Netherhouse Farm: Proposed 18 Hole Golf Course Sewardstone Essex Environmental Statement
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NETHERHOUSE FARM: PROPOSED 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE SEWARDSTONE ESSEX ________ ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Version 1 January 2009 Compiled by Richard Swann Weller Designs Golf Course Architects Bishops Mead House, Bishops Mead, West St. Farnham Surrey GU9 7DU tel/fax: 01252 712127 Email: [email protected] Web Site:www.wellerdesigns.co.uk E I G C A EUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Project Proposal ........................................................................................... 4 1.2 Site and Applicant ....................................................................................... 4 1.3 Requirement and Scope for EIA ................................................................. 4 1.4 Report Content and Structure ...................................................................... 4 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Project Deliverables .................................................................................... 8 2.2 Purpose and Rationale ................................................................................. 8 2.3 Construction Inputs ..................................................................................... 9 2.4 Construction Processes .............................................................................. 11 2.5 Construction Outputs ................................................................................. 11 2.6 Operational Inputs ..................................................................................... 11 2.7 Operational Processes ............................................................................... 12 2.8 Operational Outputs .................................................................................. 12 3 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT ........................................................................................ 16 3.1 Planning Policy ......................................................................................... 16 3.2 Site-Specific Planning Policies ................................................................. 16 3.3 Planning Policies Specific to Golf ............................................................ 16 3.4 Policies Relating to Ecology ..................................................................... 16 3.5 Policies Relating to Landscape and Landscaping ..................................... 16 3.6 Policies Relating to New Buildings .......................................................... 17 3.7 Policies Relating to Drainage .................................................................... 17 4 DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES .................................................................................... 18 4.1 Alternative Sites for Proposed Development ............................................ 18 4.2 Alternatives to Elements of Proposed Development ................................. 18 5 POTENTIAL IMPACTS ASSESSED ................................................................................. 19 5.1 Scoping Guidance ..................................................................................... 19 5.2 Structure of Assessment ............................................................................ 19 6 BASELINE SITE DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................... 20 6.1 Population .................................................................................................. 20 6.2 Man-Made Features ................................................................................... 20 6.3 Archaeological Features ............................................................................ 20 6.4 Transport ................................................................................................... 20 6.5 Noise .......................................................................................................... 22 6.6 Flora .......................................................................................................... 22 6.7 Fauna ......................................................................................................... 26 6.8 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................... 29 6.9 Landform ................................................................................................... 29 6.10 Land Use ................................................................................................... 30 6.11 Water ......................................................................................................... 30 7 BASELINE LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT ................................................. 31 7.1 Methodology ............................................................................................. 31 7.2 Landscape Character Assessment ............................................................. 32 7.3 Landscape Characteristic Receptors .......................................................... 32 7.4 Landscape Elements Receptors ................................................................. 32 7.5 Visual Receptors ....................................................................................... 33 7.6 Landscape and Visual Contribution .......................................................... 34 8 BASELINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................ 36 8.1 Archaeological Evidence ........................................................................... 36 8.2 Designations .............................................................................................. 36 8.3 Site Evaluation .......................................................................................... 36 9 BASELINE ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ....................................................................... 37 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT – NETHERHOUSE FARM GOLF COURSE Page 2 of 88 9.1 Methodology ............................................................................................. 37 9.2 Designated Sites ........................................................................................ 37 9.3 Evaluation of Designated Sites ................................................................. 39 9.4 Protected Species ....................................................................................... 40 9.5 Evaluation of Habitats ............................................................................... 41 9.6 Fauna ......................................................................................................... 44 10 BASELINE HYDROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................. 47 10.1 Flood Hazard for Existing Site .................................................................. 47 10.2 Probability of Flooding ............................................................................. 47 11 BASELINE TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT .................................................................... 48 11.1 Traffic Volumes ........................................................................................ 48 12 EFFECTS ON HUMAN BEINGS, BUILDINGS AND MAN-MADE FEATURES ............ 49 12.1 Change in Population and Consequential Environmental Effects ............ 49 12.2 Visual Effects on Surrounding Area and Landscape ................................ 49 12.3 Summary of Key Visual Impacts and Potential Mitigation ...................... 51 12.4 Public Safety ............................................................................................. 52 12.5 Levels and Effects of Noise and Emissions .............................................. 53 12.6 Construction Effects on Local Roads and Transport ................................ 53 12.7 Operational Effects on Local Roads and Transport .................................. 55 12.8 Effects on Human Artefacts ...................................................................... 57 13 EFFECTS ON FLORA, FAUNA AND GEOLOGY ......................................................... 58 13.1 Methodology ............................................................................................. 58 13.2 Sources of Potential Impact ....................................................................... 59 13.3 Construction Impact on Designated Sites ................................................. 59 13.4 Construction Impact on Flora .................................................................... 61 13.5 Construction Impact on Fauna .................................................................. 62 13.6 Operational Impact .................................................................................... 66 13.7 Mitigation for Construction Phase Impacts ............................................... 67 13.8 Mitigation for Operational Phase Impacts ................................................ 69 13.9 Residual Effects ......................................................................................... 70 14 EFFECTS ON LAND ...................................................................................................... 72 14.1 Topographical Changes ............................................................................. 72 14.2 Other Physical Impacts .............................................................................