A509 Isham Bypass Environmental Statement VOLUME 1 - TEXT AUGUST 2005 A509 Isham Bypass Environmental Statement Volume 1: Text August 2005 Northamptonshire County Council A509 ISHAM BYPASS Environmental Statement A509 Isham Bypass Environmental Statement Volume 1: Text JOB NUMBER: 5026518/914 DOC REF: P:\GBCBA\DE2\ \P&L\5026518\914 Isham Bypass\ Stage 3 ES\Stage 3 ES August 2005 Rev1.DOC Revision Date: 10 August 2005 2 Final revised DWE/MI RJA/PE RJA HS 10/08/05 1 Final DWE/MI RJA/PE RJA HS 1/08/05 0 Draft for consultation MME RA RA HS 15/10/04 Originated Checked Reviewed Authorised Date Revision Purpose Description A509 ISHAM BYPASS Environmental Statement Contents Section Page Non-Technical Summary Introduction i Scheme Objectives i The Proposed Scheme i Effects of the Scheme on the Environment i Conclusion iii 1. Introduction 1-1 Introduction 1-1 Background to the Environmental Statement 1-1 Availability of the Environmental Statement 1-2 2. The Purpose of the Scheme 2-1 Need for the Scheme 2-1 Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) 2-1 Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) 2-1 Scheme Objectives 2-2 3. History of Scheme and Alternatives Considered 3-1 Background 3-1 Alternative Routes 3-2 Routes Selected for Consultation 3-3 Reasons for the Rejection of Alternative Routes 5 and 6 3-4 Preferred Option 3-5 Do-Minimum Option 3-5 4. Scheme Description 4-1 Location and Description of the Scheme 4-1 5. Traffic Flows 5-1 Existing Conditions 5-1 Traffic Model 5-1 6. Methodology for Environmental Assessment 6-1 Introduction 6-1 Environmental Impact Assessment Legislative Requirements 6-1 Objectives of the Environmental Assessment 6-2 The Structure of the Environmental Statement 6-2 Public Consultation Exercises 6-3 Scope of the Assessment 6-3 Environmental Assessment General methodology 6-4 i P:\GBCBA\DE2\P&L\5026518 Northamptonshire Projects\914 Isham Bypass\Stage 3 ES\Stage 3 ES August 2005 Rev 1.DOC A509 ISHAM BYPASS Environmental Statement 7. The Study Area 7-1 Introduction 7-1 Location and Topography 7-1 Drainage Pattern 7-1 Land Use and Settlement 7-2 Local Environment 7-3 8. Land Use 8-1 Introduction 8-1 Method of Assessment 8-1 Criteria for Significance of Impact 8-2 Baseline Conditions 8-4 Impacts During Construction 8-9 Mitigation Measures During Construction 8-13 Impacts when Operational 8-14 Mitigation Measures when Operational 8-15 Summary 8-19 9. Landscape and Townscape 9-1 Introduction 9-1 Method of Assessment 9-1 Criteria For Magnitude and Significance of Impacts 9-1 Baseline Conditions 9-2 Impacts during construction 9-7 Mitigation Measures during Construction 9-7 Impacts when operational 9-7 Lighting Assessment 9-9 Mitigation measures when operational 9-11 Summary 9-13 10. Biodiversity 10-1 Introduction 10-1 Method of Assessment 10-1 Criteria for Significance of Impact 10-3 Baseline Conditions 10-3 Impacts During Construction 10-8 Mitigation Measures During Construction 10-11 Impacts when Operational 10-16 Mitigation Measures when Operational 10-17 Summary 10-18 Further Survey 10-18 ii P:\GBCBA\DE2\P&L\5026518 Northamptonshire Projects\914 Isham Bypass\Stage 3 ES\Stage 3 ES August 2005 Rev 1.DOC A509 ISHAM BYPASS Environmental Statement 11. Heritage 11-1 Introduction 11-1 Method of assessment 11-2 Criteria for Significance of Impact 11-2 Baseline Conditions 11-4 Impacts During Construction 11-17 Mitigation Measures During Construction 11-19 Impacts when Operational 11-20 Summary 11-21 12. Noise 12-1 Introduction 12-1 Method of Assessment 12-2 Criteria for Significance of Impact 12-5 Baseline Conditions 12-6 Impacts During Construction 12-8 Impacts When Operational 12-30 Noise Insulation Regulations 12-39 Assessment of Specified Properties 12-41 Mitigation Measures when Operational 12-43 Summary 12-43 13. Air Quality 13-1 Introduction 13-1 Method of Assessment 13-1 Criteria for Significance of Impact 13-4 Baseline Conditions 13-4 Impact During Construction 13-4 Impacts When Operational 13-5 Regional Impact and Greenhouse Gases Assessment 13-6 Mitigation Measures when Operational 13-6 Summary 13-7 14. Water Environment 14-1 Introduction 14-1 Method of Assessment 14-1 Criteria for Significance of Impact 14-2 Baseline conditions 14-3 Impact During Construction 14-5 Mitigation Measures during Construction 14-6 Impact when Operational 14-7 iii P:\GBCBA\DE2\P&L\5026518 Northamptonshire Projects\914 Isham Bypass\Stage 3 ES\Stage 3 ES August 2005 Rev 1.DOC A509 ISHAM BYPASS Environmental Statement Mitigation Measures when Operational 14-8 Summary 14-8 15. Accessibility 15-1 Introduction 15-1 Method of Assessment 15-1 Criteria for Significance of Impact 15-1 Baseline Conditions 15-2 Impact during Construction 15-3 Mitigation measures during construction 15-4 Impacts when Operational 15-4 Mitigation measures when Operational 15-4 Summary 15-5 