M1 Junction 19 Improvement Changes to Non-Technical Summary October 2012

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1 Changes to Non-Technical Summary October The Highways Agency is proposing to improve Junction 19 of the M1 motorway and related sections of the M6 motorway and A14 trunk road within the counties of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Following publication of the draft Orders together with the Environmental Statement and its Non-Technical Summary in February, the improvement was deferred by the Government s Spending Review. The improvement has now recommenced. The draft Orders remain current but since the Environmental Statement was published there have been some minor changes to the improvement. The published Environmental Statement continues to be the formal report of the Environmental Impact Assessment carried out for the project, as required by Government regulations. We have reviewed the Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary to confirm that they are still valid. The results of the review are set out in a series of Supplementary Notes which update the information in the Environmental Statement. The changes to the Non-Technical Summary are explained overleaf.

2 Changes to the Non-Technical Summary since publication in February. Changes are set out in the same sequence as the published Non-Technical Summary using the same sub headings. The page numbers referred to are those in the original document. Alternatives considered: Page 2 There are no changes to this section. Some objectors to the improvement put forward alternative proposals within the objection period. The intention is to hold a public inquiry where these alternatives would be considered. Cross section showing the proposed junction improvements: updated Location of cross section shown on plan Why the improvement is needed: Page 1 Paragraph 1. Forecast traffic flows have reduced since and the reference to 157,000 vehicles passing through the junction daily has changed to 139,900. Similarly the expected increase has reduced from over 225,000 to 175,900. The forecast year for the expected increase has changed from Objectives: Page 1 There are no changes to the objectives. Background to the improvement: Page 1 There are additions to the list of dates set out in the published Non-Technical Summary to follow from the publication of the draft Orders and Environmental Statement in February :- March May June July October Public exhibitions held in Swinford and Lilbourne End of objection period Improvement suspended pending the conclusion of the Government s spending review Works to replace Catthorpe Viaduct as a maintenance project start on site Improvement identified for construction after 2015 Summary of the proposals: Pages 2 and 3 Layout The layout remains similar to that described and illustrated in the published Non-Technical Summary. There are several, relatively minor, changes to the design of slip roads, in particular these mean that:- The existing Shawell Road Bridge over M1 can be retained The Shawell Lane bridge below M6 no longer requires extending The proposed local road to the north of M6 can be moved slightly closer to the motorway As a result of these changes, permanent land take can be reduced by 1.5 hectares compared with the published proposals. A more detailed assessment of the earthworks proposals has confirmed that surplus material would be created during construction. Some of this surplus material has been used to raise the height of earth mounds and landscaped areas between the carriageways. For this reason the cross section included on Page 4 of the published Non-Technical Summary has been superseded and a revised version is included. Design changes also mean that the photomontage on Page 3, showing the view from footpath X11 with the proposed scheme and new planting after 15 years, has been superseded. An updated version of the photomontage will be available prior to the public inquiry. Access for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. There are no changes to this section. Catthorpe Viaduct. This section looked forward to the replacement of the viaduct. Construction of this maintenance project to replace the existing bridge, due to its structural condition is now complete. Structures. Given the changes described above, the junction improvement now includes six, not seven new bridges. No bridges require modification, compared with two in the published Non-Technical Summary, and two, not three, would be demolished. The modified proposals would also require fewer gantries than previously. Paragraph 6. Requirements for the temporary use of land on site for compounds and the storage of materials have reduced by 0.3 hectares, to 11.8 hectares. In addition, Misterton Depot was used as the site offices for the construction of Catthorpe Viaduct and the intention now is to retain and expand these offices for the improvement. Environmental Effects: Page 4 As described above, the cross section on Page 4 has been revised. : Plan at Pages 5 and 6 Given the changes to the layout described above, the layout plan included at pages 5 and 6 of the published Non-Technical Summary has been superseded. A revised version is shown on the following page. November 2011 March October November Announcement that improvement to be prepared for start of construction before 2015, subject to the outcome of statutory processes Catthorpe Viaduct replacement open to traffic Notice of Intention to hold a Public Inquiry published Publication of Supplementary Notes to update the Environmental Statement Construction. Paragraph 1. Construction is now likely to begin in early 2014, rather than 2011 and would be completed by early 2017, not Autumn Paragraph 4. The closure of Rugby Road, linking Swinford to Catthorpe is now likely to last for 18 months, compared with the 12 months set out in the published Non-Technical Summary, starting in Autumn 2015 rather than late.

