Highways Agency
Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers
Introduction
Introduction
This is the Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Statement by the Department of Transport's Highways Agency for proposals to improve the M4 between east of Junction 3 (Cranford) and Junction 4b (M25 Junction 15). It also invites comments in respect of these proposals to be made to the Highways Agency by 6 May 1997.
In November 1996 the Highways Agency announced changes to the M4 Improvements which had been published in May 1996 at the same time as the proposals for the M25-T5 Spur Road were published. This leaflet explains the changed proposals in respect of the M4 Improvements and summarises the M4 Environmental Statement in non-technical language.
Although the purpose of this leaflet is to describe the M4 Improvements, for clarity it also repeats the explanation of the associated proposals for the M25-T5 Spur Road to connect BAA's proposed Terminal 5 (T5) at Heathrow Airport to a widened M25 Motorway.
Environmental Statement
Environmental Statement
The Environmental Statement explains the effect of the proposed road schemes on the surrounding area, and describes the environmental works proposed to reduce their impact. It is published in accordance with EC Directive 85/337/EEC as applied by Section 105A of the Highways Act 1980.
Background to the Proposals
Background to the Proposals
In February 1993, BAA plc submitted planning applications to the boroughs of Hillingdon and Spelthorne for the development of a fifth passenger terminal and associated facilities at Heathrow Airport. Public inquiries into the T5 proposals started in May 1995 at the Ramada Hotel near Heathrow.
In order to provide appropriate access to the proposed Terminal, the Highways Agency proposes a Spur Road to the M25, which lies about 1 kilometre to the west of the site.
The Highway proposal, which is known as the T5 Spur Road, did not form part of BAA's planning applications for T5 as it is a trunk road scheme promoted by the Highways Agency under procedures set out in the Highways Act 1980.
The proposals for the T5 Spur Road were the subject of draft Highway Orders and an accompanying Environmental Statement published in May 1996. The publication was followed by a public exhibition held in Stanwell Moor Village Hall and Stockley Park Arena Forum between 24 May and 1 June 1996 and in the Ramada Hotel from 4 June 1996.
In November 1996, the Highways Agency announced changes to certain parts of the scheme for the M4 Improvements, the principal change being proposals to make smaller scale improvements to the existing Junction 4 roundabout instead of the previously proposed elevated loop road. No changes were made to the remaining proposals to widen the M4 and Junction 3, or for the T5 Spur Road.
The Proposals to improve the M4 between junctions 3 and 4b, together with an Environmental Statement, were published in May 1996 and subsequently modified in March 1997. There was a public inquiry into proposals, which closed in March 1999.
The decision on the proposals were published on 20 November 2001 and the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has decided that the scheme presented at the Public Inquiry should not be progressed.
However the question of whether there is a need to widen the M4 in the Heathrow area and/or to improve Junctions 3 and 4 will be considered further as part of the London to Reading Mulit-Modal Study which is one of the Multi-Modal studies commissioned by the Government following its review of the Trunk Road Programme in 1998 and due to report in summer 2002. The steering group set up to guide the multi-modla study is chaired by Government Office for the South East. The contact telephone number is 0800 169 3691 or vist at www.go-se.gov.uk
Existing Conditions
Existing Conditions
The proposed T5 Spur Road would cross farmland which is used mainly for cattle and horse grazing. The nearest residential properties to the route of the road are in the northern part of Bedfont Court Estate and on the eastern outskirts of Poyle.
Many of the sand and gravel deposits, around the M4 and west of the River Colne near Bedfont Court Estate and Stanwell Moor, have been extracted and landfilled with waste material.
The scheme lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Colne Valley Regional Park.
M4 Improvements
M4 Improvements
The principal features of the proposed improvements to the M4 are:-
- widening of the motorway, mainly within the existing highway boundaries, from dual three to dual four-lanes between Junctions 3 and 4, and from dual four to dual five-lanes between Junctions 4 and 4b;
- widening of the Junction 4 roundabout carriageway from three to four lanes on its west side and to five lanes on the north, south and east sides, including reconstruction of the M4 bridges over the east side of Junction 4, and provision of full traffic signal controls;
- widening of the existing roundabout at Junction 3, and the provision of full traffic signal controls.
T5 Spur Road
T5 Spur Road
The proposed Spur Road would connect T5 to the widened M25 motorway. The road would be of motorway standard with dual two-lane carriageways, hardshoulders, and a statutory speed limit of 40 mph. It would start from a new roundabout located above the airport's Western Perimeter Road, which would be built as part of the T5 development.
From this roundabout, the road would pass over Stanwell Moor Road (A3044) and cross the valley of the River Colne on an east-west alignment to the north of Bedfont Court Estate. The existing interchange at M25 Junction 14 would be extended, both to the north and south, to accommodate free-flow connections between the Spur Road and the M25.
Construction Costs
Construction Costs
The Estimated cost of the M4 improvements is about £31 million and the estimated cost of the T5 Spur Road is about £53 million.
Environmental Measures
Environmental Measures
The schemes have been designed to reduce, as far as possible, any damage to the environment. Proposed measures include:-
- planting of around 115,000 native trees and shrubs, and creation of grassland areas seeded with wildflowers;
- lighting with full cut-off lanterns to minimise light spillage onto adjacent areas;
- upgrading of pollution control facilities as part of the highway drainage system;
- measures to protect the general public, road users and site workers from environmental hazard or nuisance associated with the landfill wastes which lie beneath or adjacent to the schemes;
- archaeological investigation prior to construction and maintenance of a watching brief throughout construction, with provision for the excavation and recording of any remains in advance of the works;
- contract provisions to ensure that the effects of construction noise, disruption to traffic during roadworks and disturbance to the natural environment are minimised.
