Proposed Development of Community Sports,

Athletics and Rugby Stadium,

Copthall Stadium, Barnet.

Non Technical Summary

March 2011

1. Introduction

An Environmental Statement (ES) has been prepared on behalf of Saracens Rugby Club (SRC) to accompany a detailed planning application for the proposed part-refurbishment and part-redevelopment of the Barnet Copthall Stadium. The application has been submitted to London Borough of Barnet (LBB) Council. It constitutes an Environmental Statement under Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, as amended.

The ES sets out the fi ndings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) work undertaken by the applicant and their team, and forms part of the environmental information to be used by LBB Council to determine the outcome of the planning application. This is a summary of the ES.

The ES is one of a suite of documents submitted to accompany the planning application and drawings; others include a Planning Statement, Transport Assessment (incorporating matchday travel plan), Report on Community Engagement, and Design & Access Statement.

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Site location

Site Location and Context

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1. Introduction

The Copthall Stadium site is located within the London Borough of Barnet, north London. It is situated to the east of the M1 motorway and north of Hendon and the A1 Great North Way (the Barnet Bypass). The site lies approximately 65m Above Ordnance Datum (AOD) and is 10.2 hectares is size. The site includes the existing athletics track and football pitch, West stand building and facilities, temporary East stand seating, other small seating areas, surrounding training / warm-up areas, existing jumping and throwing event facilities within and outside the track, fl oodlighting columns. It includes areas immediately to the west and east of the stadium, and the existing hard surfaced car park area to the south east.

The Copthall Stadium is currently used by Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers (athletics club), Barnet & District Athletics Club, and the non-League Kentish Town Football Club, and is used by local schools and sports clubs for athletics events. The stadium is also being considered as a potential training venue for visiting teams prior to the 2012 London Olympic Games. The stadium is owned by LBB Council, and currently operated and managed by Greenwich Leisure Limited. Since its construction in 1964, the stadium has hosted a range of athletics events at local, regional, national and international levels. The site is part of the wider sports complex at Barnet Copthall, which also includes the Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre (including swimming pool, gym and fi tness centre), together with the Metro Golf Driving Range and associated parking. The complex is part of a more extensive area of recreational open space bounded by the A1 Great North Way to the south, Holders Hill Road to the east, Devonshire Road, Oakhampton Road and Ashley Road to the north east, Pursley Road to the north and Page Street to the west. To the east is the 18-hole Hendon Golf Course, with the Hendon Crematorium and Cemetery beyond. To the north of the Leisure Centre are the Power League 5-a-side all weather football pitches as well as the Chase Lodge Playing Fields. To the west are two residential properties, the Copthall Playing Fields, used for both football and cricket, and, adjacent to the entrance off Page Street, the Mill Hill Rugby Club. The Archfi elds allotments and Hendon Rugby Club facilities are located to the south.

The wider Copthall area is located within Metropolitan Green Belt land and is identifi ed as a Metropolitan and District (and Local) Park in the Barnet Unitary Development Plan. Adjacent land is also subject to local designations, including a Tree Preservation Order covering trees to the north, the Copthall Railway Walk and Copthall Old Common Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (adjacent to the east and north), and Site of Special Archaeological Signifi cance to the east.

The site is well served by major roads and is accessible within walking distance from several tube stations, a train station and several bus routes.

2. Site and Surrounding Area

Existing Site Photograph

Saracens have undertaken a programme of public consultation to involve all parties likely to be interested in or affected by the development proposals. This included meetings with LBB Council, and wider engagement activity involving the local community, amenity organisations, supporters, users of the stadium and strategic bodies such as UK Athletics, Sport England and the RFU. A project website (www.copthallrevival.co.uk) has been launched, and a three day public exhibition of the emerging proposals was undertaken in November/December 2010, to which 4,500 local households and businesses were invited to attend and provide feedback, which has been used to refi ne the proposals as well as to inform the assessment of the environmental effects.

