PCF 114 Environmental Assessment Report SGAR5 – Development Phase Birmingham Box Phase 3 Managed Motorways M6 Junctions 5 – 8 PCF 114 Environmental Assessment Report Document Control Document Title PCF 114 Environmental Assessment Report Author Rosemary Armah Owner Rob Edwards Distribution Rob Edwards (MP Project Manager) Asad Khan (MP Assistant Project Manager) BB3 Managed Motorways Mailbox All present in the Reviewer List Document Status Final Issue for Approval Record of Issue Version Status Author Date Checked Date Authorised Date 1.0 Issue – For R. Armah 26/08/11 A. Dawes & 26/08/11 J McNulty 02/09/11 Consultation A. Thornhill 2.0 Issue – For R. Armah 27/10/11 A. Thornhill 27/10/11 J McNulty 15/11/11 Consultation 3.0 Final Issue R. Armah 27/10/11 A. Thornhill 17/11/11 M Heaton 17/11/11 Reviewer List Name Role Philip Barnett DfT Sponsor Matt Winter NetServ Technical Services - Regional Environmental Advisor Approvals Name Signature Title Date of Version Issue David Grant SRO Appendix A - M6BBPh3MM 114 Environmental Assessment Report 20111117.doc Birmingham Box Phase 3 Managed Motorway Page 2 of 221 PCF 114 Environmental Assessment Report TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Overview ........................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Need for an Environmental Assessment ...................................................... 10 1.3 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................... 11 1.4 Structure of the Report .................................................................................. 11 2 THE PROPOSED SCHEME ............................................................................................... 15 2.1 Project Background ....................................................................................... 15 2.2 Need for the Scheme ...................................................................................... 15 2.3 Project Objectives .......................................................................................... 19 2.4 Overview of the Existing Environment ......................................................... 20 2.5 Project Description ......................................................................................... 23 2.6 Scheme Delivery and Implementation .......................................................... 35 3 ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................ 37 3.1 The Key Challenges ....................................................................................... 37 3.2 Scheme Development .................................................................................... 37 4 THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS ........................................................ 39 4.1 Screening ........................................................................................................ 39 4.2 Scoping ........................................................................................................... 39 4.3 Environmental Consultation .......................................................................... 40 4.4 Delivery of the Environmental Assessment ................................................. 41 4.5 Reporting and Determination ........................................................................ 45 4.6 Public Consultation ........................................................................................ 45 5 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ....................................................... 47 5.1 Scoping Process ............................................................................................ 47 5.2 Air Quality ....................................................................................................... 47 5.3 Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................. 49 5.4 Nature Conservation ...................................................................................... 50 5.5 Landscape Effects .......................................................................................... 51 5.6 Noise and Vibration ........................................................................................ 52 5.7 Effects on all Travellers ................................................................................. 54 5.8 Road Drainage and the Water Environment ................................................. 55 5.9 Disruption Due to Construction .................................................................... 55 Appendix A - M6BBPh3MM 114 Environmental Assessment Report 20111117.doc Birmingham Box Phase 3 Managed Motorway Page 3 of 221 PCF 114 Environmental Assessment Report 5.10 Proposed Assessment Methodology ............................................................ 56 5.11 Discounted Environmental Topic Areas ....................................................... 57 5.12 Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................... 58 6 AIR QUALITY ..................................................................................................................... 61 6.1 Focus of the Assessment .............................................................................. 61 6.2 Construction Phase ........................................................................................ 62 6.3 Operation Phase ............................................................................................. 66 6.4 Summary ......................................................................................................... 77 7 NATURE CONSERVATION ............................................................................................... 79 7.1 Focus of the Assessment .............................................................................. 79 7.2 Methodology ................................................................................................... 79 7.3 Existing Environment ..................................................................................... 82 7.4 Potential Environmental Effects .................................................................... 92 7.5 Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 101 7.6 Summary ....................................................................................................... 107 8 CULTURAL HERITAGE ................................................................................................... 109 8.1 Focus of the Assessment ............................................................................ 109 8.2 Methodology ................................................................................................. 109 8.3 Existing Environment ................................................................................... 111 8.4 Potential Environmental Effects .................................................................. 112 8.5 Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 113 8.6 Summary ....................................................................................................... 114 9 LANDSCAPE EFFECTS .................................................................................................. 115 9.1 Focus of the Assessment ............................................................................ 115 9.2 Methodology ................................................................................................. 115 9.3 Existing Environment ................................................................................... 117 9.4 Potential Environmental Effects .................................................................. 120 9.5 Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 129 9.6 Summary ....................................................................................................... 131 10 NOISE AND VIBRATION ................................................................................................. 133 10.1 Focus of the Assessment ............................................................................ 133 10.2 Construction Phase ...................................................................................... 133 10.3 Operation Phase ........................................................................................... 142 Appendix A - M6BBPh3MM 114 Environmental Assessment Report 20111117.doc Birmingham Box Phase 3 Managed Motorway Page 4 of 221 PCF 114 Environmental Assessment Report 10.4 Summary ....................................................................................................... 151 11 EFFECTS ON ALL TRAVELLERS .................................................................................. 153 11.1 Focus of the Assessment ............................................................................ 153 11.2 Methodology ................................................................................................. 153 11.3 Existing Environment ................................................................................... 154 11.4 Potential Environmental Effects .................................................................