3 N Updated

4 Table. Environmental Effects: Pages 7 and 8 A general change is that the opening year for the scheme has been amended from 2014 to The date 15 years after opening, used for several assessments has been changed from Changes to individual entries to the table are set out below. Amended text is shown in italics. Topic Key Issue Mitigation measure Air Quality but the rate of reduction is less than anticipated added to the end of the second sentence. Ecology 2nd sentence. Net and Nature gain of 6.5 hectares of Conservation species rich grassland increased to 7.6 hectares. Net gain of 3.6 hectares of woodland increased to 5.5 hectares. Landscape Effect Added to end of 1st sentence. but one property on the A5 could potentially exceed Government targets for nitrogen dioxide for a temporary period during a road diversion. 2nd sentence. Opening year changed from 2014 to rd sentence. one property on the M1 would exceed targets modified to read one property on the A5 could potentially exceed targets. 4th sentence added. The improvement would result in a minor increase in the level at this property. 5th sentence added. There would be no new exceedances with the improvement in place. 1st sentence. Period of establishment changed from 2029 to st sentence. Loss of existing planting reduced from 6.15 hectares to 5.79 hectares. 2nd sentence. Initial visual impact reduced from 33 properties to 31. The reduced visual impact for 7 properties should be corrected from 7 to 19, the figure reported in the ES. 2nd & 3rd sentences. Establishment period changed from Overall Effect Overall effect changed from Neutral to Not Significant. Topic Key Issue Mitigation measure Materials Disposal of surplus earth offsite added as a key issue. Omit 2nd sentence on balanced earthworks and replace with, Balance earthworks as far as possible during construction. 3rd sentence. Modify to read, The main area of soil contamination has been avoided, but measures may be required to deal with contaminated groundwater. Noise and Vibration Community and Private Assets Water Key issue added, Environment Under the Water Framework Directive, the River Avon is required to achieve good ecological status. Effect Omit but given proposals in place for re-use, effects on materials in general would be Neutral. Replace with, and water from an adjacent site. Add, There is a potential requirement to dispose of 50,000 cubic metres of surplus earth offsite, which would lead to an Adverse effect. Within the overall context of earthworks for the project, where overall quantities are much greater, this is not considered to be a significant effect. 2nd sentence. houses changed to dwellings. Numbers of dwellings with a decrease in noise reduced from 308 to 246. Numbers of dwellings with an increase in noise reduced from 224 to 204. Assessment year changed from 2nd sentence. Permanent requirement for agricultural land reduced from approximately 25 hectares to approximately 24 hectares of mainly agricultural land. Overall Effect Overall effect changed from Neutral to Adverse.

5 Further Information: Page 9 Paragraph 2. The inspection period referred to ended on 21st May. However the draft Orders and Environmental Statement, as well as the new Supplementary Notes 1-11 referred to in this leaflet, can be viewed from 1st November at all locations as previously set out, except for the Highways Agency, where the address for viewing has changed to:-. Highways Agency The Cube 199 Wharfside Street Birmingham B1 1RN The address for obtaining documents from the Highways Agency (prices as stated in the published Non-Technical Summary, or upon application) has changed to:- Highways Agency The Cube 199 Wharfside Street Birmingham B1 1RN The telephone number for the Highways Agency has changed to The address remains as m1junction19@highways.gsi.gov.uk This document, the new Supplementary Notes 1-11, the published Environmental Statement and Non- Technical Summary may be viewed at the Highways Agency website: Your Views: Page 10 The arrangements for responding to the draft Orders and Environmental Statement, set out in the published Non-Technical Summary, ended on the 21st May. However if you have comments on the information in this leaflet or the Supplementary Notes, please write to or the Highways Agency at the address included under further information by 14th December. What happens next: Page 10 A notice has now been published confirming the intention to hold a public inquiry before an independent Inspector. All those who responded to the draft Orders in and those responding to this leaflet will be notified individually at least six weeks beforehand and notices will appear in the local press. All comments received will be made available to the Inspector who may decide to make them public. The Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will then consider the Inspector s recommendations and decide the way forward. Public Exhibitions: Page 10 Exhibitions were held at Lilbourne on 12th and 13th March and at Swinford on 19th and 20th March. Rear cover The contact details have been superseded. The telephone number for the Highways Agency has changed to Birmingham Media services m120280