Metrowest Phase 1 Preliminary Business Case Report 3 September 2014

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Metrowest Phase 1 Preliminary Business Case Report 3 September 2014 MetroWest Phase 1 Preliminary Business Case Report 3 September 2014 MetroWest Phase 1 MetroWest Phase 1 Preliminary (Strategic Outline) Business Case 3 September 2014 Contents Section Page Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. i 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Project overview ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose of this report ......................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Structure of remainder of this document ........................................................................... 4 2 Strategic Case .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Business strategy ................................................................................................................ 5 2.2.1 Business context .................................................................................................... 5 2.2.2 West of England LEP Strategic Economic Plan ....................................................... 5 2.2.3 Network Rail Business Plan .................................................................................... 6 2.2.4 Shared strategic aims ............................................................................................. 6 2.3 Problems identified and objectives .................................................................................... 7 2.3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 7 2.3.2 Economic growth ................................................................................................... 7 2.3.3 Tackling congestion and improving transport network resilience ...................... 11 2.3.4 Accessibility .......................................................................................................... 15 2.3.5 Environment and social well being ...................................................................... 16 2.4 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 18 2.4.1 Policy Context ...................................................................................................... 18 2.5 Drivers for change ............................................................................................................. 19 2.6 Scope of the scheme ......................................................................................................... 20 2.7 Constraints ........................................................................................................................ 22 2.8 Inter‐dependencies ........................................................................................................... 22 2.9 Stakeholders ..................................................................................................................... 23 2.10 Options .............................................................................................................................. 23 2.10.1 Macro‐level optioneering .................................................................................... 23 2.10.2 Mode and route specific optioneering ................................................................ 25 2.10.3 Options considered in the Preliminary Business Case (PBC) ............................... 26 2.10.4 Consideration of a lower cost alternative ........................................................... 29 2.11 Summary of strategic case ................................................................................................ 30 3 Economic Case ....................................................................................................................... 31 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 31 3.2 Options appraised ............................................................................................................. 31 3.3 Transport modelling methodology overview ................................................................... 33 3.4 Summary of modelled scheme impacts ............................................................................ 34 3.5 Key economic assumptions............................................................................................... 35 3.6 Economy impacts .............................................................................................................. 36 3.6.1 Business users & transport providers (TEE Tables) ............................................. 36 3.6.2 Reliability impacts on Business users .................................................................. 38 3.6.3 Regeneration and Wider impacts ........................................................................ 38 3.7 Environment impacts ........................................................................................................ 38 3.7.1 Noise .................................................................................................................... 39 3.7.2 Air quality ............................................................................................................. 39 3.7.3 Greenhouse gases ................................................................................................ 41 METROWEST PHASE 1 - PBC 3 SEPT 2014.DOCX METROWEST PHASE 1, PRELIMINARY (STRATEGIC OUTLINE) BUSINESS CASE : CONTENTS, CONTINUED Section Page 3.7.4 Landscape ............................................................................................................. 42 3.7.5 Townscape ............................................................................................................ 42 3.7.6 Heritage of historic resources .............................................................................. 42 3.7.7 Biodiversity ........................................................................................................... 43 3.7.8 Water environment .............................................................................................. 45 3.8 Social impacts .................................................................................................................... 45 3.8.1 Commuting and Other users (TEE Tables) and Reliability impacts on Commuting and Other users .................................................................................................... 45 3.8.2 Physical activity .................................................................................................... 45 3.8.3 Journey quality ..................................................................................................... 