Our Ref: OXF9586 E-mail: [email protected] Direct Dial: 01235 838222 Date: 27th July 2016 Development Control Basingstoke and Deane Civic Offices London Road Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 4AH Dear Sir/Madam Motorway Service Area at Kennel Farm, Basingstoke: Formal Request for Screening Opinion We are writing on behalf of our client, Applegreen Plc (part of Petrogas Group Ltd), in respect of the proposed Motorway Service Area at Kennel Farm, Basingstoke to request that the Council provide a formal Screening Opinion as to whether Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required in connection with the proposed development. This request is made under Regulation 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011, as amended. In accordance with Regulation 5 (2) we include: A plan sufficient to identify the land; A brief description of the nature and purpose of the development and its possible impacts on the environment; and Information on the need for an EIA. In accordance with Regulation 5 (5) we request that the Council adopt a Screening Opinion within three weeks beginning with the date of receipt of this request. Site Location The proposed Motorway Service Area (MSA) is located on the southern side of the M3 to the south west of Basingstoke and to the north east of Junction 7 of the M3. The site is located at Kennel Farm (to the east of the existing farm buildings) close to the existing motorway bridge between Beggarwood Lane, Basingstoke and Farleigh Wallop. The nearest settlements include Basingstoke to the north (north of the M3), Farleigh Wallop to the south east, Cliddesden to the north east and Dummer to the south west. In addition to the properties located within those settlements, a number of properties and groups of properties also exist in the area to the south and east of the M3 motorway, including Kennel Farm and Kempshott Park, Farleigh Mortimer, Broadmere and properties on The Avenue to the south east. Other than Kennel Farm, there are no residential properties within 500 metres of the site on the southern and eastern side of the motorway. The Tamar Energy AD Plant is located to the south of the site. The site lies within the administrative area of Basingstoke and Deane Council. Proposed Development The current indicative proposals for the MSA include the following permanent features: The provision of approximately 245 car, 22 Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV), 5 coach, 7 caravan and 16 motorcycle parking spaces; Fuelling facilities for both cars and HGVs (together with dedicated short term parking facilities); A service area amenity building, with a floor space of approximately 3,365 m2; A picnic area; A drainage scheme, which is likely to include attenuation feature(s); and Associated landscaping and ancillary development. The total site area is approximately 4.5 hectares (11 acres). During the construction phase, a temporary contractor’s compound and laydown area(s) would be required on the site. Relevant Legislation Current EIA law in England is in the form of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (S.I 2011 No. 1824), as amended. Further guidance is provided in the Planning Practice Guidance produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Screening Criteria The projects for which EIA may be required are detailed in Schedules 1 and 2 of the EIA Regulations. Schedule 1 Development Schedule 1 developments require EIA to be undertaken in all cases. The proposed MSA development does not fall within Schedule 1 of the EIA Regulations. Therefore, the proposed development is not classified as Schedule 1 development. Schedule 2 Development Schedule 2 development is defined in the EIA Regulations as development, other than exempt development, of a description mentioned in column 1 of the table in Schedule 2 where: a) Any part of that development is to be carried out in a sensitive area; or b) Any applicable threshold or criterion in the corresponding part of column 2 of that table is respectively exceeded or met in relation to that development. The proposed MSA development does not fall within a sensitive area as defined by the EIA Regulations (Part 1). Therefore the proposed development does not fall within paragraph (a) above. With respect to paragraph (b) above, motorway service areas are listed within Part 10 (p) the table in Schedule 2 of the EIA Regulations. The applicable threshold for such developments is that ‘the area of the development exceeds 0.5 hectare’. 2 As a whole, the area of the proposed development site is approximately 4.5 hectares and, therefore, exceeds the threshold of 0.5 hectares for Schedule 2,10(p) infrastructure development projects. Therefore, it is considered that the proposed development constitutes Schedule 2 development under the EIA Regulations. Screening of Schedule 2 Development Schedule 2 development does not require EIA to be undertaken in all cases but must be considered against the criteria provided in Schedule 3 of the Regulations to determine whether significant effects on the environment are likely. In doing so, the following aspects have been taken into account, as a matter of best practice: (a) the size of the project; (b) the cumulation with other development; (c) the use of natural resources; (d) the production of waste; (e) pollution and nuisances; and (f) the risk of accidents, having regard in particular to substances or technologies used. Location of the Proposed Development: Environmental Sensitivity The proposed MSA development covers an area of approximately 4.5 hectares of existing agricultural land and woodland to the immediate south east of the M3. The site is adjacent to the highway boundary of the M3. The site is not subject to any statutory national or international designations. The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is located to the north of Basingstoke, separated from the site by the M3 and Basingstoke itself. A number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are located approximately 10 km from the site, including the River Test SSSI to the west of Basingstoke (near Overton at its closest point), Micheldever Spoil Heaps SSSI to the south west of Basingstoke and Butter Wood SSSI to the east of Basingstoke. There are a number of Scheduled Monuments located within Basingstoke itself and in the surrounding area. The closest to the site is a scheduled windmill mound at Farleigh House located more than 1 km to the south east of the site. The nearest settlements to the site are identified above and include Basingstoke to the north (north of the M3), Farleigh Wallop to the south east, Cliddesden to the north east and Dummer to the south west. The site is not located in close proximity to wetlands, coastal zones, mountain or forest areas. It is noted that in relation to Schedule 3 (2, c) (vi) ‘areas in which the environmental quality standards laid down in EU legislation have already been exceeded’, much of the UK currently exceed the standards for nitrogen dioxide set at a European level. However, the site is not located within an Air Quality Management Area. There are currently no Air Quality Management Areas within Basingstoke and Deane. 3 Characteristics of the Potential Impacts Landscape and Visual Resources There are no National Parks or AONBs close to the site or in the surrounding area. The closest AONB is the North Wessex Downs located to the north of Basingstoke more than 5 km to the north west. The site is located on agricultural land with a wooded strip between the site and the M3 and areas of existing woodland adjacent to the motorway bridge and along the western boundary of the site. It lies within the ‘Hampshire Downs’ National Character Area. During construction and operation there would be some effects on the landscape character of the site itself. The character of the area surrounding the site is varied and includes both the existing M3 and the large settlement of Basingstoke to the north and areas with a more open and less densely populated character (but including some larger developments, such as the Tamar Energy AD plant) to the south. The proposed development would include a landscape strategy in order to retain some of the existing vegetation and provide new planting as screening in keeping with the existing woodland strips and blocks. The potential effects on visual receptors in Basingstoke would be limited, given the separation provided by the M3 and its woodland/planting strips on either side. Effects on Kennel Farm and Kempshott Park to the west would also be limited due to intervening vegetation, including woodland belts. From more distant receptors to the south the MSA would be seen against the context of Basingstoke and the existing motorway. Views would be filtered by the existing woodland areas and landscape planting on the site. Historic Environment The site is not subject to any statutory heritage designations. The closest Scheduled Monument to the site is a windmill mound at Farleigh House located more than 1 km to the south east of the site. There are a number of Conservation Areas in Basingstoke to the north and within Dummer to the west of the site. The site itself and the surrounding areas are not affected by any Conservation Area designations. The nearest listed buildings include Kempshott House to the west, buildings in Farleigh Wallop to south east, the Church of St Andrew to the south east, buildings in Cliddesden to the north east and in Basingstoke to the north. Given the disturbance likely to have been associated with the construction of the M3, the associated motorway bridge and agricultural activity, the potential for the presence of archaeological deposits is low.