MANCHESTER AIRPORT PROPOSED SECOND RUNWAY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SUMMARY OF PROJECT BRIEF, SCOPE AND CONTENT Manchester Airport PLC
July 1992
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report summarises the broad scope and content of the Environmental Assessment which is to be carried out in respect of the proposed second runway at Manchester Airport. It identifies the major environmental issues which are to be considered in relation to the significant effects of the development both during construction and in operation. 1.2 Environmental Assessment (EA) is the procedure of compiling, evaluating and presenting all the significant environmental effects of a proposed development. It will result in an Environmental Statement which will be submitted as part of the formal application for planning permission to develop a second runway at Manchester Airport. The assessment process is designed to help produce an environmentally sensitive project. Detection of potentially significant adverse environmental impacts will lead to the identification and evaluation of appropriate mitigating measures. 1.3 This report is not intended to provide a definitive framework for the Environmental Statement but does identify the likely key effects which will be the subject of detailed evaluation by specialist consultants. Once commissioned, the exact methodologies and the extent of detailed investigations will he determined by professional judgement and will vary from topic to topic. The nature and extent of the effects will be reviewed as project design progresses. 1.4 The contents of this report have been prepared by Manchester Airport PLC following close liaison with the Institute of Environmental Assessment. The content was derived from suggestions made by Cheshire County Council, Manchester City Council, Macclesfield Borough Council as well as the public consultation exercise on the Draft Development Strategy to 2005. The final draft of this report has been reviewed by Cobham Resource Consultants and Consultants in Environmental Sciences Ltd as managing consultants for the Environmental Assessment.
2. OUTLINE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
2.1 INTRODUCTION The following sections identify the key information which will be reviewed in the Assessment process and which will be presented in the Environmental Statement.
2.2 THE NEED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
2.2.1 The historic trends in demand for air travel. 2.2.2 The past, current and future growth and composition of air traffic in the North West, the UK and Europe. 2.2.3 The forecast growth in North Western and UK demand for air travel. This will cover factors such as liberalisation of licensing regimes and national and international forecasts. 2.2.4 An assessment of prospects for the economy in the North West and carriers influence on demand. 2.2.5 The present and future national and international role of Manchester Airport. 2.2.6 National and regional policy on airports and aviation. 2.2.7 An assessment of the existing economic value of Manchester Airport to the North Western economy, including the role of the airport in securing wider regional objectives. 2.2.8 An appraisal of the economic benefits to be derived from a second runway at Manchester Airport.
2.3 FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CHOICE OF MANCHESTER AIRPORT AS THE LOCATION FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY
2.3.1 Review of Government and CAA policy on the siting of airports. 2.3.2 Summary of existing airports in the North West region and their plans for expansion. Discussion of the degree to which airport expansion outside the region would meet the demands of the North West. 2.3.3 Regional Planning Guidance and Development Plans. 2.3.4 Description of the viability of development at Manchester Airport, a greenfield site or multiple sites within the North West region taking into account:
2.4 ALTERNATIVE SITES AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT
2.4.1 The history of development at Manchester Airport. 2.4.2 Description of the physical layout of the Airport. 2.4.3 Description of the technical and environmental constraints on the location of a second runway at Manchester Airport. 2.4.4 Description of the alternative sites proposed, with a summary of the major environmental issues-involved. This will cover:
2.4.5 Comparative environmental impacts of alternative configurations for the runway within the selected site. 2.5 EXISTING LAYOUT AND PROPOSED SECOND RUNWAY AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT
2.5.1 Description of operating practices. 2.5.2 Description of proposed runway, its design, configuration, operation and associated developments.
2.5.3 Statement of the capacity of the airport with a second runway and the two terminals.
2.6 IMPACT IDENTIFICATION
2.6.1 Identification of key effects considered significant and worthy of detailed study having regard to:
- government guidance on environmental assessment - the issues arising from public consultation on the Draft Development Strategy to 2005 - discussions with the local planning authorities and statutory authorities - responses to this report.
2.6.2 For each significant effect, a description of the approach to assessing current (baseline) conditions and future impacts and their significance. 2.7 NOISE Baseline conditions 2.7.1 Noise levels and performance of different aircraft according to ICAO classification. The legal basis for controls on aircraft noise. Existing aircraft noise levels in nearby communities for both day and night time periods. 2.7.2 An examination of the nature of noise disturbance. Analysis of the attitudes to the issue in the communities surrounding the airport. 2.7.3 Existing noise control measures including night jet restrictions, minimum noise routes, noise abatement take off procedures, noise related operational charges and the noise monitoring system. 2.7.4 Quantification of the impact of the existing noise climate on the neighbouring communities. 2.7.5 Assessment of the noise impact for the years 1995, 2000, 2005 for both the existing and proposed runway and initial assessment of the noise climate at ultimate runway capacity to show the worst case situation. Impact magnitude 2.7.6 Assuming unconstrained demand, a quantification of noise and comparison with existing conditions. 2.7.7 Quantification of the noise generated by the construction process derived from published figures for the type of machinery to be used. Impact significance 2.7.8 The areas, number and type of properties subject to significant changes in noise levels.
