BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2. Environmental Statement Volume 6. Outline and Detailed Planning Applications - July Non-Technical Summary

Transcription

1 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Outline and Detailed Planning Applications - July 2013 Environmental Statement Volume 6 Non-Technical Summary

2

3 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6 BSkyB Proposed Development Campus Development [OPA] and Phase 2 [DPA] Applicant British Sky Broadcasting Ltd Design Team AL_A Design and Architectural Services Arup Building Engineering Services and Transport Capita Symonds Landscape Consultant Project Team Arup Environmental Impact Assessment Cityscape Digital Ltd AVR Consultant for Verified Views Davis Langdon Cost Consultant DP9 Planning Consultant Herbert Smith Freehills LLP Legal Services icube Transport Strategy RPM Programme and Procurement Consultant Stanhope Development Management Tavernor Consultancy Townscape Consultant JULY 2013

4 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6 This page is intentionally left blank JULY 2013

5 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6 BSkyB Campus Development Outline Planning Application Documents Suite Planning Statement DP9 Statement of Community Involvement Compliance Report DP9 Design and Access Statement AL_A Design Code AL_A Drawings For Approval Set and Illustrative Set AL_A Green Infrastructure Strategy Arboricultural Report Capita Symonds Transport Assessment Arup / icube Outline Energy Statement Arup Outline Sustainability Statement Arup Environmental Statement Volume 1 Environmental Impact Assessment and Appendices 1-4 Arup Environmental Statement Volume 2 Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Tavernor Consultancy / Cityscape Digital LTD Environmental Statement Volume 3 Appendices 5-18 Arup Environmental Statement Volume 4 Appendix 19 Arup Environmental Statement Volume 5 Appendices Arup Environmental Statement Volume 6 Non-Technical Summary Arup BSkyB Campus Development - Phase 2 Detailed Planning Application Documents Suite Planning Statement DP9 Statement of Community Involvement Compliance Report DP9 Design and Access Statement AL_A Drawings For Approval Set AL_A Green Infrastructure Strategy Arboricultural Report Capita Symonds Transport Assessment Arup / icube Energy Statement Arup Sustainability Statement Arup Environmental Statement Volume 1 Environmental Impact Assessment and Appendices 1-4 Arup Environmental Statement Volume 2 Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Tavernor Consultancy / Cityscape Digital LTD Environmental Statement Volume 3 Appendices 5-18 Arup Environmental Statement Volume 4 Appendix 19 Arup Environmental Statement Volume 5 Appendices Arup Environmental Statement Volume 6 Non-Technical Summary Arup JULY 2013

6 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6 This page is intentionally left blank JULY 2013

7 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary Contents Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Air quality 9 3 Cultural heritage 11 4 Ecology and biodiversity 13 5 Environmental wind 15 6 Ground conditions and contamination 17 7 Noise and vibration 19 8 Socio-economics 21 9 Townscape and visual impact Traffic and transport Waste Water resources Further information 31 Figures Figure 1: The Environmental Impact Assessment process 1 Figure 2: Site location 3 Figure 3: Proposed landscaping for Phase 2 5 Figure 4: Proposed landscaping for Campus Development 6 Figure 5: Large low-rise landscraper typology scheme 7 Figure 6: Map extract showing key historical features from Figure 7: An example of an insect hotel 13 Figure 8: Temporary and permanent areas of windiness in proposed development without mitigation 15 Figure 9: Car wash area with a potential for contamination. 17 Figure 10: Storage of miscellaneous items (paints, refrigerators, etc.) with a potential for contamination. 17 Figure 11: Noise monitoring locations 19 Figure 12: Sky Studios building on the Sky campus 21 JULY 2013

