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Environmental Statement Report for – Rother Valley Railway Limited

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Environmental Statement Report for – Rother Valley Railway Limited Environmental Statement June 2014 Report for – Rother Valley Railway Limited Track Reinstatement between Northbridge Street and Junction Road Environmental Statement – Volume 2 Main Statement Final Document Version Control Version Date Author Approver 0.1 20/11/2013 Robert Slatcher P. George 1.0 02/05/2014 Robert Slatcher P. George 2.0 04/06/2014 Robert Slatcher P. George 3.0 16/06/2014 Robert Slatcher P. George Report for: David Slack Rother Valley Railway Ltd Main Emma Devenport Contributors: Tess Murray Noise & Vibration - Camilo Castro- Llach Air Quality -Enan Keogh Landscape – Fira Ecology & Nature Conservation – CLM Water, Hydrology and Hydrogeology – Water Environment Land Quality –SLR Archaeology & Cultural Heritage – Place Consulting Transport and Access- Integrated Transport Planning Socio-economics – Berkley Hannover Consulting Land Use and Agriculture - David Slack (RVR Ltd) Copy to This report has been prepared by Temple Group Ltd with all reasonable care and diligence within the terms of the contract with the client. We disclaim any responsibility to the client and others in respect of any matters outside the scope of the above. We accept no responsibility to third parties to whom this report, or any part, thereof is made available. Any such party relies upon the report at their own risk. www.templegroup.co.uk Rother Valley Railway Limited Track Reinstatement between Northbridge Street and Junction Road Environmental Statement, Volume 2 – Main Statement Final Contents 1.0 Introduction 5 1.1 Purpose of the Report 5 1.2 Context 5 1.3 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 5 1.4 Scoping 6 1.5 Structure of the Environmental Statement 6 2.0 Description of the Scheme 8 2.1 Scheme Context 8 2.2 Scheme Location 9 2.3 Area History 10 2.4 Description of the Proposed Scheme 10 2.5 Scheme Operation 12 2.6 Land Use Requirements 12 2.7 Construction Overview 13 2.8 Overall Construction Methodology 15 2.9 Structure Specific Construction and Methodology 16 2.10 Operational Overview 17 2.11 Decommissioning 17 3.0 Alternatives and Project Need 18 4.0 Assessment Approach and Methodology 19 4.1 Approach to EIA 19 4.2 Study Area 20 4.3 Existing Baseline and Future Conditions 20 4.4 Identifying Potential Impacts and Effects - Direct, Indirect and Cumulative 20 4.5 Significance of Effect 21 4.6 Mitigation Measures, Enhancements and Residual Effects 22 4.7 Scope of Assessment 23 4.8 Planning and Policy Context 23 4.9 Limitations to the assessment 24 5.0 Consultation 25 5.1 Overview 25 5.2 Scoping 25 www.templegroup.co.uk Rother Valley Railway Limited Track Reinstatement between Northbridge Street and Junction Road Environmental Statement, Volume 2 – Main Statement Final 5.3 General Consultation 25 6.0 Noise and Vibration 26 6.1 Introduction 26 6.2 Planning and Policy Context 26 6.3 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 30 6.4 Baseline 36 6.5 Predicted Effects 38 6.6 Residual Effects 43 6.7 Conclusions 43 7.0 Air Quality 44 7.1 Introduction 44 7.2 Planning Policy and Context 44 7.3 Methodology 45 7.4 Baseline 49 7.5 Predicted Effects 51 7.6 Cumulative Effects 53 7.7 Mitigation 53 7.8 Residual Effects 53 7.9 Conclusion 54 8.0 Landscape and Visual 55 8.1 Introduction 55 8.2 Scope of Assessment 55 8.3 Methodology 58 8.4 Baseline 65 8.5 Predicted Effects 84 8.6 Cumulative Effects 86 8.7 Mitigation 86 8.8 Residual Effects 88 8.9 Conclusion 89 9.0 Ecology and Nature Conservation 91 9.1 Introduction 91 9.2 Methodology 93 9.3 Baseline 99 9.4 Predicted Effects 107 www.templegroup.co.uk Rother Valley Railway Limited Track Reinstatement between Northbridge Street and Junction Road Environmental Statement, Volume 2 – Main Statement Final 9.5 Mitigation 112 9.6 Residual Effects 116 9.7 Conclusions 117 10.0 Water Quality, Hydrology and Hydrogeology 118 10.1 Introduction 118 10.2 Methodology 123 10.3 Baseline 125 10.4 Predicted Effects 132 10.5 Mitigation 135 10.6 Residual Effects 138 10.7 Conclusion 139 11.0 Land Quality 142 12.0 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 143 12.1 Introduction 143 12.2 Methodology 145 12.3 Baseline 148 12.4 Predicted Effects 154 12.5 Cumulative Effects 156 12.6 Mitigation 156 12.7 Residual Effects 156 12.8 Conclusion 157 13.0 Transport and Access 158 13.1 Introduction 158 13.2 Methodology 161 13.3 Baseline 162 13.4 Predicted Effects 173 13.5 Cumulative Effects 176 13.6 Mitigation 176 13.7 Residual Effects 177 13.8 Conclusion 177 14.0 Socio-Economics 178 14.1 Introduction 178 14.2 Methodology 179 14.3 Baseline 184 www.templegroup.co.uk Rother Valley Railway Limited Track Reinstatement between Northbridge Street and Junction Road Environmental Statement, Volume 2 – Main Statement Final 14.4 Predicted Effects 187 14.5 Cumulative Effects 191 14.6 Mitigation and Residual Effects 192 14.7 Conclusion 192 15.0 Land-use and Agriculture 193 15.1 Introduction 193 15.2 Legislation and Policy 193 15.3 Methodology 195 15.4 Baseline