Draft Environmental Statement Preliminary Environmental Information Volume 1 Part 2 of 3
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Draft Environmental Statement Preliminary Environmental Information Volume 1 Part 2 of 3 Brechfa Forest Connection Project November 2014 Contents 1 Introduction 2 Project Description 3 Alternatives 4 Consultation 5 Environmental Setting 6 EIA Process 7 Planning Framework 8 Land Use, Agriculture and Forestry 9 Landscape and Visual Assessment 10 Ecology 11 Historic Environment 12 Geology, Hydrogeology and Ground Conditions 13 Hydrology and Flood Risk 14 Noise and Vibration 15 Air Quality 16 Traffic and Transport 17 Socio-economics 18 Electro-magnetic Fields 19 Cumulative 20 Environmental Management Green highlight indicates the contents of this document. Brechfa Forest Connection Draft Environmental Statement – Volume 1 Contents 11 Historic Environment 3 11.1 Introduction 3 11.2 Legislation and Policy Context 4 11.3 Consultation and Scoping Overview 11 11.4 Assessment Methodology 19 11.5 Baseline Conditions 31 11.6 Assessment of Impacts: Construction Phase 38 11.7 Assessment of Impacts: Operational Phase 40 11.8 Assessment of Impacts: Decommissioning Phase 42 11.9 Mitigation Measures 42 11.10 Residual Effects 45 11.11 Cumulative Effects 57 11.12 Summary of Effects 60 11.13 References (for main section, in no particular order) 61 Tables Table 11.1 Summary of consultation relating to the historic environment Table 11.2 Criteria used to determine the heritage significance of assets Table 11.3 Criteria used to determine the magnitude of impact Table 11.4 Criteria used to determine the significance of effect Table 11.5 Asset types and references Table 11.6 Designated assets within 1 km, 2 km and 3 km 1 Brechfa Forest Connection Draft Environmental Statement – Volume 1 Table 11.7 Non-designated assets within the study area and Proposed Development Order Limits by period Table 11.8 Summary of predicted adverse effects Figures Figure 11.1 Non-designated heritage assets within 200 m of the Order Limits (and designated assets in the vicinity) Figure 11.2 Designated heritage assets within 3 km of the Order Limits Figure 11.3 Historic landscape character areas and historic hedgerows within 200 m of the Order Limits Figure 11.4 Land parcels recorded by the field reconnaissance survey Figure 11.5 LiDAR survey data within 200 m of the proposed underground cable section Appendices Appendix 11.1 Historic Environment Supporting Information Appendix 11.2 Historic Environment Planning Compliance 2 Brechfa Forest Connection Draft Environmental Statement – Volume 1 11 Historic Environment 11.1 Introduction 11.1.1 The purpose of this chapter of the draft Environmental Statement (ES) is to provide an assessment of the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development on the historic environment. 11.1.2 A description of the Proposed Development is provided in Volume 1, Chapter 2. This chapter is supported by a number of figures provided in Volume 2 and Appendix 11.1 and 11.2 in Volume 3. This chapter should be read with the figures and appendices available for reference as they assist the understanding of the descriptions and assessments presented in the text. 11.1.3 Historic environment receptors are referred to in this chapter and the associated appendices as ‘assets’. This aligns with relevant policy (EN-1, DECC 2011a; cf. Volume 3, Appendix 11.2). The assets discussed in this chapter relate to archaeological remains, to historic buildings or structures, and to elements or areas of the historic landscape character. Assets can be designated or non- designated. Designated assets include World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Landscapes of Outstanding or Special Historic Interest (‘Registered Historic Landscapes’), Protected Wrecks, Protected Military Remains, and Important Hedgerows. Assets include any identifiable component of the historic environment identified as having some degree of heritage ‘interest’ (historic, archaeological, architectural or artistic: cf. DECC 2011a) or ‘value’ (aesthetic, communal, evidential or historical, cf. Cadw 2011). 11.1.4 The sensitivity of assets, in terms of importance or value, is referred to throughout this chapter and in the associated appendices as their ‘heritage significance’, in accordance with heritage guidance (Cadw 2011). 