Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme - Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section

Environmental Statement

Volume 4

Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

May 2021

Chap te r 1 1 - Appen dix 1 1.2A, 1 1.2 B, 1 1.2 C United U tilities

Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme - Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section

Project No: B27070CT Document Title: Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline Document Ref.: HBC_RBC_BMBC-HW-TA-011-003 Revision: 0 Date: May 2021 Client Name: United Utilities Water Ltd

Jacobs U.K. Limited

5 First Street Manchester M15 4GU T +44 (0)161 235 6000 F +44 (0)161 235 6001 www.jacobs.com

© Copyright 2021 Jacobs U.K. Limited. The concepts and information contained in this document are the property 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.

i Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

Contents 1. Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline ...... 1 1.1 Introduction ...... 1

Appendix 11.3 A: Soil Quality ...... 2 Appendix 11.3 B: Mineral Resources ...... 5 Appendix 11.3 C: Geologically Designated Sites...... 6

ii Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

1. Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

1.1 Introduction 1) This appendix presents the technical baseline information in support of the Soils, Geology and Land Quality chapter of the Environmental Statement for the Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section. Specifically, the baseline information for the following sub-topics is presented: ▪ Soil Quality ▪ Mineral Resources ▪ Geologically Designated Sites.

1

Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

Appendix 11.3 A: Soil Quality

Soil Types and Agricultural Land Classification Grades

ID Section Encountered Soil Associations* Provisional ALC Grades**

1 Bolton The Bolton Avenue Compound is underlain by soil of the The Bolton Avenue Avenue Brickfield 3 association. Soils of the Brickfield 3 Compound is located on Compound association are dominated by slowly permeable seasonally urban land. waterlogged fine loamy; fine loamy over clayey and clayey soils. Stock rearing and some dairying is common on these soils on permanent grassland with winter cereals in drier lowlands. Typical habitats include seasonally wet pastures and woodlands. 2 Haslingden The western extent of the Haslingden Road Compound is The Haslingden Road Road underlain by soil of the Brickfield 3 association. Soils of the Compound is located on Compound Brickfield 3 association are dominated by slowly permeable grade 4 land. seasonally waterlogged fine loamy; fine loamy over clayey and clayey soils. Stock rearing and some dairying is common on these soils on permanent grassland with winter cereals in drier lowlands. Typical habitats include seasonally wet pastures and woodlands.

The central and eastern areas of the Haslingden Road Compound are underlain by soil of the Rivington 2 association. Associated with some fine loamy soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal waterlogging. Soils of the Rivington 2 association are dominated by well drained loamy soils over rock. Stock rearing and some dairying is common on these soils with some arable land and coniferous and deciduous woodland. Typical land uses include neutral and acid pastures and deciduous woodland; acid communities such as bracken and gorse in uplands. 3 New Hall Hey The New Hall Hey Compound is underlain by soil of the The New Hall Hey Compound Rivington 2 association. Associated with some fine loamy Compound is located on soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal grade 4 land. waterlogging. Soils of the Rivington 2 association are dominated by well drained loamy soils over rock. Stock rearing and some dairying is common on these soils with some arable land and coniferous and deciduous woodland. Typical land uses include neutral and acid pastures and deciduous woodland; acid communities such as bracken and gorse in uplands.

