A Second Runway for Gatwick Appendix A13 Place GATWICK R2 UPDATED SCHEME DESIGN FOR AIRPORTS COMMISSION MAY 2014 PLACE: EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES May 2014 Our Ref: OXF8027 RPS 20 Western Avenue Milton Park Abingdon OX14 4SH rpsgroup.com QUALITY MANAGEMENT Prepared by: Eunice Stephenson Authorised by: Julia Tindale Date: 8th May 2014 Project Number/Document OXF8027/USD/Place Executive Summaries/Final Reference: COPYRIGHT © RPS The material presented in this report is confidential. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of Gatwick Airport Limited and shall not be distributed or made available to any other company or person without the knowledge and written consent of RPS. rpsgroup.com CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 2 SUMMARY OF ‘PLACE’ ASSESSMENTS ....................................................................................... 3 rpsgroup.com 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report summarises the required outputs, in relation to the updated scheme design, to the Phase 2 appraisal module titled ‘Place’ as set out in Appendix A, Item 10 of the Airports Commission Appraisal Framework, published in April 2014. 1.2 The objective of the Place module is “To minimise impacts on existing landscape character and heritage assets”. In this regard paragraph 10.2 states that “Schemes should therefore demonstrate that, where possible, they have taken all possible steps to minimise and mitigate their impacts upon landscape, townscape, waterscape and heritage assets, including listed buildings. Schemes should be mindful of the landscape and townscape impacts of any urbanisation that might be a consequence of the delivery of new capacity”. The required outputs from the Place module are set out in paragraph 10.25 of Appendix A (10) and in relation to landscape character and heritage assets this requires “an assessment of the landscape, townscape, waterscape and heritage assets affected, considering the scale and importance of the places and features”. These assessments are summarised in Section 2 of this Executive Summary report, with the full assessments provided in the Place: Landscape, Townscape and Waterscape Report and the Place: Cultural Heritage Report. 1.3 In addition to the assessment of impacts on landscape, townscape, waterscape and heritage assets, the Airports Commission requires the following matters to be assessed within the Place module: The appraisal will assess the scale, location and type of land that would be developed as part of an airport scheme and its related surface access strategy, and the consequential impacts (paragraph 10.4). The output of this would include “a range of maps overlaid to build up a picture of impacts on the local and wider area”, together with “an assessment of the type and quantity of land developed (classified by its use and cover), and the direction and magnitude of the impacts of changing land use”. These assessments, the detail of which is set out under the heading ‘Development’, are summarised in Section 2, with the full assessment provided in the Place: Land Use and Land Cover Report; Assessment of the loss of agricultural land and the identification, where possible, of mitigation strategies for the loss of such land. This assessment is summarised in Section 2, with the full assessment provided in the Place: Agricultural Resources Report; and Assessment of a scheme’s waste management plans (including the disposal of both construction and operational waste), and their potential impacts on environmental or other factors. This assessment is provided in the Waste Report. 1.4 This report should be read in conjunction with the Community: Community and Private Assets Report that provides information on the following types of land uses : Recreation and leisure; Residential; and 1 rpsgroup.com Community services. 1.5 During the development of the updated scheme design, consideration has been taken of existing land uses, landscape and heritage resources and, where possible, mitigation measures have been embedded into the scheme where resources or receptors are likely to be affected. These, together with additional mitigation measures, are set out in the Mitigation Strategy. 1.6 The impacts that are identified in this module are based on Gatwick’s Masterplan option for a new wide spaced runway to the south of the existing runway and with a new terminal between the runways. For aircraft to access the existing terminals from the proposed new runway aircraft would have to taxi across the existing runway. Gatwick’s Masterplan submission also identifies a possible alternative solution which includes taxiways around the ends of the existing runway which would reduce or eliminate the need for aircraft to cross the existing runway. The assessment of the impacts of the Masterplan including the taxiways on the heritage, landscape, land use and agriculture are addressed in the Place: Heritage; Place: Landscape, Townscape and Waterscape; Place: Lane Use and Land Cover; and Place: Agricultural Resources reports and the conclusions with regard to these assessments are included in the summaries provided in Section 2 below. 