8

9 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary 1 Introduction British Sky Broadcasting Limited ( BSkyB ) has submitted two applications for planning permission to the London Borough of Hounslow Council for development of its campus in Osterley: a full planning application covering construction of a building known as Building 02, a new Energy Centre and landscaping on the north-western part of the BSkyB campus, which is referred to as Phase 2 an outline planning application for demolition of existing buildings and structures and the construction of a media broadcasting and production campus covering much of the existing BSkyB Campus, which is referred to as the Campus Development The proposed development is known as the BSkyB Campus Development and Phase This document forms the Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Statement that has been prepared to accompany the planning applications. 1.2 The Environmental Statement The Environmental Statement comprises: Volume 1, which contains an introduction to the Environmental Statement and the Environmental Impact Assessment process, and the majority of the environmental assessments Volume 2, which contains the Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Volumes 3-5, the Environmental Statement Appendices this volume, Volume 6, the Non-Technical Summary The Environmental Statement has been prepared by Ove Arup & Partners Ltd with the exception of the Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, which has been prepared by The Professor Robert Tavernor Consultancy Ltd with Accurate Visual Representations by Cityscape Digital Ltd This Environmental Statement has been prepared in accordance with relevant legislation, including the Town and Country (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011, and relevant guidance Sustainability Statements and an Energy Statements have also been prepared in support of the planning applications. These have been included as appendices to Volume 1 of this Environmental Statement. 1.3 Environmental Impact Assessment The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process has been carried out in a series of stages. An outline of the process is included as Figure 1. Figure 1: The Environmental Impact Assessment process A scoping exercise was undertaken for the proposed development. A Scoping Report, setting out the proposed scope of the ES, was prepared and submitted to the London Borough of Hounslow Council on 24 May 2013 with a request for comments from the Council and statutory consultees On 9 July 2013, the Council responded with a scoping opinion. This suggested changes to the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment which have been taken into consideration in the preparation of the Environmental Statement In addition to the scoping process, consultation has been undertaken with a range of consultees regarding baseline data gathering, assessment methodologies and formulation of mitigation An understanding of the current environmental conditions on and surrounding the site has been obtained through the gathering of data from: site survey information collected between June 2011 and June 2013 photographs, plans and elevations of the existing BSkyB campus published documentary information on environmental designations and constraints in the vicinity of the site environmental data provided by consultees This has provided a thorough understanding of current environmental conditions, termed the baseline. JULY

10 BSkyB Campus Development Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary The likely significant environmental effects from the construction and operation of the proposed development have been assessed using, where possible, standard methodologies and significance criteria. Where these do not exist, professional judgement and experience of similar projects have been used to assess the effects on the environment An assessment has also been made of the effects that would arise from the combination of the proposed development and other developments not yet constructed or currently under construction in the vicinity, termed the cumulative effects Where likely significant adverse effects have been identified during the assessment, measures have been proposed, where practicable, to avoid, reduce or remedy the adverse environmental effects as far as possible. These are termed mitigation measures Measures to enhance beneficial environmental effects have also been proposed where appropriate The Environmental Impact Assessment has been undertaken as an iterative process with environmental specialists providing feedback to the design process. The proposed development reflects the final design solution, incorporating mitigation and enhancement measures Residual effects are those effects that would remain after mitigation and enhancement measures have been fully implemented. These have been assessed using the same methodologies used in the main assessment. 1.4 The site and surrounds The site The site occupies an area of approximately 13 hectares in Osterley within the London Borough of Hounslow, 12 kilometres west of Central London, as shown in Figure The site is bounded to the west by Metropolitan Open Land, that is in use as playing fields for the Grasshoppers Rugby Club. To the south and south-west lies Syon Lane and a Tesco Superstore. Land in the ownership of Bonnington s, including the Gillette Building, bounds the site on the south-east. Further to the east lie storage and industrial units of the West Cross Centre. To the north and north-east, the site is bounded by the Brentford Branch Line railway The site is accessed from the A4 Great West Road, via the B454 Syon Lane, and then Grant Way, which runs through the site to the site of the former Harrods distribution warehouse. There is also access from Harlequin Avenue on the eastern side of the site The buildings currently on the site are: Sky 1 Sky 2 Sky 3 Sky 4 Sky 6 Sky 7 Sky 8 Sky 12 Athena Court the Combined Cooling Heating and Power (CCHP) plant The buildings accommodate studios and associated technical space, office space and storage space and range in height from one to three storeys Areas of parking and landscaping areas are also located on the site The site is generally level, with the land dropping away gently to the north. Surrounds Immediately to the east of the site lies the Sky Studios building. This forms part of the Sky Campus but is not within the site boundary for the proposed development The under construction Sky Meeting Centre also lies within the BSkyB Campus, however it has been excluded from the site that is the subject of these planning applications The total BSkyB Campus, including Sky Studios and the under construction Sky Meeting Centre covers an area of 14.2 hectares The site lies within an area of mainly light industrial and office development, which is bounded on two sides by the M4 motorway and the A4 Great West Road respectively. As well as the existing BSkyB Campus, this area includes the office park known as New Horizons Court, industrial and warehouse units along Amalgamated Drive and Shield Drive and a waste transfer station accessed off Transport Avenue. The waste transfer station is separated from the site by a railhead which formed part of the Brentford Branch Line of the Great Western Line railway To the east of the waste transfer station lies the River Brent which in this stretch is part of the Grand Union Canal. There is a towpath on the west side of the canal to the south and the east side to the north. These are linked by a pedestrian bridge called Gallows Bridge, approximately 170m from the northernmost point of the site On the other side of the Grand Union Canal, due east of the site, lies Boston Manor Park and the adjacent headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline. North of the site across the canal lies some playing fields and the residential area of Boston Manor. Boston Manor London Underground Station, on the Piccadilly Line, is in this neighbourhood To the west of the site is a large area of Metropolitan Open Land known as Osterley Park and Surrounding Areas To the west and south of the site lie mainly suburban residential neighbourhoods. Closest to the site is the neighbourhood of Osterley, 120m to the south-west at its closest point on Oaklands Avenue Syon Lane mainline station, on the Waterloo to Hounslow line, is 500m south of the site. Osterley Station, on the London Underground Piccadilly Line, is 1.5km to the west. Boston Manor Station, also on the Piccadilly Line, lies approximately 700m to the north of the site, but there is no direct connection from the site to this station Immediately south of the site, off Syon Lane, is a Tesco superstore with surrounding areas of car parking. The stretch of the A4 Great West Road to the south and south-east of the site is known as the Golden Mile. Several factories of architectural merit were built along the road following its opening in Many examples of the Art Deco architecture remain, including the Grade II listed Gillette Building close to the site Further to the south of the site lies Syon Park The River Thames lies to the south-east of the site, approximately 1.7km distant Administratively, the boundary of the London Borough of Ealing is less than 500m to the north of the site, while the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames boundary is located approximately 1.7km to the south-east across the River Thames Heathrow Airport is located a little over 6km west of the site. 2 JULY 2013