2

Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

ID Section Encountered Soil Associations* Provisional ALC Grades**

4 Townsend The Townsend Fold WTW Compound is underlain by soil of The Townsend Fold WTW Fold WTW the Rivington 2 association. Associated with some fine Compound is located on Compound loamy soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight grade 4 land. seasonal waterlogging. Soils of the Rivington 2 association are dominated by well drained loamy soils over rock. Stock rearing and some dairying is common on these soils with some arable land and coniferous and deciduous woodland. Typical land uses include neutral and acid pastures and deciduous woodland; acid communities such as bracken and gorse in uplands. 5 Woodgate Hill The Woodgate Hill WTW Compound, construction access The majority of the WTW track and overflows are underlain by soil of the Rivington 2 Woodgate Hill WTW Compound, association. Associated with some fine loamy soils with Compound is located on construction slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal grade 3 land. The eastern access track waterlogging. Soils of the Rivington 2 association are extent of the Woodgate and overflows dominated by well drained loamy soils over rock. Stock Hill WTW Compound with rearing and some dairying is common on these soils with the construction access some arable land and coniferous and deciduous woodland. track located on grade 4. A Typical land uses include neutral and acid pastures and small area in the southern deciduous woodland; acid communities such as bracken extent of the Woodgate and gorse in uplands. Hill WTW Compound is located on urban land. 6 Plantation The northernmost extent of the construction access track to The Plantation Road mine Road Mine the Plantation Road mine grouting area is underlain by soils grouting area is located on Grouting Area of the Wilcocks 1 association. Associated with coarse loamy Grade 4 land. soils affected by groundwater in places; very acid where not limited. Soils of the Wilcocks 1 association are dominated by slowly permeable seasonally waterlogged fine loamy and fine loamy over clayey upland soils with a peaty surface horizon. Wet moorland habitats of moderate and poor grazing value are common on some improved grassland and coniferous woodland. Typical land uses include grass moor and some heather with flush and bog communities in wetter parts.

The majority of the Plantation Road mine grouting area is underlain by soil of the Rivington 2 association. Associated with some fine loamy soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal waterlogging. Soils of the Rivington 2 association are dominated by well drained loamy soils over rock. Stock rearing and some dairying is common on these soils with some arable land and coniferous and deciduous woodland. Typical land uses include neutral and acid pastures and deciduous woodland; acid communities such as bracken and gorse in uplands.

3

Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

ID Section Encountered Soil Associations* Provisional ALC Grades**

7 White Carr The majority of the White Carr Lane mine grouting area is The White Carr Lane mine Lane Mine underlain by soil of the Wilcocks 1 association. Associated grouting area is located on Grouting Area with coarse loamy soils affected by groundwater in places; Grade 4 land. very acid where not limited. Soils of the Wilcocks 1 association are dominated by slowly permeable seasonally waterlogged fine loamy and fine loamy over clayey upland soils with a peaty surface horizon. Wet moorland habitats of moderate and poor grazing value are common on some improved grassland and coniferous woodland. Typical land uses include grass moor and some heather with flush and bog communities in wetter parts.

The western extent of the construction access track to the White Carr Lane mine grouting area is underlain by soil of the Rivington 2 association. Associated with some fine loamy soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal waterlogging. Soils of the Rivington 2 association are dominated by well drained loamy soils over rock. Stock rearing and some dairying is common on these soils with some arable land and coniferous and deciduous woodland. Typical land uses include neutral and acid pastures and deciduous woodland; acid communities such as bracken and gorse in uplands. 8 Woodgate Hill The northern extent of the Woodgate Hill mine grouting The majority of the Mine Grouting area is underlain by soil of the Wilcocks 1 association. Woodgate Hill mine Area Associated with coarse loamy soils affected by groundwater grouting area is located on in places; very acid where not limited. Soils of the Wilcocks Grade 3 land, whilst the 1 association are dominated by slowly permeable northern extent is located seasonally waterlogged fine loamy and fine loamy over on Grade 4 land. clayey upland soils with a peaty surface horizon. Wet moorland habitats of moderate and poor grazing value are common on some improved grassland and coniferous woodland. Typical land uses include grass moor and some heather with flush and bog communities in wetter parts.

The southern extent of the Woodgate Hill mine grouting area is underlain by soil of the Rivington 2 association. Associated with some fine loamy soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal waterlogging. Soils of the Rivington 2 association are dominated by well drained loamy soils over rock. Stock rearing and some dairying is common on these soils with some arable land and coniferous and deciduous woodland. Typical land uses include neutral and acid pastures and deciduous woodland; acid communities such as bracken and gorse in uplands.

