sustainable direction thinking of the future Brinklow Quarry Extension to Time and Area – Environmental Statement for 2015 Applications October 2015 Sustainable Direction Limited 25 The Steadings Business Centre Maisemore, Gloucestershire GL2 8EY, UK Tel +44 (0) 1452 382218 Email [email protected] Web www.sustainabledirection.com Brinklow Quarry Extension to Time and Area – Environmental Statement for 2015 Applications Table of Contents Table of Contents 1-2 Authorisation Sheet 1-6 1. Introduction and Approach to the EIA 1-7 1.1 Introduction 1-7 1.2 Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment 1-8 1.3 Contributing Consultant Team 1-10 1.4 Assessment Approach 1-11 2. Project Description 2-1 2.1 Quarry Overview 2-1 2.2 Operational Plan for the Extension of Time and Extension of Area 2-2 2.3 Restoration and After-care 2-8 2.4 Assessment 2-10 3. Development Site Description 3-1 3.1 Description of the Site 3-1 3.2 Site History 3-2 3.3 Characteristics of the Local Environment 3-4 3.4 Consideration of Alternatives 3-4 4. Planning Policy Considerations 4-1 4.1 Introduction 4-1 4.2 National Planning Policy Framework 4-1 4.3 National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW) (2014) 4-2 4.4 Waste Management Plan for England 2013 4-2 4.5 Development Plan Policies 4-3 4.6 Policy Summary and Conclusions 4-6 5. Impact on Highways and Public Rights of Way 5-1 5.1 Introduction 5-1 5.2 Methodology 5-1 5.3 Baseline Traffic and Transport Conditions 5-4 5.4 Impacts of the Proposals 5-14 5.5 Mitigation Measures 5-21 5.6 Residual Impacts 5-22 5.7 Conclusion 5-22 5.8 Summary of Impacts 5-22 6. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 6-1 6.1 Introduction 6-1 6.2 Methodology 6-1 6.3 Background 6-4 Chapter 1-2 Brinklow Quarry Extension to Time and Area – Environmental Statement for 2015 Applications 6.4 Impacts of the Development 6-9 6.5 Mitigation Measures 6-12 6.6 Residual Impacts 6-12 6.7 Conclusion 6-12 6.8 Summary Impact Tables 6-14 7. Ecological Issues 7-1 7.1 Introduction 7-1 7.2 Legislation and Policy 7-2 7.3 Methodology 7-4 7.4 Baseline Conditions 7-10 7.5 Impacts of the Proposals 7-16 7.6 Mitigation Measures 7-38 7.7 Residual Impacts 7-53 7.8 Summary 7-62 7.9 References 7-63 8. Cultural Heritage 8-1 8.1 Introduction 8-1 8.2 Methodology 8-1 8.3 Baseline Conditions 8-2 8.4 Impacts of the Proposals 8-2 8.5 Mitigation measures 8-3 8.6 Residual Impacts 8-3 8.7 Summary of Impacts 8-3 8.8 References 8-4 9. Noise 9-1 9.1 Introduction 9-1 9.2 Methodology 9-1 9.3 Baseline Conditions 9-3 9.4 Impacts of the Proposal 9-5 9.5 Mitigation Measures 9-8 9.6 Residual Impacts 9-9 9.7 Summary 9-9 9.8 Summary of Impacts 9-9 10. Air Quality 10-1 10.1 Introduction 10-1 10.2 Methodology 10-2 10.3 Baseline Conditions 10-4 10.4 Impacts of the Proposals 10-9 10.5 Mitigation measures 10-16 10.6 Residual Impacts 10-18 10.7 Summary of Impacts 10-18 Chapter 1-3 Brinklow Quarry Extension to Time and Area – Environmental Statement for 2015 Applications 10.8 References 10-19 11. Flood Risk Assessment 11-1 11.1 Introduction 11-1 11.2 Methodology 11-1 11.3 Baseline Conditions 11-3 11.4 Impacts of the Proposals 11-4 11.5 Mitigation measures 11-5 11.6 Residual Impacts 11-5 11.7 Summary of Impacts 11-5 11.8 References 11-6 12. Socioeconomic Impact Assessment 12-1 12.1 Introduction 12-1 12.2 Methodology 12-1 12.1 Baseline Conditions 12-3 12.2 Impacts of the Proposals 12-1 12.3 Mitigation measures 12-2 12.4 Residual Impacts 12-2 12.5 Summary of Impacts 12-2 12.6 References 12-3 13. Agricultural Land Assessment 13-1 13.1 Introduction 13-1 13.2 Methodology 13-1 13.3 Baseline Conditions 13-2 13.4 Impacts of the Proposals 13-4 13.5 Mitigation measures 13-6 13.6 Residual Impacts 13-6 13.7 Summary of Impacts 13-6 13.8 References 13-7 14. Airport Safeguarding 14-1 14.1 Introduction 14-1 14.2 Methodology 14-1 14.3 Baseline Conditions 14-2 14.4 Impacts of the Proposals 14-2 14.5 Mitigation measures 14-2 14.6 Residual Impacts 14-3 14.7 Summary of Impacts 14-3 14.8 References 14-3 15. Restoration 15-1 15.1 Introduction 15-1 15.2 Restoration in Phases 15-2 Chapter 1-4 Brinklow Quarry Extension to Time and Area – Environmental Statement for 2015 Applications 15.3 Restoration and After-care 15-5 15.4 Assessment of the Restoration Scheme 15-9 15.5 Summary of Impacts from the Restoration Scheme 15-12 16. Summary 16-1 16.1 Impacts on Highways and Public Rights of Way – Chapter 5 16-1 16.2 