REPORT 1 Environmental Impact Studies How might

REPORT 1 Environmental Impact Studies How might we achieve a low-carbon, sustainable, high-quality design response in the regeneration of Bath Western Riverside, minimising adverse environmental impacts and maximising environmental and socioeconomic gains?

Sanam Mulani

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES ASSIGNMENT ESSAY Name: Sanam Mulani Course: AR50355 Course Year 2011-2012 Words: 3175 Assignment : How might we achieve a low-carbon, sustainable, high-quality design response in the regeneration of Bath Western Riverside, minimising adverse environmental impacts and maximising environmental and socio-economic gains?

INDEX: A. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC BASELINE FOR BATH WESTERN RIVERSIDE DEVELOPMENT - Project description and proposals -Baseline Data B. KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS TO REDUCE CARBON AND TO INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY (SUSTAINABLE ASSESSMENT) -Planning -Material -Low carbon design C. ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN RESPONSE OUTSIDE REALM (INCLUDING BUILDING AS LANDSCAPE)

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Sanam Mulani ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT:

AND

SOCIOECONOMIC

BASELINE

FOR

BATH

WESTERN

RIVERSIDE

Bath, a historic city that is known for its undeniable beauty and heritage is no wonder a world heritage site! It is not just the scenic beauty that makes it one of the most visited tourist places in UK but also the clarity of town planning and consistency of the urban landscape that adds to the ancient architecture seen everywhere in the city. All this indubitably makes it a treasure that needs to be protected for the future. The proposed development site is located within the City of Bath where one can find the hot springs; Roman remains; 18th Century architecture; 18th Century town planning; 18th Century City and landscape; and social setting, thus making it a World Heritage City. Parts of the proposed development site belongs to the Bath Conservation Area, some of it even includes the northern part of the river. There are also a large number of listed heritage buildings in close proximity to the proposed development site. These include the Victoria Bridge in the northwest part of the site. The river valley and its steep hillsides dominate the area around the site. (Will Anderson, June 2011) This paper presents an environmental design response for a mixed use development in a regeneration of Bath Western Riverside Development (BWRD) by minimising adverse environmental impacts associated with the development and maximising environmental and socio-economic gains. The main aim is to achieve a high-quality, low-carbon, sustainable design strategy. The assessment entailed comprehensive evaluation of the proposed development site with respect to; • • • • • • • • • •

Demographic & Socioeconomic Context Planning Policy Framework Housing and Built Heritage and Archaeology Substrates & Contaminated Land including ordnance Geology and Groundwater and buried services Surface Drainage, Flood Risk Management and Waste Management Air Quality & Noise Environment Landscape Character and Views Biodiversity Transport

These aspects will help to develop a list of potential cues for Bath Western Riverside Development design. The environmental impact assessment analysis will be used to judge the viability and desirability of the project; this would also entail the tentative costing of the impacts and of the preventive measures, as this would have a bearing on the economic viability of the project.

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Sanam Mulani Project description and proposals: The proposed development site has an area of 6.5ha. The proposed development will comprise approximately up to 1000 residential units with one block of only offices, local retail, attached small gardens to lower floor houses, public open spaces. The proposed development will include around 10 % of employment through retails and offices. The public spaces can be used for community socials. So there will be economic benefits from this project as ,this development will provide potential for job creation and project investment/materials/supplies on site. Demographic context- “It is known that 70% residents in the Bath Riverside development are from Bath alone, while the rest 30% constitute people from London, Bristol, UAE, etc. Retired residents are 16% of total population.”(EIA Baseline presentation).From the table below it can be interpreted that the percentage of young professionals is more in Bath. So the proposed development will have 60 % residential units for young professionals which will also help to change the Bath’s ‘retired town’ image and 40% residential units will be for retired residents of Bath. National Statistics - Variable Population of Bath and North East Somerset People in employment

Count 177,700

Percentage

80,257

45.16%

Higher professional occupations

8105

10.10%

Lower managerial and professional occupations Full-time students

25148

31.33%

13062

7.35%

Fig 1 : Table explaining bath’s demographic context( EIA baseline presentation,2012) Housing typology Residents/user Young professionals – without family

Apartment type 1 BHK /Studio

Apartments % 30%

Young professionals – with family

2 BHK/Row Houses

30%

Retired couple -

2 BHK/Row Houses

40%

Fig 2: Proposed Housing Typology table The young professional with or without family will have the option of choosing 1 or 2 Bhk where 30 % houses will be affordable. Row houses with gardens and parking spaces will cater both the users. This development will have impacts on local tourism, culture and local quality of life. Due to low carbon sustainable design project will also aim to reduce health impact on existing and new population.

