Proposed Brunswick PFI Regeneration Scheme - IEMA · PDF fileThe Brunswick PFI Regeneration...

Proposed Brunswick PFI Regeneration Scheme Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary

February 2013

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY

Proposed Brunswick PFI Regeneration Scheme

Environmental Statement

February 2013

47065603 Non-Technical Summary

Prepared for: S4B

UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND

S4B – Proposed Brunswick PFI Regeneration Scheme – Non Technical Summary

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 47065603, NTS February 2013

Copyright

© This Report is the copyright of URS Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited.

URS Brunel House 54 Princess Street Manchester M1 6HS 0161 907 3500



i

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................ 1

1.1 Overview ............................................................................ 1

2 THE REGENERATION PROPOSAL ................................. 1

2.1 Location and Context ......................................................... 1 2.2 The Regeneration Proposals ............................................. 1 2.3 Works Programme ............................................................. 2

3 EIA PROCESS ................................................................... 2

3.1 EIA Scoping ....................................................................... 3 3.2 Environmental Statement ................................................... 3

4 SOCIO-ECONOMICS ........................................................ 3

5 TOWNSCAPE AND VISUAL AMENITY ............................ 3

6 CULTURAL HERITAGE (BUILT HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGY) .............................................................. 4

7 GEOLOGY, SOILS, CONTAMINATION AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY .............................................. 4

8 DRAINAGE, FLOOD RISK AND SURFACE WATER QUALITY ............................................................................ 4

9 ECOLOGY AND NATURE CONSERVATION ................... 4

10 AIR QUALITY ..................................................................... 5

11 NOISE AND VIBRATION ................................................... 5

12 TRAFFIC AND ACCESS .................................................... 5

13 RECREATION, AMENITY AND ACCESS (NON MOTORISED USERS) ....................................................... 6

14 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS................................................... 6

15 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ....................................... 6

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1.1 SITE LOCATION PLAN

FIGURE 1.2 ................................................................. AERIAL PHOTO

FIGURE 1.3MASTERPLAN OF PROPOSED REGENERATION SCHEME

FIGURE 1.4 .... AERIAL VIEW OF THE REGENERATION PROPOSAL



NTS-1

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Overview

1. Solutions 4 Brunswick (S4B) is seeking planning permission to regenerate the Brunswick area. The proposals seek to address a range of social and community issues in the Brunswick neighbourhood identified by Manchester City Council (MCC).

2. As part of the planning application, URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Limited (URS) has undertaken an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (EIA) (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (the EIA Regulations). The findings of the EIA are reported in detail in an Environmental Statement (ES).

3. This Non-Technical Summary (NTS) provides a summary of the key findings of the ES in an easily understood and accessible format.

2 THE REGENERATION PROPOSAL

2.1 Location and Context

4. The Brunswick site (the regeneration site) is approximately 28.4 hectares (ha) in size and is located 1 kilometre (km) south-east of Manchester city centre, in the north of the Ardwick ward (see Figure 1.1). An aerial image of the site is provided in Figure 1.2.

5. The regeneration site is a large residential area dominated by 1970s council housing, including a number of 10-storey high-rise blocks. The site also accommodates several local businesses, services and publicly accessible green spaces (e.g. Gartside Gardens). It is one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK with high levels of crime, anti-social behaviour and unemployment.

2.2 The Regeneration Proposals

6. The proposals aim to regenerate the Brunswick area through a programme of demolition, refurbishment and new development; which will improve the built environment and public open space within the regeneration site. Figure 1.3 provides an illustration of where the various regeneration proposals would be carried out within the site and how the existing buildings and open spaces would be affected.

7. The regeneration proposals include: the modification of existing houses and the refurbishment of existing flats/ maisonettes/ houses; the construction of new residential and community buildings; alterations and improvements to the local road network; and enhancement of open space within the site. The main elements of the regeneration proposals can be summarised as follows:

demolition of 296 existing properties;

refurbishment of 715 properties;

reversal of 124 properties;

444 new residential units;

a new Community Day Care and Extra Care Facility (60 residential units);



NTS-2

a new mixed use building containing three retail units, a neighbourhood housing office, and 18 residential apartments;

a new Boulevard;

new access roads, car parking and service areas;

upgrading of Gartside Gardens; and

creation of an orchard and 25 new allotments.

8. Figure 1.4 (below) provides an aerial artistic impression of the regeneration proposals

Figure 1.4: Aerial View of the Regeneration Proposals

2.3 Works Programme

9. The site has been divided into nine development zones, within which there will be phases of demolition, infrastructure works (e.g. road works), building refurbishments and new house building. The works are planned to begin in September 2013 and be completed by October 2021.

3 EIA PROCESS

10. The EIA is informed by a series of studies, surveys and consultations which are undertaken to determine the existing environmental conditions of a site (known as the environmental baseline). Once the environmental baseline is defined, potential effects on the environment are identified and assessed. Where significant adverse effects are identified, mitigation measures are described to avoid, offset or reduce these are identified and any significant residual effects are reported.