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment – Chapter 6 16-1 16.3 Ecology – Chapter 7 16-2 16.4 Cultural Heritage – Chapter 8 16-4 16.5 Noise – Chapter 9 16-4 16.6 Air Quality – Chapter 10 16-5 16.7 Flood Risk Assessment – Chapter 11 16-5 16.8 Socioeconomic Impact Assessment – Chapter 12 16-5 16.9 Agricultural Land Assessment – Chapter 13 16-6 16.10 Airport Safeguarding – Chapter 14 16-6 16.11 Restoration – Chapter 15 16-6 Chapter 1-5 Brinklow Quarry Extension to Time and Area – Environmental Statement for 2015 Applications Authorisation Sheet Client: Brinklow Quarry Project: Extension to Time and Area – Environmental Statement for 2015 Applications Version: Final PREPARED BY Signature: Name: Becki Clark, Freya Ashmore and Associates Position: Consultants and Associates Date: October 2015 REVIEWED BY Signature: Name: John Henry Looney, Andrew Sierakowski Position: Director and Associate Date: October 2015 AUTHORISED FOR ISSUE Signature: Name: John Henry Looney Position: Director Date: October 2015 DISTRIBUTION Brinklow Quarry Sustainable Direction Ltd Warwickshire County Council Chapter 1-6 Brinklow Quarry Environmental Statement Introduction and Approach to the EIA - Introduction 1. Introduction and Approach to the EIA 1.1 Introduction This Environmental Statement (ES) is intended to support two planning applications: the first, a Section 73 application to allow the continued operation of Brinklow Quarry beyond May 2016, and a second to extend the quarry area. This document is the Environmental Statement and, with the Non-Technical Summary (NTS) and Technical Appendices, presents the findings of a number of detailed environmental assessments associated with the extension of time of the quarry’s current operations and the proposed extension of area. The extant planning permission (R687/1547/1486/P) is dated 7th May 1991. It permits the extraction of sand and gravel from 69.3 hectares of land at what is now known as Brinklow Quarry. Condition No. 51 of that permission states that the extraction of sand and gravel shall cease no later than 25 years from the date of the permission, which is 7th May 2016. Brinklow Quarry is therefore obligated to submit a planning application to allow the continued operation of the existing quarry beyond that date. The site is also overdue a Periodic Review of the working conditions under the provisions of the Environment Act 1995 (Review of Old Mineral Permissions – ROMP). This application has therefore been submitted for a s.73 application to vary Condition No.51 to extend the sand and gravel extraction for a period of 10 years to 2026, but it is recognised that it will also afford Warwickshire County Council the opportunity to review and update the conditions of the extant planning permission as agreed with Planning Officer Matthew Williamson. The existing permission was granted on the assumption that the site would yield 3.5 million tonnes of sand and gravel. It is estimated that approximately 1.7 million tonnes of sand or gravel, half the original reserve, remains to be extracted from the Quarry. This is in effect a continuing of the existing operation onsite. In addition, Brinklow Quarry proposes an extension to the operational area of the quarry of an additional 31 hectares, which will be able to produce a further 3.1 million tonnes of usable dryscreen sand and some gravel. This is the subject of a new planning application. This would not result in an intensification of activities onsite, as the rate of extraction would continue at the same level as that in the existing quarry. The requirement for this area is to access the resource; this area contains dryscreen sand rather than a sand and gravel mix to be found in the extension of time area. The main features of the operational plan are as follows: 1. The completion of mineral extraction and restoration works within the Quarry as approved under the extant Planning Permission; 2. Phased extraction of sand and gravel for a period of 7-10 years (circa 1.7 million tonnes of resource); 3. Retention of the other activities that have planning permissions that are linked to the quarry development including: ñ The Mortar Plant; ñ The Open Windrow Composting Facility; and ñ The Inert Waste Recycling Facility. This ES assesses the impact of either and both schemes (cumulative impacts) on the local area and any environmental feature of national and international significance, such as ecological or cultural designations.