46 3.8.4 Accidents .............................................................................................................. 46 3.8.5 Affordability .......................................................................................................... 47 3.8.6 Security ................................................................................................................. 47 3.8.7 Access to services ................................................................................................. 47 3.8.8 Severance ............................................................................................................. 48 3.8.9 Option Values ....................................................................................................... 49 3.8.10 Distributional impacts .......................................................................................... 49 3.9 Public Accounts impacts .................................................................................................... 54 3.9.1 Broad Transport Budget ....................................................................................... 54 3.9.2 Indirect Tax Revenues .......................................................................................... 55 3.10 Performance of option variants ........................................................................................ 55 3.11 Summary of impacts .......................................................................................................... 56 3.11.1 Value for Money Statement ................................................................................. 56 3.11.2 Analysis of Monetised Costs and Benefits (AMCB) Tables ................................... 58 3.11.3 Appraisal Summary Table (AST) ........................................................................... 58 4 Commercial case .................................................................................................................... 61 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Ecology and Biodiversity
    PORTISHEAD BRANCH LINE PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REPORT VOLUME 2 C HAPTER 9 Ecology and Biodiversity Table of Contents Section Page 9 Ecology and Biodiversity ..................................................................................................... 9-1 9.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 9-1 9.2 Legislation and Policy Framework ................................................................................... 9-2 9.3 Methodology.................................................................................................................... 9-5 9.4 Baseline, Future Conditions, and Importance of Features ............................................ 9-19 9.5 Measures Adopted as Part of the DCO Scheme ............................................................ 9-51 9.6 Assessment of Effects .................................................................................................... 9-52 9.7 Mitigation and Residual Effects ..................................................................................... 9-66 9.8 Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................................... 9-67 9.9 Limitations Encountered in Compiling the PEI Report................................................... 9-68 9.10 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 9-69 9.11 References ....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Portishead Branch Line (Metrowest Phase 1)
    Portishead Branch Line (MetroWest Phase 1) TR040011 Applicant: North Somerset District Council 6.25, Environmental Statement, Volume 4, Appendix 9.1, Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Part 1 of 2 The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009, regulation 5(2)(a) Planning Act 2008 Author: CH2M Date: November 2019 Notice © Copyright 2019 CH2M HILL United Kingdom. The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of CH2M HILL United Kingdom, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jacobs. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of Jacobs constitutes an infringement of copyright. Limitation: This document has been prepared on behalf of, and for the exclusive use of Jacobs’ client, and is subject to, and issued in accordance with, the provisions of the contract between Jacobs and the client. Jacobs accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for, or in respect of, any use of, or reliance upon, this document by any third party. Where any data supplied by the client or from other sources have been used, it has been assumed that the information is correct. No responsibility can be accepted by Jacobs for inaccuracies in the data supplied by any other party. The conclusions and recommendations in this report are based on the assumption that all relevant information has been supplied by those bodies from whom it was requested. Where field investigations have been carried out, these have been restricted to a level of detail required to achieve the stated objectives of the work. This work has been undertaken in accordance with the quality management system of Jacobs.
    [Show full text]
  • Summer Meadows
    WIssue 106 • SUMMERil 2016dlife Summer meadows My Wild Child Walton Common Save our wildflowers Wild play for toddlers Explore the meadows Why we need to in urban parks and meet the Dexters! act now Includes UK news & stories Protecting Wildlife for the Future Welcome Dear member I can’t imagine living in a land with no seasons. I love the changes – and the surprises. This year’s mild winter led to some remarkable early spring flowering, of bluebells, for example. Yet there was late flowering by others, in particular, hawthorn. It was cool and dry for the first half of spring (with a seeming dearth of insects) and then wet, resulting in a completely new mix of early summer blooms. It’s been all-change at the Trust, too. We said farewell to MARK CARWARDINE MARK our inspirational Chief Executive Bevis Watts, who in three years has transformed the Trust (he’s now director of the Roz Kidman Cox ethical bank Triodos but remains a stalwart supporter). Taking Trust Chair his place, arriving with equal energy, comes Ian Barrett: environmentalist, partnership-builder and, very importantly, a member. The Trust is the sum of its members – who often provide practical as well as financial support. So it’s been good to hear from you via the survey about the information you’d like more of. Top of the list is more about reserves. As a member, Ian has already visited most of the reserves, and with this magazine, you’ll find the top-ten reserves guide. Later in the year, watch out for Ian’s news of an exciting new acquisition.
