Environmental ImpactAssessment

Contents01 Why Atkins? 5

02 Drivers for EIA 7

03 How we can help 8

Our experience

04 Development and regeneration 11

05 Transport 21

06 Waste 31

07 Water infrastructure 39

08 Energy infrastructure 44

09 Marine and coastal 55

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01Why Atkins?

In the 2010 Edie Awards for Environmental Excellence, Atkins was voted ‘Best Consultancy for Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment’, as well as ‘Best Environmental Consultancy’ for the sixth consecutive year.

Our environmental consultants understand both how things work and how things are built, and are excellent at integrating the environmental sciences on engineering projects - delivering solutions that are pragmatic, innovative and cost effective. We have senior EIA Practitioners on the register of the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment, and our EIA managers can call on a vast range of technical specialists, project managers and engineers to support any EIA project.

Atkins is the UK’s largest engineering and design consultancy. We have the depth and breadth of expertise to respond to the most technically challenging and time-critical infrastructure projects, as well as the urgent transition to a low carbon economy. Our people bring significant value to our clients, harnessing an unrivalled breadth of skills and deep technical expertise to produce outstanding solutions to the most challenging problems. We have experience across the full development lifecycle, from inception through masterplanning and development planning to construction, operation, decommissioning and demolition.

Our experience in undertaking Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and writing Environmental Statements (ES) is extensive. We work with our clients to develop sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges they face and add value to our clients’ businesses by delivering excellence and innovation. We focus on improving: environmental management performance; risk and liability management and competitiveness; and helping to deliver savings and efficiencies in time, cost and resources. What our clients really value is how we work – we seek outcomes that are transformational.

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02Drivers for EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment is used to identify and understand the significant environmental consequences of a new development. It is an iterative process which identifies the potential impacts of a project, adopts measures to reduce or remove any negative effects, and then re-evaluates the remaining effects. The potential impacts identified through EIA can then be weighed in the balance when a decision is made as to whether the development should proceed. The outcome of the EIA is reported in an Environmental Statement. As a rigorous test of environmental sustainability, the basic process is now required in the consenting systems of most developed countries around the world and can bring huge benefits in terms of understanding and dealing with environmental issues in relation to major developments. Although most EIAs derive from legislative requirements, some developers of projects that may not actually require a formal EIA recognise the benefits of the process and the demonstration of environmental responsibility that comes with it.

With the world’s leading economies on the fast track to a low carbon future, it’s our role to help our clients understand and prepare for the crucial responsibility of delivering infrastructure in a carbon conscious world. EIA can play a major part in this by promoting environmentally sound and sustainable development through the identification of appropriate enhancement and mitigation measures within the chosen project option.

In the UK, the EIA regime derives from European Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, as amended by Directive 97/11/EC. The Directive requires EIA to be carried out, before development consent is granted, for certain types of major projects judged likely to have significant environmental effects. These requirements have been incorporated into all relevant consent procedures in the UK. In England and Wales, EIA is most frequently carried out for projects going through the town and country planning system, though there are similar Regulations in place for many other consenting regimes, including nationally significant infrastructure projects, trunk roads, pipelines, ports, offshore energy projects, agriculture, forestry and land drainage. Similar legislation covers projects in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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At Atkins we have the experts to deliver all stages of the EIA process, whether that be undertaking the entire EIA, or assisting at one or more of the key stages. We can provide screening advice to determine whether a formal EIA is required under the Regulations, and a scoping analysis to determine which issues are significant for the project at the proposed site, enabling a fully focused EIA. We can carry out baseline studies to describe the existing situation at the site, and to identify environmental receptors that may be sensitive to the proposals. The EIA assessment itself will determine which effects are likely to be significant and need to be reported in the Environmental Statement. Finally, we are able to write Environmental Statements and also the non-technical summary required by the Regulations.

