View from Twyford Village along the River Trent looking upstream towards Willington. Willington C Gas Pipeline Environmental Statement Chapter 13 Land Use, Amenity and Public Rights of Way Version 1, July 2013 – Approved for Submission Application Reference Number – EN060001 Document Reference – WCGP 014.1.13 Required document as set out in Section 5(2)(a) of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 CHAPTER 13 LAND USE, AMENITY AND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY VERSION 1 WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT PAGE 1 OF 31 This Environmental Statement has been prepared by: Hugh Morris and Helen Burley Asset Development RWE npower Windmill Hill Business Park Whitehill Way Swindon, SN5 6PB Telephone - 01793 877777 Email: [email protected] [email protected] CHAPTER 13 VERSION 1 LAND USE, AMENITY AND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY PAGE 2 OF 31 WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Land Use, Amenity and Public Rights of Way Contents 13.1 Introduction, methodology and consultations 5 13.1.1 Introduction 5 13.1.2 Methodology 6 13.1.3 Data Collection 8 13.1.4 Consultations 9 13.2 Relevant Policy Considerations 10 13.2.1 National Planning Policy 10 13.2.2 Regional Planning Policy 11 13.2.3 East Midlands Regional Plan 11 13.2.4 West Midlands Regional Plan 14 13.3 Assessment of the Baseline 17 13.4 Relevant Project Details and Design Mitigation 20 13.5 Assessment of Potential Impacts 22 13.5.1 Planning and Pre-Construction 22 13.5.2 Construction 22 13.5.3 Operation 24 13.5.4 Decommissioning 24 13.6 Mitigation measures 24 13.6.1 Planning and Pre-Construction 24 13.6.2 Construction 25 13.6.3 Operation and Decommissioning 26 13.7 Residual Impacts and Effects 26 13.8 Cumulative and In Combination Effects 27 13.9 Potential Implications of the Limits of Deviation (LOD) 28 13.10 Conclusions 28 13.11 References and Footnotes 30 Appendices (Volume 2E) Appendix 13.1 Willington C Gas Pipeline Public Rights of Way Management Strategy CHAPTER 13 LAND USE, AMENITY AND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY VERSION 1 WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT PAGE 3 OF 31 Figures (Volume 3) Figure 13.1 Land use and Amenity Overview Figure 13.1.1 Land use and Amenity Section 1 Figure 13.1.2 Land use and Amenity Section 2 Figure 13.1.3 Land use and Amenity Section 3 Figure 13.1.4 Land use and Amenity Section 4 Figure 13.1.5 Land use and Amenity Section 5 Figure 13.1.6 Land use and Amenity Section 6 Figure 13.1.7 Land use and Amenity Section 7 Figure 13.1.8 Land use and Amenity Section 8 Figure 13.2 Public Rights of Way in proximity to the Willington C Gas Pipeline CHAPTER 13 VERSION 1 LAND USE, AMENITY AND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY PAGE 4 OF 31 WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 13.1 Introduction, methodology and consultations 13.1.1 Introduction 1 This chapter presents information related to the human use of land within and near to the proposed Willington C Gas Pipeline (WCGP) route and includes an assessment of how the development could affect land use, amenity use and Public Rights of Way (PRoW). 2 Most forms of development are likely to bring about land use change of some sort although evidently the degree of change will depend on the nature of the development, the baseline conditions and the area of land affected. The land use of the pipeline route is predominantly agricultural with both arable and pastoral farming represented. Following pipeline installation the land will be restored to its former use and there will be no change in land use. The only permanent land use change will be at the Above Ground Installation (AGI) near the village of Yoxall, the AGI contains the control valves, instrumentation and pipeline access facilities located at the start point of the pipeline. For this reason in this chapter evaluation of the impact of the pipeline and construction places particular emphasis on issues of amenity and PRoW and issues associated with the quality of life and human wellbeing. 3 The concept of amenity is broad. It is defined here as any human and natural resources that have the potential to provide emotional, physical or material benefit to the public. Generally, the amenity is free or available by payment, and offers opportunities for formal and informal leisure. This might be, for example, sports facilities, waterways used for fishing and/or boating and the network of PRoW. An amenity can also be a less tangible resource and include such things as attractive landscapes and other visual amenities. The route has been carefully selected to avoid loss or disturbance to amenities. 4 The route of the WCGP crosses a number of PRoW that consists of public footpaths, bridleways, cycle routes and other forms of public access. Footpaths can only be used by walkers whereas bridleways are open to walkers, horse-riders and cyclists. PRoW are part of the Queen’s highway and are protected by the same laws that apply to other highways. 