University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus Environmental Statement July 2008 Volume 1 - Text Prepared by: RPS Planning & Development, Oxford RPS Planning & Development Mallams Court 18 Milton Park Abingdon Oxon OX14 4RP Tel 01235 821888 Fax 01235 820351 Email [email protected] Contents Volume 1 Non Technical Summary 1 Introduction 2 Description of the Project 3 Main Alternatives 4 Consultations, Scoping and Methodology 5 Townscape and Visual Effects 6 Ecology and Nature Conservation 7 Cultural Heritage 8 Water Resources, Geology and Soils 9 Traffic and Transport 10 Further Information List of Figures and Appendices (Volume 2) Figures 1.1 Site Context 2.1 Proposed Development (indicative) 7.1 Built Heritage and Historic Landscape Features 7.2 1756 Plan of the Lordship and Liberty of Early 7.3 1820’s Plan of the Tithings of Sonning Town, Woodley & Sandford and Earley 7.4 Ordnance Survey First Edition 25’’ Map of 1877 7.5 Ordnance Survey Second Edition 25’’ Map of 1899 7.6 Known Archaeological Features 8.1 Water Availability 9.1 Traffic Survey Locations 9.2 Observed Flows Appendices 2.1 Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) 2.2 Proposed Road Infrastructure 3.1 Lake Crossing Options Considered 3.2 Short Listed Lake Crossing Options 3.3 Halls of Residence Options Considered 4.1 Other Developments Considered in Cumulative Effects Assessment 5.1 Baseline Drawings (Landscape and Visual) 5.2 External Boundary Photographs 5.3 Proposed Development Locations 5.4 Visual Receptors (Internal and External) 5.5 Planning Policy Context (Landscape and Visual) 6.1 Planning Policy Context (Ecology and Nature Conservation) 6.2 Desk Study and Phase 1 Habitat Survey 6.3 Amphibian Survey 6.4 Reptile Survey 6.5 Bat Activity and Roost Surveys 6.6 Wildlife Friendly Planting List 6.7 Bats and Lighting in the UK 2008 guidelines 7.1 Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment 8.1 Correspondence Received (Water Resources, Geology and Soils) 8.2 Flood Risk Assessment 8.3 Water Quality Data 8.4 Site-wide Drainage Strategy 8.5 Planning Policy Context (Water Resources, Geology and Soils) Non-Technical Summary Introduction 1 The University of Reading is one of the foremost research-led universities in the UK. The University employs in the order of 4000 staff and is the seat of learning for some 17,800 students, drawn from within the UK and abroad. 2 The Whiteknights campus is the principal campus of the University, located within Reading, Berkshire. The campus crosses the administrative boundary between Wokingham Borough Council and Reading Borough Council. The location of the campus is shown on Figure 1. 3 The campus has been the subject of a Development Plan, which identifies the principles for future development at the campus over the next 10 years, including the provision of improved road infrastructure, replacement halls of residence and provision of new facilities such as academic buildings, car parking and areas of open space to better accommodate the University’s future needs. The whole of this proposed development is referred to as “the project”. 4 Environmental Impact Assessment has been undertaken for the project in accordance with The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (the ‘EIA Regulations’). The assessment has been undertaken by RPS on behalf of Stride Treglown and the University of Reading. 5 This document is the non-technical summary of the ES. This provides a summary of the main environmental effects likely to arise from the project. For completeness and in order to consider the effects of the project as a whole, this includes an assessment of the likely environmental effects for all components of the project in both Wokingham and Reading Boroughs. Site Description 6 The Whiteknights campus lies to the south east of Reading town centre, occupying an area of approximately 123 hectares. The campus was formerly the Manor of Earley, incorporating a manor house and landscaped gardens, and was purchased by the University in 1947. Now forming the University’s main campus, Whiteknights is bounded to the northeast by Whiteknights Road, to the southeast by Wilderness Road and to the west by Shinfield Road and Pepper Lane. University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus i RPS Environmental Statement July 2008 Non-Technical Summary 7 The campus lies within the Church ward of Reading and the Maiden Erlegh ward of Wokingham. Current land uses on the Whiteknights site includes academic and research buildings, residential halls, catering facilities and offices. In the centre of the campus lies Whiteknights Lake. The roads surrounding the campus are primarily residential. Need for the Project 8 The project would include the delivery of a revised network of pedestrian, cyclist and vehicular routes within the campus. At present, there is no formal vehicular crossing over the lake and this lack of a direct vehicular connection between the south-west and north-east parts of the campus limits connectivity between different parts of the campus, prevents a direct route for maintenance, security and emergency vehicles and limits public transport service penetration. An internal connection would offer the opportunity to significantly reduce total miles travelled by fleet vehicles that are currently required to use the external road network to travel between parts of the campus and would therefore also remove trips from the local road network. 