3 The Existing Site and Surroundings 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 This Chapter provides an overview of characteristics both within the red line boundary (Figure 1.2) and in the surrounding area including: land use; topography; access; ecological designations; archaeology and cultural heritage; hydrological setting and ground conditions; flood risk and drainage; agricultural land; other environmental considerations; and Public Rights of Way. An overview of sensitive receptors and their location is provided in Table 3.2 at the end of this chapter and also illustrated in Figure 3.1. In addition, an overview of the Site’s status in relation to relevant planning policy is discussed in detail within Chapter 6 – Planning Policy and Context. 3.1.2 The Site covers an area of approximately 123ha, traversing the landscape to the north of the villages of Upper Heyford, Flore and Weedon Bec, terminating to the east of Dodford. The M1 motorway runs along the northeast boundary of the Site for approximately 3km, before the Site bends to the southwest towards Weedon Bec. The A5 and A45 intersect the Site north and northwest of Weedon Bec respectively. Both the Grand Union Canal and the West Coast Main Line railway also pass through the Site north of Weedon Bec. 3.1.3 This Chapter aims to provide an overview of the existing Site and surrounding area. However, much greater level of technical detail has been provided within Technical Chapters 7 – 18. 3.2 Land Use 3.2.1 The Site is located on predominantly Greenfield land to the north of the villages of Weedon Bec and Flore in Northamptonshire. 3.2.2 The Site consists primarily of agricultural fields interspersed with trees and hedgerows and a number of watercourses including the Grand Union Canal, the River Nene – Whilton Branch (incorporating Whilton Brook) and Hollandstone Farm Brook. There are a small number of existing buildings and structures located above ground within the red line boundary including agricultural buildings and dilapidated railway carriages currently used for agricultural storage. The West Coast Main Line railway intersects the Site just north of Weedon Bec. 3.2.3 Just west of the M1 junction 16 roundabout there are two industrial premises, one compound occupied by D&M Recycling (a waste reprocessing/recycling facility), and the other is currently unoccupied, although it has had recent light manufacturing use. 3.2.4 A number of agricultural tracks cross the Site; in addition a number of roads intersect the Site at different points including: Ŷ The A45 at the eastern and western extents of the Site; Ŷ Upper Heyford Farm Road; Ŷ Brington Road; Ŷ Brockhall Road; and Ŷ The A5. Volume 1: Environmental Statement – Main Text and Figures Northamptonshire County Council 3-1 Chapter 3 –Existing Site and Surroundings 3.3 Topography 3.3.1 The Site is located at a level of around 115m Above Ordnance Datum (AOD) at the western extent of the proposed route on the A45, declining to the east as it crosses the Whilton Brook (River Nene) and its tributaries where it reaches a level of around 80m AOD. The land then rises as the Proposed Scheme runs north-eastwards out of the river valley towards the M1 motorway to a height of around 105m AOD. The Proposed Scheme then follows the M1 motorway to the south-east, gently falling to a level of around 80m AOD where it connects close to the A45 / A4500 roundabout over the M1 motorway. 3.4 Access 3.4.1 The current land use for the Proposed Scheme is predominantly active agricultural land. As discussed above several roads intersect the Site. There are twenty landowners within the Site with varying acreages, field structures and use. All thirteen active farm holdings have some degree of field access, be it an established track or a field gate allowing access for farm vehicles. 3.4.2 There are three major roads surrounding the study area of the Proposed Scheme, as described below: Ŷ The M1 forms part of the national strategic road network. It provides good access to the north and midlands, including Birmingham and Manchester via the M6 motorway, and to the south including London. Within the study area of the Proposed Scheme, the M1 motorway links to the A45 at Junction 16; Ŷ The A5 is a trunk road and also forms part of the national strategic road network. It provides good access to the north and midlands, including Birmingham and Manchester via the M6 motorway, and to south including London via the M1 motorway. Within the study area of the Proposed Scheme, the A5 trunk road links to the A45 at Weedon Bec which connects Northampton and Daventry. The A45 provide links to other areas of Northamptonshire and beyond. Ŷ The A45 is a strategic road and runs east-west across Northamptonshire connecting Thrapston in the east to Rugby in the west. It connects in the east at Thrapston with the A14 Trunk Road, which is part of the national strategic road network, and provides a link to the eastern coast ports of Felixstowe and Harwich. Within the study area of the Proposed Scheme, the A45 links to the M1 motorway at Junction 16, the A5 at Weedon, and to the M45 motorway to the north-west of Daventry. The M1 motorway and M45 motorway, along with the A5 Trunk Road, provide links to other areas of Northamptonshire and beyond. 