We can support the EIA with specialists from all of the relevant environmental topic areas such as noise, air quality, water, ecology, landscape and heritage, as well as with technical experts experienced in all of the major infrastructure and developments sectors, such as development and regeneration, energy, waste, water and transport.

Atkins can also provide pre-submission audit and review of Environmental Statements produced by others, due diligence and review services for the determining authority, and expert witnesses for planning appeal and major infrastructure inquiries.

03How we can help

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04Development and regeneration

Our experience

EIA of the London 2012 Olympic, Paralympic and Legacy Facilities

Client: Olympic Delivery Authority Atkins was commissioned by the Olympic Delivery Authority to coordinate the EIA of the London 2012 Olympic, Paralympic and Legacy facilities located in the Lower Lea Valley. To accompany the planning application an Environmental Statement was prepared. The application represented one of the largest ever planning applications in Europe at over 10,000 pages. The 246ha site

had been the focus of heavy industry for over a century, and included waste and recycling uses, railway lines, waterways, an area of housing and pockets of greenspace and wildlife habitat. Consequently the full range of environmental topics required assessment, including land contamination, aquatic and terrestrial ecology, cultural heritage, flood risk, noise and air quality.

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Lea Square mixed-use development, Newham, London

Client: Lamberfore Ltd We prepared the Environmental Statement to support a planning application for a landmark mixed-use development to regenerate a high profile site in East London. The work involved extensive liaison with the Environment Agency, British Waterways, English Heritage, Natural England, Transport for London, Olympic Development Authority (as determining authority), Greater London Authority and London Borough of Newham to ensure that the scheme was acceptable to all key consultees prior to submission of the application.

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Colchester Garrison, Essex

Client: Colchester Garrison PPPs When the decision was made to relocate the existing garrison to a new site and redevelop the site for a new mixed-use urban quarter adjacent to Colchester town centre, we were asked to prepare an Environmental Statement. The work included carrying out environmental and traffic impact assessments, noise and air quality assessments and preparation of the planning application.

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Brueacre mixed-use development, Inverkip Power Station, Scotland

Client: ScottishPower The vision for Inverkip Power Station was to develop the site into an ‘urban village’, with the potential to incorporate housing, leisure, community, neighbourhood retail and employment facilities.

Atkins was commissioned to undertake an EIA of the redevelopment. The EIA process comprised a comprehensive consideration of all environmental factors likely to be affected, including contaminated land and geotechnical issues, water, landscape and visual amenity, ecology, cultural heritage, air quality and noise.

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Greenwich Peninsula masterplan, London

Client: New Millennium Experience Company Ltd / English PartnershipsWe were instrumental in obtaining planning permision for the Millennium Dome and played a major role in developing and obtaining permission for the masterplan for the entire peninsula, comprising 5,000 homes and 200,000m² of commercial development. The work included the preparation of an EIA for the original scheme and detailed design, procurement of contracts, supervision on site and installation from scratch of all drainage, water supply, utilities and roads, including major improvements to the A102(M) trunk road access.

Atkins was also involved in the assessment and evaluation of proposals for the future development of the Greenwich Peninsula following the closure of the Millennium Experience.

Atkins undertook an EIA for the Dome Legacy Project which considered two alternative development options for the wider area around the Dome and provided an assessment of the impact and sustainability of different mixes of residential, employment, leisure and town centre uses and alternative development densities.

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Morton, Carlisle

Client: Church Commissioners for England and Wales A new urban extension to Carlisle at Morton was proposed; the site, which consists of almost 50ha of agricultural land, is approximately 3km from the city centre on the south western outskirts of the built-up area and Atkins was asked to undertake an EIA of the proposals. The development is designed to provide an attractive and distinctive area on a main gateway to the city, with new housing, employment and leisure uses in an enhanced landscape setting, embracing new wildlife habitats. The Environmental Statement demonstrated that many of the potential impacts had been mitigated by design and good construction management.

