Proposed Overhead Line Works Associated with the Provision of a Realigned Crossing for the River Tees Teesside Environmental Statement – Volume 1 - Text National Grid 1100 Century Way Thorpe Park Leeds LS15 8TU February 2010 Tees Crossing Asset Replacement Scheme Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose of the Environmental Statement...................................................................... 1 1.3 Statutory Requirements.................................................................................................. 1 1.4 Structure and Scope of the Environmental Statement ................................................. 3 1.5 Consultation .................................................................................................................... 4 2 SCHEME DESCRIPTION.................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Detailed Description of the Proposed Works ................................................................ 5 2.3 Description of Route ....................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Preparation Work ............................................................................................................ 6 2.5 Installation of Tower Foundations ................................................................................. 7 2.6 Installation of Tower Steelwork...................................................................................... 7 2.7 Conductor Stringing........................................................................................................ 7 2.8 Tower Removal / Completion ......................................................................................... 8 2.9 Duration and Timing of the Refurbishment Activities .................................................. 8 3 NEED AND ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................... 9 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Need for the Proposed Works ........................................................................................ 9 3.3 Alternative Options ......................................................................................................... 9 3.4 Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 14 4 ECOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 16 4.2 Method of Assessment ................................................................................................. 16 4.3 Field Surveys................................................................................................................. 18 4.4 Nature Conservation Evaluation .................................................................................. 20 4.5 Impact Assessment....................................................................................................... 21 4.6 Policy and Guidance ..................................................................................................... 22 4.7 Baseline Description..................................................................................................... 24 4.8 Habitats identified during field survey......................................................................... 26 4.9 BAP Habitats ................................................................................................................. 31 4.10 Legally Protected and Notable Species....................................................................... 31 4.11 Prediction and Evaluation of Impacts.......................................................................... 35 4.12 Mitigation Measures...................................................................................................... 41 4.13 Residual Impacts........................................................................................................... 43 4.14 Cumulative Impacts....................................................................................................... 44 4.15 Conclusions................................................................................................................... 46 5 ORNITHOLOGY.............................................................................................................. 47 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 47 5.2 General Approach ......................................................................................................... 47 5.3 Key Findings (as of January 2010)............................................................................... 48 5.4 Method of Assessment ................................................................................................. 49 Tees Crossing Asset Replacement Scheme 5.5 Desk Study..................................................................................................................... 51 5.6 Literature Review .......................................................................................................... 51 5.7 Field Surveys................................................................................................................. 52 5.8 Impact Assessment....................................................................................................... 54 5.9 Policy and Guidance ..................................................................................................... 57 5.10 Baseline description ..................................................................................................... 57 5.11 Background Information............................................................................................... 61 5.12 Teesside Field Survey Results ..................................................................................... 62 5.13 Comparative Survey Results – Blyth Estuary and Clackmannanshire Bridge.......... 69 5.14 Potential Effects ............................................................................................................ 70 5.15 Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... 71 5.16 Other Mitigation Measures............................................................................................ 72 5.17 Assessment of Residual Effects .................................................................................. 74 5.18 Construction effects (including decommissioning of the existing route)................. 74 5.19 Operational Effects ....................................................................................................... 77 5.20 Evaluation of Effects on the SPA/Ramsar and its components................................. 84 5.21 Cumulative and In-combination Effects....................................................................... 87 5.22 Summary........................................................................................................................ 88 6 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ........................................................................................... 90 6.1 Introduction and Terms of Reference .......................................................................... 90 6.2 Proposed Scheme ......................................................................................................... 90 6.3 Construction Phase....................................................................................................... 90 6.4 Previous Studies, Scoping and Consultation.............................................................. 90 6.5 Study Area ..................................................................................................................... 91 6.6 Methodology.................................................................................................................. 92 6.7 Baseline Description of the Existing Landscape and Visual Resources of the Area98 6.8 Landscape Character.................................................................................................. 101 6.9 Visual Context ............................................................................................................. 105 6.10 Prediction of Impacts and Evaluation of Effects....................................................... 106 6.11 Mitigation and Enhancement...................................................................................... 112 6.12 Residual Impacts......................................................................................................... 112 6.13 Conclusions................................................................................................................. 113 7