Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley January 2019
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Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley January 2019 Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report Volume 1 – Main Statement On behalf of Rugeley Power Limited Contents CHAPTER 1: ................................................................................... INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2: ............................................................................. SITE DESCRIPTION CHAPTER 3: .............................................................. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 4: ................................................................................... EIA APPROACH CHAPTER 5: .............................. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS AND CONSULTATION CHAPTER 6: ........................................................................... SOCIO-ECONOMICS CHAPTER 7: ....................................................................................... AIR QUALITY CHAPTER 8: .................................................................................. ARCHAEOLOGY CHAPTER 9: ................................................................................ BUILT HERITAGE CHAPTER 10: .......................................................................................... ECOLOGY CHAPTER 11: ..................... WATER ENVIRONMENT (INCLUDING FLOOD RISK) CHAPTER 12: .................................................................... NOISE AND VIBRATION CHAPTER 13: ..................................................................... GROUND CONDITIONS CHAPTER 14: ...................................................... LANDSCAPE & VISUAL IMPACT CHAPTER 15: ............................................................. TRANSPORT AND ACCESS FIGURES Figure 2.1 – Drawing 01585_SK_003 (Red line Plan) Figure 2.2 – Drawing Skt170316-001 Rev F (Demolition Site Boundary) Figure 2.3 – Drawing MP003 Rev D1 (Eastern Lagoon PFA Extraction) Figure 3.1 – Drawing MP002 Rev D2 (Site Areas) Figure 3.2 – Rugeley Second Access – Site Location Plan Figure 3.3 – Drawing J32-2608-PS-III (Revised Junction Layout) Figure 6.1 – Primary Study Area (Within Socio-Economic Chapter) Figure 10.1 – Phase 1 Habitat Map with Target Notes Figure 10.2 – Pond and Ditch Locations Figure 10.3 – Reptile Refuge Locations Figure 10.4 – Surveyed Bat Transects and Static Locations Figure 12.1 – Noise Monitoring Locations (Within Noise and Vibration Chapter) Figure 13.1 – Plan of Historic Ground Investigation Figure 14.1 – Proposed Viewpoint Locations Figure 15.1 – Junction Study Area Figure 15.2 – Cycling in Cannock Chase Figure 15.3 – Cycling in Lichfield Figure 15.4 – Local Bus Stops Figure 15.5 – Local Railway Stations APPENDICES Appendix 4.1 – Committed Schemes Long List Appendix 4.2 – Electromagnetic Field Assessment Appendix 10.1 – Phase 1 Habitat Survey Target Notes Appendix 10.2 – Waterbody and Watercourse Descriptions Appendix 10.3 – Breeding Bird Survey Results Appendix 10.4 – CONFIDENTIAL ANNEX: Badger Survey Results Appendix 14.1 – LVIA Methodology EIA Scoping Report Chapter 1 Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report has been prepared by Savills (UK) Limited (‘Savills’), with input from the EIA project team, on behalf of Rugeley Power Limited (‘the Applicant’). It provides preliminary environmental information in relation to the Proposed Development at Rugeley B Power Station in Staffordshire (the "Site") and suggests the scope of key issues that the subsequent EIA will need to examine. 1.1.2 This report is provided in support of a request for a ‘scoping opinion’ from Lichfield District Council (LDC) and Cannock Chase District Council (CCDC) who are the local planning authorities for the Proposed Development. This ‘scoping opinion’ request is made pursuant to Part 4, Regulation 15 (1) of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (EIA Regulations), which came into force on 16 May 2017. 1.1.3 This Scoping Report contains the information to allow LDC and CCDC to consult with relevant stakeholders on the proposed scope of the EIA, including the Environment Agency, Highways England and Natural England, so that their comments can be taken into consideration in the EIA undertaken. 1.1.4 Brief details of the Site location and a summary description of the Site are provided in Chapter 2. An overview of the Proposed Development is provided in Chapter 3. Further details are provided in subsequent chapters, along with the proposed technical scope of the EIA which is set out in individual topic chapters (Chapters 6 – 15). 