2.8. TRAFFIC Baseline conditions 2.8.1 Description of the road links currently affected by airport traffic including their character, capacity and accident records. Existing two-way flows on these links. 2.8.2 Description of the anticipated changes to the road network over the period to 2005 and the growth in flows over that period. 2.8.3 Existing and planned car parking facilities. 2.8.4 The present and planned provision and use of public transport. Impact magnitude 2.8.5 Prediction of the traffic generated by the airport up to the point at which terminal capacity constrains throughput derived from an estimate of passenger numbers and the predicted split between road traffic and public transport. 2.8.6 Comparison of the predicted traffic flows with road capacities. 2.8.7 For those roads with significantly increased flows due to airport traffic, quantification of the impacts in terms of noise, severance, pedestrian conflict and highway capacity and safety. Impact significance 2.8.8 Identification of increased delay times on congested links/junctions due to airport traffic. Identification of numbers and type of properties affected by changes in traffic noise levels. 2.9 ECOLOGY Baseline conditions 2.9.1 Identification and description of all sites formally designated for their nature conservation interest in the vicinity of the airport. 2.9.2 A habitat survey of land and water within and adjacent to the site, including the River Bollin corridor and a more detailed survey of semi-natural habitats. 2.9.3 Collation and review of information on the presence of specially protected flora and fauna. Impact magnitude 2.9.4 Assessment of the effects on habitats and species during construction and operation and identification of mitigation measures (including habitat creation). Impact significance 2.9.5 Assessment of the impacts on habitats and the assemblage of species in a national, regional and local context.
2.10 WATER Baseline conditions 2.10.1 Description of the existing airport drainage system including details of quantities, existing treatment and proposed additional treatments. Description of flow rates in the receiving water courses including details of annual variations and flood return periods. Impact magnitude 2.10.2 Prediction of run-off from the new runway and associated hardstandings. Identification of the effect on watercourses and ground-water levels. 2.10.3 Prediction of the quality of run-off and specification of measures to deal with contaminants. Comparison to runoff from the existing runway. Impact significance 2.10.4 Summary of the changes in run-off and water quality, having regard to the mitigating measures and identification of residual impacts.
2.11 AIR Baseline conditions 2.11.1 Description of the existing levels of air pollutants (including sulphur and nitrogen oxides) around the airport. Impact magnitude 2.11.2 Estimation of increases m emissions from increased traffic flows, aircraft movements and maintenance procedures. Identification of mitigation measures and their effect. Impact significance 2.11.3 Comparison of the changes in air quality with the appropriate standards.
2.12 LANDSCAPE
Baseline conditions 2.12.1 Description of the site and its surroundings by reference to its character, attractive features, detractors, and views. Impact magnitude 2.12.2 Identification of the potentially visually sensitive locations. Description of the impact of night lighting of the runway. 2.12.3 Description of mitigating measures and proposed landscaping and planting. Impact significance 2.12.4 Objective description of the visual impact.
2.13 LAND USE
Baseline conditions 2.13.1 Description of land use on and around the proposed location for the second runway by reference to:
2.13.2 Description of public access in terms of roads, bridleways, and footpaths etc. 2.13.4 A survey of features of archaeological or historic interest, including listed buildings. Impact identification and significance 2.13.5 Description of the impact on farming and farm units. 2.13.6 Identification of the numbers and nature of properties which will require demolition. 2.13.7 Description of the impact on recreational and amenity land. 2.13.8 Discussion of possible sterilisation of mineral deposits in the development area. 2.13.9 Identification of the need to stop up or divert any roads or rights of way. 2.13.10 Description of the importance in architectural or historical terms of any archaeological features or listed buildings which will be directly affected.
2.14 HAZARD ASSESSMENT
2.14.1 Description of hazards in terms of their probability, their potential environmental impacts, including air safety, and preventative/mitigating measures to be taken.
2.15 MITIGATION AND MONITORING
2.15.1 A summary of all mitigation measures and the residual effects. 2.15.2 A proposed monitoring programme summarising the frequency of reporting and the availability of data to the public. The monitoring programme will include noise, semi-natural habitats and new habitats, water and air quality, and traffic and public transport.
MANCHESTER AIRPORT RUNWAY 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT "SCOPING" REPORT CIRCULATION Appendix 1 Category 1 - Statutory Consultees Macclesfield Borough Council Manchester City Council Cheshire County Council Countryside Commission English Nature Department of Transport National Rivers Authority Ministry of Agriculture Category 2 - Parish Councils and adjacent authorities Ashley Parish Council Leigh Parish council Mobberley Parish Council Mere Parish Council Pickmere Parish Council Ollerton with Marthall Parish Council Plumley with Toft and Bexton Parish Council Ringway Parish Council Rostherne Parish council Knutsford Town Council Vale Royal District Council High Peak Borough Council Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council AGMA Secretariat Derbyshire County Council Peak Park Joint Planning Board Category 3 - Other statutory agencies, local authority bodies, utilities and voluntary organisations Department of the Environment (Regional Office) Department of Energy (Pipeline Section) Department of Trade and Industry (Regional Office) Department of Transport (Aviation Section) British Tourist Authority English Tourist Board North West Tourist Board Wales Tourist Board Civil Aviation Authority English Heritage GM Countryside-Unit Bollin Valley Project GM Emergency Planning Unit GM Passenger Transport Executive GM Research and Planning Unit British Telecom PLC Mercury Communications PLC British Gas PLC National Grid PLC MANWEB NORWEB North West Water PLC British Pipeline Agency Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society Knutsford Civil Society Mobberley Village society Styal Village Association Council for the Protection of Rural England Cheshire Wildlife Trust Lancashire Trust for Nature Conservation Manchester Wildlife Trust Wilmslow Trust RSPB Ramblers Association Peak and Northern Footpath Society Country Landowners Association National Farmers Union National Trust Manchester Airport AOC Airport Transport Users Committee Airfields Environmental Federation Flight Safety Committee IATA Consultative Committee for Manchester Airport Greater Manchester Transport Action Group CBI Northern Region North West Business Leadership Team Inward Manchester Chamber of Commerce