A417 Missing Link Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report May 2019 A417 MISSING LINK Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report Table of contents 1. Introduction 6 Purpose of the report 6 Overview of the Scheme 6 Legislative context and the need for Environmental Impact Assessment 6 Planning policy context 7 2. The Scheme 10 Need for the Scheme 10 Scheme objectives 11 Scheme location 12 Scheme description 13 3. Assessment of alternatives 21 Scheme history 21 Options identification and assessment 21 4. Consultation 24 Context 24 DCO Consultation Requirements 24 Previous consultation 24 Proposed consultation 32 5. Environmental assessment methodology 35 Surveys and predictive techniques and methods 35 General Assessment 35 Assumptions and Limitations 38 Significance criteria 39 Proposed Structure of the Environmental Statement 42 6. Air quality 44 Study area 44 Baseline conditions 44 Potential impacts 50 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 51 Description of the likely significant effects 51 Assessment methodology 52 Assessment assumptions and limitations 56 7. Cultural heritage 58 Study area 58 Baseline conditions 58 Potential impacts 61 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 62 Description of the likely significant effects 63 Assessment methodology 65 Assessment assumptions and limitations 68 8. Landscape and visual effects 70 Study area 70 A417 MISSING LINK Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report Baseline conditions 70 Potential impacts 78 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 81 Description of the likely significant effects 83 Assessment methodology 88 Assessment assumptions and limitations 93 9. Geology and soils 94 Study area 94 Baseline conditions 94 Potential impacts 100 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 102 Description of the likely significant effects 104 Assessment methodology 105 Assessment assumptions and limitations 108 10. Biodiversity 110 Study area 110 Baseline conditions 111 Potential impacts 114 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 118 Description of the likely significant effects 124 Assessment methodology 126 Assessment assumptions and limitations 130 11. Material Assets and Waste 131 Study area 131 Baseline conditions 131 Potential impacts 137 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 139 Description of the likely significant effects 142 Assessment methodology 143 Assessment assumptions and limitations 145 12. Noise and vibration 146 Study area 146 Baseline conditions 146 Potential impacts 147 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 148 Description of the likely significant effects 149 Assessment methodology 149 Assessment assumptions and limitations 156 13. Population and human health 158 Study area 158 Baseline conditions 159 Potential impacts 164 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 166 Description of the likely significant effects 167 Assessment methodology 170 A417 MISSING LINK Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report Assessment assumptions and limitations 179 14. Road drainage and the water environment 181 Study area 181 Baseline conditions 181 Potential impacts 185 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 190 Description of the likely significant effects 192 Assessment methodology 194 Assessment assumptions and limitations 204 15. Climate 205 Study area 205 Baseline conditions 206 Potential impacts 209 Design, mitigation and enhancement measures 210 Description of the likely significant effects 211 Assessment methodology 212 Assessment assumptions and limitations 216 16. Assessment of cumulative effects 218 Assessment methodology 218 Assessment of combined effects 224 Assessment of cumulative Effects 224 17. Summary 226 18. Glossary 229 A417 MISSING LINK Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report 1. Introduction Purpose of the report This Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report has been prepared in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (EIA) Regulations 2017 (the ‘EIA Regulations’). It is submitted by Mott MacDonald Sweco JV on behalf of Highways England to request a Scoping Opinion in respect of the A417 Missing Link Scheme (hereafter referred to as ‘the Scheme’). The purpose of this Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report is to establish the scope of the Environmental Statement and the level of detail required, and to support the request for a Scoping Opinion under Regulation 10(1) of the EIA Regulations. This report has been completed in accordance with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Volume 111 and the Planning Inspectorate’s (PINS) Advice Note 72 to a Scoping Level for all environmental factors (topics) set out in the EIA Regulations. Overview of the Scheme The Scheme would provide a dual carriageway to improve the current “Missing Link” section of single carriageway of the A417 between Cowley roundabout and Crickley Hill. The Scheme aims to increase capacity by creating a free-flowing link between the Brockworth Bypass and the Cowley roundabout and remove the at-grade junction with the A436 (Air Balloon Roundabout). This Scheme will provide a high-quality dual carriageway, consistent with the A417/A419 corridor between Swindon (M4 Junction 15) and Gloucester / Cheltenham (M5 Junction 11a). Legislative context and the need for Environmental Impact Assessment The Scheme is defined as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), under section 14 (1) (h) and section 22 of the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008) (as 1 Highways Agency (2009) Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Volume 11 ‘Environmental Assessment’. 2 The Planning Inspectorate (2015) Advice Note Seven: Environmental Impact Assessment: Preliminary Environmental Information, Screening and Scoping [online] available at: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Advice-note-7v4.pdf (last accessed January 2019). 6 A417 MISSING LINK Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report amended by The Highways and Railway (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) Order 2013) (Ref 1) by virtue of the fact that: • it comprises the construction of a highway • the highway to be constructed is wholly in England • the Secretary of State is the highways authority for the highway; and • the speed limit for any class of vehicle on the highway is to be 50 miles per hour or greater, and the area for the construction of the highway is greater than 12.5 hectares. The Scheme has been classified as EIA development as it falls within Schedule 2.10 (f) – construction of roads of the EIA Regulations. Due a number of factors, including the sensitivity of the Scheme location within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), an Environmental Statement will be prepared to accompany the Development Consent Order (DCO) application to PINS. In accordance with Regulation 8(1)(b) of the EIA Regulations, Highways England has notified the Secretary of State for Transport in a letter to PINS April 2nd, 2019 that an Environmental Statement presenting the findings of the EIA will be submitted with the DCO application. The Environmental Statement will meet the requirements of Regulation 14 of the EIA Regulations. Various specific requests are made to scope out certain sub-topics. These are listed in the table in Section 17. Planning policy context National Policy Statement for National Networks The National Networks National Policy Statement (NPSNN)3 sets out the need for, and Government’s policies to deliver development of, NSIPs on the national road network in England and sets out the primary basis for making decisions on development consent for NSIPs in England. The Government recognises in the Appraisal of Sustainability accompanying the NPSNN, that some developments will have some adverse local impacts on noise, emissions, landscape/visual amenity, biodiversity, cultural heritage and water resources. The significance of these effects and the effectiveness of mitigation is uncertain at the strategic and non-locational specific level of the NPSNN. Therefore, whilst applicants should 3 Department for Transport (2015) National Policy Statement for National Networks [online] available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387222/ npsnn-print.pdf (last accessed February 2019) 7 A417 MISSING LINK Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report deliver developments in accordance with Government policy and in an environmentally sensitive way, including considering opportunities to deliver environmental benefits, some adverse local effects of development may remain. Outside the NSIP regime, Government policy is to bring forward targeted works to address existing environmental problems on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) and improve the performance of the network. This includes reconnecting habitats and ecosystems, enhancing the setting of historic and cultural heritage features, respecting and enhancing landscape character, improving water quality and reducing flood risk, avoiding significant adverse effects from noise and vibration, and addressing areas of poor air quality. Evidence demonstrating compliance of the Scheme with the NPSNN will be provided within the NPSNN Accordance Table which will be submitted as part of the DCO application within either the Planning Statement or the Case for the Scheme. Any environmental assessment principles outlined in the NPSNN will be taken into account within the Environmental Statement. The Environmental Statement will also confirm within each of the environmental