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Sanam Mulani Site surrounding:

Proposed development area

Fig 3 : Proposed development site and surrounding ( (Crest Nicholson (Bath Western) Ltd, 2006)

As stated in environmental statement prepared by Crest Nicholson; “Currently site is used for temporary car parking, with vehicle access from Midland Road. The southernmost part of the site comprises the vegetated embankment of a former east-west railway line, which is approximately 30m wide. The site is relatively flat although it does fall steeply to the river bank on its northern edge. There is a thin strip of vegetation along the river bank with scattered scrub and individual trees along both the east and west boundaries. To the east of Victoria Bridge Road, the site includes currently vacant land along the road and river frontage and the access to Home base and a petrol station. The majority of this land is mown grass with paths connecting the car park to Victoria Bridge Road. The coach depot and car showroom site faces onto the Lower Bristol Road to the west of Midland Road and comprises hard surfacing for parking and garages plus a number of showrooms. The gas works and industrial park site is located on the western half of the proposed development site. It includes the three substantial gas holders and remaining gas services, a number of employment units towards the river and a pumping station. To the north of the river is the Council’s Recycling Centre. This area is surrounded by Kelso Place and Buildings and Upper Bristol Road to the north, an Argos store to the east, the River Avon to the south and the vacant ‘Westmark Site’ to the west.” (Crest Nicholson (Bath Western) Ltd, 2006)

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Sanam Mulani Planning policy framework:

Fig 4 : Bath spatial strategy ( source : Planning policy framework presentation,2012)

The areas like Central Area, Western Corridor in Western Riverside and in Twerton -Newbridge Riverside will be more affected due to this development. Housing and Built Heritage and Archaeology: This development will have an effect on world heritage site designation, Victoria Bridge and north of the river Avon on east side. The royal crescent can be seen as the backdrop on the north of the site. To the south Victoria buildings are located and there are no listed buildings on the west side which can be affected by the development. Fig 5: The Royal Crescent, Bath (source: photo by Sanam Mulani)

Substrates & Contaminated Land including ordnance: Buried oil tanks are the main source of contamination where; Possibilities of contaminations are through leakage in gas tank, flowing into soil within which it breaks down into simpler Carbon chains and goes into groundwater. This can have many adverse effects on users. A person can get affected by drinking form a polluted source, eating a polluted foodstuff, breathing vaporous emissions, child eating dirt.Based on Crest Nicholson reports a mixture of B and C grade contamination is found in 5|Page

Sanam Mulani site which means site is polluted and clean up is required. There is no Ordnance found on site that would require removal/controlled explosion. . (EIA baseline presentation,2012). Geology and Groundwater and buried services: “Made ground is highly permeable to water and pollutants easily access to the alluvial clay below. Alluvial gravel is quite impermeable to water and contamination is difficult to be migrated downwards, namely trapped in the streams of water.” (EIA baseline presentation by Weng_Zhenzhou ,2012).

Fig 6 : geological Characteristic of site ( EIA baseline presentation by Weng ,2012) Surface Drainage, Flood Risk Management and Waste Management:

Fig 7: The flood levels for the 1 in 100 year source: Environment Agency. http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/ . Retrieved March 2012.c

UK faced flooding events in year 1960 and 2000.There is no record of any historic flood affecting the site. Currently there are no existing flood defences within the site. Environment Agency (EA) estimates significant chance of flooding in any year: greater than 1.3% (1 in 75).Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) showed concern towards surface water runoff flood risks which should be taken into consideration. (EIA baseline presentation, Surface Drainage and Flood Risk Management,2012)

The flood levels for the 1in 100 year figure that is taken from environmental agency depicts that significant area of this site lies below the flood level (Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25)).

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Sanam Mulani Air Quality & Noise Environment: Noise is generated by transportation systems, principally motor vehicle noise, as site is located along the one of the busiest highway in bath. As the site is located next to Lower Bristol road air pollution due to traffic is more. Landscape Character and Views: Site has industrial character and river channelized character. Site is a part of an important piece of the city’s riverside corridor. The surrounding 18th century architectural development dominates any other contemporary character. So with respect to the current landscape character proposed design should have some historical and industrial heritage design elements. Biodiversity: • Dense and scattered scrub ,Tall ruderal vegetation , Grasslands and No aquatic vegetation • Invertebrates • Existence of worms has been recorded on site • Birds-Wide range of species, Linnet, Bull Finch, Song Thrush, King Fisher and Grey • Presence of Badger Transport: Site is easily accessible from Bath city centre. There are New north - south pedestrian links between the Oldfield Park area and Victoria Park. Cycle and pedestrian routes are built along the river's edge. Car sharing club provide parking place. (EIA baseline Presentation) Improved and frequent bus/underground service, Easy transit system for public transport and Sustainable transport like PV/electric/hybrid car (Zermatt, Swiss) can reduce environmental impacts

