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CFA Report – Washwood Heath to Curzon Street/No 26 Introduction1.3Structure of this report1.3.1This report is divided into the following sections: Section 1 – an introduction to HS2 and the purpose and structure of this report. Section 2 – overview of the area, description of the Proposed Scheme withinthe area and its construction and operation, and a description of the main localalternatives. Sections 3-13 – an assessment for the following environmental topics:- agriculture, forestry and soils (Section 3);- air quality (Section 4);- community (Section 5);- cultural heritage (Section 6);- ecology (Section 7);- land quality (Section 8);- landscape and visual assessment (Section 9);- socio-economics (Section 10);- sound, noise and vibration (Section 11);- traffic and transport (Section 12); and- water resources and flood risk assessment (Section 13).1.3.2Each environmental topic section comprises: an introduction to the topic; adescription of the environmental baseline within the area; the likely significantenvironmental effects arising during construction and operation of the ProposedScheme; and proposed mitigation measures for any significant adverse effects.1.3.3Environmental effects have been assessed in accordance with the methodology setout in Volume 1, the Scope and Methodology Report (SMR) (see Volume 5: AppendixCT-001-000/1) and the SMR Addendum (see Volume 5: Appendix CT-001-000/2).1.3.4Where appropriate, potential climate change impacts and adaptation measures arediscussed in the relevant environmental topic section. Volume 1 and Section 6A of theSMR Addendum also include additional information about climate change adaptationand resilience.1.3.5The maps relevant to Washwood Heath to Curzon Street are provided in a separatecorresponding document entitled Volume 2: CFA26 Map Book, which should be readin conjunction with this report.1.3.6The Proposed Scheme described in this report is that shown on the Volume 2: MapSeries CT-05 (construction) and CT-06 (operation). There is some flexibility duringdetailed design to alter the horizontal and vertical alignments and other details within5

CFA Report – Washwood Heath to Curzon Street/No 26 Introductionthe limits of deviation shown on the plans and sections submitted to Parliament andas set out in the Bill and this flexibility is included within the scope of theenvironmental assessment. Further explanation is provided in Volume 1, Section 1.4.1.3.76In addition to the environmental topics covered in Sections 3-13 of this report,electromagnetic interference is addressed in Volume 1 and climate (greenhouse gasemissions and carbon), and waste and material resources are addressed in Volume 3.An assessment of potential environmental effects beyond the CFA has also beenundertaken and this 'off-route' assessment is reported in Volume 4.

CFA Report – Washwood Heath/No 26 Overview of the area and description of the Proposed Scheme2Overview of the area and description ofthe Proposed Scheme2.1Overview of the area2.1.1The Washwood Heath to Curzon Street area covers a 5.7km section of the ProposedScheme in Birmingham, to the east of the city centre. It extends from the A4040Bromford Lane in the east to Moor Street Queensway, on the eastern edge ofBirmingham city centre, in the west. The area includes the Birmingham City Council(BCC) wards of Hodge Hill, Washwood Heath, Nechells and Ladywood.2.1.2This area is the most westerly CFA along the route of the Proposed Scheme. CastleBromwich and Bromford (CFA25) lies to the east, as shown in Figure 2.The case for Washwood Heath depot and Curzon Street stationPolicy case2.1.3The case for HS2 is well established within national and regional policy.2.1.4The Department for Transport’s ‘High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain’s Future’1confirmed the choice of Curzon Street as the site for a Birmingham terminus for HS2,best serving passenger requirements including onwards travel, along with theassociated regeneration benefits. It also identifies the need for separate infrastructureand rolling stock maintenance depots at key points along the route, in order for therailway to operate effectively. The Washwood Heath depot is identified as supportingboth Phases One and Two.2.1.5Key local policies are set out within the Birmingham Big City Plan (2010/11),Birmingham Unitary Development Plan (BUDP) 20052, the Birmingham DevelopmentPlan Options Consultation 20123 and the West Midlands Local Transport Plan 20114.The BUDP seeks to integrate transport with development across the Birmingham areaand aims to enhance the wider road, rail and air links to the city taking advantage ofthe development of Birmingham Airport and improvements to the national motorwaynetwork. The Birmingham Development Plan Options Consultation identifies theproposed HS2 route as a key element of the city’s transport infrastructure, helping tobuild upon the success of other improvements to transport infrastructure includingimprovements to Birmingham New Street station.2.1.6Emerging policies are not generally considered within this report, unless a documenthas been submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. The forthcomingBirmingham Development Plan, which will replace the BUDP, is currently underconsultation, it will be submitted to Secretary of State for formal examinationduring 2014.1Department for Transport, (2012), High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain’s Future – Decisions and Next Steps. London, The Stationery Office.Birmingham City Council, (2005), Birmingham Unitary Development Plan.3Birmingham City Council, (2012), Birmingham Development Plan Options Consultation.4Centro, (2011), West Midlands Local Transport Plan.27