To help defi ne the extent to which the various environmental effects should be studied for this ES, an EIA Scoping Report was submitted to LBB Council in December 2010 with a request for a formal Scoping Opinion. The Scoping Report was subject to consultation with statutory and non-statutory organisations and responses to the consultation have been received from a number of these organisations and from the Principal Planner at LBB’s Major Developments Team.

The scope of the issues assessed as part of the EIA process, and reported in the ES (see summary of each issue below), includes: • Landscape and Visual Impacts• Ecology and Nature Conservation • Archaeology and Cultural Heritage • Traffi c and Access • Noise and Vibration • Air Quality • Water, Flood Risk and Site Drainage • Land Contamination • Light Pollution • Socio-economic Effects, including Recreation • Climate Change

The ES has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the EIA Regulations and good practice guidance. The ES describes the proposed development, the alternatives that have been considered, the main environmental effects of the proposed development and the measures proposed to avoid, reduce or minimise those effects.

3. Scoping and Consultation

4. Context and Alternatives

Saracens currently play the majority of their home matches at Vicarage Road in Watford under the terms of ground share agreement signed in 1997 with Watford Football Club. In September 2010, Watford Football Club confi rmed its decision to execute an exit clause in this agreement and this required Saracens to fi nd a new ground for the 2011/12 season.

Several alternative sites have been assessed for their suitability, including six possible ground share opportunities with other sports grounds and six potential alternative new build stadium opportunities, throughout London. These alternatives were rejected for reasons relating to the need for a ‘home’ stadium within easy reach of the club’s fanbase of outer north west London, that would provide suffi cient capacity and meet Premiership rugby requirements. Other grounds, including the Olympic Stadium, were too large to be commercially viable. The club considered and rejected six further options to develop a stadium in north west London and nearby in Hertfordshire. A further assessment revealed that there are no sites in ‘sequentially preferable’ locations that might be considered to be suitable, available and capable of viably accommodating the proposed development.

In 2010 Saracens identifi ed Barnet Copthall as a potentially suitable site to develop a rugby stadium with continued athletics and community sport uses, and approached Barnet Council to explore its potential. Discussions and wider consultations have been undertaken with LB Barnet since, and a planning application is now being submitted.

The development proposals aim to rejuvenate the existing facility at Barnet Copthall and develop a multi-purpose sports stadium capable of accommodating both athletics and Premiership rugby, for 16 Saracens home matches a year, as well as provide improved facilities for athletics clubs and community uses throughout the year and provide a focus for the work of the Saracens Foundation.

Saracens RFC have submitted a full planning application to London Borough of Barnet (LBB) Council for the erection of a community sports stadium (under Class D2) of the Town & Country Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) comprising:

the demolition of the existing spectator terrace and ‘jumps area’ to the east of the track;• the erection of a new permanent spectator stand (East stand building) for up to 2,899 spectators • (comprising 9,792 sq metres of new fl oorspace) incorporating hospitality areas, restaurants and bar (1,841 sq metres - under Use Class A3 and A4); ancillary offi ces and supporters’ shop; an indoor athletics training facility (1,369 sq meters); and surrounding pedestrian concourse;minor external alterations to the existing spectator stand (West stand) and internal refurbishment to • provide new changing facilities and accommodation for offi cials, medical staff, media and athletics club; the erection of four new demountable spectator stands to accommodate up to 6,294 spectators between • September and May, outside these months the stands will be removed; temporary pitchside spectator areas for a further 940 standing spectators and hoardings for the 16 rugby • matchdays - all of which are removed from the athletics track outside matchdays; the excavation of the existing football pitch and the laying out of a new artifi cial playing surface for rugby and • community sport; removal of existing stadium fl oodlighting and installation of new fl oodlighting for the pitch and relocated • athletics facilities (to the north and east of the stadium);surface repair, limited resurfacing and marking out of existing area of hardstanding to south east of existing • stadium parking area for up to 568 vehicles; the laying out of new athletics throwing and jumping fi eld event areas on land to the east of the proposed • East stand; the diversion of an existing culvert and reforming of existing ground on the eastern boundary of the site in • order to accommodate spoil arising from the works on the proposed East stand; andretention of exiting landscaping (including existing hedgerows) and provision of additional planting along the • eastern and southern boundaries.

