IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITED Knutton Quarry, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire Issue of Addendum Report to Environmental Statement
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IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITED Knutton Quarry, Newcastle‐under‐Lyme, Staffordshire Issue of Addendum Report to Environmental Statement – August 2005 January 2011 DATE ISSUED: January 2011 JOB NUMBER: NL06919 REPORT NUMBER: J05 IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITED Knutton Quarry, Newcastle‐under‐Lyme, Staffordshire Issue of Addendum Report to Environmental Statement – August 2005 January 2011 PREPARED BY: D W Bridgwood Associate Director APPROVED BY: C A House Director This report has been prepared by Wardell Armstrong LLP with all reasonable skill, care and diligence, within the terms of the Contract with the Client. The report is confidential to the Client and Wardell Armstrong LLP accept no responsibility of whatever nature to third parties to whom this report may be made known. No part of this document may be reproduced without the prior written approval of Wardell Armstrong LLP. IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITED Knutton Quarry, Newcastle‐under‐Lyme, Staffordshire Addendum to Environmental Statement – August 2005 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................1 2 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT.............................................................................2 3 ECOLOGY AND NATURE CONSERVATION ........................................................................14 4 NOISE ASSESSMENT .........................................................................................................16 5 AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT...............................................................................................17 6 TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................18 7 HYDROLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY ................................................................................19 APPENDICES Appendix A ‐ Revised Photoviews 1‐9 including comparison Appendix B – Proposed Restoration ‐ Deep Lake Scheme NL06919/013 (August 2009) Appendix C ‐ Record of Correspondence with Staffordshire County Council DRAWINGS NL06919/016 ‐ Public Rights of Way NL06919/017 ‐ Proposed Restoration ‐ Pumped Drainage Scheme NL06919/J05 January 2011 IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITED Knutton Quarry, Newcastle‐under‐Lyme, Staffordshire Addendum to Environmental Statement – August 2005 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Concerns have been expressed by local residents relating to the formation of a lake as part of the restoration of the site. Following discussions with County Council officers it has been agreed that an alternative restoration scheme will be provided. This revised restoration scheme substitutes for the original lake proposals. Whilst the lake is no longer to be considered by the Council, the difference between the two needs to be taken into account as it was the lake restoration upon which the ES was based. Hence this Addendum has been prepared. The revised restoration scheme is set out in drawing NL06919/17(Pumped Drainage). As with the original scheme, the restoration is indicative, demonstrating what can be achieved, and it is anticipated that as restoration techniques and priorities evolve over the life of the site the final restoration will be refined and agreed through the medium of periodic review. 1.2 It will be seen that the principle difference between the two working and restoration schemes relate to: 1. The profile of the final restored void 2. The permanent pumping under the revised restoration scheme to remove the lake feature. 1.3 It is proposed to work the quarry in the same way as at present. This is necessary in order to achieve the correct blend of clays to achieve a consistent colour and finish to the bricks. More of the otherwise useable clay will then be left within the site for use in the regrading / restoration of the site and there will therefore be an overall reduction in the total amount of material recovered from the site to approximately 5.6 million m3. 1.4 The original ES dealt in detail with the impact of the proposed development scheme. This addendum focuses specifically upon the differences between to two schemes in terms of the matter originally assessed. This addendum must therefore be considered alongside the August 2005 ES, NL06919/J01. NL06919/J05 Page 1 January 2011 IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITED Knutton Quarry, Newcastle‐under‐Lyme, Staffordshire Addendum to Environmental Statement – August 2005 2 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT 2.1 Following detailed discussions with Staffordshire County Council on 4th November 2010 and subsequent correspondence attached as Appendix C to this report a comprehensive review of the restoration proposals has been undertaken. Effectively the original restoration scheme allowed for a large waterbody surrounded by woodland, scrub and open grassland. Following concerns from local residents and the local authority an alternative restoration scheme has been designed which produces a dry valley landform with two ponds in the base of the landform with a depth of approximately 3m. The restored quarry will be retained in an effectively dry state by a long term pumping arrangement. The revised restoration scheme effectively creates more substantial areas of woodland, scrub and grassland. The habitat gains and losses associated with these revisions are set out in the ecological section of this addendum. 