EDINBURGH TRAM NETWORK EDINBURGH TRAM (LINE TWO) BILL Environmental Statement: Volume 2: Main Report SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT – SESSION 2 PREFACE The Edinburgh Tram Line 2 Environmental Statement is published in five volumes: • Volume 1 Non-Technical Summary • Volume 2 Environmental Statement: Main Report • Volume 3 Figures • Volume 4 Appendices to Main Report • Volume 5 Protected Species Report (Confidential) This document is Volume 2. Table of Contents VOLUME 2 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT: MAIN REPORT ABBREVIATIONS 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1-1 1.2 Tram Line 2 and the Tram Network 1-1 1.3 The Environmental Impact Assessment of Tram Line 2 1-1 1.4 The EIA Process 1-1 1.5 Relationship Between Tram Line 1 and Tram Line 2 1-2 1.6 Authors 1-2 1.7 Structure of ES 1-3 2 THE PROPOSED SCHEME 2.1 Introduction 2-1 2.2 The Need for the Scheme 2-1 2.3 Scheme Alternatives 2-2 2.4 Scheme Description 2-4 2.5 Tram Line 2 Infrastructure 2-7 2.6 The Construction Phase 2-11 2.7 Operation of Tram Line 2 2-14 3 APPROACH TO THE EIA 3.1 Introduction 3-1 3.2 Parliamentary Requirements and the EIA Regulations 3-1 3.3 The EIA Process 3-1 3.4 Approach to the Assessment of Impacts 3-2 3.5 Uncertainty, Assumptions and Limitations 3-4 3.6 Scope of the Environmental Statement and Consultation 3-6 4 POLICY CONTEXT 4.1 Introduction 4-1 4.2 Methods 4-1 4.3 National and Regional Planning Guidance 4-3 4.4 Planning Policies of The Local Authority 4-6 4.5 Summary 4-13 5 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT 5.1 Introduction 5-1 5.2 Methods 5-1 5.3 Baseline Situation 5-4 5.4 Construction Effects 5-13 5.5 Permanent and Operational Effects 5-29 5.6 Summary 5-44 6 LAND USE 6.1 Introduction 6-1 6.2 Methods 6-1 6.3 Baseline Situation 6-4 6.4 Construction Effects 6-12 6.5 Permanent and Operational Effects 6-14 6.6 Summary 6-22 7 GEOLOGY, SOILS AND CONTAMINATION 7.1 Introduction 7-1 7.2 Methods 7-1 7.3 Existing Conditions 7-5 7.4 Construction Effects 7-13 7.5 Permanent and Operational Effects 7-18 7.6 Summary of Residual Impacts 7-20 8 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACTS Landscape 8.1 Landscape Introduction 8-1 8.2 Landscape Methods 8-1 8.3 Landscape Baseline Situation 8-7 8.4 Landscape Character Area (LCA) Descriptions 8-14 8.5 Landscape Mitigation 8-32 8.6 Landscape Residual Impacts 8-42 8.7 Landscape Summary 8-45 Visual Impacts 8.8 Visual Introduction 8-48 8.9 Visual Methods 8-48 8.10 Visual Baseline Situation 8-52 8.11 Visual Mitigation 8-53 8.12 Visual Residual Impacts 8-53 8.13 Summary of Visual Impacts 8-68 9 ECOLOGY AND NATURE CONSERVATION 9.1 Introduction 9-1 9.2 Methods 9-1 9.3 Baseline Situation 9-9 9.4 Construction Impacts 9-26 9.5 Permanent and Operational Impacts 9-31 9.6 Residual Impacts 9-33 9.7 Summary 9-40 10 SURFACE WATER 10.1 Introduction 10-1 10.2 Methods 10-1 10.3 Baseline Situation 10-2 10.4 Construction Effects and Mitigation 10-4 10.5 Permanent and Operational Effects 10-7 10.6 Summary 10-10 11 ARCHAEOLOGY AND HERITAGE 11.1 Introduction 11-1 11.2 Methods 11-2 11.3 Baseline Situation 11-6 11.4 Construction Effects 11-22 11.5 Permanent and Operational Effects 11-24 11.6 Summary 11-34 12 SOCIO-ECONOMICS 12.1 Introduction 12-1 12.2 Methods 12-1 12.3 Existing Conditions 12-3 12.4 Construction Impacts 12-7 12.5 Permanent and Operational Impacts 12-9 12.6 Summary of Residual Impacts 12-12 13 NOISE AND VIBRATION 13.1 Introduction 13-1 13.2 Methods 13-1 13.3 Vibration 13-6 13.4 Baseline Situation 13-9 13.5 Construction Effects 13-14 13.6 Permanent and Operational Effects 13-18 13.7 Summary 13-25 14 AIR QUALITY 14.1 Introduction 14-1 14.2 Methods 14-1 14.3 Existing Conditions 14-2 14.4 Construction Effects 14-4 14.5 Permanent and Operational Effects 14-6 14.6 Summary of Residual Impacts 14-10 15 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 15.1 Introduction 15-1 15.2 Method 15-1 15.3 Scheme Description 15-2 15.4 Assessment 15-2 15.5 Summary of Cumulative Impacts 15-6 REFERENCES GLOSSARY LIST OF FIGURES (contained in Volume 3) Figure 1.1 Routes of Line 1 and Line 2 Figure 2.1a-b Tram Line 2 Alignment Figure 2.2 Gogar Depot: Plan and Section Figure 2.3 Artists Impressions Figure 4.1 – 4.10 Environmental Summary Plans Figure 6.1 – 6.10 Land Use Classification Figure 6.11-13 Agricultural Land Use Impacts Figure 8.1 (2 of 2) Topography Figure 8.2 (2 of 2) Landscape Character Figure 8.3 (11 of 11) Landscape Mitigation Principles Figure 8.4 (2 of 2) Visual Envelope (During Operation) Figure 8.5 (10 of 10) Visual Impacts Figure 9.1-9.10 Phase 1 