A series of drawings are included with the planning application, which show the development proposals in detail.

Operation Once complete, there will be three distinct modes of operation in which the stadium will be used:

Mode 1: Summer Athletics (May – September):• The stadium would be in full athletics use for the season, including full use of the track and fi eld sports areas. The demountable stands would not be present on site. The capacity of the stadium would be approximately 5,000.Mode 2: Rugby season (not including match days) and winter athletics training (September – May):• The four demountable stands, and other infrastructure, would be erected in early-mid September and would remain in position throughout the Rugby season, including on part of and within the athletics track, until the end of the rugby season in late April/early May. Athletics training would continue, on the 4 inner lanes of the track, on the external jumping and throwing fi eld areas, and at the indoor training facility. During these non-match days of the rugby season, the operator may run hospitality events from the proposed permanent East stand facilities.Mode 3: Saracens rugby match days:• During Saracens match days, the Stadium would be in full match day mode with the full extent of temporary seating provided, and with temporary concessions, WC facilities, temporary hoardings around the pitch, media and camera facilities, a TV studio, as temporary facilities for the day of the match only (with erection and dismantling one day before and after matchdays). Athletics training would not be possible during rugby matchdays. The capacity of the stadium for rugby matches would be approximately 10,000.

5. Description of the Development

The stadium would be utilised by Saracens RFC as their home stadium for 16 matches in a year. It is expected that match days would predominantly be on afternoons at the weekend. The rest of the time, the stadium would be open for use by other local clubs (including as existing by Shaftesbury Harriers athletics club and Barnet & District Athletics Club), schools, and the wider community. Saracens RFC will continue to use their existing training ground in St. Albans.

The stadium would continue to be secured by security fencing and walls with manned access points or ticket-only turnstiles. CCTV will be in operation at all times.

On rugby matchdays, a Matchday Travel Plan will be in operation to manage the spectator traffi c and parking on and off-site. The limited car park spaces (approx. 750) available on site will be pre-allocated to disabled users, corporate and VIP members, potentially some season ticket holders. Use of a series of ‘satellite car parks’ to provide a further 1750 car park spaces in the local area, including at local schools, colleges and stations. The satellite car parks will be linked to the stadium via Hopper buses and by pedestrian routes. During match days a large team of stewards would manage the site and marshal pedestrian and vehicular traffi c on site, in surrounding residential streets, and at a local wildlife site, and remove litter. Cycle parking, and areas for coaches, will be provided on site.

ConstructionThe construction phase is anticipated to be around 30 weeks, including groundworks for site levelling, surveying, piling and foundations and services installation; excavation of soils and subsoils for the East stand and the existing mound under the current seating; erection of steel East stand; internal fi t-out and renovation works to and decoration of West stand building; external works, including footpaths, gates, landscaping, planting, resurfacing of car parking; Installation of artifi cial pitch. The site compound, including offi ces and parking, will be sited in the existing car park to the south of the stadium, to which access will be restricted to authorised personnel.

The construction phase would be governed by a Construction Management Plan (CMP), to be prepared and agreed with LBB Council before construction. The CMP will set out management roles and responsibilities, plans for each phase and part of the site, a health and safety plan, a contractors delivery and logistics plan, site waste management plan, and environmental management plan. Method Statements will be prepared and implemented to ensure the protection of the athletics track, and trees within the site (all of which are to be retained), during construction.

