M25 Junction 23 to 27 - Section 5 Managed Motorways – All Lanes Running Stage 3 - Preliminary Design
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M25 Junction 23 to 27 - Section 5 Managed Motorways – All Lanes Running Stage 3 - Preliminary Design Environmental Assessment Report Document No: 5084755-S5-DO-EN-251 November 2012 Volume 1 M25 Junction 23 to 27 - Section 5 Revision: E Environmental Assessment Report Volume: 1 Contents Section Page 1. Introduction 8 1.1 Project Identification 8 1.2 Purpose of this Report 8 1.3 Scope and Content 9 1.4 The Overseeing Organisation 10 1.5 The DBFO Contractor 10 2. The Project 11 2.1 Background to the Project 11 2.2 History of the Project 11 2.3 Regulatory Framework 12 2.4 Project Objectives 12 2.5 Any Further Support of Government Policies 14 2.6 Project Description 14 2.7 Land Use Setting and Land Take 15 2.8 Construction, Operation and Long Term Management 15 3. Alternatives Considered 18 3.1 Design Options 18 4. Environmental Impact Assessment Methodology 20 4.1 Scoping 20 4.2 Surveys and Predictive Techniques, Method and Constraints 21 4.3 Changes to DMRB 22 4.4 Significance Criteria 22 4.5 Mitigation and Enhancement 22 5. Air Quality 23 5.1 Introduction 23 5.2 Study Area 23 5.3 Baseline Conditions 24 5.4 Methodology 38 5.5 Regulatory/Policy Framework 49 5.6 Design, Mitigation and Enhancement Measures 58 5.7 Magnitude of Impacts (Change) 59 5.8 Supplementary Information 73 5.9 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 73 5.10 Summary 73 6. Cultural Heritage 75 6.1 Study Area 75 6.2 Baseline Conditions 75 6.3 Methodology 75 6.4 Value (Sensitivity of Resource) 76 6.5 Regulatory/Policy Framework 76 6.6 Design, Mitigation and Enhancement Measures 81 Document No: 5084755-S5-DO-EN-251 Page 1 M25 Junction 23 to 27 - Section 5 Revision: E Environmental Assessment Report Volume: 1 6.7 Magnitude of Impacts (Change) and Significant Effects 81 6.8 Significance of Effects on Plans and Policies 92 6.9 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 92 6.10 Recommendations 92 6.11 Summary 92 7. Landscape 93 7.1 Study Area 93 7.2 Baseline Conditions 93 7.3 Methodology 99 7.4 Value (Sensitivity) of Resource 104 7.5 Regulatory/Policy Framework 106 7.6 Design, Mitigation and Enhancement Measures 111 7.7 Magnitude of Impacts (Change) 113 7.8 Significant Effects 116 7.9 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 118 7.10 Summary 118 8. Nature Conservation 119 8.1 Study Area 119 8.2 Methodology 119 8.3 Baseline Conditions 120 8.4 Value (Sensitivity) of Resource 130 8.5 Regulatory/Policy Framework 132 8.6 Design, Mitigation and Enhancement Measures 138 8.7 Magnitude of Impacts (Change) 149 8.8 Significant Effects 170 8.9 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 170 8.10 Summary 170 9. Geology and Soils 171 9.1 Emerging Guidance 171 9.2 Study Area 171 9.3 Baseline Conditions 171 9.4 Methodology 173 9.5 Value (Sensitivity) of Resource 176 9.6 Regulatory/Policy Framework 176 9.7 Design, Mitigation and Enhancement Measures 178 9.8 Magnitude of Impacts (Change) 180 9.9 Significant Effects 181 9.10 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 184 9.11 Summary 184 10. Materials 185 10.1 Guidance and Introduction 185 10.2 Study Area and Baseline Conditions 187 10.3 Assessment 187 10.4 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 191 10.5 Summary 191 11. Noise 193 11.1 Study Area 193 Document No: 5084755-S5-DO-EN-251 Page 2 M25 Junction 23 to 27 - Section 5 Revision: E Environmental Assessment Report Volume: 1 11.2 Baseline Conditions 193 11.3 Methodology 193 11.4 Value (sensitivity) of Resource 195 11.5 Regulatory/Policy Framework 196 11.6 Design, Mitigation and Enhancement Measures 199 11.7 Magnitude of Impacts 200 11.8 Significant Effects 204 11.9 Identification of Difficulties 204 11.10 Summary 204 12. Effects on All Travellers 205 12.1 Introduction 205 12.2 Study Area 205 12.3 Baseline Conditions 205 12.4 Methodology 208 12.5 Value (Sensitivity) of Resource 211 12.6 Regulatory/Policy Framework 211 12.7 Design, Mitigation and Enhancement Measures 213 12.8 Magnitude of Impacts (Change) 213 12.9 Significant Effects 216 12.10 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 217 12.11 Summary 217 13. Community and Private Assets 218 13.1 Guidance 218 13.2 Study Area 218 13.3 Methodology 218 13.4 Assessment of Effects 221 13.5 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 230 13.6 Summary 230 14. Road Drainage and the Water Environment 231 14.1 Study Area 231 14.2 Baseline Conditions 231 14.3 Methodology 235 14.4 Value (Sensitivity) of Resource 239 14.5 Regulatory and policy framework 241 14.6 Design, Mitigation and Enhancement Measures 244 14.7 Magnitude of Impacts (Change) 246 14.8 Significant Effects 253 14.9 Indication of Any Difficulties Encountered 261 14.10 Summary 261 15. Assessment of Cumulative Effects 263 15.1 Introduction 263 15.2 