Pontefract Road, Purston, Featherstone

Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd

Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary

2

Report Author .................................... Alastair Cliffe / KM

Report Date .......................................... September 2012

Project Number ....................................................... 3472

Document Reference ......... P0-TP-SPA-RP-P3472-0012-A

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Introduction and EIA Process ................................................................................................................................... 4

Site Description ........................................................................................................................................................ 5

Development Description ........................................................................................................................................ 6

Planning Policy Context ............................................................................................................................................ 8

The Need .................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Consideration of Alternatives ................................................................................................................................ 10

Ground Conditions and Contamination ................................................................................................................. 11

Traffic and Transportation ..................................................................................................................................... 12

Landscape .............................................................................................................................................................. 14

Water Environment................................................................................................................................................ 16

Socio Economic ...................................................................................................................................................... 17

Ecology and Nature Conservation .......................................................................................................................... 18

Air Quality .............................................................................................................................................................. 19

Interaction of Effects - Construction ...................................................................................................................... 20

Interaction of Effects - Operational ........................................................................................................................ 21

Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................................................. 22

Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................................. 23

Contents

4

Introduction

EIA Process

This is the non-technical summary for an Environmental

Statement (ES) which has been prepared on behalf of Taylor

Wimpey UK Ltd to accompany a hybrid planning application

for residential development at Pontefract Road, Purston,

Featherstone.

This document is a summary of the ES that has been

submitted as part of the planning application having regard to

the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact

Assessment) Regulations 2011. The Environmental Impact

Assessment (EIA) process is outlined below.

The summary describes the physical characteristics of the

development, its land use requirements, an outline of the

main alternatives considered and a description of the effects

on the environment which are likely to be effected by the

development.

These include:

Direct, indirect or secondary effects

Cumulative effects

Short, medium or long term effects

Permanent or temporary effects

Positive effects

The report also identifies any measures required to mitigate

potential adverse impacts of the proposals within and around

the application site. Full details can be found within the

Environmental Statement.

Identify Proposed Development

Scoping Submission

LPA 5 Week Review Period

Review Response & Prepare EIA Report

Predict Impact on Environment

Identify Baseline

Prepare / Finalise Environmental Statement

Consider mitigation

Assess Significance of Impacts

Feedback and consideration of

alternatives / Update and amend

masterplan for site

5

Site Description

The site comprises approximately 15 hectares of land on the

north-eastern edge of Featherstone. A public footpath

(Footpath 15, known locally as Jubilee Steps) runs along the

western boundary of the site, with existing residential

properties and allotments to the west of the footpath and

Featherstone Rovers Rugby Ground to the north-western

boundary of the site. Pontefract Road runs along the

southern boundary of the site and a number of residential

properties front onto Pontefract Road with rear gardens

abutting the application site. There are open fields to the

north and north-eastern boundaries of the site.

The areas around the site are in mixed use, consisting

primarily of residential as well as town centre, leisure and

agricultural uses. The town centre is located at the western

end of Post Office Road, to the west of the site. The railway

line runs in an east-west direction beyond agricultural fields

to the north of the site, with the Featherstone Railway

Station to the north of the town centre.

The site currently accommodates gently undulating

agricultural (arable) fields, redundant allotments and an area

of overgrown scrub land and woodland. A watercourse

flows through the centre of the site and two ponds (dry at

certain times of the year) are located within the small area of

woodland. The watercourse runs beyond the western

boundary where it is culverted below the public footpath and

existing residential properties. A ditch runs around the field

boundary within the central-western part of the site, which is

also dry at certain times of the year. There are a number of

trees (mainly sycamore, willow, ash and oak) and hedgerows

(predominantly made up of privet, hawthorn, sycamore and

willow) within the site.

Some fly tipping is evident to the centre of the site and to

the southern and western boundaries of the site.

Apart from Jubilee Steps to the western boundary of the site

and the right of access for agricultural purposes, there is

currently no formal public access across the site.

A small number of rear gardens of existing properties along

Pontefract Road have encroached into the application site

along the south-western boundary. Existing properties (215-

237 Pontefract Road) along the south-eastern boundary have

rights of access along the side of 215 Pontefract Road to the

rear of their properties. Property 215 Pontefract Road has

extended their rear garden wall, which has reduced the

width of vehicular access to the rear of the remaining

properties. This has led to properties 215-237 encroaching

onto the application site to navigate around 215 Pontefract

Road.

6

Development Description

The planning application is a hybrid application with detailed

elements dealt with in full and other matters in outline. All

other matters regarding detailed design, such as appearance,

layout, scale and landscaping (except for where they are

detailed in the context of this hybrid planning application),

are reserved for consideration at a later date.

The scheme proposals are still evolving and will take account

of the iterative nature of the Environmental Impact

Assessment process. In order to establish a development,

the following descriptions are based on the maximum likely

developable areas. There is potential that the following

quantum of development may reduce, however it will not

increase.

The Applicants are proposing to develop the site for

residential purposes to include up to 450 dwellings. A

summary is provided below:

A high quality residential scheme, which seeks to

deliver a series of regeneration benefits for

Featherstone, through the delivery of both open

market housing and affordable housing within a

sustainable location

A mix of house types including detached, semi-

detached, terraced housing and bungalows. The

detailed development proposals comprise

predominantly two storey properties, however there

is also a small mix of single storey bungalows and two

and half storey houses. The properties will be

accessed from a main spine road via a number of loop

roads and cul-de-sacs.