Existing Stadium

The proposals have been assessed against National, Strategic and Local planning policy. National planning policies on the Green Belt, sustainable development, economic development, biodiversity conservation, transport, open space, sport and recreation, noise, and fl ood risks, regional policies within the London Plan and its draft replacement, and local policies within LBB’s Barnet Unitary Development Plan, have all been considered and assessed. Of particular relevance is Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) 2: Green Belts, which protects land identifi ed as Green Belt from development. It is acknowledged that the development proposals are likely to be deemed ‘inappropriate development’ in the Green Belt, and that ‘very special circumstances’ must be demonstrated before permission can be granted. These issues are examined in depth in the separate Planning Statement.

A site visit and a desk study have been undertaken in order to evaluate the baseline conditions of the site and its surrounding landscape character and views. The site visit included identifying key viewpoints and assessing the view towards the site from these viewpoints. Photomontages have been prepared to show the likely changes in views towards the site from the local area. Local areas from which the site cannot be seen from the ground have also been identifi ed.

The character of the landscape surrounding the site is varied with a rich mix of open spaces and connecting green links. The site occupies a fairly discrete visual location; some views to the site are afforded from the surrounding areas although most publically accessible viewpoints are well screened by topography, vegetation and built form.

Whilst elements of the proposed stadium will be visible in certain external views, it is only in the very local and immediate environs of the proposed development itself that it will be readily visible in terms of its designed appearance, form and scale. Overall the proposals are considered to be in keeping with the character of the existing site and do not impact negatively on the character of the surrounding area.

Some local views to the site (local views from the south and north west) have been identifi ed as having a potential minor adverse impact as a result of the proposals, due to the presence of the new East stand building in certain views. Some of these impacts can be mitigated against to a degree with the use of additional tree and shrub planting to the eastern, southern and north-eastern boundaries, which, as it matures, will assist in visual integration and local concealment. All trees and hedgerows on and surrounding the site will be retained and protected during construction.

6. Planning Context

7. Landscape and Visual Impact

Existing Car Park Area

The ES describes the fl ora, fauna and habitats of the proposed development site and assesses the impacts of the proposed development on biodiversity. A desk study, an ecological walk over survey and a building inspection for bats were carried out on the stadium to identify potential features of ecological importance and to assess the habitats on site for their potential to support protected and other species.

There are no statutory sites designated for their nature conservation value within 2 km. There are several non statutory Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) within 1km of the site, with the Copthall Railway and Copthall Old Common SINC (of county value) adjacent to the north and east.

Habitats on site include a stream to the south, and hedgerows, buildings and associated hard standing, and closely mown amenity grassland that is in parts, managed for athletics fi eld events, and several mature trees. The remaining ecological resources identifi ed have been assessed as of local value or less.

The proposed development seeks to avoid all negative impacts on these resources (the SINC, hedgerows, ditches and streams) including by retaining all trees and hedgerows, whilst enhancing the site for wildlife in the future through additional planting, to strengthen existing wildlife corridors around the site.

The assessment concluded that bats are not considered likely to be signifi cantly affected by the proposed development, including as a result of the proposed fl oodlighting, which has been designed to minimise light spill to the site boundaries and will be subject to a curfew.

Proposed planting and the creation of new habitats including the buffer zone of trees and shrubs would increase habitat and fl oral diversity and consequently enhance the site for wildlife particularly invertebrates, reptiles and birds. Other mitigation measures include stewarding of the SINC on matchdays as part of a Mitigation and Monitoring Plan for the SINC, the installation of boxes for bats and birds, as well as good practice techniques during construction to minimise noise and air pollution and littering. As a result of these mitigation and enhancement measures no signifi cant negative impacts are predicted.

