1 INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this document is to outline the scope and range of environmental issues to be considered in the design and construction of the proposed redevelopment of Midland Quarry, Tuttle Hill Road, Nuneaton (see Figure 1 for site location).

The Strategic Development Framework for Camp Hill Urban Village (Feb 2000) and the subsequent Supplementary Planning Guidance (July 2000) propose a mixed use redevelopment of the Midland Quarry Site and associated land as part of the regeneration framework for the Camp Hill Urban Village. The Midland Quarry study area contains the following developments (see Figure 2 for layout of the development areas):

· INF 3

· DEV 5

· DEV 11

· ENV 2

(See section 3 for further details on the development proposals).

This document has been prepared to enable statutory and non-statutory consultees to identify any constraints within the development areas, prior to undertaking a baseline survey.

A screening opinion was requested from Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC) relating to the development proposals at Midland Quarry. NBBC issued a Screening Opinion, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, on 17^th October 2001. The Opinion stated that an Environmental Impact Assessment would be required as:

‘the development falls within Category 10(a) of Schedule 2 of the above Regulations. Since the site area exceeds the threshold of 0.5ha, the proposal is Schedule 2 development’

2 SITE DESCRIPTION

The study area is located approximately 1.5 km to the north west of Nuneaton Town Centre, off Tuttle Hill Road (B4114). The site is located within Ordnance Survey Grid Square SP 3492 and 3592 (Landranger Map 140) and occupies approximately 14 ha. The south eastern boundary of the site is formed by the Coventry Canal and the B4114 Tuttle Hill Road lies adjacent to the north eastern border. The existing Poole Road Industrial Estate forms the south western boundary and development area INF3 borders the north western boundary beyond which lies Holly Stitches (a designated Site of Nature Conservation Interest), existing and proposed residential development.

The development areas under consideration for redevelopment are within the confines of the dormant quarry and include a shallow void (DEV 11) and an overburden embankment (ENV 5). The embankment contains the materials excavated from the surface of the quarry before the mining operations took place. This mound is now vegetated with scrub. The centre of the study area contains a large void (ENV 2), which is currently partially filled with water.

The main site entrance is located off Tuttle Hill Road adjacent to the Crazy Horse Public House and existing industrial units.

The existing quarry entrance on to Tuttle Hill Road has sufficient visibility splays to provide for the safe passage of the limited number of vehicles entering and exiting the site.

3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

In February 2000 a Strategic Development Framework for Camp Hill Urban Village was published, this was followed by the Camp Hill Urban Village Supplementary Planning Guidance in July 2000. These documents outline the framework and context within which the proposed redevelopment of Midland Quarry will be taken forward. The development projects principally referred to within the Midland Quarry study area are as follows:

· INF3 - ‘a new road’ which runs along the north western site boundary (See Figure 2).

· DEV 5 - ‘the extension to Pool Road Industrial estate to be known as Century Park’. The area where the overburden is to be removed from (DEV 5) will be the subject of a detailed application for industrial and commercial uses in accordance with the Borough Local Plan and the recent Supplementary Planning Guidance for this part of Nuneaton. It is envisaged that the development of area DEV 5 will take place over a period of approximately 7 years. It is anticipated that 11,148m² (120,000ft²) of office and light industrial units will be created which will be developed in set phases of approximately 1,115m² (12,000ft²). Access will be via the Poole Road estate until the anticipated relief road INF 3, or alternative alignment, has been constructed.

· DEV 11 - ‘the shallow quarry void to be reclaimed by limited backfilling, with overburden (removed from the DEV 5 area, approximately 170,000m³ and imported inert wastes up to 300,000m³ to obtain 1.21ha of developable land. DEV 11 also included the redevelopment of existing property fronting Tuttle Hill Road (area IND on Figure 2). The development proposals, identified in the supplementary planning guidance include a mixed use scheme formed by employment and leisure uses. DEV 11 is to be accessed through the new relief road INF 3.

· ENV 2 ‘ the main quarry void’ restoration proposals will be the subject of relevant consultations and a separate application.