    [Show full text]
  • Non-Technical Summary
    PORTISHEAD BRANCH LI NE PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMAT I O N R E P O R T V O L U M E 1 Non-Technical Summary PORTISHEAD BRANCH LINE PRELIMINARY NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REPORT, VOLUME 1 Table of Contents Section Page 1 Non-Technical Summary ............................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Study Area .................................................................................................................. 1-3 1.3 Scheme Development and Alternatives Considered ................................................. 1-9 1.4 Description of the Proposed Works ......................................................................... 1-11 1.5 Approach to the Environmental Statement ............................................................ 1-21 1.6 The Planning Framework ......................................................................................... 1-23 1.7 Air Quality ................................................................................................................ 1-24 1.8 Cultural Heritage ...................................................................................................... 1-25 1.9 Ecology and Biodiversity .......................................................................................... 1-28 1.10 Ground Conditions ..................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ecosystems Woodlands Fieldwork
    Woodland ecosystems and their management Embedding fieldwork into the curriculum Woodlands fieldwork can add value to a range of topics including: • Tourism and leisure • National Parks • Woodland management • Environmental conservation • Ecosystems • Conflicts of interest • Economic use of woodlands • Comparing types and ages of woodlands • Vegetation species • Microclimates There are several cross curricular themes such as: • Geography units such as unit 16 'What is development?', in terms of resource use • ICT, including using a mapping package, using internet search engines • Citizenship thorough conflicts of interest, considering topical issues, justifying personal opinion • Science in terms of habitats, toxic materials in food chains and environmental chemistry • Geography units such as unit 8 'Coastal environments' and unit 13 'Limestone landscapes of England' in terms of human impacts on natural areas and pressures of tourism • key skills, working with others, improving own learning and performance • PSHE in terms of taking responsibility for own actions • Enquiries and decision making preparation for GCSE and A level QCA unit schemes available to download for: Geography http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/secondary_geography/?view=get Science: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/secondary_science/?view=get Citizenship http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/citizenship/?view=get Accompanying scheme of work The scheme of work below has been created using aspects from a variety of QCA units and schemes available, including: Unit 14: Can the earth cope? Ecosystems, population and resources http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/secondary_geography/geo14/?view=get Unit 23: Local action, global effects http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/secondary_geography/geo23/?view=get Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers © Woodland Ecosystems About the unit The unit is adapted from the QCA scheme of work Unit 14 Can the earth cope? Ecosystems population and resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Our Top 20 Reserves Access: Paths Can Be Muddy, Slippery and Steep-Sided
    18 Weston Big Wood Grid ref: ST 452 750. Nearest postcode: BS20 8JY Weston Big Wood is one of Avon’s largest ancient woodlands. In springtime, the ground is covered with wood anemones, violets and masses of bluebells. Plants such as herb paris and yellow archangel together with the rare purple gromwell, show that this is an ancient woodland. The wood is very good for birds, including woodpecker, nuthatch, and tawny owl. Bats also roost in the trees and there are badger setts. Directions: From B3124 Clevedon to Portishead road, turn into Valley Road. Park in the lay-by approx 250 metres on right, and walk up the hill. Steps lead into the wood from the road. Our top 20 reserves Access: Paths can be muddy, slippery and steep-sided. Please keep away from the quarry sides. 19 Weston Moor Grid ref: ST 441 741. Nearest postcode: BS20 8PZ This Gordano Valley reserve has open moorland, species-rich rhynes, wet pasture and hay meadows. It is full of many rare plants such as cotton grass, marsh pennywort and lesser butterfly orchid, along with nationally scarce invertebrates such as the hairy dragonfly and ruddy darter. During the spring and summer the fields attract lapwing, redshank and snipe. Other birds such as little owl, linnet, reed bunting and skylark also breed in the area. Sparrowhawk, buzzard and green woodpecker are regularly recorded over the reserve. Directions: Parking is restricted and the approach to the reserve is hampered by traffic on the B3124 being particularly fast-moving. When parking please do not block entrances to farms, fields or homes.
    [Show full text]
  • Working Together for Wildlife
    Wildlife Issue 111 • AUTUMN 2018 Working together for wildlife Creating a Enjoying autumn Together we raised Wilder Britain and winter wildlife £13,000 for our nature reserves Includes UK News & Stories Protecting Wildlife for the Future Welcome Dear member I’m delighted to welcome you to this edition of Wildlife Magazine, which is packed full of material on the wonderful wildlife you can find throughout Avon this autumn and winter. There’s a month-by- month breakdown of what to look out for (pages 22-23) and an introduction to winter wildlife (page 21), as well as the usual round-up of wildlife, walks and wardens in our nature reserves (pages 24-29). These reserves are the bedrock of our JON CRAIG work and we’re enormously grateful for all of the support members have given to the Nature Reserves Fund appeal, which raised over Ian Barrett £13,000 this summer. I hope you’ll be inspired to get out and enjoy Chief Executive Lower Woods (pages 28-29) and our other reserves over coming weeks and months. This edition of our magazine also celebrates our partnerships and the fantastic range of organisations we work with to protect and restore wildlife in our area. We work with the Bristol Naturalists’ Society to track changes in local wildlife (pages 10-11), with the West of England Nature Partnership to ensure wildlife is taken into account in local decision-making (page 7), and with local Bristol organisations such as the fantastic City to Sea, who are leading the way in tackling the problem of marine plastics (pages 8-9).