A desk study and a site visit have informed the archaeology and cultural heritage assessment, which focussed on archaeological sites, buildings and structures, battlefi elds, parks and gardens, hedgerows, deposits of historic environmental importance and areas or features considered to be of heritage signifi cance. Two Areas of Special Archaeological Signifi cance exist in the study area; one abuts the north east boundary (a presumed course of a Roman road), another lies to the west and relates to potential medieval settlement remains around Page Street. There are no records of any archaeological or cultural heritage assets on site relating to any of the following periods prehistoric, Romano-British, Medieval, Post-Medieval or Modern. Several fi nds relating to these periods have been found within the study area around the site, including evidence of a Roman road and medieval pottery. Adverse direct physical impacts on archaeological heritage assets may arise wherever construction- or landscaping-related ground disturbance takes place. Both activities have the ability to partially or totally remove buried sites or upstanding features, where present. Adverse impacts on archaeological heritage assets may also arise through the intrusion into the visual or historical setting of the site.

There are no specifi c impacts identifi ed. However, earthmoving and other construction activities may cause adverse effects on any as yet unidentifi ed buried remains. No effects on the Areas of Archaeological Signifi cance are identifi ed.

No mitigation measures are considered necessary at this stage as it is considered that there are likely to be no signifi cant effects on heritage assets including archaeological resources. However, English Heritage may require an archaeological observation and recording (a watching brief) during site levelling or earthmoving as a precautionary measure.

8. Ecology and Nature Conservation

9. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

The road network surrounding the site includes local roads and the M1 motorway and the A1 Great North Way (also known as the Barnet bypass). Roads are generally free fl owing at the proposed times of operation of the Stadium. Major routes, such as the A1 adjacent to the site have weekend fl ows 30% lower than peak weekday operation. Junctions are free fl owing with no notable congestion. For drivers travelling from the north the preferable route would be entry via the A1 junction and exit via Page Street. Accordingly, coaches and any supporters who can arrive via the A1 or M1 would be directed to this entrance to minimise impact on local roads.

There would be two access routes used to serve the principal car parks within Copthall Park. The majority of traffi c using the Page Street entrance which subsequently provides access to the “Five Ways” junction of the A41 /A1 and access to all other routes. The junction onto Page Street is of a suitable layout to accommodate greater levels of traffi c than currently use the junction and if necessary, would be actively managed on match days to minimise delay and congestion by stewarding.

A second entrance is available directly from the A1. This junction provides access direct from the M1 and would also be suitable and desirable as an entry route from the north for those arriving via the A1 and the exit route towards central London.

The impact relating to construction will be for a short period and would be largely limited to major roads where the increase in fl ow will be insignifi cant. A Construction Management Plan would be implemented to control this phase.

The traffi c impact associated with the day to day use of the new facilities is minor and would have no noticeable environmental impact. Use of the site for athletics events will remain as the existing situation and accordingly no change in impact is predicted.

The 16 occasions per year when rugby matches are played at the site would result in some minor localised traffi c impacts. Mitigation measures, including pre-booking of on-site car parking, promotion of public transport, improvements to local bus stops, adjustments to local traffi c signals, and use of a large team of stewards, are proposed to manage the impacts of additional matchday traffi c and parking demand. On match days the potential impact of match day related parking is acknowledged. To manage parking and reduce risks of local impacts within the Copthall area and surrounding residential streets, a number of satellite car parks have been identifi ed that would be utilised, and the more distant sites would be linked by hopper bus to the stadium. All traffi c management measures are being set out in a Matchday Travel Plan, which will include a review mechanism to monitor and manage any changes that are required. Consultation with local residents will examine whether there is any need for additional local parking controls on local roads to ensure that the impacts on matchdays are low and acceptable.

10. Traffi c and Access

11. Noise and Vibration

A noise and vibration assessment has been completed to determine the potential impacts of the proposed development upon nearby noise sensitive receptors. A baseline noise survey was undertaken to establish the existing ambient noise climate. The baseline noise measurements revealed that the existing site noise levels are relatively high with the noise climate being dominated by road traffi c noise. There were no perceptible levels of vibration at any of the noise monitoring locations and no offsite sources capable of affecting the proposed development other than road traffi c were detected.

