COMPARATIVE
IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF LAND AND MARINE SAND & GRAVEL
Contract Number:
059/2001
Final
Report
May 2002
Thompson, A.,
Knapman, D. and Pethick, J.
Symonds Group Limited
Main Office:
Symonds House
RH19 1UU
Culverhouse Cross
CF5 6ES
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CONTENTS
1. Executive Summary 1
Scope and Method 1
Conclusions 2
Recommendations 3
2. The Background to This Study 6
The Key Issues 6
The Policy and Planning Background 7
Previous Technical Studies which led to this Report 8
The Scope of this Study 9
3. The Main Reasons for Considering Alternatives 12
Coastal Change 12
Sustainability 12
4. The Methodology for This Study 16
Introductory Comments 16
Identifying Alternative Patterns of Supply 16
Selecting and Assessing Representative Sources and Sites 17
Comparing the Relative Sustainability of Alternative Patterns of Supply 19
5. The Current Pattern of Supply and Demand 20
Sand Dredged from the Bristol Channel 20
Aggregate Quarried within South East Wales 23
Aggregate Imported from outside South East Wales 24
Secondary and Recycled Materials 24
Demand for Aggregate in South East Wales 26
Summary of the Current Pattern of Supply and Demand 27
6. Potential Alternative Patterns of Supply and Demand 32
Alternative Sources of Aggregate not Currently Exploited 32
Three Potential Alternative Patterns of Supply 38
The Differences between the Current and Alternative Patterns of Supply 46
7. The Selection and Assessment of Representative Sites 48
Choosing a Set of Representative Sites 48
Assessing the Chosen Sites 50
How the Case Studies Contribute to the Patterns of Supply 51
8. The Comparative Sustainability of Alternative Patterns of Supply 54
Description of the Sustainability Assessment Process 54
Pattern of Supply No. 2 Compared to the Current Pattern (No. 1) 54
Pattern of Supply No. 3 Compared to the Current Pattern (No. 1) 56
Pattern of Supply No. 4 Compared to the Current Pattern (No. 1) 58
Conclusions from the Sustainability Assessment Process 61
9. Discussion, Conclusions and Recommendations 64
Discussion 64
Conclusions 66
Recommendations 67
Appendix 1 Research
Specification and Steering Group
Appendix 2 Supply
Option Fact Sheets
Appendix 3 Site
Assessment Check List
Appendix 4 Sustainability
Assessment Model
Appendix 5 Coastal
Change Issues
Appendix 6 Energy
Issues
Appendix 7 Noise
Issues
Appendix 8 Traffic
Issues
Appendix 9 12
Case Studies
Appendix 10 Sustainability
Assessment, Patterns of Supply No. 2 vs No. 1
Appendix 11 Sustainability
Assessment, Patterns of Supply No. 3 vs No. 1
Appendix 12 Sustainability
Assessment, Patterns of Supply No. 4 vs No. 1
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The Policy and Planning Background