The vehicular access to the site is proposed from

Pontefract Road (A645) to the southern boundary of

the site, which will combine with the existing traffic lit

junction of Ackworth Road and Pontefract Road.

7

Development Description

The public right of way (footpath 15 - Jubilee Steps) to

the western boundary of the site will be retained and

enhanced by proposals to widen it. Pedestrian and

cycle links will be provided to Jubilee Steps, which

provides access to Victoria Street and Post Office

Road and access to the town centre of Featherstone

and the railway station.

A controlled emergency vehicle access will be

provided via Post Office Road.

An area of public open space (POS) will be provided

within the western part of the site, which is defined by

the Jubilee Steps to the west and the watercourse and

spine road to the east. There are a number of trees

and areas of scrub which will be retained where

practicable. A significant amount of new planting will

be provided as part of the POS area. The POS will

also accommodate an area of open space and an

informal kick about area. A path will cross the

watercourse to provide access between the POS and

the wider application site.

A water detention basin will also be located within the

POS to provide an area for surface water retention

should this be required. A foul pumping station is also

required to serve the site and this will be located to

the east of the POS. The existing water vole habitat

will be retained, enhanced and improved as part of the

proposals. The watercourse will be culverted where

the spine road crosses the watercourse.

Parameters Plan

8

Planning Policy Context

Planning Policy supports schemes that will assist in

regeneration and encourage growth and investment into

Wakefield.

The statutory development plan for the consideration of this

application comprises the:

Regional Strategy for Yorkshire and the Humber, May

2008 (RS)

Wakefield Local Development Framework (LDF):

Core Strategy (CS), April 2009

Development Policies (D), April 2009

Site Specifics Proposals Document (SSPD), 12

September 2012

The LDF replaces many of the policies in the

Wakefield Unitary Development Plan First Alteration

adopted January 2003 (UDP). However the remaining

saved policies of the UDP, including Retail, Leisure and

Open Space policies, remain part of the statutory plan.

The remaining UDP Policies in relation to Retail, Leisure and

Open Space will be eventually replaced by LDF Development

Plan Documents (DPD) for Retail and Town Centres DPD

and Leisure, Recreation & Open Space DPD. For the

purpose of this planning application, the saved UDP policies

are not relevant.

The Council has recently adopted the Site Specifics Proposals

Document (SSPD), as part of the LDF. The SSPD provides a

set of site allocations and proposals to meet the vision,

objectives and development strategy of the Core Strategy.

The document includes land allocations to meet anticipated

development needs relating to housing, employment and

mixed use development. These proposals replace equivalent

allocations and designations in the saved UDP.

The SSPD was submitted to the Secretary of State in early

2011 and the Inspector held public hearing sessions during

December 2011 and January 2012. The Council received the

Inspector's Report about the Examination of the SSPD on 8

June 2012. The Inspector concluded that in general terms,

the SSPD is generally sound, and subject to the Council

adopting the Inspector's recommended modifications, the

SSPD satisfies the criteria for soundness in accordance with

the NPPF (which are; positively prepared, justified, effective

and consistent with national policy).

The application site has been allocated for housing (Policy HS

N111ii) in the SSPD and states:

"Policy HS N111ii - NORTH OF PONTEFRACT ROAD

This is a greenfield urban extension site, which is close to the town

centre, and has good access to public transport. The site's

development will be part of regeneration proposals, and will

include good pedestrian links to the town centre.

The site should only be accessed by a new junction with Pontefract

Road being incorporated into the existing signal controlled junction.

The new junction should incorporate safe and appropriate

pedestrian crossing facilities. A travel plan must accompany a

transport assessment for this site in order to minimise the impact

of traffic on the strategic road network. The need for physical

mitigation measures on the strategic road network must be

investigated. The details of any proposed mitigation measures,

including their funding and implementation, should be agreed with

the Council and the Highways Agency. Development proposals for

the site should take into account relevant masterplans.

Development which prejudices the subsequent potential

development of adjoining areas will not be permitted. In relation

to the Air Quality Action Plan, a planning obligation will be required

to offset the increase in road vehicle trips. Rights of way should be

improved and a route linking to Featherstone railway station will

be required. The viability of a bus route through the site should be

investigated. A 2 hectare area of natural greenspace will be

provided on-site or nearby, and a contribution to off-site open

space quality improvements will be required. A phase I desktop

Study will be required to identify potential risks of contamination."

9

The Need

There is a clear steer from Government to encourage

growth and development. The Government’s Planning for

Growth strategy (March 2011) requires more development

in suitable and viable locations with an expectation that the

answer to growth and development should wherever

possible be ‘yes’ except where it compromises key

sustainable development principles.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (March

2012) also provides an extremely strong emphasis on

sustainable development and growth with a clear

presumption in favour of sustainable development. It also

sets out the requirement for Local Planning Authorities to

have an additional 5% headroom on top of their five year

housing land supply.

The NPPF supports sustainable development and the

Ministerial foreword to this document confirms this ‘is about

positive growth – making economic, environmental and

social progress for this and future generations’. Paragraph 15

of the NPPF states that policies within Local Plans should

follow the approach of the presumption in favour of

sustainable development so that it is clear that development

which is sustainable can be approved without delay.