11 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary Figure 2: Site location 1.5 The proposed development As mentioned, BSkyB is proposing comprehensive development of its campus and adjacent areas in Osterley. The proposed development would see the construction of a media campus, providing offices, studios and associated technical spaces, a Centralised Logistics Facility, an Energy Centre and associated car parking for the quantum of the entire BSkyB Campus The proposed development is the subject of two planning applications: Phase 2 covers Building 02, a new Energy Centre and landscaping in the north-west of the site. Campus Development refers to the demolition of the existing buildings and structures and the construction of a media broadcast campus covering the remainder of the site The proposed layout and landscaping arrangements for the proposed development are shown in Figure 3 and Figure Building heights would range from around 18m to around 30m in height above ground level. All of the buildings would be below the height of Sky Studios, adjacent to the site. Building 02 would also be below the height of the former Harrods distribution warehouse which previously occupied the site The above-mentioned heights include an allowance for plant on the roofs of the buildings, but Building 02 and development parcel D may also have satellite infrastructure on the roofs. The maximum permitted building heights for these buildings are 22m and 40m above ground level respectively, which includes the allowance for this infrastructure Vehicular access to the site would remain as current, via Grant Way and Harlequin Avenue. Security checkpoints would be put in place to restrict access for security reasons and to provide pedestrian- and cycle-friendly shared surfaces within the site A new publicly accessible vehicular through-route, referred to as the Link Road, would be created from Grant Way to Harlequin Avenue A main pedestrian route would be laid out from the southern access point to the northern part of the site, connecting Grant Way with the new Link Road, Building 02 and the Sky Meeting Centre. Other routes would also be laid out providing further circulation around the site and access to all buildings In many cases, pedestrians, cycles and internal site vehicles would share routes, and suitably designed shared surfaces would be provided to ensure the safety and comfort of all users. JULY

