Environmental Assessment
The Environmental Impact Assessment considered the effect on local communities and the surrounding natural habitat. The approach taken is explained fully in the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report section of this website.
A wide variety of environmental features have been studied throughout the development of the proposal including the potential impact on people, wildlife, plants and the landscape. This has been both within the scheme area and its surroundings. The environmental analysis undertaken, and information gathered, has then been used to inform decision making and the scheme design.
This ensures that potential environmental impacts that may be associated with the proposals are identified and assessed. From this, mitigation measures to avoid, reduce or compensate impacts have been identified and evaluated. The detailed Environmental Impact Assessment is reported in a document known as an Environmental Statement which was submitted as part of the planning application for the scheme.
The following key principles have been adopted for the approach to mitigation:
- A ‘nil detriment’ approach will be adopted in relation to environmental impacts, such to strive to ensure that the impact of the scheme construction and operation will be no worse than the future scenario had the scheme not been built;
- Negative impacts will be avoided where possible;
- Improvements to the environment will be carried out where such practical opportunities arise; and
- Development will be integrated, as far as practicable, within the existing landscape, and every attempt will be made to ensure that all created habitats are suitable for their landscape setting.
The information gathered and mitigation proposals are fully documented, explained and published in the Environment Statement. Details of how to access the planning submission can be found on the SEMMMS Planning Application pages.
In addition to the Environmental Impact Assessment, a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) for the scheme has been undertaken.
The HIA supports and adds value to the scheme development process by providing a systematic analysis of the potential health and wellbeing impacts as well as, where appropriate, recommending options for enhancing the positive impacts of the new road, mitigating the negative impacts and reducing health inequalities/inequities.
The HIA document was also submitted as part of the planning application for the scheme.
Environmental Scoping Reports
Understanding and mitigating the impact of the scheme on the environment and local community is a key element of scheme development and the environmental assessment process is undertaken in parallel with scheme design.
The environmental assessment process informs and contributes to the scheme design process.
On 3rd February 2010 the scheme formally issued an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report in support of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road. The report and associated appendices are available via the links below:
- EIA Scoping Report, Main Text (February 2010) (PDF 549Kb)
- EIA Scoping Report, Appendix 1 (February 2010) (PDF 52Kb)
- EIA Scoping Report, Figure 1 Indicative Line (February 2010) (PDF 2.1Mb)
- EIA Scoping Report, Figure 2a AQMA( February 2010) (PDF 2.3Mb)
- EIA Scoping Report, Figure 2b Cultural Heritage (February 2010) (PDF 2.4Mb)
- EIA Scoping Report, Figure 2c Ecology (February 2010) (PDF 2.1Mb)
- EIA Scoping Report, Figure 2d Land Use (February 2010) (PDF 2.2Mb)
- EIA Scoping Report, Figure 2e Water Courses (February 2010) (PDF 2.1Mb)
In October 2012 the scheme issued a letter to request confirmation of the validity of the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report. This letter is available via the link below:
The EIA Scoping Update Letter was sent to Stockport. Manchester City Council (MCC) and Cheshire East Council (CEC) were also sent a copy of the update letter for comment.
Each Local Authority responded to the letter, confirming their acceptance of the current validity of the original scoping report. These response letters are available via the links below: