Proposed Development of Community Sports, Athletics and Rugby Stadium,

Copthall Stadium, Barnet.

Revised Environmental StatementNon Technical Summary

September 2011

1. Introduction

An Environmental Statement (ES) has been prepared on behalf of Saracens Rugby Club (SRC) to accompany a full planning application for the proposed part-refurbishment and part-redevelopment of the Barnet Copthall Stadium to London Borough of Barnet (LBB) Council as Local Planning Authority (LPA). It constitutes an Environmental Statement under Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011.

The ES was submitted to LBB with the planning application in March 2011 (reference H / 00928/11). Following feedback from the public consultation on the application, ES and other documentation, the planning application and supporting material has been revised. This ES has therefore been revised and resubmitted to LBB to accompany the revised planning application.

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: an Applicant’s Statement, revised Design and Access Statement (incorporating Energy & Sustainability Statement, and Construction Management Plan (which includes a Track Protection Plan), revised Planning Statement (including an Estate Management Strategy, and Stadium Management Plan), new Transport Assessment (including draft Travel Plans, and Local Area Management Plan) and a Report on Community Engagement (and Addendum).

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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, and 6 25m high fl oodlighting columns. It includes areas of grass, shrubs and trees 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 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 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. Approximately 100m to the west lie 2 residential dwellings, nos 1 & 2 Copthall Cottages.

The site and wider Copthall area is located within Metropolitan Green Belt land. The site 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 an Site of Special Archaeological Signifi cance to the east.

The site is well served by major roads and is accessible within 15 minutes of several bus routes and Mill Hill East underground station, and 30 minutes walking distance from Hendon Central and Colindale tube stations and Mill Hill Broadway railway station.

2. Site and Surrounding Area

Existing Site Photograph

Proposed

3. Scoping and Consultation

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 revised ES (see summary of each issue below), includes:

Landscape and Visual Impacts (including a Tree survey and assessment)• Ecology and Nature Conservation (including an outline Wildlife Management Plan)• Historic Environment • Transport and Access • Noise and Vibration • Air Quality • Water, Flood Risk and Site Drainage (including a Flood Risk Assessment)• Land Contamination • Light Pollution • Socio-economic Effects, including Recreation (including a Sporting Impact Study)• 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.

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. This consultation process will continue until the application is determined and (subject to permission being granted) the club intends to continue to form strong links with the local community in operating the community stadium and the activities associated with it. A project website (www.copthallrevival.co.uk) has been launched and was initially supported by a three day public exhibition of the emerging proposals was undertaken in November/December 2010. In addition to the public exhibitions and websites, Saracens engaged directly with local groups such as the Mill Hill Preservation Society (MHPS) and the Copthall Consultation Group Forum both of which expressed a particular interest in the scheme.

There has also been an ongoing dialogue with Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Athletics Club (SBH), which will continue to be the main user of the existing stadium going forward. These discussions have helped to identify their needs and requirements and how they can be accommodated within the revived stadium. Following feedback from the public consultation on the application, ES and other documentation, the scope of the revised ES has been expanded in several areas to address concerns raised by LBB’s advisers and consultees, and to assess the updated development proposals.

This photomontage has been prepared by Roberts Limbrick, Architects, and show winter views, as built.

1. Introduction

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.

Some 48 alternative sites have now been assessed in total 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 fan base 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 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.

Alternative design options were reviewed as part of the revisions to the planning application, in consultation with LBB Council and local groups, and a number of changes have been made, as detailed in the ES, in relation to the design of the East Stand, the use of the existing West Stand building, the scale of the demountable stands, the use of renewable energy technologies and green architecture, the greening of the main car park surface and former small all-weather pitch area outside the stadium for public recreation outside matchdays, the orientation of athletics fi eld, fl oodlighting height and design, drainage, landscaping and tree planting proposals, a coach park, and Travel Plan proposals.