12 BSkyB Campus Development Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary Up to 1,750 parking spaces are included as part of the proposed development and will serve the entirety of the BSkyB Campus, including Sky Studios and Building 02. These would replace the current multi-storey, surface and on-street parking currently used by BSkyB. Four areas of parking are proposed, including areas of multi-storey parking Landscaping would be a key element providing different zones within the proposed development. There would be a continuous ecological corridor along on the north, west and south-west boundaries of the site. This would form an extension to the off-site habitat areas including the Green Chain to the north of the site There would also be a recreation area included to the west of Building The primary open space would extend to the east of Building 02 and from Syon Lane to the Grant Way roundabout, along the new proposed road from Grant Way to Harlequin Avenue. It would be mainly hard surfaced but would feature trees There would be two ponds to the north-west of the site for drainage purposes, surrounded by a landscape compromising primarily soft landscaping and informal planting. The ponds would incorporate a permanent water body element and an attenuation element This landscape would also extend around the proposed Energy Centre in conjunction with the existing Combined Cooling and Heating Power plant and generator buildings to the north of the site A Tree and Planting Strategy has been developed. During the works some low quality trees would be removed where necessary, mainly in the northern and western boundaries of the site, to allow for construction. A number of the trees currently on the site would be retained and carefully protected during construction works. New trees would be provided across the proposed development in the western part of the site As well as amenity benefits, the landscape also enhances biodiversity. The use of native species and the layout of the open space provide potential for creating vibrant habitats on the site. In addition to this, two development parcels (G and H) have been identified as being potentially suitable for green or brown roofs in addition to photovoltaic cells The proposed development would be served by the Combined Cooling, Heating and Power plant adjacent to the northeastern boundary of the site. It is proposed to construct an Energy Centre as part of Phase 2 to complement this in serving the proposed development. This would require the construction of a new boiler house adjacent to the Combined Cooling, Heating and Power plant. The Energy Centre would be used intermittently during winter to meet peak heat loads and at times where the Combined Cooling, Heating and Power plant is offline for maintenance or repair It is proposed to install photovoltaic panels on buildings in the proposed development for the generation of electricity. A minimum of 15% of the roof area would be used for this purpose A number of features are proposed on the site to reduce runoff and the risk of flooding. These include: permeable pavements underground retention tanks grassed swales Other infrastructure, for foul water, potable water, gas supply, electrical supply and telecommunications would also be constructed as part of the proposed development. All works relating to these would be contained within the site External deliveries to the site would primarily be to a Centralised Logistics Facility located in the north-east corner of the site. Here, arriving vehicles would unload their goods for distribution around the site via a fleet of electric vehicles. These vehicles would be able to use the internal road network to access the buildings, which would each have a loading area where deliveries are made Deliveries leaving the site would also pass through the Centralised Logistics Facility where appropriate A central waste storage and processing area would also be provided for the proposed development as part of the Centralised Logistics Facility to ensure efficient waste handling and aid in recycling The proposed development is likely to be constructed sequentially over a ten-year period, commencing in 2014 through to the completion of the proposed development in Phase 2 in the north-western corner would comprise the first phase of the proposed development. No formal phasing is proposed to follow this, but the sequence is likely to see car parking within Parcel C and the Centralised Logistics Facility following this and subsequently parcels in the central eastern, western, northern and southern parts of the site respectively Details of construction methods and materials have yet to be decided, but assumptions have been made in the assessment process regarding the likely construction arrangements It is likely that construction traffic would use Grant Way and Harlequin Avenue to access the site, but typically not using both at the same time depending on the part of the site where construction is taking place Due to the proposed phased nature of the construction, peak vehicle flows are likely to occur during the second quarter of 2017 and the second quarter of It is anticipated that the core working hours for demolition and construction would be set as follows: 08:00 18:00 hours weekdays 08:00 13:00 hours Saturday By advance agreement these hours may be subject to variation but only by prior application and approval of the Council It is proposed to demolish all structures present on the site with the exception of the combined cooling and heating power plant and generators along the northern boundary of the site, Sky Studios and the under construction Meeting Centre which are outside of the site boundary. Demolition would be undertaken using mechanical plant, such as breakers, and craneage Earthworks would be required on the site to achieve the proposed levels. This is likely to generate a surplus of material which would be required to be taken off-site for disposal or reuse on another construction site. Earthworks would be undertaken using excavators and rollers New foundations would be constructed for the proposed buildings. The buildings are likely to then be constructed using fixed tower cranes, concrete pumps, external scaffolds, compressors and air tools Above-ground, the buildings are likely to comprise reinforced concrete or steel frames subject to design development A wheel-wash would be sited adjacent to the site exit for the duration of the demolition and structural works in order to ensure vehicles are free from mud before accessing the public highway. This would be re-located subject to the various phases of the development. 4 JULY 2013

13 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary Figure 3: Proposed landscaping for Phase 2 JULY

14 BSkyB Campus Development Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary Figure 4: Proposed landscaping for Campus Development 6 JULY 2013