- wherever possible, use of gentle slopes on the embankments to the T5 Spur Road to help assimilate the schemes into the landscape and enable land to be offered back for farming;
- careful design of the proposed bridge over the River Colne, to reduce its impact on the environment;
- provision of sufficient space beneath the proposed bridge over the River Colne, on both sides of the river, to allow access;
Main Environmental Effects
Main Environmental Effects
| T5 Spur Road | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Land-take | A total of 32 hectares of Metropolitan Green Belt land, of which:- | ||
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| Farms | Land would be taken from four agricultural holdings, two of which would be severed by the road, although access would be available underneath the proposed bridge over the River Colne. | ||
| Visual Impact | Number of residential properties which would be affected over time, following the planting of trees and shrubs:- | ||
| Year 1 Winter | Year 15 Summer | ||
| Substantial adverse impact | up to 5 | 0 | |
| Moderate adverse impact | up to 5 | up to 5 | |
| Slight adverse impact | up to 120 | up to 50 | |
| Slight beneficial impact | 0 | up to 60 | |
| Landscape Impact | The proposed crossing of the River Colne would affect the visual continuity of this part of the Colne Valley, which contains pockets of relatively high landscape value within an otherwise degraded setting. Proposed planting in the vicinity of the scheme would make a positive contribution to the landscape of the area and assist in absorbing the road into its surroundings. | ||
| Nature Conservation | Some valuable habitat would be lost, including aquatic flora and fauna, tall herb vegetation, trees and meadowland, in and alongside the rivers Colne and Wraysbury. | ||
| Water Quality | The proposed pollution control facilities would contribute to an improvement in the quality of surface water run-off from the M25 in the vicinity of the scheme, and a consequent reduction in the level of pollution risk to which local watercourses are currently exposed | ||
| Air Quality | Pollutants from exhaust emissions are predicted to be below the relevant air quality criteria. | ||
| Ground Conditions | The scheme would be unlikely to give rise to significant environmental hazard or nuisance related to the landfill wastes which lie beneath or adjacent to it. Coverage and capping of the landfilled areas west of the River Colne would result in a reduction in surface water infiltration and thus a reduction in contamination, leading to an improvement in the quality of the underlying groundwater. | ||
| Noise | A few properties on the northern side of Bedfont Court Estate would at times experience a slight increase in traffic noise, depending on the noise from airport-related activities. These properties have already been insulated against aircraft noise | ||
| Construction Disturbance | Number of properties within 100 metres of construction site:- | ||
| Residential properties | up to 10 | ||
| Places of work | up to 10 | ||
| Commercial properties | up to 5 | ||
| There would be occasional disruption to traffic on the M25 and Stanwell Moor Road (A3044) due to lane restrictions or night time closures required for construction purposes. | |||
Alternative schemes considered
Alternative schemes considered
During preparation of the previous and current schemes for the M4 Improvements, consideration was given to a number of alternatives. Both on-line and off-line schemes were considered, together with various options at Junction 4
Proposals were presented to the public and interested organisations during September 1993. Following this consultation, the previously proposed loop road at Junction 4 was modified to reduce its environmental impact, particularly in relation to residential properties in West Drayton.
Several alternative schemes were examined at Junction 4, including:-
- realignment of the M4 further south, away from residential properties in West Drayton;
- tunnelling;
- moving the loop road to the east side of the junction, away from most residential properties in the area;
- roundabout improvement schemes.
Realignment of the motorway to the south was rejected because of the high capital cost associated with the relocation of a gas pipeline and associated control equipment.
Tunnelling was rejected, mainly because capital costs would be substantially higher than above-ground schemes and some of the options would be less safe
Moving the loop road to the east side of the junction, away from most residential properties in the area would provide a direct access to Heathrow, via the M4 Spur, reduce delay at the existing roundabout and offer a reduced environmental impact on any residential properties compared with the consultation scheme. This Junction 4 loop road scheme was taken forward as part of the M4 Improvement proposals published in May 1996.
However in November 1996 the Highways Agency decided to accept a roundabout improvement scheme which would work satisfactorily and the loop road was withdrawn in favour of the scheme illustrated overleaf.
This scheme offers a reduced environmental impact at a lower cost compared with the loop road.
Statutory Procedures
Statutory Procedures
The draft Highway Orders and Scheme which accompany this M4 Environmental Statement are published under the Highways Act 1980. If approved, they would provide authority for the construction of the improvements to the M4 and alterations to existing roads. Draft Compulsory Purchase Orders for the land needed for the schemes are being published with the draft Highway Orders.
The draft Highway Orders and relevant parts of the Environmental Statement for the M4 Improvement Proposals published in May 1996 are withdrawn.
Your Comments
Your Comments
Anyone wishing to comment on any part of the published proposals for the M4 Improvements should write to the address below.
Terry Williams,
Highways Agency,
No5 Broadway,
Broad Street,
Birmingham,
B15 1BL
After carefully considering all objections and representations to the draft Highway Orders and the Environmental Statements, and after full consideration of the Inspector's report and recommendations following the T5 public inquiries, the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport will decide whether to proceed with the schemes.
Further Information
Further Information
Copies of the M4 Environmental Statement can be purchased at the following prices:-
Volume 1 £35
Description and assessment of proposed schemes
Volume 2 Technical Reports £100
Presented in nine parts as follows:
- Land Use
- Drainage and Ground Conditions
- Ecology and Nature Conservation
- Landscape
- Cultural Heritage
- Traffic Noise and Vibration
- Air Quality
- Disruption due to Construction
- Policies and Plans
Individual parts may be purchased separately. Details are available from the Highways Agency in Birmingham.