Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report
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Millbrook Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report Table of Contents Glossary .............................................................................................................. v 1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Overview .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Need for and Benefits of the Project ........................................................ 2 1.3 The Applicant ........................................................................................... 3 1.4 The Consenting Regime and EIA Process ............................................... 4 1.5 Purpose of the Scoping Report ................................................................ 5 1.6 Content of the Scoping Report ................................................................. 5 2 Regulatory and Policy Background .......................................................... 7 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 7 2.2 European Union (EU) ............................................................................... 7 2.3 Overview of Decision Making under the Planning Act 2008 and Policy Context .................................................................................................... 8 2.4 National Policy Statements ...................................................................... 8 2.5 National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) .......................................... 8 2.6 National Planning Policy Framework for England (NPPF) – 2012 ............ 9 2.7 Local Planning Policy ............................................................................... 9 2.8 Other Relevant Policy and Guidance ..................................................... 10 3 Project Description ................................................................................. 11 3.1 Project Site ............................................................................................ 11 3.2 Description of the Project ....................................................................... 13 3.3 Power Generation Plant ......................................................................... 13 3.4 Gas Connection ..................................................................................... 18 3.5 Electrical Connection ............................................................................. 19 3.6 Project Site Selection/Design Evolution ................................................. 20 4 Scope and Structure of the EIA .............................................................. 23 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 23 4.2 Overall ES Structure .............................................................................. 23 4.3 Cumulative Assessment ......................................................................... 25 5 Detailed Description of ES Impact Sections ........................................... 27 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 27 5.2 Significance Criteria ............................................................................... 27 5.3 Air Quality .............................................................................................. 29 5.4 Noise and Vibration................................................................................ 34 Doc Ref: Orbis P1078/04/01 Rev 10 Page No: iii Millbrook Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report 5.5 Ecology .................................................................................................. 37 5.6 Water Quality and Resources ................................................................ 42 5.7 Geology, Ground Conditions and Agriculture ......................................... 45 5.8 Landscape and Visual Impact ................................................................ 48 5.9 Traffic, Transport and Access ................................................................ 53 5.10 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology ........................................................ 55 5.11 Socio-Economics ................................................................................... 59 6 Summary and Conclusions .................................................................... 63 Appendix 1: Ecological Appraisal ....................................................................... 65 Doc Ref: Orbis P1078/04/01 Rev 10 Page No: iv Millbrook Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report Glossary Above Ground Installation The Above Ground Installation incorporates the (AGI) minimum offtake connection (MOC) facility, which would be owned by National Grid, and a Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) Trap Facility (PTF), owned by Millbrook Power Limited. It forms part of the Gas Connection and is located within the Gas Connection Opportunity Area. Above Ordnance Datum Ordnance Datum is the vertical datum used by (AOD) Ordnance Survey as the basis for deriving height of ground level on maps. Topography may be described using the level in comparison to ‘above’ ordnance datum. Access Road The proposed purpose built access road from Green Lane to the Generating Equipment Site. It is located within the Power Generation Plant Site. agriculture Section 336(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 defines agriculture as including: Horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming; The breeding and keeping of livestock (including any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur, or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land); The use of land as grazing land, meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds; and The use of land for woodlands where that use is ancillary to the farming of land for other agricultural purposes. Agricultural Land The ALC provides a method for assessing the Classification (ALC) quality of farmland to enable informed choices to be made about its future use within the planning system. air pollutants Amounts of foreign and/or natural substances occurring in the atmosphere that may result in adverse effects on humans, animals, vegetation and/or materials. Air Quality Management A defined area by virtue of Section 82(3) of the Area (AQMA) Environment Act 1995, where it appears that the air quality objectives prescribed under the UK Air Quality Strategy will not be achieved. In these areas, a Local Authority must designate Air Quality Management Areas, within which an Action Plan can be proposed to secure Doc Ref: Orbis P1078/04/01 Rev 10 Page No: v Millbrook Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report improvements in air quality so that prescribed air quality objectives can be achieved. Air Quality Sensitive People, property or designated sites for nature Receptors conservation that may be at risk from exposure to air pollutants that could potentially arise as a result of the Project. amenity The preferable features of a location which contribute to its overall character and the enjoyment of residents or visitors. Applicant Millbrook Power Limited. aquiclude An impermeable body of rock or stratum of sediment that acts as a barrier to the flow of groundwater. Area of Outstanding Natural An area designated by Natural England as such Beauty (AONB) under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by virtue of being a precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard them. Archaeological Desk Based An assessment of the known or potential Assessment archaeological resource within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. It consists of a collation of existing written, graphic, photographic and electronic information in order to identify the likely character, extent, quality and worth of the known or potential archaeological resource in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriate. archaeological interest Heritage assets with archaeological interest are the primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them. Balance of Plant All infrastructure required to support the Gas Turbine Generators within the Generating Equipment Site and includes: stacks, electrical banking compound, water tanks; administration/workshop/control building and gas receiving station. baseline Environmental conditions at specific periods of time, present on, or near a site, against which future changes may be measured or predicted. biodiversity Abbreviated form of ‘biological diversity’ referring to variability among living organisms from all sources including, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological Doc Ref: Orbis P1078/04/01 Rev 10 Page No: vi Millbrook Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report complexes of which they are part. Biodiversity Action Plan Plans which set specific, measurable, achievable, (BAP) realistic and time bound conservation targets for species and habitats. The UK BAP is the UK Government’s response to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) signed in 1992. More information is available at www.ukbap.org.uk. British Standards (BS) The display of a British Standard number shows that the manufacturer claims to have made the produce in accordance with British Standard. A standard