15 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary 1.6 Consideration of alternatives No alternative sites were considered for the proposed development due to the preeminent suitability of the present location, already in BSkyB ownership, to accommodate the proposed development A masterplan for the site was drawn up by Arup Associates and granted consent on 23 April This masterplan contained less floor area than the proposed development, but on a smaller site From this masterplan, the studio building in Sky East, Harlequin One (now called Sky Studios), was completed in Following the acquisition of the Harrods site and future expansion of Sky s business beyond that expected in 2007, it was decided that the existing masterplan should be reviewed and a new campus development designed The new masterplan was drawn up by architects AL_A and granted consent on 21 August This masterplan contained more floorspace than the currently proposed development Following a review of BSkyB s existing facilities and projected business targets, it was decided that this masterplan also needed to be revised to accommodate a more flexible campus to serve a variety of functions within a shared space The design team for the proposed development modelled a series of differing scales and layouts within the site boundaries, with the aim of producing a design that provided a sufficient amount of floor area for the anticipated growth of BSkyB s business These options included a large footprint landscraper scheme and two additional schemes which broke-down the large scale building lengths into more manageable parcels These schemes also explored the rationalisation of the buildings structural grids to maximise the efficiency of the roof and façade structures The conclusions of the studies recommended: the removal of the loop road to extend the green space linked to the adjacent Metropolitan Open Land to the west of the site maintain a link road between Grant Way and Harlequin Avenue to concentrate deliveries via Harlequin Avenue to concentrate pedestrian activity via Grant Way to create larger landscape courtyards for external amenity and public realm space by reducing the footprint of buildings to connect external landscape spaces to internal staff amenity spaces, therefore improving visibility and creating alternative forms of meeting spaces to concentrate higher buildings towards the centre of the site and keep all building heights below that of Sky Studios In December 2012 BSkyB received planning permission for the erection of the new building adjacent to Sky Studios known as the Sky Meeting Centre. The application included the erection of a single office building, associated landscaping and bicycle parking. This is currently being constructed and is due for completion in spring Figure 5: Large low-rise landscraper typology scheme JULY

16

17 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary 2 Air quality 2.1 Introduction The proposed development would have effects on local air quality during its construction and operation. 2.2 Assessment Construction activities have the potential to cause dust nuisance given the likely scale of construction works and the proximity to receptors. Traffic would be attracted to the site which would have potential effects on local air quality at receptors during the operation of the proposed development. The operation of the Energy Centre would give rise to pollutant emissions which would have the potential to affect local air quality Baseline (existing) air quality conditions were established using the following resources: London Borough of Hounslow s and London Borough of Ealing s air quality review and assessment documents the UK Air Information Resource website the London Air Quality Network website the Environment Agency website The assessment of construction effects involved a review of proposed construction methods to identify potentially adverse effects at nearby sensitive receptors. The assessment followed the qualitative approach detailed in guidance set out by the Institute of Air Quality Management The assessment of operational traffic effects was undertaken in relation to two key traffic-related air pollutants namely nitrogen dioxide and fine particles. An atmospheric dispersion model was used to predict air pollutant concentrations at sensitive receptors for the year when the development is anticipated to be completed without and with the proposed development in place The effect of air emissions from the Energy Centre upon local air quality have been assessed using an atmospheric dispersion model to predict concentrations of nitrogen dioxide at specified receptor points as well as over a wide area surrounding the plant The significance of effects of predicted pollutant concentrations was assessed in accordance with guidance from the London Councils and Environmental Protection UK. 2.3 Existing conditions London Borough of Hounslow has declared the whole borough an Air Quality Management Area for nitrogen dioxide. The neighbouring London Borough of Ealing has declared the whole borough as an Air Quality Management Area for nitrogen dioxide and fine particles Air quality monitoring data showed that the long-term national air quality objective and the EU limit value for nitrogen dioxide is widely exceeded at roadside locations across the London Borough of Hounslow and the London Borough of Ealing The main sources of air pollutants in the vicinity of the site are industrial and road traffic emissions. Industrial air pollution sources are regulated through a system of operating permits or authorisations, requiring stringent emission limits to be met and ensuring that any releases are minimised or rendered harmless. Vehicle emissions are likely to be the dominant source of air pollutants in the vicinity of the proposed development. 2.4 Likely effects on the environment The construction effects of the proposed development on local air quality would be primarily caused by events where dust may arise during construction activities. The assessment identified the development as a high risk site in terms of its potential to give rise to air quality effects during construction. This rating is based on the dust generating activities taking place and their proximity to sensitive receptors. Taking into consideration the sensitivity of the surrounding area, construction effects would be slight adverse at worst Assessment of effect of traffic emissions upon local air quality during operation of the proposed development showed that the magnitude of effect is, at worst, an imperceptible increase in nitrogen dioxide and fine particle concentrations. The significance of this increase is negligible at all receptors in the vicinity of the development site Assessment of effects of Energy Centre emissions upon local air quality showed that the effect is negligible especially when considering that the assessment assumed that the Centre would be operating 100% of the time. The Energy Centre would in reality only operate approximately 25% of the time. 2.5 Mitigation and residual effects The effects of dust emissions during construction would be greatly reduced or eliminated by applying the site-specific mitigation measures for high risk sites recommended in the Institute of Air Quality Management guidance. These measures are related to site activities, site planning, construction traffic and demolition works With these measures in place, construction activities would be controlled to reduce as far as possible the potential environmental effects, therefore limiting residual effects to negligible at worst Given that only negligible effects on local air quality have been predicted due to the operational traffic and emissions from the Energy Centre, no air quality specific mitigation measures have been proposed. Therefore, no residual effects are predicted. JULY