CFA Report – Washwood Heath/No 26 Overview of the area and description of the Proposed SchemeWashwood Heath depot2.1.7The area forms part of the city’s core employment area as identified within theemerging Birmingham Development Plan Options Consultation 2012. Thedevelopment of the Washwood Heath depot at this location will result in the lossof employment land.2.1.8As Washwood Heath depot is located at the centre of the national high speed railnetwork in the West Midlands, it will operate as the hub for high speed railmaintenance and operation, supporting both Phase One and Phase Two. Inrecognition of this BCC is currently preparing a development framework for theWashwood Heath depot site to ensure that following the construction of theWashwood Heath depot, economic growth and employment opportunities aremaximised in the local area.Curzon Street station2.1.9Birmingham’s Big City Plan sets out the 20 year vision for transformational changewithin the city centre, and recognises that the Curzon Street station at Eastside willprovide a significant catalyst for regeneration. The Eastside area is a key area ofregeneration and growth within Birmingham’s central core.2.1.10The Draft Eastside Masterplan 20115 recognises the important role the Curzon Streetstation will play in ‘enabling’ regeneration, stating that it will transform Eastside into akey arrival destination, unlocking development opportunities and linking the quarterinto the city centre’s retail and office locations. Furthermore, the masterplan identifiesthat Curzon Square adjacent to the proposed Curzon Street station has the potentialto become a cultural village, building a critical mass of artistic and creative activities.Transport planning case2.1.11The West Midlands Local Transport Plan sets out a way forward to deliver thetransport needs of the West Midlands Metropolitan Area through short, medium andlong-term transport solutions. The West Midlands Local Transport Plan is supportiveof HS2 and seeks to actively promote HS2 with the aim of providing the metropolitanarea with high capacity, fast and reliable connectivity across the UK. This plan seesthis connectivity as providing huge economic benefits to the region by allowingpeople to live and work in a greater range of places across the high speed rail networkwithin the journey to work area, increasing their access to employment opportunities.HS2 therefore has an important role in delivering local transport strategy objectivestowards supporting economic growth, reducing carbon emissions and reducingroad congestion.2.1.12Centro's draft prospectus ‘Towards a World Class Integrated Transport Network’6 setsout the Integrated Transport Authority’s vision for public transport infrastructure inthe region. The prospectus states: “It is essential that the West Midlands is connectedto the European High Speed Rail Network. An international link to BirminghamInterchange and Birmingham city centre HS2 stations will improve economic56Birmingham City Council, (2011), Eastside Masterplan Curzon District.Centro, (2012), Towards a World Class Integrated Transport Network Public Consultation Draft December 2012 – February 2013.8