5 This chapter describes the methods used to collect information and the sources of information. It also provides a review of the baseline conditions along the WCGP route, the Indicative Pipeline Route, the Limits of Deviation and Works Limits, and incorporates an assessment of potential impacts and the measures that would be taken to mitigate adverse effects during all phases of the development: pre- construction and enabling works, pipeline installation and construction, operation and decommissioning. The land use and amenity mapping does not include minerals and historic landfill, which are considered in Chapter 6 of this Environmental Statement (ES) entitled ‘Geology and Soil Resources’. CHAPTER 13 LAND USE, AMENITY AND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY VERSION 1 WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT PAGE 5 OF 31 13.1.2 Methodology 6 The impact assessment methodology is based on that of the Highways Agency in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges1 (DMRB), which is used as an evaluation tool for linear development schemes. Although there is no standard method of assessment for land use, amenity and PRoW the DMRB does provide guidance on some relevant issues, more specifically in Volume 11, Section 3, Part 6 Land Use and Part 8 Pedestrians, Cyclists, Equestrians and Community Effects. Professional judgment is also used in conjunction with guidance criteria in completing the impact assessment. The DMRB uses the following tables to determine the significance of environmental effects. Table 13.1 Magnitude of Impact and Typical Descriptors Magnitude of Typical Criteria Descriptors Impact Loss of resource and/or quality and integrity of resource; severe damage to key characteristics, features or elements (Adverse) Major Large Scale or major improvement of resource quality; extensive restoration or enhancement; major improvement of attribute quality (Beneficial) Loss of resource, but not adversely affecting the integrity; partial loss of/damage to key characteristics, features of elements (Adverse) Moderate Benefit to, or addition of, key characteristics, features or elements; improvement of attribute quality (Beneficial) Some measurable change in attributes, quality or vulnerability; minor loss of, or alteration to, one (maybe more) key characteristics, features or elements (Adverse) Minor Minor benefit to, or addition of, one (maybe more) key characteristics, features or elements; some beneficial impact on attribute or a reduced risk of negative impact occurring (Beneficial) Very minor loss or detrimental alteration to one or more characteristics, features or elements (Adverse) Negligible Very minor benefit or positive addition to one or more characteristics, features or elements (Beneficial) No loss or alteration of characteristics, features or elements; no No Change observable impact in either direction. 7 The magnitude of impact is related to the extent to which the site integrity is affected, which is in turn reflected in the site’s ability to continue to function (provide a service) under the influence of the predicted impact. CHAPTER 13 VERSION 1 LAND USE, AMENITY AND PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY PAGE 6 OF 31 WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Table 13.2 Descriptors of the Significant of Effect Categories Significance Typical Descriptors of Effect Category Very Large Only adverse effects are normally assigned this level of significance. They represent key factors in the decision-making process. These effects are generally, but not exclusively, associated with sites or features of international, national or regional importance that are likely to suffer a most damaging impact and loss of resource integrity. However, a major change in a site or feature of local importance may also enter this category. Large These beneficial or adverse effects are considered to be very important considerations and are likely to be material in the decision-making process. Moderate These beneficial or adverse effects may be important, but are not likely to be key decision-making factors. The cumulative effects of such factors may influence decision-making if they lead to an increase in the overall adverse effects on a particular resource or receptor. Slight These beneficial or adverse effects may be raised as local factors. They are unlikely to be critical in the decision-making process, but are important in enhancing the subsequent design of the project. Neutral No effects or those that are beneath levels of protection, within normal bounds of variation or within the margin of forecasting error. Significance Typical Descriptors of Effect Category Table 13.3