An assessment of the impacts of the demolition and construction works, together with the completed and operational development, was undertaken in relation to a number of existing and proposed noise and vibration sensitive receptors.

During the construction phase, measures to mitigate and control noise and vibration would be implemented in accordance with good practice and standards. Additionally, noise and vibration monitoring is recommended as

12. Air Quality

13. Water, Flood Risk and Site Drainage

part of the mitigation package to ensure compliance with national standards. Nevertheless, due to the proximity of the noise and vibration sensitive receptors, some short term disturbance would be likely at the nearest two dwellings adjacent to the site.

During operation there would be the potential for some temporary short term substantial adverse impacts to arise on the adjacent two dwellings as a result of noise from the crowd and Public Address system during short periods when large crowds are present and the PA system is in use. Although there is little in the way of additional mitigation that can be put in place when considering crowd noise, it is considered that a signifi cant reduction in noise levels could be achieved through careful design of the PA System.

When considering the operation of the proposed development it is considered that through the adoption of suitable design measures and the adoption of a match day Noise Management Plan noise impacts associated with the operation of the proposed development would be minimised as far as is feasible.

The operation of the proposed development would be expected to generate traffi c over and above that which uses the existing Site. Consequently, the potential exists for the concentration of air pollutants at receptors in the area surrounding the Site to change as a result of the development.

With the implementation of a range of appropriate site management practices to control dust emissions, residual effects associated with construction activities are considered to be negligible. Any emissions from plant operating on the site would be small in comparison to the emissions from the road traffi c movements on the roads adjacent to the site and therefore would be negligible.

It is anticipated that the residual effect of construction traffi c on local air quality is likely to be at worst minor adverse on roads closest to/accessing the Site but negligible on the wider main road network and in context of local background concentrations and existing vehicles emissions.

An assessment of the effect of the traffi c associated with the operation of the proposed development on local air quality has been undertaken. This assessed the effect of the worst case mode of the proposed development (rugby mode), which is predicted to have a negligible residual effect on air quality at all selected sensitive receptors locations. The other modes of operation of the development would generate signifi cantly less traffi c and would therefore also have a negligible residual effect on local air quality.

A Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy has been prepared for the development, appended to the ES, to demonstrate how the proposed development will not have a detrimental effect on fl ood risks, receiving surface water courses and foul water sewerage systems, in accordance with Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (PPS25).

A main watercourse, the Hendon Cemetery Drain, lies adjacent to the south of the site and is the main receiving watercourse for the site. A culverted watercourse is currently located on site under the location of the proposed East stand building. There are no open watercourses or standing water bodies on site. The site lies within Environment Agency’s Flood Zone 1, which has a low probability of fl ooding. The car park to the south of the stadium is adjacent to the watercourse and Flood Zone 2. The public sewer records indicate that there are no public foul sewers within 250m, and that the few surface water sewers shown are isolated links between ditches, etc, that serve as part of the land drainage network. It is considered that the risk of fl ooding from the public sewers is very low.

The FRA indicates that the only source of potential fl ooding is a low risk of minor surface water (pluvial) fl ooding. The existing stadium is sited in the base of a shallow valley and in extreme storm events surface water will try to fl ow from the north west to the watercourse to the south of the site. Water would be expected to fl ow across the pitch or around the West stand and drain into the Hendon Cemetery Drain to the south. The most suitable Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) technique has been identifi ed as attenuation of rainwater by storage in underground tanks or sealed water features. This will store water and ensure that runoff from the site is never higher than a Greenfi eld rate, as required by PPS25.

Other measures currently in use at the site are discharge of surface water directly to a watercourse and the discharge of surface water to a surface water drain, these techniques will continue to be used. Where appropriate permeable paving would be incorporated into the scheme however, infi ltration techniques may be limited at the site due to the underlying impermeable clay.

The location of the proposed East stand necessitates the diversion of the existing culverted watercourse to a proposed diverted route further to the east. Consideration has been given to opening up the culvert however there is no available land on the site to create a deep open water channel. There are also concerns regarding safety and access to maintain such a channel.