18

19 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary 3 Cultural heritage 3.1 Introduction The assessment of the likely significant effects of the proposed development considers the effect of construction and permanent works on cultural heritage assets, both on-site and in the immediate vicinity. Cultural heritage assets include both known and potential below-ground archaeological deposits and remains, built heritage (e.g. listed buildings) and historic landscapes. 3.2 Assessment The methodology for the assessment of cultural heritage consists of the following components: desk top assessment of documentary, cartographic and archaeological data sources consultation with the relevant statutory consultees to obtain cultural heritage data for the study area an archaeological walkover survey from publicly accessible land and BSkyB property The techniques employed throughout the assessment are based on standard guidance supplemented by professional judgement. 3.3 Existing conditions The site has a long history of human occupation beginning in Britain s ancient past. The area is rich in evidence of human presence in the prehistoric period in the form of flint tools and animal remains Settlements in the area began to grow and expand during the medieval period with the establishment of the nearby historic landscapes of Osterley House and Park and Syon Abbey and Park The area underwent significant change during the industrial and modern periods with the construction of the Grand Union Canal and the many railways of the region. The modern period marked the introduction of a number of large scale industries into the region, with many of the early factory and industrial buildings listed for their architectural and historical significance Centaurs Business Park was constructed on the site between 1983 and Sky Television was launched in 1989 from building Sky 8 on site and BSkyB continued to acquire other buildings within the site to convert to their use over the following two decades The site lies within an Archaeological Priority Area of the London Borough of Hounslow. There are no Scheduled Monuments or listed buildings within the site area itself, although there are a number of identified statutorily designated buildings, historic landscapes and conservation areas in close proximity to the site, these include: the Grade II listed Gillette Factory building the Grade II listed National Westminster Bank building the Grade II listed Firestone factory the Grade I registered landscape of Syon Park the Isleworth Riverside Conservation Area. Figure 6: Map extract showing key historical features from Likely effects on the environment Earthworks for the construction of basements, ground levelling and foundations may truncate or remove deposits of potential archaeological or geo-archaeological interest in development parcels C and H, which has not been subject to a previous archaeological investigation. The resultant effect upon the potential below ground archaeological assets is assessed as being a moderate, direct, permanent, adverse effect The presence of heavy machinery and increased noise and vibration during construction phases may impact upon a number of heritage assets in proximity to the site through a change in setting or through an impact to the fabric of the heritage assets Assets experiencing a minor impact on their setting during construction due to close proximity and clear visibility to the site comprise the Grade II listed Gillette Factory building, the Grade II listed National Westminster Bank building, the Grade II listed Sports Pavilion and Clubhouse, the Grade II listed Gallows Bridge over the Grand Union Canal Assets experiencing a neutral to minor impact upon their setting during construction include those located further from the site and with limited visibility. The Grade I registered landscape of Syon Park, the Isleworth Riverside Conservation Area and the Grade II* registered landscape of Osterley Park would experience a neutral impact. Both high value assets are located at some distance from the site and have little to no visibility into the site There would be no operational effects upon the potential below ground archaeological assets arising from the operation of the proposed development as no further below ground excavations would be undertaken as part of the operation of the proposed development Operational effects upon identified heritage assets arising from the proposed development would comprise effects upon setting due to the presence of new buildings. However, the context of the site itself has been one of intense industrial development throughout the twentieth century and it is considered that the overall heritage context of the area would not be altered by the proposed development. The cultural heritage assets are assessed as experiencing a neutral to slight adverse effect upon their setting as a result size and scale of the proposed development. 3.5 Mitigation and residual effects The development and implementation of a programme of archaeological investigation is based on the known or suspected archaeological resource. The process of archaeological mitigation typically comprises a staged programme of works with the results of each stage informing the scope of the following stage if required. The design of the mitigation would consider both the permanent works and the temporary works associated with construction. The proposed programme of works would be agreed in consultation with the English Heritage advisor for London Borough of Hounslow Through the implementation of a programme of archaeological works in development parcels C and H, the adverse effects upon the below ground archaeological assets would be reduced due to the resultant contribution to the improved understanding of the archaeological potential and resource of the area. Mitigation of effects upon the setting of heritage assets would be through the use of appropriate screening, hoarding and following industry best practice construction standards regarding noise and working hours. The residual effects from construction upon the identified cultural heritage assets and potential below ground archaeological resource would be neutral to slight adverse effects No mitigation measures relating to effects upon the setting of heritage assets arising from the operation of the proposed development have been proposed. The residual effects from operation upon the identified cultural heritage assets would remain as neutral to slight adverse effects. JULY