    [Show full text]
  • Updated March 2021 West of England Nature Recovery Network
    ©Woodland Trust / Niall Benvie NRN Prospectus Updated March 2021 West of England Nature Recovery Network To reverse the declines in biodiversity and realise nature’s recovery at scale, we need to work together and on the landscape-scale to embed the Lawton principles of Bigger, Better, More and Joined Up into our policies and strategies. This means protecting and enhancing our existing natural habitats in a way that creates ‘Big Enough, Messy*, Complex and Dynamic’ habitats for nature, but also making them bigger, creating new areas of species-rich habitat, and, critically, ensuring they join up to create functional and resilient ecological networks that enable nature and people to thrive. The West of England Nature Recovery Network (NRN) is a joined-up network of marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats where nature and people can thrive. It functions as a tool that can be used to prioritise habitat enhancement, creation, restoration and protection in areas that provide the best opportunities to deliver nature’s recovery, based on the connectivity of existing habitat and where opportunities exist to improve ecological connectivity. The West of England Nature Recovery Network was mapped based on previous mapping of habitats and ecosystem services in the West of England; least-cost analysis, which determines ecological networks based on a proxy dispersal distance for species associated with a habitat; and local knowledge of best quality habitats and opportunities for connection. Three habitats were mapped: woodland, grassland and wetland. A detailed overview of the methodology used to map the West of England NRN can be found in the document ‘Towards a Nature Recovery Network for the West of England’.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 11: Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
    PORTISHEAD BRANCH LI NE PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMAT I O N R E P O R T V O L U M E 2 CHAPTER 11 Landscape and Visual Impacts Assessment Table of Contents Section Page 11 Landscape and Visual Impacts Assessment .................................................................. 11-1 11.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 11-1 11.2 Legislation and Policy Framework ........................................................................... 11-2 11.3 Methodology............................................................................................................ 11-5 11.4 Baseline, Future Conditions and Value of Resource .............................................. 11-14 11.5 Measures Adopted as Part of the DCO Scheme .................................................... 11-37 11.6 Assessment of Landscape Effects .......................................................................... 11-37 11.7 Assessment of Visual Effects .................................................................................. 11-52 11.8 Mitigation and Residual Effects ............................................................................. 11-56 11.9 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................. 11-57 11.10 Limitations Encountered in Compiling the PEI Report........................................... 11-58 11.11 Summary ...............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bristol Water Drought Plan 2018 SEA Environmental Report Appendices
    Bristol Water Drought Plan 2018 SEA Environmental Report Appendi ces ________________________________ ___________________ Ricardo Energy & Environment Bristol Water Drought Plan 2018 - SEA Appendices | 1 Appendix A: Figures of key interest features Appendix A is presented separately and consists of the following maps: A.1. SSSI, SPA, SAC, Ramsar and Ancient Woodland designations. A.2. AONB, NNR, LNR and National Trails. A.3. WFD waterbody classifications. A.4. WFD Groundwater Quantitative status. A.5. Agricultural Land Classification. A.6. Air Quality Management Areas. A.7. World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments and Registered Parks and Gardens. A.8. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Character Areas. Ricardo Energy & Environment Bristol Water Drought Plan 2018 - SEA Appendices | 2 Appendix B: Drought Permits – Hydrological Zone of Influence Appendix B provides the hydrological zone of influence for the Blagdon, Chew and Cheddar Reservoir drought permit options as presented within the Environmental Monitoring Report (EMP) undertaken in 2007. The figures have subsequently been updated in 2017. Ref: Ricardo/ED62546/ Ricardo Energy & Environment Bristol Water Drought Plan 2018 - SEA Appendices | 3 Figure B1: Blagdon Reservoir drought permit zone of influence [This figure has been redacted for security reasons] Ref: Ricardo/ED62546/ Ricardo Energy & Environment Bristol Water Drought Plan 2018 - SEA Appendices | 4 Figure B2: Chew Reservoir drought permit zone of influence [This figure has been redacted for security reasons] Ref: Ricardo/ED62546/ Ricardo Energy & Environment Bristol Water Drought Plan 2018 - SEA Appendices | 5 Figure B3: Cheddar Reservoir drought permit zone of influence [This figure has been redacted for security reasons] Ref: Ricardo/ED62546/ Ricardo Energy & Environment Bristol Water Drought Plan 2018 - SEA Appendices | 6 Appendix C: Consultee responses to the SEA Scoping Report Appendix C is the consultee responses to the SEA scoping report and subsequent updates to the assessment.
