Land south of Windsor Road, Water Oakley, Bray, Berkshire, SL4 5UQ. Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. Planning Application and Environmental Impact Assessment for sand and gravel extraction and restoration by infilling at Water Oakley. October 2018 Volume 2 Environmental Statement Applicant: Agent: Summerleaze Limited, Quarryplan (GB) Limited, 7 Summerleaze Road, Unit 12A, Maidenhead, The Borough Mall, Berkshire, Wedmore, SL6 8SP. Somerset, BS28 4EB. Water Oakley Quarry Development Volume 2: Environmental Statement Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction to the proposals............................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose of the Environmental Statement.........................................................................1 1.3 Format of the Environmental Statement ..........................................................................2 1.4 The Applicant .....................................................................................................................3 2.0 PROJECT SUMMARY......................................................................................................4 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................4 2.2 Site and Setting ..................................................................................................................4 2.3 Water Oakley Development - General...............................................................................6 3.0 GEOLOGY......................................................................................................................9 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................9 3.2 Site Exploration..................................................................................................................9 3.3 Detailed Geology................................................................................................................9 3.4 Sand and Gravel Quality...................................................................................................10 3.5 Base of Sand and Gravel Deposit.....................................................................................10 3.6 Overburden......................................................................................................................11 3.7 Sand and Gravel Reserves................................................................................................11 4.0 PHASED WORKING AND RESTORATION METHODOLOGY ............................................. 12 4.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................12 4.2 Main Mitigation Measures...............................................................................................13 4.3 Initial Development Work................................................................................................14 4.4 Phase 1.............................................................................................................................15 4.5 Phase 2.............................................................................................................................16 4.6 Phase 3.............................................................................................................................16 4.7 Phase 4.............................................................................................................................17 4.8 Phase 5.............................................................................................................................17 4.9 Restoration Concept ........................................................................................................18 5.0 COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT........................................................ 19 6.0 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .............................................. 20 6.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................20 6.2 Scope of the Environmental Impact Study ......................................................................20 i Water Oakley Quarry Development Volume 2: Environmental Statement 7.0 ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVES.................................................................................. 23 7.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................23 7.2 No Development Option..................................................................................................23 7.3 Alternatives to extraction in the Water Oakley site ........................................................24 7.4 Alternative methods of extraction and processing .........................................................24 7.5 Alternative methods of transportation ...........................................................................25 7.6 Alternative restoration ....................................................................................................26 7.7 Conclusion........................................................................................................................26 8.0 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT................................................................... 27 8.1 Author of the Report........................................................................................................27 8.2 Introduction .....................................................................................................................27 8.3 Site Description and Planning History..............................................................................27 8.4 Proposed Development ...................................................................................................28 8.5 Planning Policy Framework..............................................................................................28 8.6 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................31 9.0 AGRICULTURE AND SOILS............................................................................................ 33 9.1 Author of the report ........................................................................................................33 9.2 Introduction .....................................................................................................................33 9.3 Baseline............................................................................................................................33 9.4 Proposed development....................................................................................................35 9.5 Potential Impacts and Mitigation ....................................................................................36 9.6 Recommendations...........................................................................................................38 9.7 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................38 10.0 CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT ............................................................................. 39 10.1 Author of the Report........................................................................................................39 10.2 Introduction .....................................................................................................................39 10.3 Baseline Conditions..........................................................................................................39 10.4 Potential and Predicted Environmental Impacts.............................................................40 10.5 Mitigation of Impacts.......................................................................................................41 10.6 Potential Residual Impacts...............................................................................................42 10.7 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................42 11.0 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT....................................... 44 11.1 Author of the Report........................................................................................................44 11.2 Introduction .....................................................................................................................44 ii Water Oakley Quarry Development Volume 2: Environmental Statement 11.3 Baseline Conditions..........................................................................................................44 11.4 Potential Effects...............................................................................................................45 11.5 Predicted Effects..............................................................................................................46 11.6 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................47 11.7 Residual Effects................................................................................................................47