9 The University currently provides approximately 1,670 study bedrooms within the Whiteknights campus. Condition surveys indicate that a significant proportion of these buildings require major repair or replacement. Existing study bedrooms at Bridges, Childs and Whiteknights Halls in particular are considered to be reaching the end of their economic life. Redevelopment of these halls of residence is required in order to continue to provide good quality accommodation for students within the campus. 10 A range of other proposals are included within the project. Together, these would allow continued provision of suitable academic accommodation and associated facilities to support the University’s vision of a high quality, sustainable environment that will facilitate student recruitment and retention of staff and enhance the University’s national and international reputation for excellence. Proposed Development 11 The project comprises the following main elements: • Roads infrastructure; • Redevelopment of halls of residence; • Remaining proposals. 12 The main elements of the proposals are outlined below and shown on Figure 2. University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus ii RPS Environmental Statement July 2008 Non-Technical Summary Roads Infrastructure 13 The proposals include the following, linked, sections of road: • The completion of the existing orbital route. The existing campus orbital route does not form a complete circuit. The provision of a section of new carriageway with adjacent footway is proposed to connect the existing route from its end point to the north west of the Students Union to a proposed junction to the east of Park House. This additional section of the orbital route would be subject to a restricted entry management system allowing only University catering vehicles, security, maintenance and senior staff to utilise the link in addition to emergency service vehicles and public transport services. The section of the route passing in front of Park House would be formed of green coloured paving or blocks. Planting is proposed in blocks close to the proposed road. • New approach roads and lake crossing to complete the connection between the Pepper Lane/Shinfield Road and Earley Gate areas of the campus currently separated by the lake. This route would include an approach road on the western side from the central campus orbital route towards the existing pedestrian Friends Bridge. The route across the lake would be restricted to use by designated vehicles only by means of barrier access and would be a single carriageway route with passing places and adjacent footway. The footway would ensure continued provision of the existing public footpath that crosses the existing Friends Bridge and continues across the campus. • An upgrade of an existing route from Earley Gate towards the Bridges Hall area. 14 A number of new larger car parks are proposed off the orbital route. The relocation of car parking to peripheral locations allows the development or landscaping of existing central car parks. The project includes a proposed Porters Lodge at Queens Drive, incorporating a visitor reception, information point and site security. Visitors would be guided to this car park and onto the Porters Lodge to register. Apart from visitors with special needs, visitors would be required to park at Queens Drive and continue the journey on foot. 15 Overall, the project would result in the provision of 511 new car parking spaces. Redevelopment of the Halls of Residence 16 The project includes the phased redevelopment of the Whiteknights, Bridges and Childs halls. This would result in a net increase in the number of study bedrooms provided on the campus, reducing the demand for offsite accommodation and focusing student life on campus. University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus iii RPS Environmental Statement July 2008 Non-Technical Summary 17 This includes the replacement of Whiteknights Hall with new buildings providing approximately 560 study bedrooms. The new Whiteknights Hall would be served by a new internal road connection from the central orbital road to the south. Once completed, the University would close the existing Whiteknights Hall entrance to vehicular traffic. 18 Childs Hall would be redeveloped to accommodate a total of approximately 1,296 study bedrooms, provided in study bedroom clusters and town houses. 19 Bridges Hall would be redeveloped to accommodate a total of approximately 644 study bedrooms on the site of the current Bridges Hall. In addition, the project includes the development of an additional 312 study bedrooms on adjacent land. 20 The halls would be linked to the orbital road and each other with cycleways, footways and road infrastructure where appropriate.