AVESTA 2 DEVELOPMENT FORMER PANTEG STEELWORKS ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT OCTOBER 2007 SLR REF: 407.0776.00004 Persimmon Homes (Wales) Limited i 407.0776.00004 Avesta 2 Environmental Statement October 2007 CONTENTS PART ONE – THE PROPOSAL 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 1 Background.................................................................................................................. 1 Screening Opinion & Scoping .................................................................................... 2 Structure of the Statement.......................................................................................... 2 The Applicant Company.............................................................................................. 3 Environmental Statement Preparation ...................................................................... 3 Technical Background ................................................................................................ 4 2.0 SITE LOCATION ........................................................................................................... 5 Location........................................................................................................................5 Site Setting................................................................................................................... 5 Topography.................................................................................................................. 5 Existing Access ........................................................................................................... 6 Nature Conservation ................................................................................................... 6 Cultural & Social Factors............................................................................................ 6 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL & PLANNING POLICY .................................................................. 7 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 7 National Planning Policy............................................................................................. 7 Regional Planning Guidance .................................................................................... 10 The Gwent Structure Plan 1991 – 2006.................................................................... 11 The Torfaen Local Plan ............................................................................................. 11 Summary .................................................................................................................... 13 References: ................................................................................................................ 13 4.0 THE DEVELOPMENT.................................................................................................. 15 Introduction................................................................................................................ 15 Site Preparation ......................................................................................................... 15 Access Proposals...................................................................................................... 17 Proposed Land Uses................................................................................................. 17 Drainage Strategy...................................................................................................... 19 PART TWO - SITE ASSESSMENT 5.0 ECOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 23 Introduction................................................................................................................ 23 Mitigation.................................................................................................................... 24 Opportunities ............................................................................................................. 24 Summary & Conclusions .......................................................................................... 24 6.0 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................... 25 Introduction................................................................................................................ 25 Scope.......................................................................................................................... 25 Findings...................................................................................................................... 25 Mitigation and Opportunities.................................................................................... 26 Summary & Conclusions .......................................................................................... 26 7.0 LAND QUALITY ASSESSMENT................................................................................. 27 Introduction................................................................................................................ 27 Scope.......................................................................................................................... 27 Findings...................................................................................................................... 28 Recommendations..................................................................................................... 29 8.0 NOISE AND VIBRATION ............................................................................................ 31 SLR Persimmon Homes (Wales) Limited ii 407.0776.00004 Avesta 2 Environmental Statement October 2007 Introduction................................................................................................................ 31 Scope.......................................................................................................................... 31 Noise...........................................................................................................................31 Vibration ..................................................................................................................... 32 9.0 HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION ...................................................................... 33 Introduction................................................................................................................ 33 Scope.......................................................................................................................... 33 Findings...................................................................................................................... 33 Mitigation.................................................................................................................... 34 10.0 CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................... 35 APPENDICES APPENDIX ONE - Masterplan APPENDIX TWO - Screening Request APPENDIX THREE - Scoping Report APPENDIX FOUR - Ecological Scoping Assessment APPENDIX FIVE - Bat Survey Report APPENDIX SIX - Landscape & Visual Impact APPENDIX SEVEN - Noise & Vibration SLR Persimmon Homes (Wales) Limited 1 407.0776.00004 Avesta 2 Environmental Statement October 2007 1.0 INTRODUCTION Background 1.1 This Environmental Statement sets out the results of an Environmental Impact Assessment of a proposal by Persimmon Homes (Wales) Limited for the redevelopment of the southern part of the former Panteg Steelworks. The site, referred to as Avesta 2, is located at Sebastopol, south of Pontypool and extends to some 11 hectares. Drawing 0776-01 overleaf illustrates the location of the site. 1.2 The Planning Application submitted to Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC) is for: “The redevelopment of the southern part of the former Panteg Steelworks (referred to as Avesta 2) to create a residential led mixed use development comprising: 1. A range of new homes, including apartments and houses (Use Class C3) 2. Provision for a nursing home or other residential accommodation (Use Class C2) 3. Employment uses (Use Class B1) and/or 4. Community uses including the provision of healthcare, nursery or, crèche services or education or training (Use Class D1), together with 5. Open space, including play spaces, footpaths, cyclepaths, and areas for informal recreation 6. New roads, accesses, parking areas and paths 7. Other ancillary uses and activities and requiring: 8. Site clearance, treatment and preparation 9. The installation of new services and infrastructure or the improvement of existing infrastructure 10. Other ancillary works and activities” 1.3 The application is submitted as an Outline application with matters except access reserved for future consideration. In order to provide guidance on the intentions for the site, a masterplan has been prepared by White Young Green. For illustrative purposes, this is included at Appendix One. It demonstrates the scale of the opportunity presented at the former steelworks site, capable of providing up to 350 new homes. This will be supported by a range of uses, which could include community uses (including education or healthcare) or more conventional business activities. SLR Persimmon Homes (Wales) Limited 2 407.0776.00004 Avesta 2 Environmental Statement October 2007 Furthermore, the masterplan will create a