1.1.5 The Proposed Development comprises some site remediation and re-profiling works alongside comprehensive development of the Site, delivering circa 2,300 No. Residential Dwellings, circa 5 hectares (ha) of employment land, the associated access, community facilities including education and supporting amenity space, landscaping, green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems. 1.1.6 Chapter 4 sets out the proposed approach of the EIA, and Chapter 5 sets out the alternative development options that will be considered by the EIA and the broad scope for future stakeholder engagement. EIA Scoping Report Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley 1 EIA Scoping Report Chapter 1 Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley 1.2 THE PROJECT TEAM 1.2.1 The EIA project team is being led by consultants Savills, with input from other specialists both internal and external to the company. The project team comprises: EIA Management and Co-ordination Savills Socio-Economics Savills Air Quality AAC Archaeology AECOM Built Heritage AECOM Ecology Atmos Water Environment (including Flood Risk) AECOM Noise and Vibration ACC Ground Conditions AECOM Landscape and Visual JTP Transport and Access Mode 1.3 PROPOSED SCOPE OF EIA 1.3.1 The proposed scope of the EIA is set out in Table 1.3 below. Further details can be found in Chapter 4. Table 1.3: Environmental Topics considered in the EIA Scoping process Topic EIA Scoping Report Chapter Scoped In / Out Accidents and Natural Disasters (excluding Out 4 flooding) Health and Safety 4 Out Waste 4 Out Soils and Agricultural Land 4 Out Climate Change 4 In Electromagnetic Radiation 4 Out Socio-Economics (includes population) 6 In Air Quality (includes human health) 7 In Archaeology 8 Out Built Heritage 9 In Ecology (Biodiversity) 10 In Water Environment (including Flood Risk) 11 In Noise and Vibration (includes human health) 12 In Ground Conditions (includes human health) 13 In Landscape and Visual Impacts 14 In Transport and Access (includes human health) 15 In EIA Scoping Report Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley 2 EIA Scoping Report Chapter 2 Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley CHAPTER 2: SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 INTRODUCTION 2.1.1 This chapter provides a description of the Site and its setting. Further details relevant to the proposed scope of the technical assessments are provided in Chapters 6 – 15. 2.2 SITE DESCRIPTION 2.2.1 The Site, identified on Figure 2.1 – Drawing 01585_SK_003 (Red Line Plan), is an area of land at Rugeley B Power Station, South Staffordshire. The Site is located approximately 1km to the east of Rugeley Town Centre and borders recently developed residential properties (known locally as The Pippins) in the south east corner on part of the former Rugeley A Power Station site. 2.2.2 The A51 runs along the south western boundary of the Site before bearing off south around the aforementioned residential development (The Pippins). Beyond the A51 lies Towers Business Park, comprised of large commercial and industrial units and mixed use employment and business space. The north/western boundary abuts the River Trent for approximately 1.4km, after which the Site is bounded by open countryside and agricultural fields to the south west. 2.2.3 The Site is approximately 139 hectares (ha) in size and was formerly a coal fired power station producing electricity for transmission to the National Grid. This production ceased in 2016. As such, much of the infrastructure associated with the Site’s past use remains in situ, including four cooling towers, a Chimney Stack, plant buildings, electricity substation and network of interlinking access tracks. Demolition of this infrastructure will be undertaken in accordance with a separate, existing planning consent. 2.2.4 The physical infrastructure is largely concentrated to the north westerly section of the Site. Several parcels of green open space and soft landscaping are located towards the middle of the Site which centres around facilities associated with the former Sports and Social Club building, including part of a golf course. To the south east of the Site there are a series of ash lagoons, of varying succession phases, as well as a borrow pit lake, which is surrounded by mature trees and shrubs. A freight railway line, previously used to transport coal to the power Station, intersects the Site from northwest to southeast. Beyond this lies existing leisure and community amenity space currently occupied by what was previously a golf course that abuts the River Trent at the eastern Boundary. EIA Scoping Report Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley 1 EIA Scoping Report Chapter 2 Rugeley B Power Station, Rugeley 2.2.5 The topography is broadly flat with some man-made features, such as bunding, currently in situ. Demolition Works 2.2.6 In advance of the intended redevelopment, demolition works are being carried out at the Site. These works were subject to prior approval from LDC and CCDC granted in October 2018. 2.2.7 The consented demolition