A45 DAVENTRY DEVELOPMENT LINK ROAD Environmental Statement – Volume 3: Non-Technical Summary November 2014 Quality Management Issue/revision Issue 1 Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Remarks Date November 2014 Prepared by Various Signature Checked by Victoria Wilson Signature Authorised by Andy Ricketts Signature Project number 70007736 Report number File reference G:\Environmental Planning Team\DELTEK PROJECTS\70007736 A45 ES for Revised Route\04 Deliverables\02 ES Pro ject number: 70007736 Dat ed: November 2014 2 Revised: A45 Daventry Development Link Road Environmental Statement – Volume 3: Non-Technical Summary November 2014 Client Northamptonshire County Council Riverside House Riverside Way Northampton NN1 5NX WSP Contacts Andy Ricketts Project Director [email protected] 0121 3524767 Victoria Wilson Project Manager [email protected] 0113 395 6616 Registered Address WSP UK Limited 01383511 WSP House, 70 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1AF 3 Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................ 5 Overview ........................................................................................ 5 What is an Environmental Impact Assessment? ............................ 5 What is a Non-Technical Summary? .............................................. 5 The Proposed Scheme ...................................................................... 6 What is the Proposed Scheme? ..................................................... 6 Where will it be built? ..................................................................... 6 Why is this Scheme being built here? ............................................ 7 When will it be built? ...................................................................... 7 Who has been told about this Scheme? ......................................... 7 Environmental Effects ........................................................................ 8 What is the existing environment like in and around the Site? ....... 8 Are there likely to be any effects from the Proposed Scheme on local wildlife habitat? ...................................................................... 9 Are there likely to be any effects from the Proposed Scheme on local wildlife? .................................................................................. 9 Will the Proposed Scheme have any effects on designated ecological sites? ........................................................................... 10 What effect will the Proposed Scheme have on the landscape character and views of the area? ................................................. 10 What effects will the Proposed Scheme have on local air quality?11 What effects will the Proposed Scheme have on the local noise environment? ............................................................................... 11 Will the Proposed Scheme cause an increase in flooding within the Site and the surrounding area? .............................................. 12 Is there potential water pollution as a result of the Proposed Scheme? ...................................................................................... 12 Is there likely to be any contaminated land or ground condition issues with the Site? .................................................................... 12 Will the Proposed Scheme have an effect on designated and non-designated heritage assets? ................................................. 13 Are archaeological remains likely to be found during the construction? ................................................................................ 13 Will the Proposed Scheme lead to an increase in light pollution? 13 Will there be a loss of the ‘best and most versatile’ agricultural land due to the Proposed Scheme? ............................................. 14 What effects will the Proposed Scheme have on the local Public Rights of Way? ............................................................................. 14 What effects will the Proposed Scheme have on the local road network? ....................................................................................... 14 Will the Proposed Scheme bring any new jobs to the area? ........ 15 What happens next? .................................................................... 16 How do I obtain copy of the Environmental Statement or this Non-Technical Summary? ............................................................ 16 Who should I contact if I would like more information? ................ 16 Pro ject number: 70007736 Dat ed: November 2014 4 Revised: Introduction Overview Northamptonshire Highways Department at Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) have submitted a planning application for the construction of a new link road situated between Northampton and Daventry, named the A45 Daventry Development Link Road. The Proposed Scheme has been developed with the intention to improve transport links and accessibility between the towns of Northampton and Daventry, whilst also helping to relieve traffic congestion currently experienced on the local road network, particularly through Weedon, Flore and Upper Heyford. The Proposed Scheme will involve the construction of a single carriageway link road extending to approximately 5.7km in length between Junction 16 of the M1 Motorway and the existing A45 west of Weedon Bec village. As part of the planning process, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken to understand the potential environmental effects that the Scheme may have on the surrounding environment and residents during the construction of the Proposed Scheme and once it is completed. What is an Environmental Impact Assessment? EIA is a process that identifies the key environmental effects of a Scheme and suggests ways that these effects can be avoided, reduced or managed. It is required by law for large Schemes that have the potential to cause significant environmental effects. The findings of this process are reported in a document called the Environmental Statement (ES), which will be available to the public for review. What is a Non-Technical Summary? The full results of the EIA (baseline information, survey information and technical assessment) of the A45 Daventry Development Link Road are available within the ES (for which there are three volumes). The findings are then summarised and presented in this Non-Technical Summary (referred to as Volume 3). This document is presented as a series of key questions and answers relating to the Proposed Scheme. This summary outlines how environmental issues will be addressed by the Applicant during construction of the Proposed Scheme and once it is completed. 5 The Proposed Scheme What is the Proposed Scheme? The Proposed Scheme comprises of a Link Road extending between Junction 16 of the M1 Motorway and a point on the existing A45 west of Weedon Bec Village. The Proposed Scheme will commence at a new roundabout just west of Junction 16 and then run parallel to the south-western side of the M1 Motorway for approximately 3km in a north-west direction, to the north of the villages of Upper Heyford and Flore. The Proposed Scheme will then head south-west joining the A5 at a new roundabout to the north of Weedon Bec before crossing the Grand Union Canal and the West Coast Main Line railway. It will then re-join with the A45 at a new roundabout to the west of Weedon Bec. The total length of the Proposed Scheme – a single carriageway – is approximately 5.7km, and it is designed to a 60 mph speed limit. The Proposed Scheme will also require the construction of eight structures where the Link Road variously crosses over or under two watercourses and four local roads / Public Rights of Way as well as a combined structure spanning the Grand Union Canal and West Coast Main Line railway. Where will it be built? The Proposed Scheme will be built as detailed in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Location of Proposed Scheme The Red Line indicates the full extent of all temporary and permanent works as well as the extent to which the environmental assessment has been applied. 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 north-east boundary of the Site for approximately 3km, before the Site bends to the south-west towards Weedon Bec. An aerial view of the site is provided in Figure 2 below. The A45 intersects the site at either end and the A5 bisects the Site north of Weedon Bec. Both the Grand Union Canal and the West Coast Main Line railway also pass through the Site north of Weedon Bec. Pro ject number: 70007736 Dat ed: November 2014 6 Revised: Figure 2: Aerial View of Site Boundary Why is this Scheme being built here? Principally the Proposed Scheme is being put forward to help alleviate current and growing traffic problems between Northampton and Daventry. The Scheme will help to ease traffic pressure along the A45 from the M1 Junction 16 towards and through A5/A45 crossroads junction. The Scheme will allow road users to bypass the villages of Upper Heyford, Flore and Weedon Bec, thus increasing the safety of roads through these villages as well as improving journey times to and from the M1. A number of alternative routes were considered and appraised by Northamptonshire County Council. The appraisal considered a large number of environmental criteria and was later followed by a public consultation to gauge