Environmental Statement (ES) Volume 3 TECHNICAL APPENDICES September 2015 TECHNICAL APPENDIX B – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Cranebrook Quarry, Watling Street, Hammerwich, Lichfi eld PSL Ref: M13.135.R.018 CRANEBROOK QUARRY LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN RESPECT OF PROPOSED EASTERN EXTENSION OF SAND QUARRY WITH ASSOCIATED IMPORTATION OF INERT MATERIALS FOR RESTORATION PURPOSES & THE SUSTAINABLE RECYCLING OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION MATERIALS. THE SITE WILL INCLUDE A LANDFORM & WATER BODY WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY UNDER AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND WOULD ALLOW ITS USE IN THE FUTURE (SUBJECT TO A SEPARATE PLANNING APPLICATION) AS A MARINA WITH ANCILLARY FACILITIES LINKING INTO THE REGENERATION OF THE SUMMERHILL SECTION OF THE WYRLEY & ESSINGTON CANAL PRODUCED FOR WCL QUARRIES LIMITED ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 2015 Prepared By: PLEYDELL SMITHYMAN LIMITED 20a The Wharfage, Ironbridge, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 7NH Tel: 01952 433211 Fax: 01952 433323 and 116 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 4EG Tel: 0141 204 3491 e-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS Page 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Landscape Designations and Landscape Orientated Planning 6 Policies 3.0 Landscape Character 12 4.0 Visual Matters 18 5.0 Overall Conclusions 24 APPENDICES Appendix A Drawings Drawing No M13.135.D.031 Restoration Scheme Drawing No M13.135.D.008 Location Plan Drawing No M13.135.D.009 Environmental and Conservation Designations Drawing No M13135.D.032 Landscape Character Drawing No M13.135.D.041 Landscape Policy Guidance Drawing No M13.135.D.033 Landscape Character Photographs Drawing No M13.135.D.034 Existing Zone of Theoretical Visual Influence Drawing No M13.135.D.035 Phase 2 Zone of Theoretical Visual Influence Drawing No M13.135.D036 Restoration Zone of Theoretical Visual Influence Drawing No M13.135.D038 Visual Representative Photographic Sheet 1 Drawing No M13.135.D039 Visual Representative Photographic Sheet 2 Drawing No M13.135.D037 Individual Representative Visual Receptor Location Points Appendix B Methodology LANDSCAPE & VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT CRANEBROOK QUARRY WCL CRANEBROOK QUARRY LIMITED 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background This report is a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment in respect of proposals by WCL Cranebrook Quarry Limited (WCL) for a proposed eastern extension of Cranebrook Sand Quarry with associated importation of inert materials for restoration purposes and the continued sustainable recycling of construction and demolition waste. The proposed restoration scheme will be to a wildlife enhanced agriculturally managed landscape. The restored landform will include heathland slopes, relatively flat agricultural land and a water body adjacent to the Wyrley and Essington Canal (currently dry). This water body will be designed to allow its use in the future (subject to a separate planning application and additional restoration works of the canal system as a marina basin). As such this application addresses the mineral, recycling and inert placement of restoration materials only. The proposed restoration scheme for the site is illustrated on Drawing No M13.135.D.031. As part of the proposed development it is anticipated that a simple consolidated planning consent and associated conditions would be achieved. This report describes existing baseline characteristics in respect of Landscape Designation, Landscape Character and Visual Matters associates within the Site and its local context and assesses the impact of the proposed development scheme on these aspects. This assessment makes use of the methodology as set out within the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, 3rd Edition published jointly by the Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, 2013. We have also made use of Staffordshire County Council’s Supplementary Landscape Policy Guidance and Landscape Character Assessment together with Guidance for England and Scotland published jointly by the Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, 2002. See Appendix B Methodology. This report has been prepared by Pleydell Smithyman Limited, Landscape Architectural and Environmental Designers of Ironbridge, Telford, Shropshire. The works being commissioned by WCL. 1.2 Site Location and Context The Site known as Cranebrook Quarry is located in open countryside ~1km south of Hammerwich and ~1km east of the town of Brownhills. See Drawing No M13.135.D.008. It is located within a triangle of land between three main roads. The A5 is adjacent to the northern boundary of the site; the A461 is approximately 1 km to the east running in a north east, south west direction, and the new M6Toll road which runs just to the south and is approximately 150 metres at its closest point to the south east of the site. The line of the currently disused Wyrley Essington Canal runs along the southern boundary of the site and in-between the S:\M13.135 Cranebrook Quarry\Reports\M13.135.R.008 LVIA\LVIA 22.09.15.Docx September 2015 4 LANDSCAPE & VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT CRANEBROOK QUARRY WCL CRANEBROOK QUARRY LIMITED site and the M6Toll. Other than the highways and canals in the vicinity the land use in the area is mainly agricultural, mixed arable and pastoral land. There are no public rights of way within or adjacent to the Site. The whole site application area being ~9Ha. The nearest footpaths run off to the north of the A5. The nearest residential properties are located ~80-200m to the north east of the eastern limit of the Site and adjacent to the A5 roadway at Muckley Corner. 