A50(T) Growth Corridor Project A Environmental Statement May 2014 47069770 Prepared for: Staffordshire County Council UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND A50(T) Growth Corridor Project A Environmental Statement URS elements Rev Date Details Collated by Checked by approved by 1 29/05/14 Draft M. Cope S. Betts S. McQuade Environmental Principal Technical Director Scientist Planner 2 30/05/14 Final M. Cope S. Betts S. McQuade Environmental Principal Technical Director Scientist Planner URS Infrastructure & Environnent UK Limited 12 Regan Way Chetwynd Business Park Chilwell Nottingham NG9 6RZ STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL May 2014 ii A50(T) Growth Corridor Project A Environmental Statement Limitations URS Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“URS”) has prepared this Report for the sole use of Staffordshire County Council (“Client”) in accordance with the Agreement under which our services were performed 47069770 2014. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this Report or any other services provided by URS. This Report is confidential and may not be disclosed by the Client nor relied upon by any other party without the prior and express written agreement of URS. The conclusions and recommendations contained in this Report are based upon information provided by others and upon the assumption that all relevant information has been provided by those parties from whom it has been requested and that such information is accurate. Information obtained by URS has not been independently verified by URS, unless otherwise stated in the Report. The methodology adopted and the sources of information used by URS in providing its services are outlined in this Report. The work described in this Report was undertaken between March 2014 and May 2014 and is based on the conditions encountered and the information available during the said period of time. The scope of this Report and the services are accordingly factually limited by these circumstances. Where assessments of works or costs identified in this Report are made, such assessments are based upon the information available at the time and where appropriate are subject to further investigations or information which may become available. URS disclaim any undertaking or obligation to advise any person of any change in any matter affecting the Report, which may come or be brought to URS’ attention after the date of the Report. Certain statements made in the Report that are not historical facts may constitute estimates, projections or other forward- looking statements and even though they are based on reasonable assumptions as of the date of the Report, such forward-looking statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results predicted. URS specifically does not guarantee or warrant any estimate or projections contained in this Report. Copyright © This Report is the copyright of URS Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL May 2014 iii A50(T) Growth Corridor Project A Environmental Statement TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Environmental Statement .............. 1 1.2 Purpose of the Environmental Statement ..................... 1 1.3 Site Description ................................................................ 1 1.4 Environmental Constraints ............................................. 2 1.5 Planning Policy Considerations ..................................... 4 1.6 EIA Methodology .............................................................. 7 1.7 Assumptions and Limitations of the EIA..................... 17 2 PROJECT A DESCRIPTION ........................................... 19 2.1 Project Background ....................................................... 19 2.2 Project Description ........................................................ 19 2.3 Alternatives Considered ............................................... 21 2.4 Programme ..................................................................... 21 2.5 Public Consultation ....................................................... 24 2.6 Construction Information .............................................. 24 3 TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT............................................... 29 3.1 Introduction .................................................................... 29 3.2 Baseline conditions ....................................................... 29 3.3 Regulatory/ Policy Framework ..................................... 29 3.4 Assessment Methodology ............................................ 37 3.5 Significant Effects .......................................................... 39 3.6 Conclusions ................................................................... 39 4 LANDSCAPE & VISUAL IMPACT .................................. 40 4.1 Introduction .................................................................... 40 4.2 Assessment Methodology ............................................ 43 4.3 Landscape Baseline conditions ................................... 44 4.4 Visual Baseline Conditions ........................................... 48 4.5 Landscape Impact Assessment During Construction 51 4.6 Landscape Impact Assessment During Operation .... 53 4.7 Potential Visual Effects of the Scheme ....................... 59 4.8 Mitigation of Effects of the Scheme ............................. 60 4.9 Conclusion: Final Statement of Likely Significant Visual Effects ............................................................................. 70 4.10 Potential Cumulative Landscape & Visual Effects ..... 70 4.11 Conclusion and Statement of Landscape/Visual Significance Summary .................................................. 71 STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL May 2014 ii A50(T) Growth Corridor Project A Environmental Statement 5 ECOLOGY & NATURE CONSERVATION ..................... 72 5.1 Introduction .................................................................... 72 5.2 Survey and Assessment Methodology ........................ 72 5.3 Impact Assessment ....................................................... 75 5.4 Mitigation and Compensation Proposals and Residual Effects ............................................................................. 80 5.5 Conclusions ................................................................... 84 6 ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURAL HERITAGE................. 88 6.1 Introduction .................................................................... 88 6.2 Assessment Methodology ............................................ 89 6.3 Baseline Conditions ...................................................... 92 6.4 Impact Assessment ....................................................... 94 6.5 Proposed Mitigation and Residual Effects .................. 98 6.6 Conclusions ................................................................. 100 7 WATER ENVIRONMENT .............................................. 103 7.1 Introduction .................................................................. 103 7.2 Baseline conditions ..................................................... 103 7.3 Regulatory/ Policy Framework ................................... 104 7.4 Assessment Methodology .......................................... 106 7.5 Construction Phase ..................................................... 109 7.6 Operational Phase ....................................................... 112 7.7 Significant Effects ........................................................ 114 7.8 Conclusions ................................................................. 114 8 NOISE AND VIBRATION .............................................. 116 8.1 Introduction .................................................................. 116 8.2 Key Issues .................................................................... 116 8.3 Regulatory/ Policy Framework ................................... 118 8.4 Methodology ................................................................. 118 8.5 Baseline Conditions .................................................... 120 8.6 Assessment of Impacts ............................................... 122 8.7 Operational Noise ........................................................ 122 8.8 Mitigation and Residual Effects ................................. 139 8.9 Vibration During Construction ................................... 140 8.10 Conclusions ................................................................. 140 9 AIR QUALITY ................................................................ 141 9.1 Introduction .................................................................. 141 STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL May 2014 iii A50(T) Growth Corridor Project A Environmental Statement 9.2 Regulatory/ Policy Framework ................................... 142 9.3 Methodology ................................................................. 145 9.4 Baseline conditions ..................................................... 158 9.5 Significant Effects ........................................................ 160 9.6 Conclusions ................................................................. 165 10 GROUND CONDITIONS & CONTAMINATED LAND .. 167 10.1 Introduction .................................................................. 167 10.2 Methodology ................................................................