conditions 198 15.5 Predicted Effects 200 15.6 Cumulative Effects 202 15.7 Mitigation 202 15.8 Residual Effects 203 15.9 Conclusion 204 16.0 Cumulative Effects 205 16.1 Introduction 205 16.2 Methodology 205 16.3 Other Developments 206 16.4 Intra-project Cumulative Effects 206 16.5 Inter-project Cumulative Effects 206 16.6 Conclusion 207 Appendices Appendix 1 Bibliography Appendix 2 Mitigation Summary Tables Appendix 3 Residual Effects Summary Table Appendix 4 Draft Construction Environmental Management Plan Appendix 5 Noise and Vibration Appendices Appendix 6A Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Appendices Appendix 6B Assessment of Historic Maps www.templegroup.co.uk Rother Valley Railway Limited Track Reinstatement between Northbridge Street and Junction Road Environmental Statement, Volume 2 – Main Statement Final Abbreviations AADT Annual Average Daily Traffic ALC Agricultural Land Classification AOD Above Ordnance Datum AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AQMA Air Quality Management Area AQS Air Quality Standards BAP Biodiversity Action Plan BGS British Geological Survey BPM Best Practicable Means BS British Standard BRE Building Research Establishment CEMP Construction Environmental Management Plan CFMP Catchment Flood Management Plan COPA Control of Pollution Act CRN Calculation of Railway Noise CRTN Calculation of Road Traffic Noise DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government Defra Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs DfT Department for Transport DMRB Design Manual for Roads and Bridges DWP Department for Work and Pensions EcMP Ecology Management Plan EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EPUK Environmental Protection United Kingdom ES Environmental Statement EU European Union FRA Flood Risk Assessment GLVIA Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment HDV Heavy Duty Vehicle www.templegroup.co.uk 1 Rother Valley Railway Limited Track Reinstatement between Northbridge Street and Junction Road Environmental Statement, Volume 2 – Main Statement Final IEEM Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management JSA Job Seekers Allowance LAQM.TG Local Air Quality Management Technical Guidance LOAEL Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Level LSOA Lower Super Output Area MAFF Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food MMU Manchester Metropolitan University NAQO National Air Quality Objective NIRR Noise Insulation (Railways) Regulations NPPF National Planning Policy Framework ONS Office for National Statistics OS Ordnance Survey PFRA Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment PLQRA Preliminary Land Quality Risk Assessment PPG Planning Policy Guidance PPL Potential Pollution Linkages PPS Planning Policy Statement PPV Peak Particle Velocity RDC Rother District Council RVR Rother Valley Railway Limited SEL Sound Exposure Level SFRA Strategic Flood Risk Assessment SNCI Site of Nature Conservation Interest SOAEL Significant Observable Effect Level SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest SWMP Surface Water Management Plan SxBRC Sussex Biological Records Centre TSR&GD Traffic Signs Regulation & General Directions VDV Vibration Dose Value WFD Water Framework Directive ZTV Zone of Theoretical Visibility www.templegroup.co.uk 2 Rother Valley Railway Limited Track Reinstatement between Northbridge Street and Junction Road Environmental Statement, Volume 2 – Main Statement Final Glossary A Airborne noise For the purposes of this report, airborne noise is defined as that mainly generated by the train and the interaction of the wheel and the railhead. Ambient noise Totally encompassing sound in a given situation over a given time period, measured as an Equivalent Continuous Sound Level aquifer A porous body of rock capable of holding quantities of water that can be abstracted for human use. arable Land use for growing crops. at-grade At ground level. B ballast Stone material which forms the trackbed of a railway line. baseline Information which represents the environmental conditions immediately prior to the implementation of any scheme. Environmental impacts or benefits are assessed by measuring how much the baseline conditions would change. Biodiversity Action Plan A program to maintain or restore habitats and species. C cantilevered A projecting structure, for example a walkway that is supported at only one end. cartographic Pertaining to maps. catchment An area of land that drains in to a single watercourse. D dB The unit of noise measurement in terms of decibels (dB) desk based assessment A study undertaken utilising available data sources only and not based on original site derived information. E Environmental Impact Assessment A formal process which assesses the potential environmental effects of a project. Environmental Statement Document in which the results of an EIA are presented to decision-makers and the public. F floodplain Flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge. fluvial The processes associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and landforms created by them.
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