* Cranfield University (2020) National soil map data. [Online] Available from: https://cranfield.blueskymapshop.com/ [Accessed: Oct 2020]

** Natural (2020) Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Grades – Post 1988 Survey (polygons). [Online] Available from: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/c002ceea-d650-4408-b302-939e9b88eb0b/agricultural-land-classification-alc-grades-post-1988-survey- polygons [Accessed: Oct 2020)

4

Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

Appendix 11.3 B: Mineral Resources

Mineral Safeguarding Areas 2) Consultation with the minerals planning officers from County Council and were undertaken for the Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section. The response from Lancashire County Council, gave direction to their online planning portal containing information about the local planning policies for minerals and waste. Lancashire County Councils Maps & Related Information Online (MARIO)1 was consulted to identify the following Mineral Safeguarding Areas (MSA). A similar response was received from Manchester City Council, giving direction to the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Development Plan2, which forms part of the folder of individual development plans for the ten Greater Manchester councils, inclusive of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council. 3) The reports Mineral Resource Information for National, Regional and Planning: Lancashire3 and Mineral Resource Information for National, Regional and Planning: Greater Manchester 4 have also been consulted as part of identifying MSA’s within the vicinity of the Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section. 4) The Bolton Avenue Compound is not shown as being within an Lancashire County Council MSA based on the MARIO application, however the Mineral Resource Information for National, Regional and Planning: Lancashire3 shows that the Bolton Avenue Compound is within an area with an identified resource for sandstone, and brick clay and fireclay. 5) The Plantation Road mine grouting area with associated compounds and access routes are entirely within an Lancashire County Council MSA for both sandstone, and brick clay and fireclay. 6) A small area at the northern extent of the New Hall Hey Compound with the associated construction access track are within an Lancashire County Council MSA for sandstone, and sand and gravel River Terrace Deposits. 7) The White Carr Lane mine grouting area with associated construction access track is entirely within an Lancashire County Council MSA for sandstone. The western extent of the construction access track is under Greater Manchester jurisdiction, which also lies within a GMUA MSA for sandstone. 8) The Woodgate Hill mine grouting area is entirely within a Greater Manchester MSA for sandstone, and brick clay and fireclay. 9) The Woodgate Hill WTW Compound and associated construction access track are located within a Greater Manchester MSA for sandstone, brick clay and fireclay, coal, and sand and gravel Glaciofluvial deposits.

Active and Historical Minerals Workings 10) There is one active quarry within the study area of the Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section at between Ch.13+700 and Ch.14+300, namely Fletcher Bank Quarry, east of . This is an active quarry covering approximately 27 hectares and is reported as being operational until 2036. It is understood that the quarry produces approximately 125,000 tonnes of sandstone products and aggregates per year. Exhausted phases of the quarry are undergoing restoration works, which will be completed by the importation of construction and demolition waste. The southwest corner of the quarry is listed as a historical landfill. There are no further historical workings within the study area.

1 Lancashire County Council Maps & Related Information Online http://mario.lancashire.gov.uk/agsmario/ [Accessed: Dec 2020] 2 https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/200074/planning/6161/greater_manchester_joint_minerals_development_plan [Accessed: Dec 2020] 3 British Geological Survey, 2006 Mineral Resource Information in Support of National, Regional and Local Planning: Lancashire (comprising Lancashire and Boroughs of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen. McEvoy et al., 2006) 4 British Geological Survey, 2006 Mineral resource information in support of national, regional and local planning : Greater Manchester (comprising cities of Manchester, Salford and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Minchin et al., 2006)

5

Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section ES, Volume 4 Appendix 11.3: Soils, Geology and Land Quality Baseline

Appendix 11.3 C: Geologically Designated Sites

Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) 11) There are no LGS within the assessment area, the closest (Snipe Rake Quarry) is located 1.4 km southeast of the Bolton Road Compound. Two LGS (Fletcher Bank Quarry and Mam Hill Meltwater Channel) are located within the Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section but will not be affected by the below- ground works.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Geological) 12) No Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Geological) were identified within 250 m of the Proposed Haslingden and Walmersley Section.

6