NTS-3

3.1 EIA Scoping

11. In accordance with the EIA Regulations, a formal ‘Scoping Opinion’ on the content and approach of EIA was sought from MCC. The following topics were identified by the Council as requiring detailed assessment as part of the EIA:

Socio-economics;

Townscape and Visual Amenity;

Cultural Heritage (Archaeology and Built Heritage);

Soils, Geology, Hydrogeology and Contamination;

Drainage and Flood Risk;

Ecology and Nature Conservation;

Air Quality;

Noise and Vibration;

Traffic and Access;

Recreation, Amenity and Access; and

Cumulative Effects.

12. The EIA of the regeneration proposals was carried out in line with the Scoping Opinion received from MCC.

3.2 Environmental Statement

13. The EIA process and its conclusions are reported within a document called the Environmental Statement (ES). The Brunswick PFI Regeneration Scheme ES is provided in three volumes:

Environmental Statement – Volume I: Main report;

Environmental Statement – Volume II: Figures; and

Environmental Statement – Volume III: Technical Appendices.

14. A summary of the main findings of the EIA are presented below.

4 SOCIO-ECONOMICS

15. A desk-based assessment was undertaken to assess the potential socio-economic effects of the regeneration proposals. It is reported in the ES that the demolition and construction phases are likely to cause significant adverse effects on the local community as a result of increased noise and traffic; however, these effects would only be temporary and there would be significant long-term benefits to the local economy and community as a result of the regeneration proposals.

5 TOWNSCAPE AND VISUAL AMENITY

16. A townscape and visual assessment was undertaken which was informed by a field survey (January 2010) and consultation with MCC.

17. During the demolition and construction phases, there will be adverse landscape and visual effects as a result of the demolition works and the presence of construction compounds and construction plant and equipment. These effects will be temporary and in the long term there will be significant beneficial effects as a result of the regeneration proposals (including improved visual appearance of the area and enhanced vehicle and pedestrian access).



NTS-4

6 CULTURAL HERITAGE (BUILT HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGY)

18. A desk-based assessment and a site walkover was undertaken in 2013. The assessment found that the site does not hold heritage significance. There is, however, potential for archaeological remains to be present within the site, particularly in Gartside Gardens which was formerly part of a cemetery.

19. Archaeological survey work, including trial trenching, is proposed prior to any works being carried out to minimise impacts to unknown archaeological features. The demolition works will be closely monitored by an archaeologist who will record any archaeological findings.

20. Following the implementation of mitigation measures, the regeneration proposals will not have any significant effects on archaeology or heritage.

7 GEOLOGY, SOILS, CONTAMINATION AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY

21. A desk-based assessment identified that during the construction phase, there is potential for the accidental release of pollutants into the groundwater. It is proposed that a number of further investigative works (including adoption of a Remediation Strategy) will be undertaken prior to groundworks on site. Following the proposed implementation of best practice construction methods (such as safe storage and handling of contaminants), it is predicted that there will no significant effects on the geology, soils and hydrology on site.

22. No significant effects have been identified during the operational phase of the regeneration proposals.

8 DRAINAGE, FLOOD RISK AND SURFACE WATER QUALITY

23. A desk-based assessment was undertaken and it was determined that there could be potential impacts to the drainage network, surface water quality and flood risk during the demolition and construction phases as a result of the proposals. Following the implementation of mitigation measures, which will be outlined in a Construction Environmental Management Plan, no significant adverse effects are anticipated.

24. The existing drainage system will be improved by the proposals and will include sustainable urban drainage systems. No significant effects to flood risk, drainage and surface water quality have been identified.

9 ECOLOGY AND NATURE CONSERVATION

25. A desk study and ecological walkover surveys, including a phase 1 habitat survey and a bat roost potential survey, were undertaken in 2010 and 2013 respectively. The assessment found that there are small areas of locally important semi-natural habitat within the site boundary; these habitats have the potential to support birds. The likelihood of bats roosting in the site is assessed as low.

26. There are two areas on site which contain invasive species; rhododendron and Japanese knotweed. This will be carefully treated and removed in order to avoid the spread of invasive species.

27. There will be a permanent loss of approximately 13,200 m2 of open space and removal of trees as a result of the regenerations proposals. Without mitigation this would have effects on bats and birds in the area by reducing the amount of foraging, commuting habitat, and nesting/roosting habitat.



NTS-5

28. A number of mitigation measures have been incorporated within the landscaping proposals for the regeneration site; these include planting of 710 trees (resulting in in a net gain of 241 trees) and provision of bat and bird boxes.

29. It is predicted that there will be no significant adverse effects on the ecological resource as a result of the regeneration proposals.

30. A series of seasonal ecological surveys will be carried out to identify ecological features such as bat roosts and bird nests throughout the works period.

10 AIR QUALITY

31. A desk-based assessment and modelling was undertaken to assess the potential effect of the regeneration proposals on air quality (from dusts and changes in vehicle emissions).