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Sanam Mulani KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS TO REDUCE CARBON AND TO INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY (SUSTAINABLE ASSESSMENT) Planning: The city needs to expand more in terms of modernity and trend. New layouts for commercial and non-commercial purposes need to be planned within the city in order to attract more businesses that contribute to the locality fiscally. The conservation of the WHS must be merged with modern socio-economic and environmental challenges including climate change.. The high cost of housing relative to average wages and high levels in commuting has resulted in significant need for affordable housing. In order to minimize the need for travel in all major new development there should be a good mix of the following: Housing , Employment and Retail. Height, scale and massing should be considered with respect to the nearby proximity and also the distant view of the town. Also, the materials used for this purpose should be traditional and of superior quality. It should be remembered that the plan for the new community should be accepted by the existing one as it involves the planning and assessment of social and economic infrastructures.(EIA baseline presentation) “If, however, we are to plan for a truly low carbon future – the national target is for an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 – we will have to go beyond traditional approaches to conserving energy. And this may involve more substantial changes to the buildings of Bath. Some, such as double glazing, can be achieved with minimal visual impact if appropriate materials and products are used. Other measures, such as wall insulation and solar panels, are potentially more disruptive to the look of the city.” (Will Anderson, June 2011). Building will be designed in such a way that lighting and heating strategy will be low carbon with maximum solar gain, natural ventilation and day lighting. The energy performance will also be influenced by the user as for the families as general requirements are higher than the single person and couples. The larger facade of the most of the buildings will be facing on north – south direction. This orientation will help to gain maximum daylight as well as it’s a good planning for flood risk management.

Maximum apartment windows will be designed facing towards south to gain max daylight.

Fig 8 : proposed conceptual building orientation ( EIA baseline presentation)

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Sanam Mulani Materials: The proposed development will be built by using local stone material as the embodied carbon is less in local stone. Material

Embodied Carbon (kgCO2/kg)

Aluminium Plastic Metal (steel) Paper Glass Composites; plywood Stone (imported) Ceramics Wood Composites; asphalt Stone (local) Limestone Cement Concrete

8.25 2.5 – 6.5 1.8 – 6.2 1.2 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.02 0.01 0.83 0.1 - 0.5

Fig 9: Table Material and embodied carbon( (Lewis, 2011-2012) Most of the material used will be ordered from local suppliers. Materials with high thermal performance, minimal embodied energy and with non-toxic properties will be used to minimise environmental and health hazards. “Bath Stone is an Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. Originally obtained from the Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines under Combe Down, Somerset, England, its warm, honey colouring gives the World Heritage City of Bath, England its distinctive appearance. Natural stone used on construction projects provides the timeless essence of solidity, quality and prestige and mirrors the basic mechanism of earth building as stone is worked for new build projects and subsequently reused with time.” (The Bath stone Group, 2009) Floor finishes and upper floors have maximum impact on building (Green guide).A significant amount of aluminium in the market has a high recycled content, up to 70% which can lower the energy of production by up to 95% therefore wherever possible recycled aluminium products should be used. Reclaimed materials like reclaimed soil, stone, timber can give more embodied carbon savings than for recycled materials as there is less energy required to reprocess the material. So development will have more reclaimed materials.

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Sanam Mulani The following highlighted materials will be used for the proposed development to reduce carbon; Material

Source

Embodied Carbon (kgCO2/kg)

Saving over virgin material (kgCO2/kg)

Aggregate

Virgin materials

0.016

Aggregate

Crushed bricks

0.0006

Steel

Ore

2.7

Steel

Recycled steel

0.8

1.9

Steel

Reclaimed steel

0.04

2.66

Timber

Forest

0.5

Timber

Reclaimed

0.1

0.015

0.4

Fig 10 : material properties ( (Lewis, 2011-2012)) Insulation and Low energy heating: By increasing the thickness of thermal mass heat loss and gains through the fabric will be reduced. Insulation will help to reduce heating demand, thermal transmittance and will reduce energy consumption. Air tightness in building can help in improving efficiency. To reduce the demand of heating thick walls with insulation of 300mm can be used. To achieve a U-value of 1.6W/m2K, windows are designed with low e-double glazing. Low Energy Lighting: balanced proportion of glazing will help in increasing daylight factor therefore by reducing artificial lighting use. Planning will be done in such a way that most of the apartments will gain daylight. To achieve maximum daylight design will include internal atria. For Internal and external walls mostly light coloured materials and paints will be used to reduce artificial light. Reduction in transport emissions can help in improving the environment. This can be achieved by providing essential amenities on site. By designing more cycling paths and cycle storages on site and in the surrounding, we can reduce vehicle use. Few of the dwellings will have the facility of attached home office spaces. To reduce emissions from landfill waste, the facility of waste segregation will be provided which will also help in increase recycling. Thermal distribution network will be insulated beyond the requirements of the relevant standards to reduce distribution losses. Use of renewable like solar panels for heating can be used.

