2.0 environmental impact assessment … 2... · 19102/a5/es2014 chapter 2 – page 5 december 2014...

Cambourne West EIA Methodology

19102/A5/ES2014 Chapter 2 – December 2014

2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY

Introduction

2.1 This chapter sets out the methodology used to prepare each chapter of the ES and

describes its structure and content. In particular, it sets out the process of identifying

and assessing the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development on the

environment.

General Approach

2.2 The ES has been prepared in accordance with the Town & Country Planning

(Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)) Regulations 2011, (the “EIA Regulations”),

which implement European Council Directive 2011/92/EU (codified Directive on EIA).

Reference has also been made to the following good practice guidance on EIA:

Planning Practice Guidance (DCLG, 2014);

Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment, Institute of Env ironmental

Management and Assessment (IEMA, 2004); and

Guidelines for the Assessment of Indirect and Cumulative Impacts as well as

Impact Interactions, Luxembourg (Office for the Official Publications of the

European Communities, 1999).

Scoping

2.3 The Proposed Development has been the subject of a scoping exercise to identify the

likely significant effects on the environment that may arise from the construction and

operational phases of the Proposed Development.

2.4 A Scoping Report (Appendix 2.1) was submitted to SCDC on 9 December 2013. A

Scoping Opinion was received from SCDC on 28 January 2014 and is included within

Appendix 2.2.

2.5 The organisations consulted as part of the EIA process include:

English Heritage;

Natural England;

Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust;



Environment Agency;

South Cambridgeshire District Council (various departments);

Cambridgeshire County Council (highways, archaeology); and

Highways Agency.

2.6 The results of the scoping exercise have determined the subject areas of the EIA, set

out below:

Site Description;

Project Description;

Alternatives & Design Evolution;

Construction Methodology & Programme;

Landscape and Visual Amenity;

Ecology and Nature Conservation;

Transport and Access;

Air Quality;

Noise and Vibration;

Water Resources, Hydrology and Flood Risk;

Archaeology and Cultural Heritage;

Waste Management;

Health Impact; and

Socio-Economics.

2.7 A summary of the comments provided in the two adopted Scoping Opinions and where

these have been addressed in the ES is provided in Appendix 2.3.

2.8 Further information on the disciplines scoped out of the ES is provided in Appendix 2.1

and Appendix 2.2.

Public Consultation

2.9 Engagement with the local community has been undertaken in the form of a two day

Public Exhibition (7th and 8th March 2014) held at The Hub in Cambourne. Prior to the

exhibition, over 5,000 invitation leaflets were sent out and the exhibition was also

advertised in the local press notifying local residents and statutory consultees of the

exhibition.

2.10 Freestanding information boards were on display to explain the background to, and aim



of, the Proposed Development and show the emerging design.

2.11 As well as the public exhibitions, a website (www.cambournewest.com) was launched

which provided an opportunity for those who were unable to attend the exhibitions to

comment. The website provided the same information as the public exhibitions and a

function to submit feedback. The website was promoted on the feedback forms and

during the promotion of the public exhibitions.

2.12 Views of the local community have been taken into account in the design evolution of

the Proposed Development. Full analysis of the comments received is contained in the

Statement of Community Involvement submitted in support of the application.

Assessment Methodology

2.13 The EIA Regulations stipulate that an ES should identify, describe and assess the likely

significant effects of a development on the environment during the construction and

operational phases. Environmental effects have been evaluated with reference to

definitive standards and legislation where available. Where it has not been possible to

quantify effects, qualitative assessments have been carried out, based on available

knowledge and professional judgement. Where uncertainty ex ists, this has been noted

in the relevant assessment chapter.

Determining Significance

2.14 Guidance on significance has been mainly of a generic nature (e.g. Planning Practice

Guidance), and practitioners have been obliged to develop definitions for spe cific topics

and projects. It is broadly accepted, however, that significance reflects the relationship

between two factors:

The actual change taking place to the environment (i.e. the magnitude or

severity of an effect); and

The sensitivity, importance or value of the affected resource or receptor.