4. Context and Alternatives

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 and revised 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 east spectator terrace and ‘jumps area’ and erection of new permanent • spectator stand for up to 2,856, spectators (comprising 7,248 sq metres of new fl oor space) incorporating hospitality areas, restaurants and bar (1,470 sq metres - under Use Class A3 and A4); ancillary offi ces and supporters’ shop; indoor athletics training facility (1,536 sq metres); and surrounding pedestrian concourse and permeable surface piazza; and comprising ground source heat pump system, green roof and green walls, solar panels as well as bat and bird boxes; minor external alterations to existing spectator west stand and refurbishment of existing viewing area to • provide seating for 600 spectators and 30 media personnel together with 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 5,988 spectators on match • days between September and May, outside these months the stands will be removed; temporary pitchside standing spectator areas in front of proposed East Stand for a further 600 spectators •

5. Description of the Development

and hoardings for the 16 match days (all of which are to be removed from the athletics track outside match days); the excavation and re-surfacing 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 more sustainable fl oodlighting for the pitch • and relocated athletics facilities;removal of 12,061 sq metres of existing hardstanding (used as an overspill parking area) to south east of • existing stadium and laying out of new “green” permeable surface area for parking up to 568 vehicles on match days and for other major events at the stadium and for use as informal sporting and recreation activities on non-major event days;the creation of a new “green” surface on the existing disused all-weather pitch to the rear of Copthall • Cottages to create an area for informal sporting and leisure activities on all days except major event days. On major event days, the area will be used for coach and media vehicle parking subject to its being fully protected on such occasions by covering in accordance with detailed arrangements to be approved by the Local Planning Authority; remodelling of the fi eld events areas on land to the east of the proposed new East stand;• diversion of existing culvert and construction of new swale area and reed bed and the 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; retention and reinforcement of existing landscaping (including existing hedgerows) and provision of • additional planting along the eastern and southern boundaries.erection of new 20m high replacement mesh fence on boundary with existing ‘Metrogolf ’ driving range.’•

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

ObjectivesAs the revised planning application makes clear, Saracens RFC are propose a New Home for Sport and Leisure in Barnet, and have established a Vision for the project: Saracens RFC is proposing to transform Barnet Copthall Stadium into a vibrant multi-purpose sports venue which will deliver a lasting sporting legacy for the borough and the wider community of north London.

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. The proposals will provide a focus for the work of the Saracens Foundation, and enable Saracens to move its existing administrative offi ce team from St Albans to Copthall.

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, between the end of April and the August Bank Holiday, including full use of the track and fi eld sports areas and indoor Athletics training facility. The demountable stands and other matchday apparatus would not be present on site. The capacity of the stadium would be approximately 5,000 spectators. During this season the full use of the stadium facilities would be actively promoted for athletics and community sports uses.

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, including on 4 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 stadium facilities would be actively promoted for athletics training and community sports uses, and 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. Athletics training would not take place during rugby match days. The spectator capacity of the stadium for rugby matches would be a maximum of 10,000.

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 afternoons at 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,

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 match days, a Match Day Travel Plan will be in operation to manage the spectator traffi c and parking on and off-site. The limited car park spaces available on site (700 spaces) will be pre-allocated to disabled users, corporate and VIP members, potentially some season ticket holders, and a proportion will be required for operational uses. Use of a reduced number of four off-site car parks to provide a further 650 car park spaces (including operational spaces) in the local area, at:

Barnet College: 359 spaces;• Copthall School: 100 spaces;• Dollis Junior School: 115 spaces;• Hasmonean High School: 79 spaces.•

The off-site car parks will be linked to the stadium via Hopper buses and by pedestrian routes. In total, the 700 spaces at the Stadium itself, and the 650 proposed off-site matchday car park spaces will accommodate the predicted parking demand of some 1,200 car park spaces for spectators (and provide an additional allowance of 150 for operational spaces). A fl eet of coaches will be utilised on matchdays to bring and return rugby fans along 6 (or 7) major routes. The revised Stadium Travel Plan for Major Events Days will ensure that effective local parking controls are imposed to underpin the applicant’s commitment to ensure that it achieves the initial modal split targets (maximum 12% car driver and 24% car passenger, total 36% car travel), and Saracens are committed to ensuring that the fi nal local parking control scheme that is agreed will be at no cost to local residents.

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. Some 300 cycle parking spaces, and an area for coaches, will be provided on site. Outside rugby matchdays, a Non-Major Event Travel Plan will be in operation to encourage non-car travel to the stadium, including through the use of Saracens community coaches for schools and local sports clubs to avoid the need to travel by car.