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Gibfield Park regeneration, Black Country

Client: Black Country Properties Ltd In order to undertake a comprehensive remediation and redevelopment of a former opencast coal mine and brickworks, for residential, business development and community use, the client asked us to prepare a masterplan, undertake the EIA and submit a detailed planning application for the project.

The EIA considered a wide range of environmental factors, including contaminated land and geotechnical issues, water, landscape and visual amenity, ecology, cultural heritage, air quality and noise.

South Crofty Mine, Cornwall

Client: Western United Mines Atkins was commissioned to produce two Environmental Statements associated with the below-ground and above-ground works to modernise production methods at South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall. The proposals include the relocation of the processing plant and associated silos, tanks and other structures close to the existing mine portal at Tuckingmill Decline. This will allow the mine to function in a more efficient and environmentally sustainable way. The relocation will also release land to enable completion of a link road and other proposed regeneration strategies for the area.

The EIA addressed the special cultural heritage of the site, which has three Grade II listed mine structures and lies partly within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. Other issues include mine drainage, surface water run-off and dealing with contamination from former mining activities. The site also has important ecology, including lichens, bryophytes and bats which has evolved because of the mining activities, and is maintained and managed through an environmental management plan developed through the EIA.

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05Transport

A1(M) Bramham to Wetherby, Yorkshire

Client: Highways Agency An EIA for this project was part of our design role within the contractor’s team. The scheme involves upgrading the existing A1 around and to the south of Wetherby, to provide a three lane motorway through the area. In addition to road widening and the construction of a new southbound carriageway around Wetherby, bridges will be replaced and a new parallel local access road and off-road route for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders will be constructed.

The scheme is set in an attractive limestone landscape close to substantial towns and villages and several large parkland estates. Extensive landscape and environmental measures were developed through the EIA to help integrate the enlarged road corridor into its landscape setting, protect archaeological and heritage features, restore and enhance the biodiversity along the route and contain increases in traffic noise.

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A9 Crubenmore and Kincraig improvement schemes, Scottish Highlands

Client: Transport Scotland These EIAs were for improvement schemes along the A9 at Crubenmore and Kincraig in the Scottish Highlands. Both were within 1km of a Natura 2000 and Ramsar site, and therefore had to be considered for assessment under the Habitats Regulations as well as the EIA Regulations. Atkins’ ecological impact assessments and design and integration of mitigation measures allowed Scottish Natural Heritage to conclude that there would be no significant effects on the integrity of the sites.

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A21 Tonbridge to Pembury, Kent

Client: Highways Agency We have worked with the Highways Agency over a number of years to develop engineering, landscape and environmental proposals and have produced the Environmental Statement for the mainly dual lane improvement of a section of the A21 to the east of Tunbridge Wells.

The existing A21 lies within an environmentally sensitive landscape, most of which is part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Particular care was taken through the EIA to minimise adverse visual and noise effects on local properties and the loss and severance of ancient woodland and heathland. Proposed measures included road crossing points, habitat creation and enhancement and translocation of ancient woodland soils and flora to new sites. Proximity to a Scheduled Monument informed detailed line routeing. We also prepared expert witness evidence covering a wide range of environmental issues.

Telford railfreight terminal, Shropshire

Client: Telford and Wrekin Borough Council We carried out an EIA for a new railfreight terminal and the opening up of an old railway line as part of a Transport and Works Act application. The project included an assessment of a Ministry of Defence site which is to be used for employment purposes but had previously been used for operational purposes. The employment uses are intended to support the justification of the rail line. The need for the line was predicated on the subregional need to develop sustainable links to the Trunk Rail network.

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A244 Walton Bridge, Surrey

Client: Costain / Surrey County Council This new bridge over the River Thames at Walton-on-Thames will replace an existing temporary road bridge and an earlier road bridge, now only used by pedestrians and cyclists. The intention is to provide a new landmark structure across the river in scale with the setting and improved facilities for riverside open space. We undertook the EIA and prepared the Environmental Statement, as well as developing the scheme design and construction process. We also provided planning support, including expert witnesses, and co-ordinated the side road and compulsory purchase orders, Design and Access Statement and Listed Building Application. We later produced detailed design proposals following the successful outcome of the planning application and public inquiry process.

