Policy paper

Shoreham Adur tidal walls scheme: environmental statement

Updated 15 December 2017

A Site of Special Scientific Interest

The scheme boundary includes the nationally designated Adur Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a RSPB reserve. These areas have over-wintering bird populations and significant areas of saltmarsh and mudflat. Saltmarsh and mudflat are priority habitats that have been identified as requiring conservation action under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006).

Although the scheme is likely to impact on saltmarsh habitat, the Environment Agency is aiming to minimise this and offset any losses by moving the embankment next to the airport further back from its current position. This will create new saltmarsh habitat.

Reptiles

There are a large number of reptiles (predominantly common lizards and slow worm) that live along the banks of the estuary. They are protected by environmental legislation and will need to be protected or removed from the works area prior to the start of construction, to a suitable new habitat. Trapped reptiles are being transferred to receptor sites including at Mill Hill Local Nature Reserve. There will also be strimming and fencing in some areas to discourage reptiles entering the working area.

Vegetated shingle

Within or next to the footprint of the scheme are also areas of locally and nationally important habitat including vegetated shingle, Childing Pink and Starry Clover. The Environment Agency has ensured the design of the defences avoids these as far as possible, and they will protect these areas of habitat during construction.

Natural England, the RSPB and Environment Agency internal teams have been consulted on the work, and will continue to give advice and guidance throughout construction.

Hertitage features

There are a number of designated and non-designated heritage features that may be affected by the scheme, including Shoreham Fort Scheduled monument, Shoreham and Old Shoreham Conservation Areas and listed features including Shoreham Toll Bridge. A line of World War 2 (WWII) pillboxes next to Shoreham Airport are considered part of the best preserved WWII defence line in Sussex.

Historic England and the West Sussex County Archaeologist have been consulted during the design process. The Environment Agency will minimise the impact on these features and enhance their setting where possible.

Environmental Statement

During the planning of the scheme, the Environment Agency carried out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The outcome of the EIA is an Environmental Statement. The Environmental Statement firstly considers which aspects of the environment could be affected by the scheme, such as landscape, cultural heritage, ecology, noise, water environment and human beings. It establishes how things are now (the environmental baseline) and assesses the impacts that the scheme is likely to have on this. It then looks at ways to avoid or minimise these impacts, as well as ways to improve the local environment. These measures are brought together in an Environmental Action Plan, which is implemented throughout the construction phase of the project.

The Environment Agency understands that a flood defence scheme is a large engineered structure. As part of their environmental works, landscape architects have been working with the engineers to ensure that the scheme fits in with the existing local landscape as far as is possible. The final design aims to minimise the visual impact of the raised defences using methods such as cladding and areas of planting.