4 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT

John Craddock Associates, on behalf of Mineral Investments, requested a screening opinion from Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC) relating to the development proposals at Midland Quarry. NBBC issued a Screening Opinion, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, on 17^th October 2001. The Opinion stated that an Environmental Impact Assessment would be required as:

‘the development falls within Category 10(a) of Schedule 2 of the above Regulations. Since the site area exceeds the threshold of 0.5ha, the proposal is Schedule 2 development’

The accompanying Statement of Reasons summarised the potential impacts of the development proposal as follows:

‘EIA is required for Schedule 2 projects where there are likely to be significant environmental effects.

In this case, the development proposals are likely to have a significant effect on established features of nature conservation importance and an environmental statement is therefore required.’

The Scoping report considers a number of potential developments, which would be submitted as planning applications over a period of time, as itemised below:

1. Discharge of mineral permission with respect to the restoration of Midland Quarry to prepare two areas of developable land DEV 5 & DEV 11. In order to discharge this condition a scheme was submitted to Warwickshire County Council for approval in August 2001. Determination of the scheme has been delayed until an Environmental Statement has been submitted which considers the redevelopment proposals for Midland Quarry.

2. Application for inert waste disposal to prepare DEV 11 for development and complete the restoration of ENV 2. There will be a detailed application submitted to Warwickshire County Council, which will be linked to the discharge of the restoration of the quarry identified above. An interim access will be formed to allow reclamation of the shallow quarry void (DEV 11) and which may also permit limited development on reclaimed land on DEV 11 in 5 years time once backfilling is complete, see No. 4 below.

3. Detailed application for DEV 5, with a view to commencing redevelopment in 2002, once the overburden has been backfilled into the shallow part of the quarry void (DEV 11). This will be linked to the construction of INF 3, providing a new access onto Tuttle Hill Road and Queen Elizabeth Road.

4. Outline application for DEV 11. This application is likely to identify the comprehensive redevelopment proposals for mixed use, including land not in Mineral Investments ownership. Redevelopment would commence once backfilling of the shallow part of the quarry with imported inert material as been completed. The total developable area will be reduced from the original scheme, because of the road and the detailed application identified below

5. Detailed application for development of commercial units fronting onto Tuttlehill Road.

The study area identified in this Environmental Scoping Report includes all the proposed development footprints identified above. It would be useful to obtain views on the integrated redevelopment proposals for the site, with particular emphasis on the discharge of the mineral permission and importation of inert wastes, to achieve the development footprint for DEV 5 and DEV 11

5 OUTLINE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The study assesses the impact of the proposals, in terms of the impact of site development upon environmental conditions. It incorporates the following:

· A full assessment of baseline parameters. Such assessment will include ground conditions, landscape, flora and fauna, water resources, noise and air quality;

· An assessment of potential impacts, including issues drawn to the attention of the applicant in discussion with Nuneaton Borough Council; and

· Review of mitigation matters and residual impacts.

The purpose of this document is to approach all statutory consultees to determine the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment, in order to prioritise the detailed assessment analysis. The list of consultees (statutory and non statutory) is as follows:

Table 1: List of Consultees
Consultee	Issues
Nuneaton Council	Planning/Landscape/Conservation/Noise and Air emissions
English Heritage	Scheduled Monuments
English Nature	Nature Conservation and Protection
Environment Agency	Water Resources/Conservation
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust	Nature Conservation and Protection
Warwickshire County Council	Planning/Landscape/Highways
Countryside Agency	Landscape/built environment
British Waterways	Coventry Canal

Separate requests for information have also been sent to wildlife and other organisations that may have an interest in the development proposals.

The range of environmental interests and potential effects of the proposed development are summarised in Table 2.

Table 2: Environmental interests
Environmental interest	Potentially vulnerable to:
Landscape Setting	Visual impact
Flora and Fauna	Loss of habitats
Water Resources	Change in volume and run-off regime Reduction in water quality Impact upon groundwater Impact on floodplain
Ground Conditions	Potential contamination linked to the established use of the site and neighbouring areas for industry
Human Resources	Noise , air quality, setting

6 ANTICIPATED SCOPE OF WORK

6.1 Flora and Fauna

The assessment process will involve a Phase 1 habitat survey and desktop assessment of national, regional and local planning policy guidance to establish policies of ecological relevance.

