Southampton to London Pipeline Project Preliminary Environmental Information Report Revision 1.0 PINS Reference Number EN070005 September 2018 Preliminary Environmental Information Report Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Overview ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Project Background ............................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Consultation and Engagement ........................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Environmental Impact Assessment .................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Purpose of the PEI Report ................................................................................................................. 4 1.6 Scope and Content of this PEI Report ............................................................................................... 4 1.7 Summary of the EIA Process ............................................................................................................. 6 1.8 Availability of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report ...................................................... 7 1.9 A Note about Data and Figures .......................................................................................................... 7 2. Description of the Development ..................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 8 2.2 The Preferred Route ........................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Above-Ground Elements .................................................................................................................. 24 2.4 Pipeline Construction........................................................................................................................ 25 2.5 Operation and Maintenance ............................................................................................................. 27 2.6 Decommissioning ............................................................................................................................. 27 3. Design Evolution ............................................................................................................................ 28 3.1 Consideration of Alternatives ........................................................................................................... 28 3.2 Mitigation by Design ......................................................................................................................... 31 4. Biodiversity ..................................................................................................................................... 34 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 34 4.2 Approach to the Assessment of Biodiversity .................................................................................... 34 4.3 Preliminary Environmental Information ............................................................................................ 35 4.4 Areas of Interest ............................................................................................................................... 44 4.5 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................................ 47 5. Water ................................................................................................................................................ 49 5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 49 5.2 Approach to the Assessment of the Water Environment ................................................................. 49 5.3 Preliminary Environmental Information ............................................................................................ 51 5.4 Areas of Interest ............................................................................................................................... 65 5.5 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................................ 67 6. Historic Environment ..................................................................................................................... 68 6.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 68 6.2 Approach to the Assessment of the Historic Environment ............................................................... 68 6.3 Preliminary Environmental Information ............................................................................................ 69 6.4 Areas of Interest ............................................................................................................................... 73 6.5 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................................ 75 7. Landscape and Visual Effects ....................................................................................................... 76 7.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 76 7.2 Approach to the Assessment of Landscape and Visual Effects ....................................................... 76 i Preliminary Environmental Information Report 7.3 Preliminary Environmental Information ............................................................................................ 78 7.4 Areas of Interest ............................................................................................................................... 82 7.5 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................................ 86 8. Soils and Geology .......................................................................................................................... 87 8.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 87 8.2 Approach to the Assessment of Soils and Geology ......................................................................... 87 8.3 Preliminary Environmental Information ............................................................................................ 88 8.4 Areas of Interest ............................................................................................................................... 92 8.5 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................................ 92 9. Land Use ......................................................................................................................................... 94 9.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 94 9.2 Approach to the Assessment of Land Use ....................................................................................... 94 9.3 Preliminary Environmental Information ............................................................................................ 96 9.4 Areas of Interest ............................................................................................................................... 99 9.5 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................................ 99 10. People and Communities ............................................................................................................ 100 10.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 100 10.2 Approach to the Assessment on People and Communities ........................................................... 100 10.3 Preliminary Environmental Information .......................................................................................... 101 10.4 Areas of Interest ............................................................................................................................. 105 10.5 Chapter Summary .......................................................................................................................... 106 11. Major Accidents ............................................................................................................................ 107 11.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 107 11.2 Approach to the Assessment of Major Accidents ..........................................................................