CFA Report – Washwood Heath/No 26 Overview of the area and description of the Proposed Schemeperformance by increasing European connectivity and providing additional nationalrail capacity”.2.1.13Transport demand forecasts have demonstrated that the majority of the passengerstravelling to and from Birmingham on HS2 would wish to travel to and from thecentral Birmingham terminus at Curzon Street station. This demand (66,000 trips perday) is split between 50% of trips wanting to access origins or destinations withinBirmingham (by car, bus, local rail services, walking or cycling) and 50% of tripsinterchanging to other strategic rail services to access locations outside of theBirmingham urban area.2.1.14Trips forecast to use Curzon Street station and interchange to other strategic railservices will access these services at either of the existing central Birmingham stationsincluding New Street, Moor Street or Snow Hill. These trips will interchange acrossBirmingham city centre between Curzon Street and the other city centre stations.HS2 Ltd will continue to work with Centro to discuss their aspirations for theMidland Metro.Settlement, land use and topography2.1.15The area is entirely urban, with land use comprising light industrial and commercial orinfrastructure through Washwood Heath, Nechells and Saltley. These areas make useof the lower lying land close to the rivers Tame and Rea and also the historicalinfrastructure corridor that follows the valley. Bromford (in CFA25), Washwood Heathand Saltley are the nearest main residential areas, with Gravelly Hill (to the north) andWard End (to the south) are also close by. Pockets of residential development occur inNechells and around Curzon Street station.2.1.16The area has its high point at the western end, where the city centre is, approximately120m above Ordnance Datum (AOD). The ground falls away east along the valleys ofthe River Rea and then the River Tame to approximately 85m AOD at Bromford. Theriver valley is the dominant topographic feature that defines the land use and views inthis area. It is also the basis of the local floodplain and locally important wildlifecorridors.Key transport infrastructure2.1.17The key transport infrastructure in the Washwood Heath to Curzon Street area are therailways, roads and canals that lead to and from Birmingham city centre. Within thisarea, the route will run parallel to the Birmingham and Derby line, the M6 and the A47Heartlands Parkway for most of the route. The Grand Union Canal and the DigbethBranch of the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal (hereafter referred to as the DigbethBranch Canal) are also present in this corridor. Consequently, there are a number oflocally important public highway crossing points over the railway and canal corridorincluding the A4040 Bromford Lane, Aston Church Road, the B4114 Saltley Viaduct(High Street ), Duddeston Mill Road and the A4540 Lawley Middleway.9

CFA Report – Washwood Heath/No 26 Overview of the area and description of the Proposed SchemeFigure 2: Area Context Map10

CFA Report – Washwood Heath/No 26 Overview of the area and description of the Proposed SchemeSocio-economic profile2.1.18To provide a socio-economic context for the area, data is presented for thedemographic character areas (DCA) of Washwood Heath and Curzon Street7. In total,the population of the Washwood Heath and Curzon Street area is approximately20,700; of which Washwood Heath DCA is approximately 9,300 and Curzon StreetDCA is approximately 11,400, which highlights the urban nature of the area. In 2011,the unemployment rate for Washwood Heath DCA was 13% and 8% in Curzon StreetDCA8 compared to West Midlands (9%) and England (7%).Notable community facilities2.1.19No health facilities are directly affected by the Proposed Scheme. Within theimmediate surrounding area are the following health facilities: The DyslexiaAssociation of Birmingham; counselling services at Carrs Lane Church; the HalcyonMedical and Walk-In Centre; and the Sensory Support Service.Recreation, leisure and open space2.1.20Although Birmingham generally has a relatively large amount of public open space,the Nechells and Hodge Hill wards have a deficiency. Four open space areas have beenidentified within close proximity of the Proposed Scheme, including the Grand UnionCanal, the Digbeth Branch Canal, Eastside City Park, and Park Street Gardens.2.1.21There is only one definitive public right of way (PRoW) in the area of the ProposedScheme. The PRoW is not currently accessible, and connects Common Lane toBromford Island, crossing the former Leyland DAF Vans (LDV) factory site inWashwood Heath. There are other footpaths within the wider study area that havebeen referred to in the assessment. The Grand Union Canal and Digbeth Branch Canaltowpaths are other recreational routes close to the Proposed Scheme along withnumerous public highways in the area which provide pedestrian access.Planning contextPlanning Framework2.1.227Given that HS2 is being developed on a national basis to meet a national need it is notincluded or referred to in many local plans, aside from those referred to in theprevious section. Nevertheless, in seeking to consider the Proposed Scheme in thelocal context, relevant local plan documents and policies have been considered inrelation to environmental topics.A DCA represents a community that, depending on the area, may consist of a local ward, neighbourhood or village(s).All data comes from the 2011 Population Census: Office of National Statistics, (2011) Census 2011.811