Habitats will be evaluated and mitigation measures will be assessed to include any opportunities for nature conservation and/or habitat improvement proposed as part of the development.

6.2 Ground Conditions

A desk study will be undertaken to identify the suitability of ground conditions for the proposed development and the existence of any contamination from historic uses of the site. The study will direct subsequent site investigations that may be undertaken over a period of time to phase with the redevelopment proposals. Therefore, for certain aspects of the redevelopment the EIA would provide recommendations for further site investigation work required.

Measures maybe required in order to mitigate adverse ground conditions and residual contamination.

6.3 Water Resources

The assessment of water resources within and adjacent to the proposed development will utilise available information from the Environment Agency relating to the floodplain, ground water and surface water courses. This information will be used to assess the effect, if any, upon adjacent water courses and ground water.

Rising water levels have been recorded within the quarry void. During the operation of the quarry water levels used to be controlled by pumping into the Coventry Canal, to maintain a dry void suitable for mineral extraction. The assessment would consider the local groundwater conditions at the site with a view to providing suitable mitigation measures for the restoration of ENV 2.

6.4 Noise and Vibration

A desk study will be conducted using the information derived from the Traffic Impact Assessment and the site design, to assess the noise impact from any likely changes to traffic volume flow. The nearest noise sensitive receptors will be agreed with the local Environmental Health Officer (EHO), and noise predictions will be made for these properties based upon baseline measurements. A preliminary baseline noise assessment has already been performed at properties adjacent to the site, and a summary of this survey is included as Appendix 1 of this document.

It is likely that draft conditions relating to temporary operations such as construction noise will be discussed with the EHO, although legislation and British Standards exist to control most noise from such operations.

6.5 Air Quality

The assessment of the impact on air quality from the alteration of traffic volume flow will be considered using data from the transport assessment, as agreed with the EHO. Potential impacts upon air quality will be assessed with reference to the national air quality standards. Short-term impacts from construction and demolition will also be addressed.

6.6 Cultural Heritage

Former quarrying activity has disturbed the majority of the site; therefore detailed analysis is not required. However, note will be taken of any adjacent or nearby features of interest.

6.7 Landscape and Visual Impact

The site is relatively well visually contained with existing vegetation providing a positive attribute in the context of the surroundings. Field study will be carried out to determine the sensitive receptors and the extent to which they are likely to experience visual disturbance. Appropriate mitigation such as new landscape planting and screening will also be assessed.

6.8 Traffic

A Traffic Impact Assessment has been undertaken (May 2001). This was based on the development scenario contained within the Strategic Development Framework for Camp Hill Urban Village, which covered the new Local Distributor Road INF3, and addressed any concerns regarding the impact the proposed development will have on existing transport infrastructure of the surrounding area. The results demonstrated that the proposed highway infrastructure will accommodate the traffic generated by the proposed development as well as future growth and positively contribute towards the Warwickshire County Council Local Transport Plan. The TIA will be reconsidered with respect to the alternative site access and a summary of the results will be reported in the EIA.

6.9 Geology

The quarry has been designated as a Regionally Important Geological Site by the Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group. The main features of the site are the unconformity between the Quartzite and the Triassic Sandstones and the contact of the still and the quartzite. The impact of quarry restoration on these features will be considered.

DATE ISSUED:	18 January 2002
JOB NUMBER:	WM02457
REPORT NUMBER:	0002

CLIENT’S REFERENCE:

2 Site Description

3 Project Description

4 Planning Policy Context

5 Environmental Impact Assessment Methodology

6.1 Flora and Fauna

6.2 Ground Conditions

6.3 Water Resources

6.4 Noise and Vibration

6.5 Air Quality

6.6 Cultural Heritage

6.7 Landscape And Visual Impact

6.8 Traffic Impact Assessment

6.9 Geology

1 INTRODUCTION