The Government has also recently reconfirmed its

commitment to build out of the current economic climate

which further emphasises the need for development.

In terms of the local context, the Yorkshire and Humber

Regional Strategy (RS, May 2008) increased the focus on the

Five Towns area through policy LCR1, which states that the

focus on housing renewal and development in the Coalfield

Regeneration Area should be towards Castleford, Pontefract,

Featherstone, Knottingley and Normanton. The RS also

recognises that there could be circumstances where not all

housing could be accommodated within the existing Urban

Areas and that the most sustainable locations to

accommodate some of this development may currently be

within the Green Belt, such as in West Yorkshire. Wakefield

Metropolitan District Council (WMDC) has therefore

reviewed its Green Belt boundaries through the emerging

LDF.

The Five Towns were given Growth Point Status in 2008

meaning an accelerated delivery of housing above RS housing

numbers, supporting the need for growth in this area.

The Five Towns area of Wakefield is covered by a Strategic

Development Framework (SDF). The SDF states that

housing-led regeneration can be a powerful and effective tool

to assist the renaissance of the centres in these five towns.

The principal aim for Featherstone is to create a critical mass

of population to support a vibrant town centre. The

application site is identified in the SDF as part of the

regeneration proposals.

The site was previously identified as a Protected Area of

Search (PAS) within the UDP, which establishes the principal

for the development of the site in the future. The Site

Specific Proposals Document (SSPD), which forms part of

the LDF and therefore the Development Plan, has recently

been adopted, following an EiP and publication of the

Inspector’s report. The SSPD provides a set of site

allocations and proposals to meet the vision, objectives and

development strategy of the Core Strategy. The document

includes land allocations to meet anticipated development

needs relating to housing, employment and mixed use

development. These proposals replace equivalent allocations

and designations in the saved UDP and confirms the

application site’s allocation for housing, thereby replacing its

previous PAS status. The indicative trajectory in the DPD

identifies 449 dwellings on the application site. The site is

located in a highly sustainable location and it is clear that its

development would assist the regeneration of Featherstone

through housing led development.

It can be concluded that there is a clear need for the

proposed development in Featherstone, which is strongly

supported by national, regional and local planning policy. In

turn this growth will contribute to the regeneration of the

settlement.

10

Consideration of Alternatives

The alternatives considered for the development of this site

are set out below.

Do Nothing

The planning application site is a housing allocation with the

recently adopted Site Allocations DPD.

Section 3 of the ES Part 1 Report explains the need for

development and that there is a need for new housing in

Featherstone to meet the housing requirement and to secure

regeneration benefits for the settlement.

To do nothing with the site and therefore retain it in its

current use, would not allow the significant need for new

housing to be met in a sustainable location in Featherstone.

This would therefore be contrary to the Development Plan

which includes the recently adopted Site Allocations DPD,

which confirms the site’s allocation for housing.

Compliance with the Development Plan

The site was previously allocated as an area protected for

long term development under Policy FTH23 of the Wakefield

Unitary Development Plan (adopted in 2003) (UDP).

Following the recent adoption of the site Allocations DPD,

which now forms part of the Development Plan, the site’s

allocation for housing has been confirmed.

In addition, the NPPF, now adopted as an expression of

national planning policy, sets out the presumption in favour of

sustainable development and the Government’s key objective

to increase significantly the delivery of new homes.

It should also be noted that, with regard to the requirement

for development plans to be compliant with the NPPF, the

Planning Inspectorate has recently issued guidance to

Inspectors on how emerging LDF policy documents might be

brought into line with the new NPPF approach. This has

recently been consulted on in the Council's SSPD and a

number of other authorities in the country. In this case, it

constitutes a model policy for inclusion in "post-NPPF"

development plans and is worded as follows:-

"When considering development proposals the Council will take a

positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of

sustainable development contained in the National Planning Policy

Framework. It will always work proactively with applicants jointly

to find solutions which mean that proposals can be approved

wherever possible, and to secure development that improves the

economic, social and environmental conditions in the area.

Planning applications that accord with the policies in this Local

Plan (and, where relevant, with polices in neighbourhood plans) will

be approved without delay, unless material considerations indicate

otherwise.

Where there are no policies relevant to the application or relevant

policies are out of date at the time of making the decision then the

Council will grant permission unless material considerations

indicate otherwise – taking into account whether:

Any adverse impacts of granting permission would

significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when

assessed against the policies in the National Planning Policy

Framework taken as a whole; or

Specific policies in that Framework indicate that

development should be restricted.”

The recently adopted SSPD includes the NPPF model policy

to bring the SSPD into line with the new NPPF approach.

Given that there are no adverse impacts that would

significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the

proposals, when assessed against the policies in the NPPF,

national planning policy supports the redevelopment of this

site with residential development. The proposals to develop

the site with housing are also in line with Development Plan

Policies.

11

This technical paper considers the likely significant effects

that the ground conditions at the application site could have

on the proposed development and vice versa.