20

21 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary 4 Ecology and biodiversity 4.1 Introduction This ecological impact assessment assesses the likely significant impacts of the proposed development on the ecology and nature conservation interests of the site and surrounding area, with particular reference to any species or habitat resources that are protected under national and international legislation. 4.2 Assessment This assessment has been undertaken using the following baseline data collection methodology: desk study within 2 kilometres of the site using online research tools and data from Green Space Information for Greater London site surveys involving habitat surveys, bat and reptile surveys; all surveys were undertaken using recognised guidance and methodologies The assessment methodology follows guidelines developed by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. 4.3 Existing conditions There are no sites designated for nature conservation on or adjacent to the site. However, there are four locally designated sites within 300 metres of the site, including the London Canals Site of Metropolitan Importance and Wyke Green Golf Course Site of Borough Importance The majority of the site is covered by modern buildings with associated hardstanding areas comprising roadways, parking areas and goods delivery areas. These are of no intrinsic value to nature conservation. Trees of local value border the site to the north and are also scattered throughout the site. Within the site there are small areas of amenity grassland, introduced shrubs and scrub which are of site value Bats may occasionally forage on or commute through the site; this is considered to be of local value. Vegetation on-site supports small numbers of nesting and sheltering birds of local value. Reptiles are known to be present in the surrounding area but no reptiles have been recorded on or adjacent to the site. Vegetation is likely to support common invertebrate species groups of site value. 4.4 Likely effects on the environment No significant effects on any sites designated for nature conservation have been identified Site clearance would result in the loss of an area of trees and scrub, and small areas of amenity grassland. This habitat loss is small relative to the extent of similar habitat in the wider area. Habitat would be created at the end of each stage of the proposed development. A habitat corridor comprising wildflower grassland and native trees would be created along the northern and western boundaries, and native trees would be scattered throughout the site. Green roofs may also be provided, creating species-rich grassland or ephemeral short perennial habitat. Overall, there would be a significant beneficial effect on the grassland and trees at the local level. Scrub is not proposed within the final planting scheme and the loss of the existing scrub would be a significant adverse impact at the site level. Allotments would provide a site level beneficial impact. Ponds and reed beds would be created resulting in a significant beneficial impact at the local level While the habitat creation would benefit birds and bats, no significant impact on their populations is anticipated. However, invertebrate numbers and species groups would be greater resulting in a significant beneficial impact at the local level Some displacement of birds and bats is likely as a result of lighting during construction and operation but this is unlikely to result in significant changes to their populations. Similarly, birds may be displaced by construction noise and human activity, but populations would be maintained with no significant impact predicted Although there are no likely significant impacts on birds, and reptiles are currently absent from the site, these species are protected by legislation. Where birds are killed or injured, this would result in an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act Therefore, there is a risk of an offence being committed during site clearance. Reptiles are also protected against killing and injuring under this act. If present in future, site clearance and on-going construction activities could result in an offence being committed. This would be a significant negative impact No significant cumulative impacts were identified as a result of the construction of the Gillette Building at the same time as the proposed development. 4.5 Mitigation and residual effects Areas of scrub would be added to the planting plan. This would reduce the significant adverse impact to a negligible and not significant impact During construction, lighting should be capped, cowled and directional to minimise light spill and disturbance to birds and bats. This would be detailed in the Construction Environmental Management Plan To ensure legislative compliance, disturbance to breeding birds would be avoided by conducting all vegetation clearance outside of the bird breeding season or under an ecological watching brief. Site personnel would be briefed so that they are aware of basic reptile identification. Advice of an ecologist would be sought if reptiles were identified on site. The residual impact would not be significant Human disturbance to biodiversity during the operational phase would be mitigated for by the identification of areas free from human disturbance During the detailed design of the development, an ecological consultant would be appointed to provide further advice on habitat creation and connectivity. To ensure that the benefits to biodiversity are maximised in the long-term, an ecological management strategy would be prepared Additional features to enhance and benefit general biodiversity have also been proposed and comprise: log piles and Victorian stumperies. insect hotels and boxes (see Figure 7). bat/bird boxes The residual impacts during construction and operation on designated sites would be negligible and not significant. Impacts on habitats would be beneficial at the site and local levels. Impacts on birds and bats would be negligible and not significant. Impact on invertebrates would be beneficial at the local level. Figure 7: An example of an insect hotel JULY