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 and coach parking areas; and installation of artifi cial pitch.

The construction phase will be governed by a Construction Management Plan (CMP) which sets out management roles and responsibilities, an indicative programme, and environmental management policies and procedures. A Method Statement has been prepared to ensure the protection of the athletics track during construction.

GREENLANDS LANE

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FOR LANDSCAPING DETAILSREFER TO NICHOLAS PEARSONASSOCIATES DRAWINGNPA/10475/501

CYCLE RACK POSITIONS WILL BELOCATED IN AND AROUND THEWIDER COPTHALL SITE TOACCOMMODATE APPROXIMATELY300 CYCLES. REFER TO TRAVELPLAN

553 NOTIONALPARKING BAYSSHOWN DOTTED

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ZONEFORMEDIA

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approx. 40 cycles

This drawing is the copyright of Roberts Limbrick Ltdand should not be reproduced in whole or inpart or used in any manner whatsoever withouttheir written permission.Do Not scale off this drawing, use only figureddimensions and report any discrepancies oromissions to the Architect immediately.

rev. date description

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DEC 2010 1:1000 @ A1

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A Feb 11 Athletics layout/ locationsamended. Site layoutupdated to suit

B Jun 11 Site Layout updated, notesadded

C Jul 11 Excavation moundsenlarged, swale and reedbed added, North and Southstand footprint reduced,cycle stands relocated,various notes added.

D Jul 11 Notes added to Redgra pitchregarding Coach parking.Note added to Green zoneparking

E Aug 11 North, South and Weststands amended to suitrevised layout. Tarmacsurround shown aroundjumps. Ramp added tomatch north side. Southerncar park finish amended,general notes added. Treesto Piazza amended. Mediazone shown by CoachParking.

F Aug 11 Notes regarding temporarycoach parking amended

G Aug 11 Colours amended to client'srequest, notes amended tocar park and coach park

H Aug 11 Add approx. numbers ofcycle racks

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. A tree survey and assessment has also been undertaken to classify the site’s trees and identify impacts and mitigation measures for the development.

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 will 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 but 9 trees, and all hedgerows on and surrounding the site will be retained and protected during construction, and an additional 79 individual trees (and more within a tree and shrub mix) will be planted on site. A green wall on the southern elevation of the East Stand will also help to improve views from the south east. The perceived openness of the Green Belt in relation to visual amenity, that is as one who is viewing within the Green Belt or viewing it will not perceive a change in its openness and enclosure.

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, habitat survey, a building inspection for bats, and an activity survey for bats (including tree assessment) were carried out at the site 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 but a few trees and all 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, the installation of nesting boxes for bats and birds, as well as good practice techniques during construction to minimise noise and air pollution and littering, as part of a Wildlife Management Plan and within the Construction Management Plan. 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, 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 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. Historic Environment

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. 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. The Construction Management Plan will be implemented to control this phase.

Despite a signifi cant forecast increase in annual visitor numbers to the redeveloped Stadium for non-matchday/non-major activities, when this is expressed in terms of average daily trip generation for the whole Copthall complex, traffi c impact associated with the day to day use of the new facilities is minor and will have no noticeable environmental impact. Measures are proposed to mitigate and exceed the new trip generation resulting from the enhanced Stadium facilities.

The 16 occasions per year when rugby matches are played at the site will result in some minor / localised traffi c impacts, at worst. Mitigation measures are proposed to ensure the residual impact is negligible.

On rugby matchdays the potential impact of matchday related parking is acknowledged. The Saracens Matchday Parking Control Scheme (SMPCS) will be designed, monitored and reviewed in consultation with local residents. Measures shall be implemented and administered at no cost to local residents affected by any parking controls. The SMPCS will be the subject of regular review during the operation of the stadium.

The car park to the south east of the stadium will be resurfaced and used as a car park during rugby matchdays and any other major events. However, as it will be resurfaced with reinforced grass, it can also be used as an area for public amenity and recreation when not in use as a car park.