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Midland Metro Line, West Midlands

Client: West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority Following our preparation of an EEC Article 24 document for the overall environmental assessment of the proposed Metro network, the Bill for Line 1 of the West Midlands system was successfully passed by Act of Parliament. We were subsequently commissioned to undertake a detailed EIA of Lines 2 and 3.

As with the corridor assessment study, the line study identified the environmental impacts and development opportunities associated with each route, but in far greater detail. Wherever possible, the design approach was to maximise opportunities for environmental improvement and minimise potential adverse impacts. Where impacts were unavoidable, appropriate measures were recommended to minimise the effects.

Heathrow Terminal 5 surface access, London

Client: Highways Agency/BAA plc We were commissioned to produce access proposals for Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport. The proposals comprised motorway access on the adjacent M25 and associated widening of the M4 between junctions 3 and 4B. Our role included production of preliminary highway design details and public consultation material; preparation of environmental statements; taking the schemes through public inquiry; and providing expert witnesses on traffic, engineering and environmental matters. The impact of construction traffic was one of the major issues addressed.

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Courtauld Road waste treatment and recycling facility, Basildon, Essex

Client: Essex County Council In support of the planning application of a major waste treatment and recycling facility on a 12ha site in Basildon, Essex, we were asked to compile the Environmental Statement. The long, curved greenhouse will act as a photosynthetic converter of CO2 from the combined heat and power plants, using a mixture of municipal solid waste, green/kitchen waste and source segregated waste to produce electricity from burning biogas. We also contributed to the Planning Supporting Statement, design of the internal and external layouts, architectural design of the external envelope, Public Rights of Way, conflicting external development, contribution to the legal agreements and advice on Pollution Prevention Control (PPC) permits.

06Waste

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Lancashire waste technology park, Lancashire

Client: Lancashire County Council Lancashire County Council commissioned us to secure

planning permissions for four satellite waste transfer stations and one central waste treatment facility

identified as part of the joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy. We undertook and agreed

EIA screening studies, and subsequently produced full Environmental Statements for some of

the facilities. We also carried out appraisals of environmental impacts for the

remaining facilities.

Whitehead Landfill, Astley, Manchester

Client: Viridor Viridor commissioned us to prepare a comprehensive masterplan, undertake an EIA and prepare and submit a detailed planning application covering an extension to the landfill site in Astley, Western Manchester. This 75ha site is located in a low-lying green belt area. Atkins’ proposals covered the long term restoration of the site and its transformation from a despoiled former colliery and landfill to a site which is dedicated to recreation and nature conservation.

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Sinfin solid waste and energy recycling facility, Derby

Client: Brightstar Environmental Partnerships Brightstar Environmental Partnerships has developed a Solid Waste and Energy Recycling Facility (SWERF™) to deal with solid municipal wastes. The process allows up to 90% of the waste stream to be recovered and reused while simultaneously producing ‘green’ electricity. Atkins provided support to Brightstar to secure planning approval and an IPPC permit for their proposed SWERF™ at Sinfin in Derby. Our work included undertaking an EIA and producing an Environmental Statement to accompany the planning application.

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Mechanical biological treatment facility and low carbon energy facility, Avonmouth

Client: New Earth Solutions Atkins has undertaken two EIAs for New Earth Solutions’ proposed mechanical biological treatment facility and a low carbon energy facility on the former Britannia Zinc site in Avonmouth, approximately 9.5km north west of Bristol. The facility will be able to treat 200,000 tonnes per annum of residual waste (non-hazardous household and commercial black bag/wheely bin waste) through a combination of sorting, segregating and composting processes. The energy facility will use feedstock from the segregation facility. The 5.5ha brownfield site is approximately 800m from the Severn Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and Ramsar site. The Environmental Statements describe mitigation and design measures that should bring long-term beneficial effects, most notably to local water courses and biodiversity, while making sustainable use of household and commercial waste.