2 rpsgroup.com 2 SUMMARY OF ‘PLACE’ ASSESSMENTS Landscape, Townscape and Waterscape 2.1 The purpose of this report is to assess the potential effects of the updated scheme design (hereinafter referred to as the ‘scheme’) upon the existing ‘Landscape, Townscape and Waterscape’ resource. In addition to the scheme, Gatwick's Masterplan submission also identifies a possible alternative solution which includes taxiways around the ends of the existing runway. Additionally, the potential landscape and townscape effects of this option (the ‘Updated Scheme Design with EATs’) are described in Appendix 5 of the Place: Landscape, Townscape and Waterscape Report. 2.2 For the purposes of the assessment, two study areas have been defined; one equivalent to a 15km radius from the existing airport and, for the assessment of effects due to airspace change, a wider study area extending up to 43km (23.3 nautical miles) to the east and to the west of the existing airport. This wider study area includes flight routes for aircraft using the scheme below about 7,000 feet. The assessment has been undertaken in accordance with Appendix A, Chapter 10 of the Airports Commission Appraisal Framework (Appraisal Framework). The assessment forms part of the ‘Place’ module. 2.3 The term ‘Waterscape’ is not a term that is commonly used in landscape assessment. Whilst the term ‘seascape’ is widely recognised, the scheme will not affect seascape. As such, assessment of ‘Waterscape’ is not considered necessary; rather any potential effects upon existing rivers or watercourses within the study areas has been considered as part of the overall assessment of effects upon the existing landscape/ townscape resource. 2.4 The Appraisal Framework does not mention ‘views’ in the context of the ‘Landscape, Townscape and Waterscape’ assessment. However, an understanding of the nature of existing views to Gatwick Airport and those to the scheme, as well as the potential visibility of new buildings (and other elements, i.e. taxiing aircraft), is considered to be essential in any assessment of potential landscape and townscape effects. Primarily, people experience landscape and townscape through their visual senses. Sound is also of importance. In order therefore to fully cover landscape and visual effects, both a Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) and a number of viewpoints from the local surrounds to the airport, have been included in the study. 2.5 The assessment is based upon that of the scheme described in the Operational Efficiency – Master Plan Report; inclusive of new buildings adjoining the existing north and south terminals, maintenance hangers adjoining the northern boundary to the existing airport, the realignment of the A23 from Junction 9a of the M23 to the existing County Oak roundabout on the A23, car parking to the east of the main railway line to Brighton, realignment of a number of existing watercourses, provision of noise attenuation bunding and management of off-site woodland for operational reasons. This is inclusive of the ‘embedded mitigation’ provided by the noise attenuation bunding and realigned watercourses (with natural profiles and riparian habitats). 2.6 The assessment has concluded that there would be no potential effects upon any of the landscape or townscape character areas which may be considered to be of a Highly adverse 3 rpsgroup.com performance against objective during either the temporary construction phase or the permanent operational phase. Those landscape and townscape character areas where a potentially Adverse performance against objective has been identified are as follows: Landscape/ Townscape Character Areas with Adverse Effects due to Scheme Landscape/ Sensitivity Construction Phase Operation Phase Townscape Magnitude Performance Magnitude Performance Character of Change against of Change against Objective Area Objective County Landscape Character Areas Northern Medium Medium Adverse Medium Adverse Vales (LW8) Adverse Adverse High Weald Medium N/A N/A Medium Adverse (locally) to (HW1) (locally) to Neutral Negligible Adverse Wooded Medium N/A N/A Medium Adverse (locally) to Weald (locally) to Neutral Negligible Adverse Low Weald Medium Low Neutral Medium Adverse (locally) to Hills (LW4) Adverse (locally) to Neutral Negligible Adverse National Character Areas Low Weald