10. Traffi c and Access

11. Noise and Vibration

A noise and vibration assessment has been undertaken to determine the potential impacts of the proposed development upon nearby noise sensitive receptors. A baseline noise survey was undertaken in January 2011 to establish the existing ambient noise climate on the Site. 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 relevant planning conditions. Additionally, noise and vibration monitoring is recommended as part of the mitigation package to ensure compliance with national standards. Nevertheless, due to the proximity of the nearest sensitive receptors (the adjacent 1 & 2 Copthall Cottages), some short term disturbance would be likely.

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.

12. Air Quality

13. Water, Flood Risk and Site Drainage

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 defi ned 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 temporary and minor adverse on roads closest to/accessing the Site but negligible on the wider main road network and in the context of local background concentrations and existing vehicles emissions.

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. Permeable paving areas are incorporated into the scheme. However, infi ltration techniques are limited in effectiveness at the site due to the underlying impermeable clay.

The location of the proposed East Stand necessitates the diversion of the 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. The proposals now include a swale and small pond/basin to drain an area of the athletics fi eld and provide some open wetland habitat.

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.

In June 2011 an intrusive ground investigation was undertaken to assess the prevailing foundation geology with regards to future construction, the nature of the surface hardstanding and the potential for contamination issues. Low levels of contamination were found on site, other than those recorded in the mound material, however, as the relevant threshold values were not exceeded the risk posed to human health is considered to be ‘low’.

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, 300mm, 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 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.

The Stadium fl oodlighting scheme includes two 34m high mast columns to each west corner of the pitch and 3 clusters of four fl oodlights are proposed on the underside of the East Stand canopy. The 2 high mast columns will incorporate fl oodlighting at two levels. The higher 33m units will provide the rugby event modes and international athletics event illumination levels. The lower level 25m units will provide the athletics track illumination levels. This fl oodlighting installation will replace the existing stadium fl oodlighting installation. The height of the lower level fl oodlighting units has been reduced so as to avoid being visible from the Mill Hill Observatory.

The athletics jump/pole vault event fl oodlighting scheme will involve two 18m high mast columns equipped with 3 1.5kW fl oodlights to the jump and pole vault lanes at the north of the stadium. The athletics javelin/hammer/

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 has been prepared to set out the measures that will be taken to protect the existing athletics track and associated facilities during construction, 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 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. Saracens are confi dent that a solution will be found to allow use of the artifi cial pitch for all throwing events. 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

16. Socio-economic Effects, including Recreation

discus event fl oodlighting scheme involves six 21m high mast columns equipped with 2/3 1.5kW fl oodlights to the throwing area to the east of the stadium site. The athletics shot put event fl oodlighting scheme involves one 15m high column equipped with 2 1.5kW fl oodlights to the designated shot put throwing area to the north-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. Car park lighting would be required 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 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.

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.

A Sporting Impact Study, appended to the ES, has assessed in detail the current uses of the stadium and wider Copthall recreational estate, and the likely impacts on existing uses, as well as the potential for increases in community uses of the stadium. Saracens aim to increase the use of the stadium facilities for community sport all year round, particularly through the work of the Saracens Foundation with children and young people. The combination of improved facilities and the provisions of the proposed Stadium Management Plan (to be agreed with LBB Council) will promote greater use of the stadium by athletics clubs and events, local schools, educational establishments and the wider community during the (summer) athletics season.

The development now proposes investment in energy effi ciency measures and use of renewable energy technologies in order to reduce the predicted increase in carbon dioxide emissions from the need to heat, light and ventilate the proposed East Stand and the existing West Stand. Techniques proposed include the instillation of more effi cient boilers, energy effi cient lighting and plant that only operates for necessary periods and at maximum effi ciency at all times. In order to reduce the energy demand of the proposals, measures such as motion sensors for lights, use of low water demand appliances and the enhancement of building insulation in the West Stand would be employed. Renewable energy measures include a 100kW capacity Ground Source Heat Pump system (proposed to contribute to the space heating and cooling load of the East Stand), 50 kW solar panels proposed on the East Stand roof, and 15m2 of solar thermal hot water system to be installed on the West Stand roof.

17. Climate Change

Comments

Saracens RFC would welcome any comments on the environmental aspects of the proposals and this revised ES; 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 £200.00 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.