Widnes waterfront waste resource park

Client: Mersey Green Solution We undertook an EIA for the development of a waste resource park on the Widnes waterfront in Halton. The park comprises a residual (black bag/wheelie bin) waste processing facility and a garden and kitchen waste composting facility. The site is located within the Widnes Waterfront Regeneration Action Area, approximately 1km east of Widnes and 2km west of Warrington. The application area extends to approximately 6.3ha although the built development area only covers approximately 5.05ha of brownfield land, which was formerly part of the ICI Pilkington Sullivan works. When all mitigation measures are taken into account, the Environmental Statement predicts that there should be long-term benefits for the surrounding environment through improvements to the quality of surface and groundwater, and to local visual amenity.

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07Water infrastructure

Hardham tidal extraction and water storage

Client: Southern Water We undertook the EIA for the Hardham tidal abstraction and bank-side water storage scheme adjacent to the River Arun in West Sussex. The project was identified through an earlier options appraisal process and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that Atkins had carried out with Southern Water as part of its Water Resources Management Plan. The scheme involves pumping water from the Arun into a new storage lagoon and associated infrastructure on arable land close to the river. The development is in a sensitive location adjacent to Pulborough Brooks, which is a Special Protection Area, Ramsar site and Site of Special Scientific Interest. Specialist surveys were undertaken to check that the works would not affect a particularly rare species of bat from a nearby Special Area of Conservation. The scheme is also within the South Downs National Park area, and is close to sites of historical and cultural importance, thus resulting in the potential for the development to have significant effects on a number of environmental receptors. Comprehensive baseline surveys were undertaken and mitigation was designed to overcome all of the potentially adverse effects whilst opportunities were identified to provide ecological enhancements to the area.

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Hambledon and Wormley sewerage system, Hampshire

Client: Southern Water We prepared an Environmental Statement on behalf of Southern Water to accompany a successful planning application for installation of a First Time Sewerage System for the Hambledon and Wormley area. The worksite lay within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including local sites of conservation importance, and had potential for archaeological features and suitable habitat for reptiles and newts. The work involved the installation of collection pipelines within the local road network and through woodland and agricultural pastures. Thrust boring methods were employed to reduce disruption to the local community and other environmental impacts. The works also included the upgrading of the associated pumping station and connecting approximately 170 properties to the mains sewerage network. Environmental involvement continued into the construction phase with ecological watching briefs, site restoration management and a protected species licence application. A population of reptiles, including grass snakes, slow worms and lizards, was translocated from the worksite to an undisturbed area in the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) in Wormley.

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Foul treatment water planning support, Severn Trent region

Client: Severn Trent Water In support of Severn Trent Water’s foul treatment investment programme, Atkins has submitted and monitored a large number of planning applications for sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. The commission includes the preparation of planning and environmental statements to support the applications.

Tilbury Wastewater Treatment Works, Essex

Client: Anglian Water We provided a range of consultancy services to Anglian Water, including an EIA, to assist with the development of a sewage sludge dryer at the Tilbury Wastewater Treatment Works. The work included assessment of any emissions on air quality; noise generation; site drainage and pollution control; ecology; traffic generation; landscape and visual effects; archaeology and built heritage; flood risk; and environmental risk. Longer term management advice has also been provided on the design and establishment of the landscaping measures.

Woolston transfer scheme EIA, Hampshire

Client: Southern Water In line with Habitats Directive requirements, the Environment Agency Review of Consents advised Southern Water on the need for nitrogen nutrient removal at an existing WwTW (Wastewater Treatment Works) in Woolston, Southampton, as well as odour control at the site’s new large-scale waterfront development.

After a full appraisal of the available options, Southern Water decided on a new transfer scheme to direct flows from the existing WwTW at Woolston to a larger one approximately 15km away. The transfer scheme was considered the most effective long term strategy. Atkins was commissioned to assess the need for EIA, following which we were asked to write the scoping report and final Environmental Statement (ES).

