Welsh Government M4 Corridor around Newport Assessment of Implications (of highways and/or roads projects) on European Sites Screening Report M4CaN-DJV-EAC-ZG_GEN-RP-EN-0001 | 10 August 2015 This report takes into account the particular instructions and requirements of our client. It is not intended for and should not be relied upon by any third party and no responsibility is undertaken to any third party. Job number OXF9046 CVJV/AAR 3rd Floor Longross Court, 47 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 0AD Welsh Government M4 Corridor around Newport Assessment of Implications (of highways and/or roads projects) on European Sites Screening Report Contents Page 1 Introduction and Purpose of the Assessment ....................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of this report ................................................................................. 1 1.2 Justification for the Project ......................................................................... 1 1.3 Legislation .................................................................................................. 1 1.4 Report Structure ......................................................................................... 2 2 The Project ................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Aims and Goals for the M4 Corridor ........................................................... 3 2.2 Project Description ..................................................................................... 4 2.3 Key stages of the Project and Timescales.................................................. 7 2.4 Relationship between the Project and European/International Sites .......... 7 2.5 Physical land-take of the Project ................................................................ 7 2.6 Resource Requirements ............................................................................. 7 2.7 Waste Products (construction and operation) ............................................. 8 2.8 Other Services ............................................................................................ 8 3 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 9 3.2 Policy and Guidance ................................................................................... 9 3.3 Data Sources .............................................................................................. 9 3.4 Evidence Base .......................................................................................... 10 3.5 Assessment Methodology......................................................................... 10 4 European/International Protected Sites Potentially Affected by the Project .... 14 4.1 Identification of European/International Sites ........................................... 14 4.2 Conservation Objectives of European/Ramsar Sites ................................ 19 5 Identification of In-Combination Projects ............................................................ 20 6 Stage 1: Screening ................................................................................................. 27 6.2 Avoidance/Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 28 6.3 Potential Impacts on Protected Sites/Stage 1: Screening Assessment Matrix (alone) ............................................................................................ 30 6.4 Potential Impacts on Protected Sites/Stage 1: Screening Assessment Matrix (in-combination) ............................................................................. 39 7 Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 42 8 References .............................................................................................................. 56 Welsh Government M4 Corridor around Newport Assessment of Implications (of highways and/or roads projects) on European Sites Screening Report Table of Tables Table 4.1 Qualifying Features of the European/International Sites .......................... 14 Table 6.1 : Potential Impacts, Pathways and Effects from the Scheme ..................... 27 Table 6.2 Identification of Impacts, Pathways and Effects (Alone) ........................... 31 Table 7.1 Screened in for LSE in the River Usk SAC ............................................... 43 Table 7.2 ‘Screened in’ for LSE in the Severn Estuary SAC .................................... 46 Table 7.3 Screened in for LSE in the Severn Estuary SPA ...................................... 47 Table 7.4 ‘Screened in’ for potential LSE in the Severn Estuary Ramsar Site ......... 49 Table 7.5 ‘Screened in’ for potential LSE on Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC ................................................................................................. 53 Table of Figures Figure 2.1 Location of the M4 Corridor around Newport in Relation to European and Ramsar Sites ..................................................................................................... 6 Figure 3.1 Flow diagram of the stages of the AIES process ............................................ 11 Table of Appendices Appendix A Conservation Objectives ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix B DMRB Screening Tables ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix C Development plans considered for possible in combination effects ... Error! Bookmark not defined. Welsh Government M4 Corridor around Newport Assessment of Implications (of highways and/or roads projects) on European Sites Screening Report 1 Introduction and Purpose of the Assessment 1.1 Purpose of this report 1.1.1 This report has been prepared to provide information to the Welsh Ministers (“the Competent Authority”) on the implications of the M4 Corridor around Newport (M4 CaN) on European Sites as required by Regulation 61 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (as amended) (the ‘Habitats Regulations’). This report provides the initial Stage 1: Screening Assessment to determine the likelihood of significant effects. 1.2 Justification for the Project 1.2.1 The existing M4 is critical to the Welsh economy. It forms part of the Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T) and is the gateway to Wales, transporting people and goods to homes, industry and employment. It provides access to ports and airports and serves the Welsh tourism industry. The existing M4 Motorway between Magor and Castleton is the most heavily trafficked section of road in Wales, forming part of strategic routes to the Midlands and the South East of England. However, it does not meet modern motorway design standards. This section of the M4 is often congested, especially during weekday peak periods, resulting in slow and unreliable journey times, stop-start conditions, and with incidents frequently causing delays. Existing problems relate to capacity, resilience, safety and issues of sustainable development. Traffic forecasts show that the problems will worsen in the future. 1.3 Legislation 1.3.1 The Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna provides legal protection for habitats and species of European importance. The Directive is transposed into UK law by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (hereafter referred to as the ‘Habitats Regulations’). Regulation 61 of the Habitats Regulations requires the competent authority, to consider whether the plan or project: a) is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of that site, and b) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects). 1.3.2 Where there is a likely significant effect (or such an effect cannot be discounted) and the plan or project is not connected with or necessary to the management of the site then the competent authority must make an ‘appropriate assessment’ of the implications for that site in view of its conservation objectives. 1.3.3 In the light of the conclusions of the assessment, the competent authority may agree to the plan or project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the European site. The only exceptions are where there are no alternatives and there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest, in M4CaN-DJV-EAC-ZG_GEN-RP-EN-0001 | | 10 August 2015 Page 1 C:\USERS\COUSINSC\DOCUMENTS\M4CAN-DJV-EAC-ZG_GEN-RP-EN-0001 (EX APPS) AIES SCREENING FINAL REVISED (WITH GELDARDS).DOCX Welsh Government M4 Corridor around Newport Assessment of Implications (of highways and/or roads projects) on European Sites Screening Report which case all compensatory measures necessary to ensure that the overall coherence of natura 2000 is protected must be adopted. 1.3.4 This report sets out an initial Stage 1: Screening Assessment of the implications of the M4 CaN on European sites, using currently available information. This initial screening assessment will be updated as the M4 CaN develops and will take account of any relevant information that has the potential to alter the assessment. 1.4 Report Structure 1.4.1 The structure of this report includes: Section 1: Introduction Section 2: Project Description Section 3: Methodology Section 4: Identification of European/International Protected Sites Section 5: Identification of In-Combination Projects and Plans Section 6: Stage 1: Screening Assessment