22

23 BSkyB Campus Development and Phase 2 Environmental Statement Volume 6: Non-Technical Summary 5 Environmental wind 5.1 Introduction A qualitative assessment of the wind conditions and resulting pedestrian comfort and safety around the proposed development was undertaken. 5.2 Assessment The assessment has been carried out based on extensive experience of scale-model wind tunnel studies of flow around similar projects. A review has been undertaken of the size and proportions of the proposed development and surrounding buildings using a digital 3D model. A detailed wind climate assessment has been carried out using long-term meteorological data from Heathrow Airport Some of the factors that give rise to windy conditions include: the exposure of buildings to the prevailing winds, focussing on the height of the building in relation to its surroundings proximity to other exposed buildings the creation of funnelling effects mutual shelter provided by one building to another Intended outdoor activities in the proposed development and in surrounding areas have been examined in relation to the wind conditions likely to be created by the proposed development to identify the effects. Criteria were used to describe acceptable conditions for various activities in order of increasing windiness In the UK, the south-west winds are the most frequent and strongest at all times of the year. These winds are relatively warm and wet. Most cases of serious annoyance due to strong winds around buildings are caused by these winds Current conditions for windiness at the site have been determined from a qualitative desk study based on information regarding the size and orientation of buildings currently on the site and wind climate data for the site Wind effects from temporary structures during construction of the proposed development are not likely to be significant and have therefore not been assessed. 5.3 Existing conditions The site currently contains mainly two- to four-storey buildings, which are surrounded by open areas mainly used for parking The site is exposed to winds from the prevailing west and south-west directions across the playing fields. Windiness may be significant at times near the north-west and southeast corners of the buildings on the exposed edges of the site. However, the existing planting along the western boundary (which would not be removed as part of the proposed development) is at a suitable height in relation to the height of the existing buildings to be very beneficial around areas where it is present From other wind directions the site has at least some protection from the presence of other nearby buildings of similar height to those on site. However, the temporary car park to the north-east is quite exposed to the cold northeasterly winds coming over the Grand Union Canal and the waste transfer station Overall, the windiness at the existing BSkyB Campus is not considered to be troublesome for pedestrians and is likely to be generally within the standing range for example at bus stops or building entrances. There may be some increased windiness towards the west perimeter of the site and around building corners. However, the wind conditions at these locations are likely to be within the strolling range, which is acceptable for pedestrian movement in these areas The playing fields to the west of the site are expected to be within the upper standing range due to the exposure to south-west winds. 5.4 Likely effects on the environment The proposed development would be constructed in phases and this may cause temporary windiness at some areas of the site. Areas of temporarily increased windiness would be mainly around the north-west corners of the buildings. This is indicated by yellow shaded zones in Figure Following completion of construction, the heights of the buildings would range from approximately 20 to 30 metres above ground across the site. However, the size and proportions of the buildings is such that no single building is considerably taller than those surrounding it and the typical building heights are similar across the proposed development, which will create mutual shelter amongst the blocks The outer buildings along the west of the site would be exposed to prevailing winds from across the playing fields to the west. The buildings along this perimeter would shelter the areas in the centre of the site, and areas further east within the site The areas of increased windiness for the completed development include the western corners of Building 02 and development parcels C and H, as highlighted using red-shaded areas in Figure While the conditions in these areas would be noticeably windier than the rest of the site, the strolling level expected in these areas would be acceptable for the intended walking access. Figure 8: Temporary and permanent areas of windiness in proposed development without mitigation The main entrance of Building 02 is on the east side of this block and well sheltered from the prevailing winds. Locations of entrances for the other blocks are notionally suggested to lie along Grant Way and along the central zone of the site, therefore they would be kept away from perimeter areas to ensure an acceptable level of windiness The wind conditions at the edge of the sports fields to the west of the site may change after the completion of the development, but conditions are expected to remain acceptable for general sports activities. 5.5 Mitigation and residual effects Assuming that the main entrances of all of the proposed buildings would be kept away from building corners, no JULY