2.2 As a consequence of the amendments to the restoration scheme a comprehensive review of the landscape and visual impact assessment has been undertaken to reflect the revised restoration scheme and also current site conditions. 2.3 This landscape and visual impact addendum should be read in conjunction with the original chapter on landscape and visual assessment which was submitted in August 2005. Where elements remain the same they will be noted in this addendum and not repeated. Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Assessment (2002) 2.4 The methodology and approach to the assessment process remains the same as in the original submission. In order to bring the assessment up to date the photoview points have been retaken and are included with the originals in Appendix A of this submission. Rights of Way 2.5 The public rights of way network remains the same with the exception of footpath 18(previously referred to as No.100) which was diverted in 2010 due to phasing of the mineral extraction. As part of the revised restoration proposals the route of the original path will be restored along a similar alignment to its original position. NL06919/J05 Page 2 January 2011 IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITED Knutton Quarry, Newcastle‐under‐Lyme, Staffordshire Addendum to Environmental Statement – August 2005 Landform, Land Use and Vegetation 2.6 The only change to landform is that associated with the ongoing clay extraction within the working void. Vegetation cover planted within the quarry boundary has grown considerably as illustrated by photoviews 01‐09. Development Proposals 2.7 The revised restoration utilising pumped drainage of the void is illustrated by drawing NL06919/017. The final restoration plan creates substantially greater areas of woodland, woodland scrub and open grassland at the expenses of the water body. The woodland planting mixes will remain the same as agreed with the County Council under the original scheme. 2.8 Along the boundaries of the extraction area and on the restored slopes 13.45 hectares of woodland and scrub and 25.5 hectares of open grassland would be created. This substitutes for the originally proposed 21Ha lake. 2.9 In the base of the restored quarry void it is proposed that areas of 3.15 hectares damp meadow and seasonal ponds would be created. 2.10 Table 1 below compares habitat creation within the proposed pumped drainage restoration with the previous deep lake restoration proposal. Table 1 Habitat Type Deep Lake Scheme Pumped Drainage Scheme Existing Woodland to be retained 2.8Ha. 2.8Ha. General Woodland Mix 4.2Ha. 10.05Ha. Wet Woodland Mix .7Ha. .55Ha. General Shrub Mix .1Ha 2.85Ha. Wet Shrub Mix .1Ha 0Ha. Grassland (inc. footpaths) 14.55Ha. 25.5Ha Damp Meadow .3Ha 1.6Ha. Reedbed 0Ha. .17Ha Seasonal Ponds 0Ha. .85Ha Lake 21.6Ha 0Ha. Measure includes area of retained land along south boundary of site NL06919/J05 Page 3 January 2011 IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITED Knutton Quarry, Newcastle‐under‐Lyme, Staffordshire Addendum to Environmental Statement – August 2005 2.11 It is proposed that footpath 14 (previously referred to as No.102) is restored along its original alignment with a whole series of new pathways created in and around the restored landform as illustrated on Plan NL06919‐017. Planning Context Related To Landscape Issues Current Planning Policy 2.12 The original Landscape and Visual Assessment written in support of the Environmental Statement was submitted in August 2005. Since this was submitted there have been a series of advancements within the approach to and adoption of Planning Policies. Planning Context related to Landscape Issues Reviewed 2005 2.13 Planning policy relating to Landscape issues reviewed within the original 2005 submission were as follows: • Newcastle under Lyme Local Plan 2011 (adopted October 2003), policies S5, C10, C11, N4, N10, N12, N17 and N22. • Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Minerals Local Plan 1994‐2006, policies MLP Policy 9, MLP Policy 21, MLP Policy 22, MLP Policy 23 2.14 The original submission omitted to review all elements relating to National, Regional and County wide planning policy. This now form elements within the Newcastle under Lyme Development Plan. 2.15 The following addendum should be read in conjunction with the review