Environmental Statement April 2021 Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement Document title: CBSV Environmental Statement Project: Clive Booth Student Village Client: Oxford Brookes University Job number: 448408 File location: \\pdvmfs18\WimbornePlanning\ Date Revision Prepared by 04-2021 - PT Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement Contents Non-Technical Summary Environmental Statement 1 Introduction 2 Site description and local context 3 Scheme description 4 Approach to assessment 5 Heritage 6 Ecology-biodiversity 7 Landscape and visual effects 8 Noise during construction 9 Transport 10 Air quality 11 Consideration of other environmental aspects 12 Summary of mitigation, residual and interaction effects Figures MICA-19000-PL1 Site plan existing MICA-19001-PL1 Site plan proposed MICA-19002-PL1 Proposed phasing MICA-19005-PL1 Demolition MICA-19020-PL1 Proposed – section AA MICA-19021-PL1 Proposed – section BB MICA-19022-PL1 Proposed – section CC MICA-19023-PL1 Proposed – section DD MICA-19024-PL1 Proposed – section EE MICA-19025-PL1 Proposed – section FF MICA-19026-PL1 Proposed – section GG (those in italic text are set in the pages of the ES text) 1.1 Location plan 1.2 Site application boundary 2.1 Aerial image showing CBSV 2.2 Existing buildings at CBSV 3.1 Buildings to be demolished (MICA-19005) 3.2 Construction Phase 1 / Phase 2 (MICA-19002) 3.3 Proposed layout (MICA-19001) Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement 3.4 Landscape Masterplan (LDA-7967_002) 3.5 Typical composition of construction waste 5.1 Magnitude of change 6.1 Habitat plan 7.1 Site and Study Area 7.2 Site and Local Context 7.3 Policy Context and Access 7.4 Zone of Theoretical Visibility Study and Representative & Illustrative Viewpoint Locations 7.5 Landscape / Townscape Character 7.6 Topography 7.7i Representative Viewpoints 7.7ii Illustrative Viewpoints 7.7iii Historic View Cone Appraisal Views 7.8 Historic View Cone Visualisations 7.8 LVIA Visualisations 7.9 Historic View Cone Viewpoints Zone of Theoretical Visibility 7.10 Illustrative Photomontage Visualisation – John Garne Way Allotments 8.1 Noise monitoring locations across the existing site 8.2 Residential receptors identified for the proposed development 8.3 Proposed locations of air source heat pumps 9.1 Site location 9.2 Local context 9.3 Local facilities 10.1 Construction dust buffers Appendices 1.1 Assessor information 3.1 CEMP 4.1 EIA scoping opinion 5.1 Heritage assessment 6.1 Ecological Appraisal Report 6.2 Ecology Surveys 6.3 Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report 7.1 Glossary 7.2 Methodology 7.3 Visualisations and ZTV Studies 7.4 National Planning Policy 7.5 Extracts from Landscape Character Assessment 7.6 Appraisal of Effects on Views of the Historic City of Oxford in its Landscape Setting 8.1 Construction plant and equipment noise assumptions Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement 10.1 Legislation, policy and guidance 10.2 Consultation with Oxford City Council 10.3 Methodology for baseline conditions 10.4 Sensitive receptors 10.5 Methodology for construction effects 10.6 Methodology for operational effects 10.7 Construction traffic assessment results 10.8 Operational phase assessment results 10.9 Mitigation for construction dust Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement 1 Environmental Statement for Clive Booth Student Village 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 This Environmental Statement has been prepared on behalf of Oxford Brookes University. Oxford Brookes University (OBU) has submitted a planning application to Oxford City Council (the Council) seeking planning permission to redevelop part of Clive Booth Student Village at John Garne Way, Oxford. 1.1.2 The general location of the Application Site is shown below on Figure 1.1. Site location 1.1.3 The description of the planning application is: Demolition of twelve buildings (including main accommodation Blocks C, F, G, H, J, K, L & M) and erection of twelve buildings to provide student accommodation, with ancillary communal and social facilities and associated administrative building (Class C2). Erection of children’s nursery (Class E). Alterations to car parking, installation of cycle parking structures and associated landscaping works, including reorganisation of existing footpaths and cycle ways, drainage features and ancillary development. Installation of a waste compactor unit and alterations to an existing road to enable access. The need for the development proposed 1.1.4 The student village was developed during the 1990’s and currently provides accommodation for 1,621 students. The age of the accommodation is such that it does not meet the requirements for modern student accommodation. Many of the existing buildings have reached the end of 1-1 Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement their functional life and require substantial remediation work. However, the configuration of the existing buildings is not conducive to retention or extension, nor is the current layout a particularly effective use of the land. 1.1.5 An objective of OBU's strategic estate plan is to increase its self-managed student accommodation. This has resulted in a focus upon making more effective use of the existing land within OBU’s estate. 