THE MERSEY GATEWAY PROJECT SOCIO - ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT CHAPTER 20.0 The Mersey Gateway Project Chapter 20.0 Environmental Statement 1.0 Page 20.1 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment SOCIO - ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT C O N T E N T S 20. SOCIO - ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT............................................................ 20.3 20.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 20.3 20.2 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................... 20.4 20.3 Study Area ........................................................................................................... 20.5 20.4 Relevant Legislation, Planning Policy and Background ...................................... 20.5 20.5 Assessment Methodology.................................................................................. 20.11 20.6 Baseline and Results ......................................................................................... 20.21 20.7 Effects Assessment ........................................................................................... 20.46 20.8 Mitigation, Enhancement and Monitoring .......................................................... 20.76 20.9 Residual Impacts ............................................................................................... 20.80 20.10 References......................................................................................................... 20.92 FIGURES Figure 20.1 Wards and LSOA within Halton which intersect with the Project boundary Figure 20.2 Vulnerable Group Locations within Halton Figure 20.3 2001 Population Profile for Halton Figure 20.4 Ethnicity and Religious Breakdown within Halton Figure 20.5 Locations of Older People within Halton Figure 20.6 Overall Index of Multiple Deprivation Ranking within Halton Figure 20.7 Income Deprivation IMD Domain Ranking within Halton Figure 20.8 Employment Deprivation IMD Domain Ranking and % Unemployed within Halton Figure 20.9 Education Deprivation IMD Domain Ranking within Halton Figure 20.10 Cross River travelling distances to Primary Schools Figure 20.11 Cross River travelling distances to Secondary Schools Figure 20.12 Cross River travelling distances to Further Education facilities Figure 20.13 % Car/ Van Ownership within Halton Figure 20.14 Health Deprivation IMD Domain Ranking and Proportion of Individuals with Long Term Limiting Illnesses Figure 20.15 Cross River travelling distances to Hospitals Figure 20.16 Cross River travelling distances to GPs and Health facilities Figure 20.17 Locations of Facilities and Services within Halton APPENDICES Appendix 20.1 Figures Appendix 20.2 Literature/ Case Study Review Appendix 20.3 Detailed Content of 2007 IMD Domains The Mersey Gateway Project Chapter 20.0 Environmental Statement 1.0 Page 20.2 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment 20. SOCIO - ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT 20.1 Introduction 20.1.1 This chapter describes the likely significant effects which have the potential to occur as a result of the construction and operation of the Project on social receptors within and surrounding Halton. Social receptors used within the assessment are detailed further in paragraph 20.5.5 and include all human receptors within the study area. 20.1.2 The Project has the potential to have significant beneficial and adverse effects to individuals and groups within the study area through a number of impacts. Some of the resulting effects have the potential to be exacerbated by the fact that Halton has high levels of deprivation compared to the rest of the UK. The Mersey Gateway Project Chapter 20.0 Environmental Statement 1.0 Page 20.3 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment 20.2 Purpose of the Study 20.2.1 This study was carried out in order to assess the effects of the Project on social receptors within and surrounding the Borough of Halton. The importance of assessing social effects in policy terms is outlined in Table 20.1 by reference to relevant legislation, policy and background information. Although not traditionally formally part of the requirements in EIA legislation, recent government policy and plans have recognised the need to assess potential impacts in a more holistic manner, using sustainability goals and aspirations. Therefore, the inclusion of social and economic factors is now seen as an important method of assessing the implications of proposed projects. 20.2.2 A scoping exercise was undertaken in 2007 to determine the geographical extent of the socio – economic assessment and the social groups that would form the focus of the assessment. In addition, the social issues addressed throughout the impact assessment were determined based on technical experience, relevant guidance, social literature and relevant case studies. The output of the scoping exercise identified which key vulnerable 1 groups within the study area should be included within the assessment. The vulnerable groups and data used to define these groups within this study are detailed in Table 20.2. Census data referred to within Table 20.2 was collected for all Lower Layer Super Output Areas2 (LSOAs) within Halton. 20.2.3 The impact assessment was undertaken in line with The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment (Ref. 1), produced by the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA2003). 20.2.4 Vanclay (2003) (Ref. 1) states that SIA can be defined as ‘analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programmes, plans, Projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions’. Vanclay (2003) (Ref. 1) states that a comprehensive SIA should include an assessment of changes to the following: a. People’s way of life; b. People’s culture; c. People’s communities; d. The current political systems; e. The current environment; f. Health and Wellbeing; g. Personal and Property Rights; and h. Fears and Aspirations. 20.2.5 This chapter has taken these criteria into consideration within the effects assessment of the Project. 1 Vulnerable is used to mean those people who might be more susceptible to negative health or social impacts from the proposed development. It is acknowledged that not all people within a’ vulnerable group’ will be equally vulnerable. However, there will be more people who are vulnerable within the specific group than are vulnerable outside that group. 2 These are areas of equal population size (an average of 1500 people) and are therefore comparable. In addition, they will not change with alterations to ward boundaries, as they are not politically based. The Mersey Gateway Project Chapter 20.0 Environmental Statement 1.0 Page 20.4 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment 20.3 Study Area 20.3.1 The geographical extent of the study of socio - economic effects was determined by the likely extent of direct social related effects associated with the Project. Social effects were primarily assessed at a local level within the Borough of Halton. Effects of the Project on social receptors from outside of Borough were also considered where relevant. The economic study area was defined using travel to work distances and the likely extent of travel in relation to the New Bridge and therefore, taken as a 40 minute drive from the New Bridge. 20.3.2 The study area used within the assessment incorporates the potential extent of changes in surface water quality, land use, landscape and visual amenity, contamination, waste, air quality, noise levels, navigation, traffic flows and wider economic impacts, resulting from the Project. The areas considered within these assessments, with regards to social receptors are detailed in Chapters 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of this ES. A specific emphasis was placed on those communities within LSOAs that are in close proximity to the Project. The Project passes directly through 14 LSOAs within the wards of Beechwood, Castlefields, Halton Brook, Halton Lea, Heath, Mersey and Riverside, as shown in Figure 20.1. It is likely that impacts resulting from the Project will have the greatest effects to these communities as they are directly adjacent to Project activities. 20.3.3 In some cases reference within this chapter is made to specific Project construction areas designated A – I. These areas are detailed in Figure 2.1 (Chapter 2). 20.3.4 Consideration was also given to vulnerable groups within communities in Halton who are likely to be particularly sensitive to effects associated with the development of the Project. These groups are detailed further in Table 20.2. 20.4 Relevant Legislation, Planning Policy and Background 20.4.1 Table 20.1 presents a summary of relevant national, regional and local legislation and policies applicable to the assessment of social issues within Halton that are relevant to the Project. The policies and legislation detailed below were used to help determine the relevant socio - economic baseline of Halton Borough detailed in Section 20.6 and effects assessment categories used within this Chapter. Table 20.1 - Relevant Legislation and Policy Policy, Legislation Summary of key issues identified for the Socio - Economic Impact and Background Assessment International European Structural At an international level Merseyside is recognised as an area eligible for Funding European Structural Funding. European Funding is provided by the European Union (EU) and supports poorer regions of Member States by providing funds