See answers to previous information requests

Please provide information on the following environmental matters related to the Arborfield Green development:

1. Environmental Impact and Pollution Monitoring:
• What environmental safeguards and limits are in place to control pollution from construction activities in Arborfield Green, particularly regarding emissions from machinery and noise levels?
• How does WBC monitor compliance with these limits?
• How often are these pollution levels measured, and by what means (e.g., continuous monitoring stations, periodic assessments, complaints-based inspections)?
• If any environmental impact assessments have been conducted regarding pollution from construction work in this area, please provide copies of relevant reports or findings.

2. Monitoring of Construction Work Adherence to Permitted Activity:
• What monitoring mechanisms does WBC have in place to ensure that construction work follows environmental guidelines, including noise and air pollution regulations?
• Have any breaches of environmental limits been recorded, and if so, what enforcement actions were taken?

We have been provided the following information from our Head of Strategic Development. The following measures are included in the planning application / planning approval process:
• Outline planning consent O/2014/2280 (140977) is supported by an Environmental Statement (ES) pursuant to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations. The ES (available on Council website via the application reference) includes chapters on Noise & Vibration, Air Quality, Ground Conditions, Water Environment and Biodiversity.
• In terms of the impact from construction, the ES concludes that there would be no significant adverse impact subject to securing appropriate mitigation measures; for example, by limiting hours of construction and implementing appropriate measures in a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP).
• The ES also assesses the air quality impacts of the development and identifies that on-site impacts from the demolition and construction can be mitigated through CEMPs to be provided with each sub-phase of the development.
• Accordingly, the outline permission (see decision notice) imposes planning condition requirements in respect to:
o Protection of existing trees (15, 16)
o Ecology (20-23)
o Lighting (57)
o Remediation of potentially contaminated land (58).
o Noise (59, 61, 62)
o Ventilation and Odour – commercial uses (63)
o Hours of operation for non-residential development
o Construction Environment Management Plan (65) for each development phase, including:
 Loading/unloading of materials
 Storage of plant/materials
 Traffic management
 Piling techniques
 Boundary hoarding
 Protection of aquatic environment
 Dust suppression
 Prevention of mud on road
 Lighting
 Fire prevention
 Demolition method
 Monitoring and review by developer / site manager
o Construction working hours (68) 8am-6pm Monday Friday, 8am-1pm on Saturdays, no working on Sundays or bank holidays

• It is not possible or practical for the Local Planning Authority to continuously monitor each development site across the Borough. However, it does undertake periodic monitoring in respect to compliance with planning permissions by regular site visits to the Strategic Development Locations (including Arborfield Green).
• Residents can lodge complaints or observations via the Council’s website (or by emailing constructionproblems@wokingham.gov.uk which are then investigated by a Compliance officer. In terms of environmental impact at Arborfield Green, previous examples have included reports of dust, mud on the road, inconsiderate parking by construction vehicles and non-compliance with the working hours planning condition. Where, upon investigation, breaches of planning control have been identified, these are raised (and resolved) directly with the developer. Formal enforcement action is an option available to the LPA, but is only taken as a last resort, where all other options for resolving a breach have been exhausted. Formal action will only ever be taken where it is 'expedient' to do so, considering planning policies and having regard to the public interest.