1.1.6 Within the adopted Oxford Local Plan 2036, the Site, along with the adjacent Headington Hill Hall is allocated under Policy SP17 for a number of possible uses related to the University, including additional student accommodation. Specifically, the supporting text to Policy SP17 of the Local Plan states, at paragraph 9.99, that “Oxford Brookes has plans to develop this site to create a vibrant academic community with better facilities for students, staff and the community, using the estate more efficiently. As well as enabling Oxford Brookes to relocate from their Wheatley campus, it will also contribute to their aim of reducing the number of students living outside of university-managed accommodation, as a significant increase in the number of student rooms can be accommodated in a redeveloped Clive Booth Student Village.” 1.1.7 The Site is well related to the academic facilities at Headington Hill and Gipsy Lane. An increase in the availability of on-site accommodation would also contribute towards meeting Oxford Local Plan objectives to restrict the number of full-time degree course students living outside university-provided accommodation, and to reduce student demand on the general housing stock (Pages 45-48. Student Accommodation. Paras. 3.38-3.48 and Policy H8). Planning application red line boundary (blue line identifies other land in the control of OBU) 1-2 Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement The Application Site 1.1.8 Clive Booth Student Village is developed with a number of 2 and 3 storey residential blocks and ancillary facilities linked by footpaths and roadways. Vehicular access is via John Garne Way. Pedestrian access is available from Cuckoo Lane to the south, and from Pullens Lane to the east. Environmental Impact Assessment 1.1.9 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process that formally considers the construction and operational aspects of a proposal that may have significant effects on the environment. The findings of an EIA are described in a written report known as an Environmental Statement (ES). An ES provides environmental information about the scheme, including a description of the development, its predicted environmental effects and the measures proposed to mitigate adverse effects: information that is taken into account in the planning decision. 1.1.10 This document is the ES submitted with the planning application for the Proposed Development and sets out the results of the EIA undertaken. This ES is prepared in accordance with The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended) (the ‘EIA Regulations’). A separate Non-Technical Summary (NTS) provides a summary of the main findings of the ES. 1.1.11 During the preliminary stages of the EIA process, a request was made to the Council for its EIA scoping opinion. The purpose of this is to identify what the Council considers to be the main environmental issues associated with the Proposed Development. The Council consulted with statutory consultees and issued a formal EIA scoping opinion in January 2021 (see Appendix 4.1). 1.1.12 EIA has been undertaken for the Proposed Development described in Chapter 3 and illustrated by the application drawings. 1.1.13 When the Council is deciding whether to grant planning permission, it can do so in the full knowledge of any significant effects predicted, and take this into account in the decision making process. EIA is a procedure, rather than a requirement to demonstrate no adverse effects. In cases where an assessment predicts that adverse effects could occur, planning legislation does not direct that permission should therefore be refused. 1.2 This Environmental Statement 1.2.1 This ES comprises the main report, figures, supporting appendices and a separate NTS. Following this introductory chapter, the main ES is organised as follows: 2. Site description and local context 3. Scheme description, design iterations and mitigation 4. Approach to assessment 5. Built heritage 6. Biodiversity 7. Landscape and visual effects 8. Noise during construction 9. Transport 10. Air quality 11. Commentary on other environmental aspects 12. Summary of mitigation, residual effects, interaction effects, and cumulative effects 1-3 Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Environmental Statement 1.2.2 Chapter 2 provides a description of the Site and its context, and how this has influenced the scheme assessed. Chapter 3 explains the Proposed Development and, with the application drawings, defines the physical and operational aspects assessed in the EIA. 1.2.3 The alternative options considered during the scheme design process in relation to the matters raised during the consultation are explained.