    [Show full text]
  • Severn Wonders? Severn Estuary
    ‘Whether you are looking for a leisurely cruise or Severn Estuary Forum competitive racing, the Severn Estuary has it all in a Thursday 8th June 2006 unique picturesque setting.’ Susanne Newbold, Bristol Channel Yachting Association Changing times and tides: the future of the Severn Estuary A conference to discuss issues affecting the future of the What is Severn Wonders? Severn Estuary. ‘I love to walk along Severn Beach; the estuary light Walton Park Hotel, Clevedon Severn Wonders is a three week festival of events to is always changing, and in winter large flocks of Please contact the Severn Estuary Partnership on 029 20 874713 celebrate the Severn Estuary. On the inside of this leaflet birds feed on the mud’ or Email [email protected] to find out more. is a list of the events and a map showing where they are Sandra Blackburn, Severn Beach Resident Booking essential. Conference only £12 Conference and Cruise: £25 taking place. The events range from walks and talks to regattas, open days, boat trips, farmers markets and island visits. ‘Abundant species, all year round, from both boat and shore’ Why is Severn Wonders Don Metcalfe, Bristol Channel Federation of Sea Anglers taking place? The festival encourages everyone around the estuary to Severn Wonders Cruise work together, to help ensure our estuary is well Thursday 8th June 2006 managed for future generations. Severn Wonders is about celebrating the estuary and what it means for Reception with speakers and displays on a different people, groups and organisations. late afternoon cruise. Depart Penarth Pier 1400 and arrive Clevedon Pier 1500 Depart Clevedon Pier 1530 and arrive Penarth Pier 1715 How you can get involved Depart Penarth Pier 1730 and arrive Clevedon Pier 1830 and discover the estuary? All times approximate.
    [Show full text]
  • Flora of Somerset
    A SUPPLEMENT TO THE FLORA OF SOMERSET EDWARD SHEARBURN MARSHALL, M.A., F.L.S. RECTOR OF WEST MONKTON. Uaunton : PUBLISHED BY THE SOMERSETSHIRE ARCH^OLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 1914 ; PREFACE. In these pages I have tried to record the various additions or corrections since the pubHcation of Mr. Murray's book ; which, though dated 1896, was not (I beheve) issued until early in the following year. There is a certain fitness in my continuing his work ; for we were intimate friends from the autumn of 1882 until his death, and I had a small share in his Somerset explorations : he was also my first real helper in the study of critical plants. I have generally followed the London Catalogue names and standard of species, which is somewhat more liberal than that of Fl. Som. ; Mr. Murray was accustomed to deal with larger areas, and his point of view was synthetical, rather than analytical. Researches have been carried on for many years in the north-west ; the results are embodied in Mr. J. W. White's Flora of Bristol, in my opinion quite the best and most thorough book of its kind, which appeared in 1912. He has most generously allowed me to make full use of it and—as the reader cannot fail to see—it has been my mainstay. Our friend Dr. C. E. Moss has written an important plant-associations work on the of the county ; and I wish to thank my numerous correspondents for their cordial help. The time has not yet come for a new edition of the Somerset Flora, ; several districts stiU need much closer investigation, and my own scanty leisure is so much occupied by other matters that I have been un- iv ablo to (lovoto a great deal of it to local excursions.
    [Show full text]