An initial survey of a limited suspected area of contaminated land, the material within the mound underneath the existing East stand, was undertaken in 2006, and a follow up survey was undertaken in 2010. The surveys assessed the material as possibly containing the arisings from the running track at the stadium. The 2010 survey identifi ed that two of the samples contained hazardous material in the form of benzo(a)pyrene and chrysotile asbestos fi bres. The report considers the risk to human health from the benzo(a)pyrene to be low and therefore the material is considered suitable for re-use on site as soft landscaping. The report does not anticipate that there are signifi cant amounts of asbestos within the mound material.

An assessment has been undertaken in March 2011 of the previous assessments to determine whether the mound material is safe to remain on site, and has identifi ed measures to be taken to reduce the potential for contamination from the mound material. The report considers the risk to human health from the material to be low. In order to reduce the potential for asbestos fi bres being mobilised during construction it is proposed that a Watching Brief is undertaken during construction. If any visual evidence of asbestos, or other contaminants, is identifi ed, further testing and a further risk assessment will be undertaken. Construction workers would be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and washing facilities will be provided. A Method Statement will be prepared to set out the proposals for moving and relocating material within the site to avoid any impact on human health or the environment of its removal and relocation, including any measures to remediate the level of contamination of the material. The Watching Brief and Method Statement would be included in arrangements for construction to be set out in a Construction Management Plan. A capping layer of topsoil from a proven clean source is proposed to be provided to cover the relocated mound material and to provide a growing medium for planting.

14. Land Contamination

15. Light Pollution

The stadium’s existing fl oodlighting consists of column mounted metal halide fl oodlights, achieving the minimum lighting requirement for regional standard athletics venue (up to 200 lux average). External lighting is minimal to the buildings or roadways around the site. The existing car parking to the south east of the site is not provided with any lighting. A light spill survey has been undertaken with the stadium and adjacent golf driving range

The signifi cance of the socio-economic impacts of the proposed development is considered in the context of the overall impact of the proposed development on the site and the surrounding area within the framework provided by prevailing policy guidance and baseline conditions.

The existing stadium is currently used by Barnet Shaftesbury Harriers and Barnet & District Athletics Club and Kentish Town Football Club – the former being based there. The athletics facilities are used for outdoor training throughout the year. During the course of a typical year, the Stadium hosts three or four major athletics events – which can attract up to 2,000 people - as either competitors, coaches, offi cials and supporters. It also hosts a series of minor athletics meetings together with cross country events and triathlons (in conjunction with Copthall Leisure Centre). The existing football pitch is used by Kentish Town Football Club who, during the football season would typically play up to three matches a week at the stadium. The stadium is used throughout the year by local schools for athletics training, coaching sessions, as well as galas and sports days; it is particularly well-used on weekdays between April and late July by local schools and colleges.

The construction programme will be devised to minimise impact on existing users of the athletics stadium and ensure that disruption to the athletics season is minimised to be minor and temporary, and avoid any impact on users of the other recreational facilities in the wider Copthall area.

The construction phase has the potential to generate temporary full time and part-time job opportunities, and there would be an increased number of job opportunities on a permanent basis for both full-time and part time staff on-site to manage and operate the redeveloped stadium. There would also be opportunities for temporary staff during athletic meetings and events and additional stewarding and other opportunities during rugby match days.

A Method Statement will be prepared to confi rm the measures that will be taken to protect the existing athletics track and associated facilities during construction, and during erection and dismantling of the demountable stands, and when the stands are in place during the rugby season.