The pipeline will pass close to or underneath a number of key ecological and heritage areas such as the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Netley Abbey Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) which needed to be taken account of in the ES.

In particularly sensitive locations, it is proposed that the pipeline be installed using no dig techniques such as directional drilling, thereby avoiding impact on ecological and heritage resources. The new outfall within the internationally important Solent needs to avoid impacts on migrating fish and shoreline birds during its construction, therefore “silent” piling will be employed as the most environmentally sensitive solution.

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08Energy infrastructure

Dorset Green renewable energy and low carbon energy facility

Client: New Earth Energy New Earth Energy is proposing to develop a renewable and low carbon energy facility at the Dorset Green Technology Park in Winfrith, Dorset. The facility will provide approximately 20MWth of renewable heat and 10MWe of renewable power through the pyrolysis of residual non-hazardous waste and biomass. The Park occupies part of a former United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority nuclear research establishment.

Atkins undertook an EIA which established that there would be loss of acid grassland and heathland habitats on the application site, but these losses are offset by improved biodiversity in nearby pine woodland through thinning and replanting with native species. There will be some adverse visual effects, and some benefits through the provision of a renewable, low carbon form of heat and power, as well as the diversion of waste away from landfill.

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Bridgwater waste wood & biomass power station, Somerset

Client: Express Power Ltd Express Power proposed to develop a power station fuelled by biomass and waste wood at their site in Bridgwater. The intention was to use 100,000 tonnes per annum of waste wood from Forest Enterprise and commercial waste streams as well as biomass fuel sources. Initially the local planning authority did not support the project because of the perceived visual and environmental impacts. However, after Atkins prepared the planning application, environmental statement and Health Risk Assessment for the project, the council officers recommended its approval.

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Mile Hill Windfarm, Angus, Scotland

Client: Airtricity Developments (UK) Ltd A windfarm was proposed at Mile Hill, 6km west of Kirriemuir in Angus. The proposal comprises up to six wind turbines with the capacity to produce up to 12MW of power in total. We provided advice and assistance with the coordination and delivery of an Environmental Statement for the proposal.

Hampole Windfarm, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Client: NPower Renewables We produced the Environmental Statement and Design and Access Statement for this five turbine windfarm development south of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, encompassing the wind turbines themselves and related infrastructure including access tracks, transformers, a meteorological mast and a substation.

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Longannet life extension project, Forth Estuary, Scotland

Client: ScottishPower Generation ScottishPower is investing in extending the lifespan of Longannet Power Station, one of the largest coal-fired power stations in Europe, to modern environmental standards, including retrofitting Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to three existing boilers. Atkins was appointed to undertake the EIA and to produce the Environmental Statement.

Elements of the project were initially opposed by local communities and complicated by the proximity of designated nature conservation sites. The Environmental Statement helped to shape a less contentious design and demonstrated that the work could be undertaken and managed with no significant detrimental effects to the environment.

Grangemouth biodiesel plant, Falkirk, Scotland

Client: INEOS Enterprises Ltd The Grangemouth biodiesel plant near Falkirk in Scotland uses vegetable oils to create a sustainable source of liquid fuel. INEOS appointed Atkins to produce the Environmental Statement to support the planning application for the plant, which was to be the largest, and one of the first of its kind, in the UK.

The Environmental Statement demonstrated that the construction and operation of the biodiesel plant could be managed without significant detriment to the environment, and reassured stakeholders about a range of issues including flood risk and nearby designated nature conservation sites. INEOS was subsequently successful in obtaining planning permission for the plant.