The following aspects were considered:

The ground conditions expected beneath the

application site and in the surrounding area. This

includes the geology (soils and underlying bedrock),

hydrology and hydrogeology (surface water and

groundwater which together are classified as

controlled waters)

The environmental sensitivity of these

The likelihood of contaminants being present both

within the application site’s boundaries as well as

within the local area, which may influence the

application site pre, during and post construction

Any further pollution which may result from the

proposed development of the application site itself

Any other hazards which may be associated with the

ground.

The application site has been shown not to be significantly

contaminated with either manmade or naturally occurring

contaminants except that there are likely to be slight risks

presented by contaminants in the made ground. The total

area of made ground is only 2.9 hectares compared to the

total area of the application site of 15 hectares and the slight

risks can be easily mitigated. One stand of Japanese

Knotweed (an invasive weed) was noted to be present on

the mound in the north-west of the site and physical hazards

posed by the ground have generally not been identified.

There are not expected to be significant risks posed to

receptors based on the application site’s current use/state.

There are however, contaminants and Japanese Knotweed

present and therefore development of the application site

would require mitigation of any potential adverse effects and

result in the elevated contaminants, Knotweed or ground

hazards having been managed giving confidence that the risks

have been assessed and where necessary mitigated. This

could be considered a minor benefit.

The environmental impacts pre-mitigation are considered to

be minor or moderate negative*. It is considered that

conditions attached to the planning permission will ensure

that potential risks are identified and dealt with accordingly.

Any potential long term adverse effects to future site users,

plants, controlled waters and built structures both on the

application site and in the surrounding area as a result of the

ground conditions both during and post construction will

need to be mitigated through implementation of a

contamination Remediation Strategy agreed with the Local

Authority Contaminated Land Officer and any other relevant

parties. The impacts post mitigation are therefore considered

to be minor negative impacts at worst*.

*The impact for the groundwater and surface water are

considered to be exaggerated as these are identified as a

regional receptor, although any potential impacts would only

affect a localised area.

All of the impacts of the proposed development and any

which may occur in the surrounding area in the future are

expected to be mutually exclusive and consequently there

are not expected to be any cumulative impacts.

Ground Conditions and Contamination

Development Trends 1852—1982

12

Traffic and Transportation

This Technical Paper considers the effects of the proposed

residential development upon the traffic and transportation

conditions within the vicinity of the application site. It

considers the effects of the traffic generated by all phases of

the development, which together will provide up to 450

residential units.

This Technical Paper has considered the impacts of the

proposals and driver delay, pedestrian delay and amenity, fear

and intimidation, severance and accidents and safety.

The impacts of the proposals have been assessed both during

its construction phase and also during the operational phase,

when all of the houses have been built and occupied. The

impacts of the proposals have been assessed through a

comparison of the traffic and transport conditions within the

surrounding area both without the development and with the

development. A Transport Assessment (TA) (appended to

the Traffic and Transportation Technical Paper) has also been

prepared to support the application and this provides more

details of the potential impacts of the scheme on the

surrounding road network.

A series of local and national planning policy and guidance

documents have been referred to in the preparation of this

ES Technical Paper. The scope of the TA and ES Technical

Paper have been agreed with both Wakefield Metropolitan

District Council and the Highways Agency during pre-

application discussions.

Baseline data has been collected from a series of traffic

surveys undertaken around Featherstone, comprehensive

measurements obtained through site visits and a range of

other existing data sources, including traffic speeds and

accident records.

The analysis has considered the existing road network and

also a future design year scenario of 2025, which reflects the

end of the construction period for the proposals. For the

assessment of the impacts at M62 Junction 31, an assessment

year of 2021 was agreed with the Highways Agency.

The scale of impacts identified through the assessment

process has been defined for each of the traffic and

transportation parameters and these have been categorised

as impacts which are either substantial, high, moderate, minor

or negligible based upon a set of appropriate assessment

criteria.

The study area for the assessment of traffic and

transportation impacts has been agreed with both highway

authorities. This includes the local junctions surrounding the

site including the A645 Pontefract Road junctions with

Ackworth Road and Station Lane and also the A645 junction

with Common Side Lane and Featherstone Lane/Acton Lane

and Junction 31 of M62 Motorway.

A large number of committed developments in the area have

also been taken into consideration in the assessment,

including a range of development sites within Featherstone

and beyond and also include the effects of the proposed

Green Lane Link Road. The results of the baseline junction

capacity assessments show that all of the junctions within the

study area operate within their capacity under both the

existing traffic flows and also under the future year baseline

traffic flow scenarios (i.e. committed development).

Public Transport:

Access to Bus Routes

Public Transport:

Access to Rail Stations

Access to Facilities Exisiting Pedestrian Movement

13

Traffic and Transportation

The traffic levels during the construction phase are

significantly lower than the volume of traffic generated by the

proposals during its operational phase and therefore the

traffic-related environmental impacts associated with the

proposals during the construction phase will be lower than

during the operational phase. The analysis has shown that all

of the impacts during the construction phase will be

negligible.

The traffic generated by the proposed during its operational

phase has been calculated using trip rates extracted from the

TRICS database for other similar residential developments

and the proposed 450 residential units are forecast to

generate 261 two-way vehicle trips in the AM peak hour and

278 vehicle trips in the PM peak hour.

The overall impacts of the development proposals in traffic

terms has been shown to range from negligible to minor

adverse impacts across each of the potential impacts. The

main impacts relate to increased driver delays at the Station

Lane/Pontefract Road junction and at the proposed site

access junction into Pontefract Road. In addition to this,

there will be some minor adverse impact on pedestrian

amenity along Pontefract Road as a result of increased traffic

levels.