The development proposals include for the relocation of a comprehensive ‘throws’ area (for hammer, discus and javelin) behind the existing East stand, the relocation of jumping facilities (pole vault, long jump and triple

16. Socio-economic Effects, including Recreation

fl oodlighting on, and identifi es existing light spill beyond the stadium. It is proposed that the existing fl oodlighting is completely replaced with fl oodlighting in accordance with British Standards. For rugby match days, 1000 lux is required for broadcasted matches and 500 lux for non broadcasted matches. Athletics events, whether on the track or in the relocated jumping area, would be 200 lux. Column mounted lanterns/fl oodlights would be of the fl at lens, asymmetric refl ector type for effi cient light control, and thus minimal light spillage and zero upward light distribution. Four 33m high columns are proposed for the pitch, with three supplementary fl oodlights under the East stand canopy, two 15m high columns are proposed for the athletics jumping fi eld (to be relocated to the north of the stadium), six 21m high fl oodlights are proposed for the main throwing area, and one 12m high column is proposed at the shot put area, to the east of the stadium.

Depending on available sunlight, fl oodlighting may be required for rugby matches and athletics training during the rugby season. The athletics summer season is unlikely to require use of fl oodlighting. Temporary car park lighting would be installed on rugby matchdays (and potentially for major athletics events) only. Local lighting is also proposed along other car parking areas and the access road through the site.

The fl oodlights will be equipped with asymmetric distribution refl ectors and metal halide lamps for good light control, energy effi ciency and colour rendering. The resulting levels of light spill have been assessed, and it is proposed that a curfew would be exercised to prohibit the use of the pitch and athletics fi eld area fl oodlights into late night hours.

jump) to the fi eld adjacent to the north of the stadium, use of an area within the southern ‘D’ of the track for high jump, and development of a new indoor training facility. During the athletics season (May – end August) and once the demountable stands (in use during the rugby season) have been removed, the full range of facilities would be available for use by athletics clubs and the community. This will ensure continued use of the stadium facilities by Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers (athletics club), the Barnet & District Athletics Club, by local schools and sports clubs, and for athletics events. In ‘athletics’ mode the stadium could accommodate up to 5,000 spectators, allowing the stadium to potentially host larger meetings than at present, although it is not possible at this stage to confi rm the precise number or extent. The combination of improved facilities and the provisions of a future Community Development Plan (to be agreed with LBB Council as part of a management agreement) is expected to promote greater use of the stadium by athletics clubs and events, local schools, educational establishments and the wider community during the (summer) athletics season.

Sustainability in the form of material selection and energy effi ciency will be an integral part in the design and construction of the proposed new East stand and the refurbishment of the West stand. By virtue of the need to heat, light and ventilate the proposed East stand and existing West stand would be likely to increase carbon emissions levels of the stadium. Techniques would be incorporated to reduce the energy demand, including motion sensors for lights, use of low water demand appliances and the enhancement of building insulation. However, the sporadic nature of the main use of the East stand means that many forms of renewable energy are not economically viable and so choices are limited. Renewable energy systems will be installed where economically viable and practical benefi ts are achieved. The most attractive of the proposed systems are the solar thermal and air source heat pump systems. As it is not possible at this stage in the project to predict the quantitative contributions from energy conservation and renewable energy technologies at reducing emissions by reducing and replacing energy use from fossil fuels, it is proposed that an Energy Strategy is prepared and agreed with the LBB Council in advance of the commencement of construction.

17. Climate Change

Comments

Saracens RFC would welcome any comments on the environmental aspects of the proposals, and these should be sent to:

Huw Williams, Chase & Partners, 20 Regent Street, London SW1Y 4PH telephone: 020 7389 9494, email: HuwWilliams@chaseandpartners.co.uk

Technical Summary is also available as a separate brochure, free of charge.

This ES is made available for viewing at the London Borough of Barnet Council offi ces, at: Barnet House, 1255 High Road, Whetstone, London N20 0EJ.

The ES will also be available to view online at www.barnet.gov.uk.

A charge of £150.00 for a hard copy of both ES volumes will be made to cover costs of reproduction, however a CD will be made available free of charge. This Non Technical Summary is also available as a separate brochure, free of charge.