2.15 The magnitude of an effect is often quantifiable in terms of, for example, extent of land

take, or predicted change in noise levels. The sensitivity, importance or value of the

resource or receptor is normally derived from:

Legislative controls;



Designated status within the land use planning system;

The number of individual receptors such as residents;

An empirical assessment on the basis of characteristics such as rarity or

condition; and

Ability of the receptor to absorb change.

2.16 Determination of significance also includes consideration of:

Extent and magnitude of the effect;

Type of effect (beneficial or adverse);

Duration of effect (whether short, medium or long term; permanent or

temporary);

Nature of effect (whether direct or indirect, reversible or irreversible);

Whether the effect occurs in isolation, is cumulative or interactive;

Performance against environmental quality standards or other relevant pollution

control thresholds; and

Compatibility with environmental policies.

2.17 In general, significant effects occur where valuable or sensitive resources, or numerous

receptors, are subject to effects of considerable magnitude. Effects are unlikely to be

significant where low value or non-sensitive resources, or a small number of receptors,

are subject to minor effects. Allocation of significant effects in intermediate situations

will be a matter for professional judgement in each topic area.

2.18 Significance will generally be classified as major, moderate or minor (with these

descriptions being based on precedent or current guidance). Within this ES, the

significance matrix in Table 2.1 has been used to define the level of significance of

effects. In some cases analogous matrices for the various specialist topics are used, and

where these use different assessment criteria this is clearly stated within the relevant

chapter.

Table 2.1: Significance Matrix

Sensitivity/ Value of Receptor

Magnitude of Effect

High Medium Low Negligible

High (England, UK, International)

Major Major/Moderate Moderate Negligible



Sensitivity/ Value of Receptor

Magnitude of Effect

High Medium Low Negligible

Medium (County, Regional)

Major/Moderate Moderate Moderate/Minor Negligible

Low (Local, Borough)

Moderate Moderate/Minor Minor Negligible

2.19 The three levels of significance defined by the generic matrix are:

Major – an effect which in isolation could have a material influence on the

decision making process;

Moderate – an effect which on its own could have moderate influence on

decision making, particularly when combined with other similar effects; or

Minor – an effect which on its own is likely to have a minor influence only on

decision making but when combined with other effects could have a more

material influence.

2.20 Effects are also described as:

Adverse – detrimental or negative effects to an environmental resource or

receptor; or

Beneficial – advantageous or positive effect to an environmental resource or

receptor.

2.21 Where an effect is considered to have no significance or no influence, irrespective of

other effects, this is classified as “negligible”.

2.22 Each of the technical chapters or accompanying technical appendices provides the

criteria, including sources and justifications, for quantifying the different levels of

effect. Where possible, this has been based upon quantitative and accepted criteria,

together with the use of value judgements and expert interpretations to establish to

what extent an effect is likely to be environmenta lly significant.

2.23 In the context of the Proposed Development, short to medium term effects are

considered to be those associated with the construction phase, and long term effects

are those associated with the completed development once operational. Due to the

phased nature of the Proposed Development it is likely that occupied residential and

commercial elements could be affected by the successive construction phases occurring



on site. Where appropriate, the potential construction effects on those elements of the

Proposed Development which have been built and occupied have been considered within

each chapter. Local effects are those on the Site or neighbouring sites, while effects

upon receptors within South Cambridgeshire are considered to be at a District Level.

Effects on Cambridgeshire and the Eastern region are considered to be at a County and

Regional level respectively, whilst effects on England are considered to be at an England

level and national effects are considered to be at a UK level.

Baseline Conditions

2.24 The ES includes a description of the prevailing environmental conditions, the ‘Baseline

Conditions’, against which the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development on

the environment have been assessed. These are taken to be the conditions at the time

or immediately prior to the submission of the Planning Application in 2013/2014. Where

relevant the baseline conditions in the future have been addressed within the technical

assessments.