A series of mitigation measures are therefore proposed to

address the impacts of the proposals, which include a Travel

Plan, the aim of which is to minimise the level of vehicular

traffic associated with the development; full signal-controlled

pedestrian crossing facilities at the site access junction;

improvements to the pedestrian and cycle connections to the

town centre and railway station; and the extension of the

length of the right turn lane on the eastern arm of the

Wakefield Road/Common Side Lane junction to provide

additional storage.

Following implementation of the mitigation package, it is

considered that the impacts of the proposals will largely be

negligible, with some residual minor adverse impacts upon

driver delay and public transport users during the peak hours.

Impacts at other times are considered to be much lower.

14

Landscape

The Landscape and Visual Impact Technical Paper reports the

findings of a landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA)

and identifies and assesses the effects of residential

development on land off Pontefract Road, Purston,

Featherstone, on the physical landscape of the application site,

the surrounding landscape character and on views and visual

amenity.

The Assessment was informed by an audit of relevant

landscape planning policies and consultation with officers of

Wakefield MDC.

The methodology used for the LVIA was based on best

practice guidance - Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact

Assessment (The Landscape Institute and Institute of

Environmental Assessment, 2nd Edition, 2002) and follows a

standard two stage approach, involving a detailed description

of the baseline conditions of the receptors, and assessment of

their sensitivity, followed by a prediction of the magnitude of

impact that the proposed development would bring, allowing

for mitigation measures, on both landscape and visual

receptors.

The sensitive receptors identified include landscape elements,

such as topography, vegetation, settlement and built form and

landscape character (interactions of elements and features and

people’s perceptions of these); and visual receptors, such as

local residents, users of public rights of way and other

recreational features, users of transport routes.

The sensitivity of each receptor is described as Low, Medium

or High

The Magnitude of Change for both Landscape and Visual

receptors is described as Low, Medium or High

The Significance of Effects is determined by cross-referencing

the sensitivity of the receptor (landscape or viewer group)

with the magnitude of change expected as a result of the

development, and applying professional judgement based on

experience. Impacts can be Negligible, Minor, Moderate, High

or Substantial. They may also be positive or negative

depending on whether the change is judged as likely to be

perceived as adverse or beneficial by the majority of those

experiencing it.

The study area falls within the Regional County Landscape

Character Area ‘Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire

Coalfield’ (Countryside Character Area 38), and within

WMDC Landscape Character Area ‘The Northern Coalfield.’

There are no Landscape Designations within 3Km of the site

and only 3 listed buildings within 1Km of the site. Field study

confirmed that issues arising from intervisibility are unlikely

and there is therefore no potential for Impacts on designated

Landscapes.

Having regard to the WMDC Landscape Character

Assessment the site was assessed as having a low sensitivity to

landscape change. Change can have beneficial as well as

adverse landscape effects.

The Masterplan and landscape strategy were designed through

an iterative process to incorporate the policy objectives for

enhancing this landscape area and detailed designs will

incorporate the proposed primary mitigation measures, aimed

at minimising visual impact and enhancing existing landscape

character.

The development provides the opportunity to improve the

landscape of the site and positively influence the landscape

character of both the site and the wider area, removing signs

of dereliction, increasing biodiversity and habitat linkages,

improving public access and providing significant new areas of

Public Open Space.

Four Landscape Receptors were considered to have the

potential for significant impacts and were therefore the

subject of detailed analysis – Topography, Land Cover and

Vegetation, Settlement and Built Form and Landscape

Character.

Of the four, Topography was found to have a Negligible

Landscape Impact at completion of the project, and the other

three (Land Cover and Vegetation, Settlement and Built Form

and Landscape Character) were found to have Minor

Beneficial Landscape Impacts.

These impacts remain the same 10 years after completion of

the development, however vegetation tree and woodland

pattern continue to benefit from increasing longer term

benefits to the quality of the landscape and biodiversity as the

scheme matures.

The area from which the development is visible is limited by

generally flat topography, built form and vegetation to a small

area immediately surrounding the site and over fields to the

15

Landscape

East, defined by the built form of properties on Pontefract

Road, the eastern edge of Featherstone and the stands of the

Post Office Road rugby ground to the West, the railway line

to the North, and a combination of topography and

vegetation to the North East and East. There are no medium

or long distance views of the site.

The Key Visual Receptors are within 700m of the site and

include:

Pedestrians on Featherstone Public Footpath No15

(Pontefract Road, Purston to Halfpenny Lane,

Featherstone, known as Jubilee Steps) and

Featherstone Public Footpath No 16 – Halfpenny Lane

from Kings Mead Pontefract to Featherstone

Halfpenny Lane

Residential properties surrounding the site

Recreational users – allotments to the East and sports

facilities to the North

Motorists - Post Office Road and Victoria Street

Transport users - the Wakefield to Pontefract Railway

Line

The study began with desk studies in a 10Km x 10Km site

centre are, and a computer model was run to establish those

areas with a potential view of the site. Within those areas,

field study determined places with an actual view of the site.

