as follows: “The Proposed Scheme is forecast to result in changes in daily traffic flows due to works and construction vehicles accessing worksites and also temporary road closures and diversions.” Map TR-053-051, reproduced below, illustrates the designated routes for construction traffic in the Colne Valley, together with the locations of local impacts. th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 th Joint Statement 26 November 2016 2.6 The changes in traffic flows during construction of this section of HS2 have been assessed and reported in paragraph 12.4.13 of Area Report CFA7 as leading to significant increases in delays to vehicle users and congestion at the following junctions: A412 Denham Way with Chalfont Lane (minor adverse effect); A412 North Orbital Road with Woodlands Road (minor adverse effect); A412 North Orbital Road with Chalfont Road (minor adverse effect); A412 Denham Way with A404 North Orbital Road (minor adverse effect); A412 North Orbital Road with Denham Green Lane (major adverse effect); Harvil Road with Woodstock Drive (minor adverse effect); B467 Swakeleys Road with Harvil Road (moderate adverse effect); and A40 Western Avenue with B467 Swakeleys Road (moderate adverse effect). 2.7 Highways England notes that the routes subject to construction traffic impacts from HS2 within the Colne Valley are all north of the A413 / A40 corridor, with the exception of a section of the A355 near Beaconsfield. None of these routes overlap with the construction traffic routes identified for the Scheme. 2.8 A more detailed consideration of these impacts is provided in a Transport Assessment (HS2 London – West Midlands Environmental Statement, Volume 5 Technical Appendices, Transport Assessment (TR-001-000), Part 6: Country Assessment, Traffic and Transport, November 2013).