7

7. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1 The EIA has recommended the EM&A for landscape and visual resources is undertaken during both the design, construction and operational phases of the project. The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape mitigation measures is a key aspect of this and should be checked to ensure that they are fully realised and that potential conflicts between the proposed landscape measures and any other project works and operational requirements are resolved at the earliest possible date and without compromise to the intention of the mitigation measures. In addition, implementation of the mitigation measures recommended by the EIA will be monitored through the site audit programme.

7.2 Mitigation Measures

7.2.1 The Landscape and Visual Assessment of the EIA recommended a series of mitigation measures to ameliorate the landscape and visual impacts of the project. These measures include the following:

¨ refinement of the route alignment and design of associated structures to minimise loss of woodland and other landscape resources;

¨ minimising working areas as far as possible;

¨ protection and retention of existing vegetation where possible;

¨ transplanting of trees where appropriate;

¨ protection and retention of existing natural rocky outcrops, slope profiles, vegetation, landscape features;

¨ advance planting and visual screening, where possible;

¨ compensatory planting;

¨ sensitively designed site hoarding, where possible; and

¨ grassing and woodland planting of soil slopes and disturbed areas.

7.2.2 The measures for both the construction and operation stage as recommended in the EIA are summarised in Tables 7.1 and 7.2 below:

Table 7.1 Proposed Construction Stage Mitigation Measures

No.	Mitigation Measure
CM1	Works areas to be confined to the Limit of the Road Works Areas to minimise impacts on existing features
CM2	Retention and protection of topography and rock outcrops*
CM3	Retention and protection of existing stream courses*
CM4	Retention and protection of existing secondary woodland*
CM5	Retention and protection of existing plantation woodland*
CM6	Retention and protection of existing shrubland*
CM7	Decorative hoarding along publicly accessible boundaries of the site.
CM8	Where trees are affected by the works, those specimens that are both of high conservation/amenity value and also stand a high chance of successful reestablishment should be transplanted to other locations within the works limit.
CM9	Topsoil stripped and stored for re-use in the construction of the soft landscape works**
CM10	Grass hydroseeding of slopes within 3 weeks of completion.

* Retention and protection to include minimisation the extent excavation for temporary and permanent works and necessary physical measures to prevent access into areas outside the limit of works. Regular checks should be carried out to ensure that the work site boundaries are not exceeded, hoarding is properly maintained and that no damage is being caused to the these areas.

** The maximum height for the stockpile of topsoil is up to 2000mm

Table 7.2 Proposed Operation Stage Mitigation Measures

ID No.	Mitigation Measure
OM1	Planting of native shrub species on newly formed and upgraded roadside slopes and areas disturbed by the Works to compensate for shrub vegetation lost during construction.
OM2	Planting of native woodland species on newly formed and upgraded roadside slopes and areas disturbed by the Works to compensate for woodland vegetation lost during construction.
OM3	Infill planting of native trees in areas of existing low shrub adjacent to the road, to mitigate for loss of landscape resource and character, for visual screening and to enhance ecological diversity
OM4	Tree and shrub planting to screen the road, to provide visual interest and to provide shade and shelter.
OM5	Sensitive architectural and chromatic treatment of new road structures, bridge structures, abutments, retaining walls
OM6	Sensitive architectural and chromatic treatment of noise barriers

7.3 Design Phase Audit

7.3.1 The landscape measures proposed within the EIA to mitigate the landscape and visual impacts of the scheme should be embodied into the detailed landscape design drawings and contract documents including the protection of existing woodland area and trees, the transplanting of existing trees and the planting of new trees and shrubs. Designs should be checked to ensure that the measures are fully incorporated and that potential conflicts with civil engineering, geo-technical, structural, lighting, signage, drainage, underground utility and operational requirements are resolved prior to construction.

7.3.2 The design phase EM&A requirements for landscape and visual resources comprise the audit of the detailed landscaping specifications to be prepared during the detailed design together with ensuring that the design is sensitive to landscape and visual impacts and that landscape resources are retained as far as practicable. Monitoring of design works against the recommendations of the landscape and visual impact assessments within the EIA should be undertaken as and when the designs are produced to ensure that they fulfil the intentions of the mitigation measures.

7.3.3 The landscape auditor shall review the designs as and when they are prepared and liaise with the landscape architect and design engineer to ensure all measures have been incorporated in the design in a format that can be specified to the Contractor for implementation. In the event of a non conformity, the Event/Action plan as detailed in Table 7.3 below should be followed.