62 viewpoints were considered and in discussion with the

council, 10 Key Viewpoints (representing the range of

receptors found in the study) were agreed for detailed

assessment. They were described and analysed (Four were

the subject of Photomontages). Analysis revealed the

following:-

At Completion, from the 10 Viewpoints analysed for

Residential, Pedestrian and Motorist receptors, there were

found to be 8 Minor Adverse Impacts, 1 Minor Beneficial

Impact, 1Minor Adverse/Minor Beneficial Impact and 2

Negligible Impacts.

The Adverse Impacts are all mitigated over time with the

increasing effectiveness of the Landscape Infrastructure

incorporated into the site masterplan. In most cases, the

modification of the impact is not sufficient to change the

Significance of Effect, resulting in the following Residual

Impacts at 10 years after completion:-

2no Negligible Visual Impacts

7no Minor Adverse Visual Impacts

2no Minor Beneficial Impact

1no Minor Positive or Minor Beneficial Impact

Therefore we conclude that the predominant residual impact

for visual receptors is Minor Adverse and that “the proposals

constitute only a minor component of the wider view, which might

be missed by the casual observer or receptor. Awareness of the

proposals would not have a marked effect on the overall quality of

the view.”

Our overall conclusion is that significant impacts are avoided

and the development will fit well into the landscape.

Proposed Landscape Strategy

16

Water Environment

This technical paper considers the impacts of the proposed

development on the water environment, including the

impacts of potential flood risk.

Went Beck is located 1.5km to the south of the site. An un-

named watercourse, part of which is designated as Main

River runs through the centre of the site, flowing from north

east to west. The site also contains several ponds and other

ditches. None of the watercourses within the site are

designated under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

Water quality is likely to be typical of small watercourses

receiving agricultural runoff. The receptors have been

identified as being mostly of local value with Went Beck

being of Borough/District value.

The land around the watercourse is relatively flat with

ground levels of between 41.00m AOD and 43.00m AOD.

The land slopes at the edges of the site with levels reaching

49.25m AOD at the south-eastern most part of the site.

Although the online Environment Agency maps indicate the

whole of the proposed development site is located within

Flood Zone 1, which is land defined as having a low risk of

fluvial flooding, the Environment Agency requires that the

results of the 2011 modelling (of the un-named watercourse)

from this detailed FRA are considered when designing the

site. The modelling suggests a significant area of the

proposed development west of the watercourse would be at

risk from flooding during a 1% AEP event. When climate

change is taken into account, there is no significant change in

the flood extent. The maximum flood levels at the culvert

entrance Flood depths reach approximately 0.8m for the 1%

event on the right bank of the unnamed watercourse. Flood

depths elsewhere are approximately 0.25m.

Relevant legislation and planning policy has been identified

and the assessment concludes that the development complies

with the relevant planning policies in the Core Strategy and

Development Policies Document (Wakefield Council, 2009).

An assessment has been undertaken of the potential impacts

of the proposed development upon the water environment.

This has been based on a variety of sources including a Flood

Risk Assessment (Halcrow, 2012) and Drainage Strategy

(Eastwood and Partners, 2012).

During construction impacts may result from the release of

sediment into the watercourses or the use of polluting

materials on site such as cement and fuels. With appropriate

mitigation and best practices employed during construction

there is anticipated to be no significant effect upon any of the

watercourses with the significance of impacts assessed as

negligible.

The incorporation of SuDS into the design of the

development in the form of a detention basin ensures that

impacts during operation upon flood risk and water quality

from the development are reduced to an acceptable level,

assuming these are maintained appropriately. The loss of the

ponds and culverting of a section of the un-named

watercourse for access within the site is an adverse impact.

This is mitigated by the incorporation of damp areas within

the detention basin and the creation of water vole habitat

which includes new sections of watercourse. With this

mitigation the impacts during the operation phase are

negligible or neutral.

An assessment of the cumulative effects has been undertaken

and concluded that because each of the other developments

in the area do not physically impact upon local watercourses

there should be no cumulative impacts upon the water

environment.

The assessment has concluded that with the recommended

mitigation measures adopted during construction and

operation the proposed development should have no

significant adverse impact on the water environment does

not lead to any significant environmental impacts upon the

water environment and should be considered appropriate for

development in this respect.

17

Socio Economic

The proposed residential development brings a series of

significant benefits to the Featherstone ward, Wakefield and

the Region. The overall impact of the proposal in terms of

socio-economic issues is considered to be negligible to minor

beneficial due to the delivery of new homes and affordable

housing the positive effects that the development will have to

the local community and economy.

Beneficial socio-economic impacts will arise as a result of the

proposed development. The provision of new housing within

Featherstone has been assessed as having a minor beneficial

impact upon the current migration rates since more homes

will be made available to the local population. Essentially,

more homes will be available providing local housing

opportunities for people who might otherwise have moved

outside of the area. The new homes will be provided in a

range of house types which will respond to the existing

housing market within the area. The proposed development

will also incorporate affordable housing to address the need

within the area.

Employment opportunities for the local population will be

provided through the proposed residential scheme. The

Technical Paper indicates that it is expected that the scheme

will deliver 675 temporary direct jobs (construction) and a

range of spin off jobs. The proposed development generates

additional demand for local services which would have a

potential positive impact on the employment of additional

staff by existing businesses in the locality. The additional

household expenditure within Featherstone that could result

from the proposed scheme has been calculated to be

£1,546,722. The proposed development could provide the

Local Authority with £3,306,001 over 6 years as part of the

New Homes Bonus which could assist in delivering housing

growth within Wakefield.