3.4.3 There are a number of lower grade roads servicing the local communities of Weedon Bec, Nether/Upper Heyford, Flore, Dodford and Bugbrooke. 3.5 Ecological Designations International Designations 3.5.1 There are no internationally designated wildlife or nature conservation sites within the Site boundary, or within a 10km radius of the Site boundary. The closest designation is the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area (SPA), approximately 10.9km east of the Site. National Designations 3.5.2 There are no statutory or non-statutory designated wildlife or nature conservation sites within the Site boundary. There is one Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within 2km of the Site boundary; Volume 1: Environmental Statement – Main Text and Figures Northamptonshire County Council 3-2 Chapter 3 –Existing Site and Surroundings Bugbrooke Meadow SSSI is located approximately 500m south of the Site adjacent to the M1 motorway junction 16. This SSSI is designated for its low lying nature and potential for flooding which supports a range of damp grassland communities. Local Designations 3.5.3 There are no Local Nature Reserves (LNR) within the Site boundary or the surrounding area (2km). However, there are a number of County Wildlife Sites in the wider area, none of which intersect the Site. Furthermore there are four Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) and approximately 22 Proposed LWS (PWS) within the Site and in the immediate area. The Grand Union Canal - Weedon Bec LWS and an Unnamed PWS that supports marshy grassland are located within the Site boundary. 3.5.4 The county Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) includes a number of Habitat Action Plans (HAP) and Biodiversity Character Areas (BCA). The Site traverses four BCAs (Liassic Slope, cropped Claylands, Acid sands and Minor Floodplain). Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) has a number of HAPs included in the BAP, most of which cover large areas of the county. The following HAPs are present within the Site; Ŷ Hedgerows; and Ŷ Ponds. Habitats 3.5.5 The Proposed Scheme runs through landscape which is dominated by arable fields and improved grassland, with a mix of both pastoral and arable crops, bisected by a network of native hedgerow. There are a number of scattered trees through the Site as well as a mix of both species-poor and species-rich hedgerow. As a result the primary habitat within the Site is agricultural land with some improved grassland. The area of the Site between Brockhall Road and Brington Road does contain patches of scattered scrub, coarse grassland and some tall ruderal habitats. 3.5.6 The wider area has an extensive hydrological habitat, orientated around the River Nene and its tributaries, some of which extend into the Site. There are also a number of waterbodies in the wider area, some of which are manmade and managed for recreational purposes (fishing etc.). Furthermore the Grand Union Canal passes through the Site, north of Weedon Bec, offering another water habitat. 3.5.7 Chapter 12 – Biodiversity provides a more details description, which is supported by an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey (Appendix 12.1). Protected/Notable Species 3.5.8 Due to presence of aquatic habitat, both still and running water, within the Site and surrounding area, surveys have been undertaken to determine the presence of great crested newts (Appendix 12.6 and 12.7). Two waterbodies within the Site were found to have medium populations of great crested newt, both located within Upper Heyford, to the south west of the eastern most proposed roundabout, just off Junction 16 of the M1. Furthermore, surveys for Otters and Water Voles were carried out along the Grand Union Canal and Whilton Brook. Evidence for the presence of Otters and suitable habitat for Otters was found along both waterbodies (Appendix 12.9), whilst there was no evidence of Water Voles (Appendix 12.4). 3.5.9 Survey work was undertaken to assess the likelihood of badgers across the Site (Appendix 12.2 and 12.3). Four setts were found on Site,1 outlier setts and 3 subsidiary setts. Evidence of snuffle marks and foraging activity by mammals species were recorded across the Site, indicating potential foraging habitat available on Site.