32. The assessment determined that demolition and construction activities could generate dusts; however, with the use of best practice construction methods it is anticipated that there will be no significant adverse effects.

33. It is predicted that there will be no significant effects on air quality from changes in vehicle emissions and the regeneration proposals will not interfere with MCC’s policies for air quality management.

11 NOISE AND VIBRATION

34. A noise survey was undertaken on the site in January 2010 to determine the existing background noise conditions on site. The survey found that the dominant source of noise within the site was road traffic.

35. The assessment determined that there is likely to be significant adverse noise effects throughout the demolition and construction works. These effects will be reduced through the implementation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan which will include mitigation measures such as adherence to published standards, specified working hours, noise limits for construction equipment.

36. Following appropriate mitigation, no significant noise impacts are predicted following completion of the works.

12 TRAFFIC AND ACCESS

37. A traffic model was used to predict changes in traffic flows during the construction works and once the regeneration proposals have been completed. The data from the model was used to assess the effects of the regeneration proposals on road traffic and access.

38. During the construction works, there will be an increase in HGVs in and around the site for the nine year construction programme (2013-2022).

39. Following construction, volumes of traffic and queue times at junctions around the site are likely to increase as a result of the regeneration proposals; however as a result of the improvements to the road network, together with improved parking provision and promotion of public transport it is anticipated that there will be a significant beneficial effect during operation of the regeneration proposals.



NTS-6

13 RECREATION, AMENITY AND ACCESS (NON MOTORISED USERS)

40. A desk based study was undertaken to assess the effect of the regeneration proposals on local recreation, amenities and pedestrian/ cyclist access within the site.

41. The assessment determined that following some minor adverse disruptions during the construction phase, the enhancements to the public open spaces, recreational facilities and footpaths within the site will have minor to moderate long-term beneficial effects.

14 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

42. Cumulative effects are those that occur as a result of a number of developments being built over similar periods of time within the local area. The effects of the regeneration proposals have been considered together with four other local developments:

Student Accommodation, Portsmouth Street;

Motel One Hotel Development;

Alterations to former Royal Eye Hospital; and

Residential Development, River Street.

43. No significant cumulative effects have been identified during operation of the regeneration proposals.

15 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

44. An EIA was carried out to determine the likely significant environmental effects associated with proposals to regenerate the Brunswick housing estate in the City of Manchester.

45. The EIA identifies that there is potential for several significant adverse townscape, visual and noise effects to occur as a result of the proposed demolition and construction works. The duration of these effects will be temporary.

46. Following completion of the works, the regeneration proposals would have a number of significant beneficial effects on the site and the local community, including:

Moderate socio-economic benefits associated with the provision of new/ improved housing and community facilities, improved living environments and increased site safety and security;

Moderate to Major townscape and visual effects;

Moderate to Major townscape beneficial effects on traffic and access; and

Moderate beneficial effects as a result of provision of new recreational and community facilities.

Application Boundary

Site Location

Key

Site Location

Application Boundary

0 Final 18.01.13 GB

NN

Proposed Brunswick PFI

Regeneration Scheme

Site Location Plan

Design: HS

Chk'd: HS

App'd: HS

Scale:

Date: 14.01.13

Drawn: GB

NTS

File Location

R:MXXXX\XXX\DRAWINGS\

DRAWINGS (CURRENT)

No. NTS Figure 1.1 0

PLANNING DRAFT FOR COMMENT TENDER CONSTRUCTION

Client:

Rev:

Sheet Size - A4

(297mm x 210mm)

Galliford Try

Project:

Title:


Regeneration Scheme

Aerial Photo of the Site

Design: HS

Chk'd: HS

App'd: HS

Scale:

Date: 14.01.13

Drawn: GB

NTS

File Location

K:\Newproje\D128357 - Brunswick

EIA\2012 Update\Figures

No. NTS Figure 1.2 0

PLANNING DRAFT FOR COMMENT TENDER CONSTRUCTION

Client:

Rev:

Sheet Size - A4

(297mm x 210mm)

Project:

Title:

Galliford Try

Key

Red line shown is an approximation of thatshown in Figure 1.1


Regeneration Scheme

Indicative Masterplan

Design: HS

Chk'd: HS

App'd: HS

Scale:

Date: 14.01.13

Drawn: GB

NTS

File Location

K:\Newproje\D128357 - Brunswick

EIA\2012 Update\Figures

No. NTS Figure 1.3 0PLANNING DRAFT FOR COMMENT TENDER CONSTRUCTION

Client:

Rev:

Sheet Size - A4

(297mm x 210mm)

Project:

Title:

Galliford Try

Proposed Brunswick PFI Regeneration Scheme - IEMA · PDF fileThe Brunswick PFI Regeneration...

Documents

Transcript of Proposed Brunswick PFI Regeneration Scheme - IEMA · PDF fileThe Brunswick PFI Regeneration...