The development proposes to offer a range of contributions

which in turn will assist in mitigating potential negative

impacts. These include the following:

The development of the residential site will be the subject of

a Travel Plan which aims to restrain vehicular traffic and

encourage the use of alternative forms of travel. Residents

will be advised of alternative travel modes that are available

and bus travel will be encouraged.

The proposed development will deliver 25-30% affordable

housing on the site to assist in meeting existing housing need

(and included within a Section 106 Agreement). However the

scheme will provide an increased availability of properties

available to those on the housing register and qualified for

Housing Association properties and will in turn have a

positive impact on the overall supply of properties within the

area.

Panoramic Views of the site

18

Ecology and Nature Conservation

This technical paper assesses the impact on ecological

receptors.

The proposed development will involve the construction of

450 new dwellings, resulting mainly in the loss of arable land

and disused allotments.

The site has been found to support a small water vole

population, and four amphibian species, including palmate

newt, which has a restricted range within the area. Great

crested newt was not found on site.

There will be no impact upon designated wildlife sites, or loss

of species or habitats of high nature conservation value.

There will be a loss of scrub/ woodland during construction,

mainly from the disused allotment areas, and a loss of three

of the four existing ponds. The significance of impacts during

construction before mitigation is considered are assessed as

moderate adverse.

The existing main watercourse and ditch, as well as the

majority of the scrub/ woodland along it, and the largest of

the four existing ponds will be retained. A new ditch, and

two new off-line ponds, and a number of back-waters, will be

created to benefit water vole and amphibians, including

palmate newt. In addition, three wetland areas will be

created beside the main watercourse, within ‘the basin’.

Areas of new scrub and woodland will be planted within the

Valley Greenspace, and along access roads, as well as within

the gardens of new properties, once occupied.

The provision of 50 bird boxes (for house sparrow, starling

and swift) and 20 bat boxes/ tubes within the new properties

will provide new nest and roost sites in an area which is

currently deficient in nesting/ roosting opportunities for bats

and these bird species, due a lack of buildings and mature

trees.

The significance of impacts after the consideration of

mitigation are therefore negligible to minor adverse during

construction and predominantly negligible and minor

beneficial during operation, once the site is completed and

occupied.

The cumulative assessment confirms that none of the

developments considered are of a sufficient scale, or are

sufficiently close to the development which is the subject of

this planning application, to result in significant cumulative

impacts upon the ecological receptors identified as being of

Local or Neighbourhood value, or above, described here.

Water Vole Habitat and cross sections

19

The potential effects of the proposed development, with the

proposed mitigation in place, on local air quality sensitive

receptors have been assessed against the requirements of

planning policies and national legislation. Additional mitigation

measures have been recommended where appropriate, to

minimise the potential for adverse effects being experienced

by the local community during the construction and

operational phases of the proposed development.

For the proposed development, the concentrations of any

airborne particulate matter generated by these activities

would be controlled using good site practice measures, to

control the generation of dust. These measures would be

defined in a Construction Management Plan (CMP) that

would be agreed with the local authority pollution control

department. The impacts are therefore assessed as negligible

to minor adverse as a worst case and would be a short term

impact while construction is underway.

In the proposed opening year, annual mean nitrogen dioxide

concentrations have been calculated at properties alongside

roads where the proposed development would alter the

amount of traffic, including some roads within the air quality

management area (AQMA). Air quality would be almost the

same with or without the proposed development and can be

considered to be ‘air quality neutral’.

The change in air quality resulting from the proposed

development would not result in any new exceedances of

national air quality objective values and would meet the

requirements of national and local planning policies.