CFA Report – Washwood Heath/No 26 Overview of the area and description of the Proposed Scheme2.1.23The following local policies have been considered and referred to where appropriateto the assessment. Where a policy document is not referred to within a particulartechnical section, it is due to the absence of policies of relevance to that topic: BUDP is the current adopted development plan for the BCC area; and Birmingham Development Plan Options Consultation (2012) will replace theBUDP once adopted.2.1.24There are a number of key planning designations in the area, which include:conservation areas, listed buildings, scheduled monuments, important archaeologicalsites, and historic parks and gardens. These are shown on Volume 2: Maps CT-10-068bto CT-10-070, and Volume 5: CH-02-156b to CH-02-158-R1.Committed development2.1.25Developments with planning permission or sites allocated in adopted developmentplans, on or close to the Proposed Scheme, are shown in Volume 2: Maps CT-13-068bto CT-13-070 and listed in Volume 5: Appendix CT-004-000.2.1.26It has been assumed that these developments will have been completed by 2017.These are termed 'committed developments' and have been taken into account forthe purpose of assessing the likely significant environmental effects of the ProposedScheme. Where these developments have a particular relevance to an assessmenttopic, this is noted in the future baseline section for that topic. The followingdevelopments are relevant to several topics assessments in this area: planning reference 2012/04578/PA – mixed use development ‘student hub’including formal teaching areas as part of the Birmingham City UniversityCampus at land bounded by Gopsal Street, Cardigan Street, Curzon Street andDigbeth Branch Canal within the Eastside area of the city; planning reference 2007/01816/PA – a mixed use development includingresidential with 353 flats at Bordesley Street, Typhoo Wharf in Digbeth; planning reference 2007/01816/PA – a mixed use development comprising fourbuildings at Masshouse (Plot 7) on land bounded by Dale End, Chapel Street,Moor Street Queensway and Priory Queensway; planning reference 2013/01181/PA – the conversion of a retail unit to fivedwellings as Masshouse Plaza; planning reference 2008/02942/PA – the redevelopment of Eastside Lockscomprising mixed use development including 475 residential units; planning reference 2011/00453/PA – erection of a five storey building foreducation use with associated access, parking and landscaping at CardiganStreet on land adjoining Millennium Point, Eastside; planning reference 2009/00295/PA and 2012/02104/PA – Beorma Quarterdevelopment including refurbishment of existing buildings and construction ofnew buildings for a mixed commercial and leisure development; and planning reference 2012/06883/PA – Permission for change of use and12

CFA Report – Washwood Heath/No 26 Overview of the area and description of the Proposed Schemealterations to the former Central Fire Station to create a mixed usedevelopment including student residential accommodation andcommercial premises.2.1.27Where a committed development lies wholly or partly within the land required for theProposed Scheme, it is assumed that the development will not be commenced orcompleted in its proposed form. Such developments are referred to in the relevanttopic section and noted in Volume 5: Appendix CT-004-000.2.1.28No developments have been identified which are likely to have cumulative effects,when considered together with the Proposed Scheme.2.1.29Planning applications yet to be determined and sites that are proposed allocations indevelopment plans that have yet to be adopted, on or close to the Proposed Scheme,are termed 'proposed developments'. These are listed in Volume 5: Appendix CT-004000. These are not included in the assessment9. The progress of these proposals isbeing monitored by HS2 Ltd.2.2Description of the Proposed Scheme2.2.1The following section describes the main features of the Proposed Scheme in theWashwood Heath to Curzon Street area, including the main environmental mitigationmeasures. Further generic information on typical permanent features is provided inVolume 1, Section 5. Similarly, a general description of the approach to mitigation isset out in Volume 1, Section 9.2.2.2The Proposed Scheme will require some land on a permanent basis, key features ofwhich

CFA Report - Washwood Heath to Curzon Street/No 26 Contents ii 6.4 Effects arising during construction 111 6.5 Effects arising from operation 116 7 Ecology 119 7.1 Introduction 119 7.2 Scope, assumptions and limitations 119 7.3 Environmental baseline 120 7.4 Effects arising during construction 124 7.5 Effects arising from operation 126