Table 7.3 Event / Action Plan for Design Phase

Action Level

Landscape Auditor

Project Engineer

(PE)

Project Landscape Architect (PLA)

Non Conformity (with Design Standards and Specification)

· Identify Source

· Inform PE and PLA

· Discuss remedial actions with PE, PLA

· Verify remedial actions when complete.

· Notify PLA

· Discuss remedial actions with PLA

· Ensure remedial designs are fully incorporated

· Amend designs

· Discuss remedial actions with PE

7.4 Baseline Monitoring

7.4.1 Baseline monitoring for the landscape and visual resources will comprise a vegetation survey of the entire selected route undertaken on an ‘area’ basis. Representative vegetation types will be identified along with typical species composition. An assessment of landscape character will be made against which future change can be monitored. The landscape resources and elements of particular concern are to be noted.

7.4.2 The landscape and visual baseline will be determined with reference to the Tree Survey Report prepared during the Investigation Assignment and the habitat maps and the landscape and visual impact assessments included in the EIA Report.

7.5 Construction and Operational Phase Audit

7.5.1 A specialist Landscape Sub-Contractor should be employed by the Contractor for the implementation of landscape construction works and subsequent maintenance operations during the 24 month establishment period. It is proposed that as the majority of the planting works are off-site, the planting will be conducted with the first half of the construction contract. Thus, the establishment works will be undertaken through the latter half of the construction contract and extend throughout the Contractor’s one year maintenance period which will be within the first operational year of the project. The intention is to provide at least 24 months establishment period for the majority of the planting works.

7.5.2 All measures undertaken by both the Contractor and the specialist Landscape Sub-Contractor during the construction phase and first year of the operational phase shall be audited by a Registered Landscape Architect, as a member of the Environmental Team (ET) (see Section 1), on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures. Site inspections should be undertaken at least once every two weeks throughout the construction period and once every two months during the operational phase. The broad scope of the audit is detailed below but should also be undertaken with reference to the more specific checklist provided in Table 7.4. Operational phase auditing will be restricted to the last 12 months of the establishment works of the landscaping proposals and thus only the items below concerning this period are relevant to the operational phase.

¨ the extent of the agreed works areas should be regularly checked during the construction phase. Any trespass by the Contractor outside the limit of the works, including any damage to existing trees and woodland shall be prohibited;

¨ the progress of the engineering works should be regularly reviewed on site to identify the earliest practical opportunities for the landscape works to be undertaken;

¨ all existing trees and vegetation within the study area which are not directly affected by the works are retained and protected;

¨ the methods of protecting existing vegetation proposed by the Contractor are acceptable and enforced;

¨ preparation, lifting transport and re-planting operations for any transplanted trees;

¨ all landscaping works are carried out in accordance with the specifications;

¨ the planting of new trees, shrubs, groundcover, climbers, ferns, grasses and other plans, together with the replanting of any transplanted trees are carried out properly and within the right season;

¨ all necessary horticultural operations and replacement planting are undertaken throughout the Establishment Period to ensure the healthy establishment and growth of both transplanted trees and all newly established plants.

Table 7.4 Construction/Operational Phase Audit Checklist

Area of Works	Items to be Monitored
Advance planting	monitoring of implementation and maintenance of planting, and against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution, surface erosion, etc.
Protection of all trees and woodland blocks to be retained	identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation to be retained, erection of physical protection (e.g. fencing), monitoring against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution, surface erosion, etc.
Clearance of existing vegetation	identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation to be cleared, checking of extent of works to minimise damage, monitoring of adjacent areas against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution, surface erosion, etc.
Transplanting of trees	identification and demarcation of trees / vegetation to be transplanted, monitoring of extent of pruning / lifting works to minimise damage, timing of operations, implementation of all stages of preparatory and translocation works, and maintenance of transplanted vegetation, etc.
Plant supply	monitoring of operations relating to the supply of specialist plant material (including the collecting, germination and growth of plants from seed) to ensure that plants will be available in time to be used within the construction works.
Soiling, planting, etc.	monitoring of implementation and maintenance of soiling and planting works and against possible incursion, physical damage, fire, pollution, surface erosion, etc.
Decorative treatment of site hoarding	implementation and maintenance, to ensure compliance with agreed designs and check that it matches the surrounding environment and does not cause visual intrusion.
Architectural treatment of retaining walls, elevated road structures and other engineering works.	implementation and maintenance of mitigation measures, to ensure compliance with agreed designs.
Establishment Works	monitoring of implementation of maintenance operations during Establishment Period

7.5.3 In the event of non compliance the responsibilities of the relevant parties is detailed in the Event /Action plan provided on Table 7.5.