11.1.5 This chapter summarises the historic environment baseline for the area in which 3 Brechfa Forest Connection Draft Environmental Statement – Volume 1 the Proposed Development would be located, the assets that would be affected by the Proposed Development, the predicted magnitude of change to heritage significance that would result for those assets, and the resulting significance of effect of the Proposed Development on those assets. This chapter describes how the effects of the Proposed Development on the historic environment have been assessed, and the outcome of consultations that have been undertaken with statutory and non-statutory stakeholders in relation to this topic area. 11.1.6 The effects assessed in this chapter can be direct or indirect, permanent or temporary (and of short, medium or long-term duration), beneficial or adverse, and the assessment of effects identifies which is the case. Construction, operational and decommissioning phase effects are all assessed. The effects assessed in this chapter include those that could result from alteration or destruction of an asset, or development within its setting. 11.1.7 Proposed measures to mitigate adverse effects are also set out. The mitigation measures summarised in Section 11.9 below are deliverable and effective. An assessment of the residual significance of effect on assets is provided on the basis of the proposed mitigation measures. 11.2 Legislation and Policy Context 11.2.1 A summary of the key legislation and policy is provided in this section. Further details of the legislative and policy criteria and standards as well as national, regional and local policy is provided in Volume 3, Appendix 11.2. Furthermore, in Chapter 3 a full assessment of compliance with relevant policies is completed. National Legislation 11.2.2 The key national legislation relevant to this chapter is contained in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990 (as amended). 11.2.3 Other national legislation relevant to the potential effects of the Proposed Development include the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 4 Brechfa Forest Connection Draft Environmental Statement – Volume 1 (1979), Electricity Act (1989), Burial Act (1857), Treasure Act (1996), 'The Hedgerow Regulations' (1997), and ‘Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Wales) Regulations’ (2012). National Policy National Policy Statements 11.2.4 The Planning Act 2008 requires that when deciding an application the decision- maker must have regard to the relevant National Policy Statement (in addition to the local impact report and other matters). NPS provide the primary policy basis for the consideration of nationally significant infrastructure projects. National Policy Statement EN-1 is the overarching national policy statement for energy whilst National Policy Statement EN-5 is specific to Electricity Networks Infrastructure. Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) Part 5.8 provides policy and guidance on the historic environment. National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure (EN-5) 11.2.5 EN-5 reiterates the requirements of the Electricity Act with regard to the historic environment (Paragraph 2.2.6). In addition, Paragraphs 2.8.8-9 provide policy regarding undergrounding, and note that archaeological impacts of undergrounding may be greater than those of an overhead line. Paragraphs 2.8.10-11 provide policy regarding mitigation, with specific reference to on-site screening and off-site landscaping. Historic Environment 11.2.6 Section 5.8 of the NPS states, at paragraph 5.8.8 that “as part of the ES the applicant should provide a description of the significance of heritage assets affected by the proposed development and the contribution of their setting to that significance”. 5 Brechfa Forest Connection Draft Environmental Statement – Volume 1 11.2.7 For the applicant’s assessment where a development site includes, or the available evidence suggests it has the potential to include, heritage assets with an archaeological interest, the applicant is advised to carry out the appropriate desk- based assessments or if required a field evaluation. Paragraph 5.8.9 further states where there is determined to be an effect on the setting of heritage assets there may be a requirement to complete a representative visualisation to explain the impact. 11.2.8 A comprehensive baseline of heritage assets is included within this chapter. The baseline has informed the assessment of effects. 11.2.9 Paragraph 5.8.11 states that the decision-maker should seek to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset or the setting of any assets that would be impacted. 11.2.10 Further to the above, 5.8.14 highlights that there is a presumption in favour of the conservation of designated heritage, with the presumption stronger for assets designated as being of greater significance. Substantial harm to or loss of grade II listed buildings, parks or gardens and designated assets of the highest significance should therefore be exceptional and should be wholly exceptional for scheduled monuments, World Heritage Sites and assets designated grade I and II*. 11.2.11 The scope of the assessment contained within this chapter