Baseline Conditions 263 15.3 Methodology 263 15.4 Cumulative Effects of the Project (Type 1) 264 15.5 Cumulative Effects of Multiple Projects (Type 2) 265 15.6 Summary 265 16. Conclusions 268 Document No: 5084755-S5-DO-EN-251 Page 3 M25 Junction 23 to 27 - Section 5 Revision: E Environmental Assessment Report Volume: 1 16.1 Summary of Significant Effects 268 16.2 Summary of Mitigation Measures 270 17. References 274 18. Glossary 287 List of Tables Table 2.1 - Annual Average Daily Traffic 11 Table 4.1 - Study Area and Level of Assessment by Topic (as defined by DMRB) 20 Table 5.1: Relevant local air quality criteria (human health) 25 Table 5.2: AQMA within 200 m of the ARN 25 Table 5.3: Arlington Crescent continuous analyser (BBCMS) statistics 29 Table 5.4: Annual mean NO2 concentrations (µg/m³) at diffusion tubes within 200 m of the ARN (after bias adjustment) 30 Table 5.5 Critical Level for annual mean NOx for the protection of vegetation and ecosystems 37 Table 5.6: Estimates of site average background NO2 for determination of incremental dry N deposition rates in 2008 and 2015 37 Table 5.7: Critical Loads for N deposition at designated sites within 200 metres of the ARN 38 3 Table 5.8: Comparison of modelled and monitored PM10 concentrations (µg/m ) 45 Table 5.9: Approach to evaluating the significance of air quality effects (opening year, annual average NO2)47 Table 5.10: NO2 concentrations and changes with the scheme 59 Table 5.11: PM10 concentrations and changes with the scheme 62 Table 5.12: Summary Results – Evaluating Significance (6 questions on annual average NO2) 64 Table 5.13: EU Criteria for Evaluating Significance – M25 Section 5 Local Air Quality (annual average NO2)65 Table 5.14: EU Criteria for Evaluating Significance – M25 Section 5 Designated Ecological Sites (annual average NOx) 68 Table 5.15: Regional Emissions 71 Table 7.1 - Landscape Sensitivity and Typical Examples 99 Table 8.1 - Ecology Appendices and Document References 119 Table 8.2 - Summary of Construction Impacts, Mitigation and Significance 161 Table 8.3 - Summary of Operational Phase Impacts, Mitigation and Significance 166 Table 9.1 - Geology Across the Project 171 Table 9.2 - Geological and Soil Features within Study Area 172 Table 9.3 - Value of Geological and Soil Attributes 174 Table 9.4 - Definition of Magnitude of Impact 174 Table 9.5 - Definition of Significance of Effect 175 Table 9.6 - Definition of Significance of Effect 175 Table 9.7 - Value of Geological and Soil Attributes within the Study Area 176 Table 9.8 - Predicted Magnitude of Impacts during Construction Phase 180 Table 9.9 - Predicted Magnitude of Impacts during the Operational Phase 181 Table 9.10 - Significance of Effects during Construction 182 Table 9.11 - Significance of Effects during Operation 183 Table 100.1 - Estimation of the Level of Risk by Comparison of Consequence and Probability 189 Table 100.2 - Conceptual Site Model 190 Table 11.1 - Descriptors for Magnitude of Noise Impacts in Short Term 195 Table 11.2 - Descriptors for Magnitude of Noise Impacts in Long Term 195 Table 11.3 - Scheme Effects in the Detailed Calculation Area on Scheme Opening (2015) (Short-Term Impacts) 201 Table 11.4 - Scheme Effects in the Detailed Calculation Area by the Design Year (2030) 202 Table 11.5 – Do-Minimum Effects in the Detailed Calculation Area by the Design Year (2030) 203 Table 12.1 - Base Year 2004 Traffic Data 206 Document No: 5084755-S5-DO-EN-251 Page 4 M25 Junction 23 to 27 - Section 5 Revision: E Environmental Assessment Report Volume: 1 Table 12.2 - Traveller Care Facilities 207 Table 12.3 - Travellers‟ Views – Magnitude of Impact 209 Table 12.4 - Significance Descriptors 209 Table 12.5 - Driver Stress/Frustration Magnitude of Impact 210 Table 12.6 - 2030 Do Minimum Traffic Data 215 Table 12.7 - 2030 Do Something Traffic Data 215 Table 12.8 - Significance of Effects 216 Table 13.1 - Planning Assessment Criteria 219 Table 13.2 - National and Regional Planning Policy 222 Table 14.1 - Watercourses in the Study Area 231 Table 14.2 - Target and Current Status of WFD Designated Stretches of Watercourses in the Study Area 232 Table 14.3 - Summary of the Water Environment Importance Assessment Criteria 236 Table 14.4 - Magnitude of Construction Impacts – Surface Water 237 Table 14.5 - Magnitude of Construction Impacts – Groundwater 237 Table 14.6 - Magnitude of Construction Impacts – Floodplain 238 Table 14.7 - Summary of Significance of Effect Criteria 239 Table 14.8 - Importance of Watercourses in the Study Area 240 Table 14.9 - Importance of Groundwater Attributes in the Study Area 241 Table 14.10 - Magnitude of Construction Impact on Surface Water – ERAs, Clockwise Carriageway 246 Table 14.11 - Magnitude of Construction Impact on Surface Water – ERAs, Anti-clockwise Carriageway 247 Table 14.12 - Magnitude of Construction Impact on Surface Water - Slip Road Widening, Clockwise