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Windscale (now Sellafield) Piles 1 and 2 decommissioning, Cumbria

Client: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Agency (UKAEA) In support of the UKAEA decommissioning of Windscale Piles 1 and 2, we completed the EIA to cover a number of regulatory requirements (Town & Country Planning, EIAD Regs, Euratom Article 37 etc). We were contracted to undertake a preliminary EIA to identify both project and environmental baseline requirements; the project involved the full range of environmental specialists and was completed within a tight timescale to meet client milestones. This was one of a number of complex EIAs that Atkins has successfully coordinated and managed on nuclear licensed sites.

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09Marine and coastal

Aberaeron North Beach coastal defence scheme

Client: Ceredigion County Council Aberaeron is well known for its attractive harbour and Georgian houses. The land along Aberaeron North Beach is low-lying and at risk from flooding - the seawall is often breached during storms and the groynes are in disrepair. Atkins was commissioned to undertake an EIA and detailed design of a coastal defence scheme in this small coastal town in Cardigan Bay. The work included coastal modelling to identify defence options and examination of proposals to upgrade the promenade.

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Gosport ferry terminal

Client: Gosport Borough Council The new Gosport ferry terminal is heralded as the Gateway to Gosport. We were appointed to provide multidisciplinary design and engineering consultancy services and, as part of the project, we undertook an EIA and produced an Environmental Statement to support statutory consent application under Town and Country Planning, Harbour Revision Order, Food and Environmental Protection Act, and Coastal Protection Act regimes.

As part of the EIA we provided a full range of specialist environmental services including socio-economics, ecology, traffic and transport, landscape and visual impact, cultural heritage,

water and flood risk assessments. We also undertook a Habitats Regulations Assessment in relation to the adjacent Special Protection Area/Ramsar site. Our design for the replacement pontoon and two new buildings aligns the facility on axis with the town’s high street and, in addition to servicing more than 3.5 million passengers per annum, the terminal provides both a technical and civic function, being centrally located on the promenade with the new landside retail, ticketing and high quality cafe uses.

Borth coastal defence scheme

Client: Ceredigion County Council Atkins undertook the EIA of a coastal defence scheme at Borth under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985 and the Coast Protection Act 1949. The scheme comprises a number of new structures along the coast from Lower Borth to Ynyslas, including a new offshore multipurpose surfing reef (only the second of its kind in the UK), 29 rock groynes, six rock breakwaters, and beach nourishment with shingle and sand.

The Environmental Statement describes the community benefits of reduced coastal flooding and erosion, and improving the amenity value of the beach. The adverse impacts noted are, in general, localised, temporary and restricted to construction works, though there would also be more permanent effects on geological peat forest deposits. Through the EIA, the most sensitive areas were avoided and impacts kept to a minimum.

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Osprey Quay, Portland Marina, Dorset

Client: Dean & Reddyhoff Limited We were appointed to undertake the planning and EIA work for the redevelopment of South West Regional Development Agency’s Osprey Quay site on the Isle of Portland for a marina. This development will form an important part of the facilities for sailing events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The application was supported by an Environmental

Statement, transport assessment, flood risk assessment and appropriate assessment coordinated by Atkins. Key issues addressed in the EIA included the potential effects of the proposal on areas of significant heritage, landscape and ecological value. The project successfully received planning permission.

Londonderry Port, Northern Ireland

Client: Londonderry Port Authority The port of Londonderry’s close proximity to the city centre was causing traffic congestion, and expansion was not possible. Among other studies, we were commissioned to undertake an EIA of the proposed relocation of facilities to Lisahally, downstream. We assessed the potential impacts of the construction and operational phases on water quality, noise, air quality, ecology, fisheries and the landscape, including possible

impacts on the migratory salmon in the River Foyle and mussel and oyster beds in Lough Foyle. Following the submission of an application accompanied by an Environmental Statement, the project received planning permission and the new port was constructed. We subsequently undertook an environmental appraisal of a proposal to include a coal storage facility within the site and expand the coal handling business.

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Paul WhiteAtkins Euston Tower 286 Euston Road London NW1 3AT

Tel: +44 (0)20 7121 2612 Email: paul.white@atkinsglobal.com

www.atkinsglobal.com

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