Cumulative Effects

Cumulative Effects

2.25 A requirement of the EIA Regulations is to assess cumulative effects. Cumulative effects

are generally considered to arise from the combination of effects from the Proposed

Development and from other committed schemes in the vicinity, acting together to

generate elevated levels of effects. Planning Practice Guidance identifies that:

“…There are occasions where other existing or approved

development may be relevant in determining whether

significant effects are likely as a consequence of a

proposed development…”

2.26 Guidance in the Planning Practice Guidance states that “existing and approved”

developments should be considered. In the case of the Proposed Development five

schemes have been identified. Of the five, three schemes benefit from planning

permission or are allocated developments identified within the SCDC policy. The

remaining two developments (Bourn Airfield and Wintringham Park) are not “committed”

in terms of planning approval, but have been included at the request of SCDC. The

cumulative assessment therefore goes beyond the requirements of the EIA Regulations

and existing guidance. As and when any of the strategic allocations are taken forward



as planning applications, they would need to consider any consent for the Proposed

Development that may exist at that time in the assessment of cumulative effects.

2.27 Details of these schemes are included in Table 2.2 and their locations are shown on

Figure 2.1.

Table 2.2: Cumulative Schemes

Site Allocated or with Planning Permission for Housing Development

Ref Address Description To be built by end of 2014

1 Upper Cambourne

Residential Development of 950 dwellings with associated roads, open space and landscaping.

342 (with 608 more to build)

2 Loves Farm, St Neots

Mixed use development comprising 1427 dwellings a primary school, retail uses, open space and community facilities.

1283 (with 144 more to build)

3 Land off Church Lane and Ermine Street South, Papworth Everard

Residential Development of up to 66 dwellings with associated access, open space and landscaping.

No application has been formerly submitted

4 Wintringham Park Cambridge Road St Neots

Mixed use development comprising up to 2,800 dwellings, employment development, District Centre community and health uses, two Primary Schools, open space, strategic access improvements and associated infrastructure.

Undetermined

Emerging Allocation in Local Plan

5 Bourn Airfield

New settlement for up to 3000 homes

including associated roads, open space, retail, employment, community and educational facilities.


6 Balance of Land at the Business Park, Cambourne

Land at the business park forms part of the site at Cambourne West allocated in the emerging Local Plan for 1200 new homes. The land at the business park is




Site Allocated or with Planning Permission for Housing Development

Ref Address Description To be built by end of 2014

expected to provide for up to 240 new dwellings.

Residual Effects

2.28 The likely significant effects on the environment, assuming the successful

implementation of mitigation measures proposed, have been identified within each

chapter. Where mitigation measures are proposed an indication is given as to how these

will be secured.

Assumptions and Limitations

2.29 The principal assumptions that have been made and any limitations that have been

identified in preparing the ES are set out in each technical chapter. General assumptions

include the following:

Assessments assume the baseline conditions at the time of ES preparation

(2013/2014);

It is assumed that current surrounding land uses do not change, with the

exception of the cumulative schemes identified;

Assessments are based on published sources of information and primary data

collection. Sources are provided as necessary;

Assessments are based on the description of the Proposed Development set out

in Chapter 4 and the anticipated construction methodology and p rogramme

described in Chapter 6;

Assessments conclude the “worst case” effects that would arise from the outline

element of the Proposed Development as defined by the parameters descri bed in

Chapter 4.

Objectivity

2.30 The technical studies undertaken within the ES have been progressed in a transparent,

impartial and unbiased way with equal weight attached, as appropriate, to beneficial

and adverse effects. Where possible, this has been based upon quantitative and

accepted criteria together with the use of value judgements and expert interpretations.

2.31 The assessment has been explicit in recognising areas of limitation within the ES and



any difficulties that have been encountered, including assumptions upon which the

assessments are based. Where appropriate, the assessment of significance has been

given confidence levels.

2.0 environmental impact assessment … 2... · 19102/a5/es2014 chapter 2 – page 5 december 2014...

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