Habitat Map Figure 11.1 (10 of 10) Heritage LIST OF APPENDICES (contained in Volume 4) APPENDIX to CHAPTER 1 – None APPENDIX to CHAPTER 2 • Preferred Route Corridor Selection APPENDIX to CHAPTER 3 • Tram Line 2 Consultations APPENDIX to CHAPTER 4 – None APPENDIX to CHAPTER 5 • Traffic and Transport Photographs APPENDIX to CHAPTER 6 • Planning Proposals along Tram Line 2 route APPENDIX to CHAPTER 7 • Historical Maps consulted • Potential Areas of Contaminated Land Outwith LOD APPENDIX to CHAPTER 8 • Historical Maps consulted • Landscape Sensitivity Evaluation Table • Landscape Character Areas – Evaluation of Magnitude and Impacts Table • Visual Impact Assessment: Footpaths Table • Visual Impact Assessment: Public Open Spaces APPENDIX to CHAPTER 9 – None APPENDIX to CHAPTER 10 - None APPENDIX to CHAPTER 11 • Sites with Statutory Protection and Non-Statutory Designations • Other Archaeological Sites • Architectural Records Listed in National Monuments Record of Scotland APPENDIX to CHAPTER 12 - None APPENDIX to CHAPTER 13 – None APPENDIX to CHAPTER 14 • Air Quality Contour Plots APPENDIX to CHAPTER 15 – None 1-1 1 Introduction 1.1 BACKGROUND As traffic congestion continues to increase causing problems in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas, the City of Edinburgh Council’s (CEC) vision is to provide the city with a revitalised transport infrastructure which will promote and support a growing economy, creating a healthy, safe and sustainable environment. The aim is to cut congestion and improve the city’s environment by providing real choices for travel for all those living in and around Edinburgh. Over £1.5 billion will be invested in realising the improvements. The Council will be working in co-operation with other authorities in South East Scotland to deliver an integrated package. These proposals for transport improvements will be phased in over the next 10 – 15 years, linked to and partly funded by the introduction of a congestion charging scheme. Key elements of the CEC's investment package include a tram network for the capital; major improvements to the city’s bus services; enhancing the existing rail network, providing a ring of Park and Ride facilities; delivering a network of pedestrian and cycles routes around the city and increasing expenditure in road infrastructure. In May 2002 transport initiatives Edinburgh (tie) was formed to deliver major transport projects for the CEC. tie is a private limited company, wholly owned by CEC. A non-profit making organisation, tie provides the procurement, project management and finance management capability to ensure that a number of major transport related projects are delivered. One of these major projects is Tram Line 2. 1.2 TRAM LINE 2 AND THE TRAM NETWORK Tram Line 2 provides a link to the west of Edinburgh, from St Andrew Square to Edinburgh Park and the South Gyle shopping complex, Edinburgh Airport and on to Newbridge. The route of Line 2 is shown on Figure 1.1. As the name implies, the scheme comprises one part of a larger network of trams for the City of Edinburgh. Another line, ‘Tram Line 1’ or the ‘Northern Loop’ (also shown on Figure 1.1) is a circular route which connects St Andrew Square with Leith, the Granton Waterfront, Haymarket, and Princes Street. The relationship between Line 1 and Line 2 is explained in Section 1.5 below. 1.3 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF TRAM LINE 2 CEC is seeking powers from the Scottish Parliament, by means of a Private Bill, to construct and operate Tram Line 2. As part of the application for the Private Bill, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to be undertaken to identify the construction and operational effects of Tram Line 2. This document, the Environmental Statement (ES), summarises the EIA. Following the submission of a Private Bill to Scottish Parliament, it is anticipated that Royal Assent to the Bill will be obtained in 2005/6. Contracts would subsequently be issued for the construction of both Line 1 and Line 2 and it is anticipated that the tram would be running by 2009. 1.4 THE EIA PROCESS An explanation of the approach to undertaking the EIA and producing the ES is set out in Chapter 3. In summary, EIA is the process of compiling, evaluating and presenting all the significant environmental effects of a proposed development. The assessment is designed to help produce an environmentally sympathetic project, where detection of potentially significant adverse environmental impacts 1-2 leads to the identification and incorporation of appropriate mitigation measures into the scheme design.