1.3 Development Proposals The proposed development involves a minor eastern extension for sand extraction and the continuation of imported inert materials for restoration purposes, together with the continuation of sustainable on site recycling. The existing quarry has approximately two years of remaining mineral reserve. The proposed mineral extension area is approximately 4ha and contains an estimated 750,000 tonnes of rock sand reserves. This would extend the current life of quarry extraction by an estimated 10 years at an average annual extraction rate of 75,000 tonnes per annum. The establishment of the restored landform will require ~640,000 m3 of imported inert material. This will be progressively placed during the development period. During the extraction and progressive restoration period, recycling of imported construction and demolition waste will continue. The site would be worked as an extension of the existing quarry, utilising the existing access, plant site and related infrastructure. No new plant or machinery is proposed. The deposit has a depth of approximately 25m and would be worked in two benches as indicated on the Site Development Plan. The present eastern working face would be continued towards the east through the proposed extension. Appropriate standoffs to site boundaries are provided to safeguard the stability of adjoining land. The quarry would be worked ‘dry’ with no requirement for dewatering. Soils would be removed in accordance with best practice and reserved for use in the subsequent restoration of the site. The restoration scheme has been designed as a long term sustainable agriculturally managed landscape. It also draws on the potential offered by the restoration of the adjacent Wyrley and Essington Canal. There is an active canal restoration society promoting the reopening of the canal for navigation and recreational use. The route of the canal has been protected by the provision of an aqueduct over the M6 Toll when this was constructed. All works associated with this application have been geared to both protect and enhance the canal. S:\M13.135 Cranebrook Quarry\Reports\M13.135.R.008 LVIA\LVIA 22.09.15.Docx September 2015 5 LANDSCAPE & VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT CRANEBROOK QUARRY WCL CRANEBROOK QUARRY LIMITED 2.0 LANDSCAPE DESIGNATIONS AND LANDSCAPE ORIENTATED PLANNING POLICIES 2.1 Environmental Designations The site is NOT located within any nationally designated landscape (ie a national park or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The site is, however, within the West Midlands Green Belt. The extent of the area of the Green Belt is shown in Drawing No M13.135.D.009 along with other local designations. The site is located within a non statutory designated community forest – Forest of Mercia. There are a number of such community forests across England which is a local community initiative to promote planting and understanding of woodlands and trees. The site is also located in the outer Impact Risk Zone for a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Chasewater, which is located over 2km to the west of the site. The site known as Chasewater and the Southern Staffordshire Coalfield Heaths is a wet and dry lowland heath. There are a number of listed buildings scattered through the landscape, however, none immediately adjacent to the site. The nearest is Hammerwich Place Farmhouse approximately 0.6km to the north of the site and Church of St John the Baptist in Hammerwich again to the north approximately 0.9km . Both are listed as Grade II. The Wyrley and Essington Canal Footbridge at Ogley Junction is a Grade II listed building and is located approximately 1.5 km to the East. 2.2 Landscape orientated Planning Policies The site is within the administrative area of Staffordshire County Council and Lichfield District Council. The Local Planning Framework comprises the Lichfield District Local Plan Strategy 2008-2029, the Staffordshire and Stoke –on-Trent Minerals Local (Saved Policies) 1994-2006, and the new Minerals Local Plan for Staffordshire (2015 to 2030) Final Draft- June 2015 2.3 National Planning Policy Framework At a national level the National Planning Policy Framework is a material consideration. The purpose of the framework is essentially to set out Core Planning Principles including “recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and supporting thriving rural communities within it”, and to guide the development of policies in local plans. Specific reference is made at chapter 11 – Conserving and enhancing the natural environment, to “Protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, geological conservation interests and soils”.