16. Physical Fitness and Journey Ambience 16-1 Introduction 16-1 Method of Assessment 16-1 Criteria for significance of impact 16-1 Baseline Conditions 16-1 Impact during Construction 16-2 Mitigation measures during Construction 16-2 Impacts when Operational 16-2 Summary 16-3 17. Integration 17-1 Introduction 17-1 Method of Assessment 17-1 Criteria for Significance of Impact 17-1 Baseline Conditions 17-1 Effects on Policies and Plans 17-14 Summary 17-14 18. Cumulative Impacts 18-1 Introduction 18-1 Isham 18-1 Hill Top 18-1 Little Harrowden 18-1 Other Schemes 18-2 19. Impacts During Construction 19-1 Introduction 19-1 General Construction Activities 19-1 Key Construction Impacts 19-4 iv P:\GBCBA\DE2\P&L\5026518 Northamptonshire Projects\914 Isham Bypass\Stage 3 ES\Stage 3 ES August 2005 Rev 1.DOC A509 ISHAM BYPASS Environmental Statement Mitigation 19-6 Summary 19-6 20. Conclusions 20-1 Introduction 20-1 Key Environmental Impacts 20-1 21. Bibliography 21-1 v P:\GBCBA\DE2\P&L\5026518 Northamptonshire Projects\914 Isham Bypass\Stage 3 ES\Stage 3 ES August 2005 Rev 1.DOC A509 ISHAM BYPASS Environmental Statement List of Tables Table 8.1: Evaluation of Impacts 8-2 Table 8.2: Significance of impacts for agricultural land 8-3 Table 8.3: Significance of impacts for farms 8-3 Table 8.4: Summary of Affected Agricultural Units 8-8 Table 8.5: Loss of Agricultural Land by ALC Grade 8-10 Table 8.6: Severance Impact during Construction 8-11 Table 8.7: Timing of Harvest 8-12 Table 8.8: Summary of Impacts on Agricultural Holdings 8-17 Table 9.1: Environmental Zones 9-10 Table 9.2: Visual Effect on Residential Properties 9-13 Table 10.1 Significance of Impacts for Ecology 10-3 Table 11.1: Significance of Impacts for Cultural Heritage 11-3 Table 11.2: Trial Trench Locations 11-14 Table 11.3: Impacts and Effects on Undesignated Cultural Heritage Resource 11-18 Table 12.1 Factors used in the Determination of Noise from Roads 12-3 Table 12.2: Significance of Impact for Noise 12-6 Table 12.5: Assessed Construction Scenario Activities and Locations 12-14 Table 12.5: Assessed Construction Scenario Activities and Locations (Continued) 12-15 Table 12.8 Summary of TAG Noise Assessment 12-37 Table 12.9 Summary of TAG Noise Assessment for RPG Equivalent RSS Results for the Additional Existing Network 12-38 Table 12.10: Noise Assessment at Selected Properties in 2024 12-42 Table 12.11: Comparison of the Proposed Bypass Error! 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Table 13.1 Roads with sufficient change in traffic flow to cause a significant, local air quality impact 13-3 Table 13.2 Summary of Overall Assessment Scores for the proposed bypass 13-5 Table 13.3: Number of properties with significant increases in air pollution 13-5 Table 13.4: Summary of Expected Carbon Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen Emissions (tonnes/year) (RPG) 13-6 Table 13.5: Summary of Expected Carbon Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen Emissions (tonnes/year) (RSS) 13-6 Table 14.1: Significance of Impact for the Water Environment 14-2 Table 14.2: Abstractions in the vicinity of Isham 14-4 Table 14.3: Water Quality Summary 14-5 Table 15.1: Pedestrian Counts for PROW 15-2 Table 20.1: Appraisal Summary Table: Isham Bypass 20-2 vi P:\GBCBA\DE2\P&L\5026518 Northamptonshire Projects\914 Isham Bypass\Stage 3 ES\Stage 3 ES August 2005 Rev 1.DOC A509 ISHAM BYPASS Environmental Statement List of Appendices Appendix A Worksheets Appendix B Traffic Flows Appendix C Preliminary Appraisal Summary Tables (Alternative Options) Appendix D List of Consultees Appendix E Visual Impact Schedules Appendix F Typical Planting Mixes Appendix G Phase 1 Habitat Survey (Target Notes) Appendix H Hedgerow Survey Appendix I Sites and Monuments Register Appendix J Geo-Physics Report Appendix K Field Walking Report Appendix L Responses from Statutory Consultees Appendix M Flood Risk Assessment Appendix N Pedestrian Counts Data Appendix O Saturn Road Network Links Appendix P Noise and Air Quality Traffic Data Appendix Q Worksheets for Noise assessment Appendix R Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Light Pollution Appendix S Existing Noise Environment and Construction Noise List of Figures Figure 1: Site Location Map Figure 2: Traffic Flows 2002 Figure 3: Forecast Traffic Flows 2009 and 2024 Figure 4: Route Options Figure 5: Stage 2 Route Options - 2, 5 and 6 Figure 6: Affected Agricultural Holdings Figure 7: Environmental Constraints Plan Figure 8: Severed Land Figure 9: Soil Working Characteristics Figure 10: Landscape Context Figure 11: Photograph 1 Sheet 1 of 5 Figure 12: Photograph 2 Sheet 2 of 5 Figure 13: Photograph 3 Sheet 3 of 5 Figure 14: Photograph 4 Sheet 4 of 5 Figure 15: Photograph 5 Sheet 5 of 5 Figure 16: Known Archaeological Resource Taken From SMR Figure 17: Areas of Archaeological Potential