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Sanam Mulani ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN RESPONSE OUTSIDE REALM (INCLUDING BUILDING AS LANDSCAPE) The buildings will be designed in such way that it will not affect the appearance and character of the Conservation Area. The development will reflect and integrate the important elements of the heritage buildings in Bath. Because of this development, old historic bridge like Victoria Bridge, Destruction Bridge and Accommodation Bridge will be back in use and they will act as a new link between city centre and site. There are few archaeological evidences of Bronze Age and iron age on north side of river but no prehistoric evidences are found on the development site. Roman remain were found on and around the site. Construction below the ground (such basement parking, services) will be avoided to reduce the possible impact on archaeology. As the site soil is contaminated most of the residential blocks and children’s play area will be located at the least contaminated areas. Some of the facts that could be noted from visiting the site were that most part of the ground was covered with paving or hidden. There was soil heaps noted from the pictures, which shows the amount of earth that has been excavated, some of which were reused for landscaping and some removed from the site itself. The solutions to such hard development are to use Geosynthetic liners where there are hotspots and to build wells in order to avoid surplus pressure build up. Basic gas protection is required. To reduce the impact on geology and buried services encountered perched water can be pumped away. Also to prevent excessive ground movement overstress should be avoided and vibro method can be used to improve load bearing capacity for soft spots. Effect of construction on living organisms is minimal Flood management: All buildings should be set above the flood level approximately 1.5m higher than river bank .Surface water runoff quality should be improved before discharged in the river. Water runoff rate should be reduced where possible .At least a 5m clear access along the river bank or an Fig 11: Building elevated above the flood level. 8m diameter turning circle required for Source : (RIBA, 2011) maintenance .There should be 15m overhead clearance within this area. Orientate the building in line with the direction of flood flows to reduce the extent of the obstacle to flood flows (EIA Baseline presentation). Use of Sustainable Urban Draining Systems: “Sustainable Urban Draining Systems (SUDS) such as rain gardens and green roofs are an engineered means to manage rainwater runoff such that it emulates natural drainage systems. SUDS employ various techniques to effectively manage drainage which includes green and brown roofs, dry ditches (swales), detention/attenuation ponds, permeable paving, underground storage tanks and many other measures, all of which aim to detain run-off and Fig 3: Green roof. source: (RIBA, 2011)

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Sanam Mulani release it slowly into watercourses or to ground.” (RIBA, 2011) roof water will be discharged onto a garden area, Green roofs and permeable pavements will help to reduce surface water runoff. Water infiltration techniques should be treated with care due to ground contamination.

Fig 12: Different techniques of SUDS: Filter strip divides parking bays, Permeable paving and swales (RIBA, 2011)

Shielding and Insulation to reduce noise: Other Buildings can shield other more noise-sensitive buildings or spaces, from major noise sources. Noise barrier walls, noise insulation and acoustic double glazing will help in reduction of noise. New development can be planned in such a way that each building will have one quite side.

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Sanam Mulani

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Crest Nicholson (Bath Western) Ltd. (2006). Environmental Statement-Bath Western Riverside. Bath: Hepher Dixon-Planning and regeneration . Lewis, J. (2011-2012). Topic 3: Reducing carbon emission . Environmental impact Assessment lecture Notes . RIBA. (2011). RIBA. Retrieved May 2nd, 2012, from architecture.com from http://www.architecture.com/SustainabilityHub/Designstrategies/Water/1-3-2-5-SUDS.aspx

RIBA:

The Bath stone Group. (2009). The bath stone Group. Retrieved May 2nd, 2012, from B.S.G-The bath stone group website: http://www.bath-stone.co.uk/natural_stone.html Will Anderson, J. R. (June 2011). Warmer Bath-A guide to improving the energy efficiency of traditional homes in the city of Bath. Bath and Bristol: Centre for Sustainable Energy and Bath Preservation Trust. Anderson, J, Shiers, D & Sinclair M (2002). The Green Guide to Specification. (Oxford Brooks University) BioRegional. (2002). Construction Materials Report: Toolkit for Carbon Neutral Developments Part 1 Emma Jarrold , 2006. Bath Western Riverside Outline Planning Application (For Phases One, Two & Three): Flood Risk Assessment. Bath: Buro Happold, (010286). SUDS - Sustainable drainage systems [online]. Ciria. Available from: http://www.ciria.com/suds [Accessed 2nd May 2012].

Websites referred : http://www.doe.gov.bz/documents/EIA/Placencia%20Resort%20EIA/PlacenciaResortEIA_07Addenda_Pt1.pdf http://www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/index.php?id=74 Climate Change and http://www.helm.org.uk/server/show/nav.9256

Historic

Environment

Building Regulations and Historic http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/ign_partl_buildingregs.pdf

Buildings

http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx

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