Air Quality

Summary of Design Responses

20

Interaction of Effects of Construction

C

O

N

S

T

R

U

C

T

I

O

N

I

M

P

A

C

T

S

TOPIC IMPACT MITIGATION

Remediation, earth works

and construction activity

Water Quality / Drainage

Contamination

Invasive Plant species

Dust soiling / earthworks / construction / trackout Harm to ecological receptors

Noise due to construction works

Increase in construction traffic Road safety

Spillage

Import and export of material

Water pollution

Flood risk

Culverting Release of contaminating fuel

Provision of a Construction

Management Plan Minimising dust generating activities

Re-use of material on site Dust suppression

Gas monitoring

Best Practice Measures, control and monitoring measures

Stock piling of materials Good working practice

Capping layer

Treatment of Japanese Knotweed

Adherence to PPGs

Air Quality

Retention of ditch

Early provision of SUDs and detention basin

Creation of ecological habitat areas

Phasing of works to minimise

disturbance Avoid bird nesting season

Good working practices SUDs

Creation of wetland habitat area

Ecological Impacts

Landscape and

visual impact

Impact on aquatic habitats

Fragmentation of habitats

Disturbance of species

Loss of trees and vegetation

Storage of materials

Change in levels Loss of agricultural land

Change in character of views Impact on public footpath and

footpath users

Retention of trees where practicable

Retention of ditch and associated vegetation

New planting

Retention of agricultural soil on site

for re-use Consideration of suitable location

for storage of materials

Habitat enhancement and creation Avoidance of night time working

Phasing of works

Landscape and

visual impact

Socio Economic

Beneficial Impact – no mitigation

proposed Construction Management Plan

Creation of construction jobs /

indirect jobs Increased expenditure and demand

for local services

Creation of GVA

Disruption to local community

21

Interaction of Effects of Operational

AREA O

P

E

R

A

T

I

O

N

A

L

I

M

P

A

C

T

S

IMPACT MITIGATION

Residential Development

New access and junction

New pedestrian and cycle

links

Areas of POS

Landscaping

Ecological Areas

Detention Basin

Access road from A63

1,

000

re

sid

e

nti

al

uni

ts

Highway Safety

Increased traffic flows / traffic on

network

Driver Stress and delay

Increased traffic on local network

Traffic emissions

Severance

Pedestrian delay

New junction with full pedestrian

crossing facilities

Production of a Travel Plan

Proposed Infrastructure

Improvements

Improved pedestrian / cycle linkages

Improved linkages throughout the site

to wider area

Off-site highway improvements

(Common Side Lane / Wakefield Road

junction)

Increase in hard surfaces – increased

surface water run off

Water quality

Increased demand on water supply

Increase demand in foul water disposal

Flood risk

Loss of water features

Polluting materials from development

Culverting

Increase in population

Provision of housing to meet need and

demand

Increased GVA

New Homes bonus

Increased Council tax Payments

Increased household expenditure

Increased demand for existing facilities

and services

Creation of new open space

Increase in in-migration

Provision of affordable housing

Contamination

Disturbance to habitats / loss of

habitat

Pollution or damage to habitat /

running water habitats

Spread of invasive species (Japanese

Knotweed)

SUDs and drainage strategy including

on site detention basin

Restricted run off rates to less than

existing

Foul pumping station

Consideration of development layout,

building design and finished floor levels

Buildings outside 1 in 100 year flood

plain

Beneficial impact no mitigation

proposed

Verification report for remediation

works

Impact on Education and Health

provision

No mitigation required (capacity in

existing schools)

Habitat enhancement and creation

Tree retention and new planting

Control and eradication of Japanese

Knotweed

Appropriate landscaping

Bird box and bat box provision

Retention of wildlife corridors

Change in character of views

New planting, particularly around

boundaries

Retention of trees and vegetation

where possible and practical

22

Cumulative Effects

There are a number of cumulative effects that have been

considered during the environmental assessment work.

These were agreed with WMDC through the Scoping Stage.

The developments considered as cumulative are set out

below:

Former Crystal Glass Factory (08/02652/REM) –

Reserved Matters Application for 9 apartments and 60

dwellings, planning permission granted 3 February

2009.

Featherstone Lane (09/01476/FUL) – Residential

development (55 dwellings), planning permission

granted 24 September 2009.

Residential development at Girnhill Lane (11/01092/

FUL) – Residential development (233 dwellings),

planning permission granted 10 January 2012.

Former Crystal Glass Factory (12/00712/OUT) –

Erection of retail foodstore with associated access,

servicing and car parking. Application submitted 30

March 2012, decision pending.

Wilson Street Foodstore (09/00633/FUL) -

Demolition of existing derelict retail unit and

provision of one A1 retail unit (to include food retail)

with associated parking (former Kwik Save site).

Planning permission granted 11 June 2012. Renewal of

this planning permission (12/00664/RPP), planning

permission renewed 8 June 2012.

Featherstone Rovers Stadium (includes 2 new stands,

2x15m high floodlights, extension to rugby pitch). The

application submission confirms no additional capacity

is created and there is no change to the existing

parking – 12/01013/FUL. Application submitted May

2012, decision is pending.

Overall, it is considered that cumulatively, the developments,

post mitigation, would not have a detrimental impact that

could not be addressed with suitable mitigation for each

scheme. There are also a number of beneficial impacts of all

Photomontages

23

Conclusion

The main purpose of the ES is to provide an objective

assessment of the Environmental Impacts of the proposed

development. This Non-Technical Summary provides a

summary of the main issues identified within the ES Part 1

and ES Part 2.

The separate Technical Papers within ES Part 2 provides a

detailed analysis of impacts and mitigation and should be

referred to the complete assessment of impact. The ES Part 1

report aims to provide an overview of the predicted effects

and how it is proposed to mitigate the impacts.

It should be noted that the information submitted for this

planning application is extensive given the nature of the site,

however, the detailed mitigation strategies will be controlled

via the use of planning conditions and the Section 106

Agreement.

The report has also assessed the potential for the interaction

of effects and concludes that the adverse interaction of

impacts in and around the site will occur at its greatest during

the short term period (construction and initial operation

phase). It is however considered that the mitigation

proposed as part of this environmental assessment is

sufficient to deal with these impacts which would be

controlled by the use of planning conditions and S106 legal

agreement should planning permission be granted. Benefits in

the short term relate to direct and indirect employment

related to the construction industry and early delivery of the

SUDs, public open space and ecological habitat areas. In the

longer term, there are benefits resulting from the proposals

such as remediation of contaminated areas of the site,

housing provision to meet need and encourage investment

and the contribution to the regeneration of the settlement.

Illustrative Masterplan

Spawforths

Junction 41 Business Court, East Ardsley, Leeds, West Yorkshire. WF3 2AB

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