THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY

INCORPORATING
AMENDMENT NO.1
DATED AUGUST 1994

THE SCOTTISH OFFICE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT

THE WELSH OFFICE
Y SWYDDFA GYMREIG
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR
NORTHERN IRELAND

Environmental Assessment

Summary:

This Advice Note gives guidance on the environmental assessment of

trunk road schemes, including motorways.

Volume 11
Environmental Assessment

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Registration of Amendments

Volume 11
Environmental Assessment
REGISTRATION OF AMENDMENTS

Amend
No

Page No

Signature & Date of

incorporation of
amendments

Amend
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incorporation of
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June 1993

DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES

VOLUME 11
SECTION 1

ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT
INTRODUCIION

PART 1
THE APPLICATION OF THE ADVICE
NOTE

Contents

Chapter

1. Introduction
2. Glossary of Terms
3. References
4. Enquiries
Annex A

June 1993

Proforma

DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES

DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME 11

Section 1 Introduction
Part 1

The Application of the Advice Note

Section 2 General Principles of Environmental Assessment

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

The Aims and Objectives of Environmental Assessment

and How Its Results Are Reported
The Scope of Environmental Assessment
Mitigation

Section 3 Environmental Assessment Techniques

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12

Air Quality
Cultural Heritage
Disruption Due to Construction
Ecology & Nature Conservation
Landscape Effects
Land Use
Traffic Noise and Vibration
Pedestrians, Cyclists, Equestrians and Community Effects
Vehicle Travellers
Water Quality and Drainage
Geology and Soils
Policies and Plans

Section 4 Reporting the Environmental Assessment

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Stage 1 Report
Stage 2 Report
Environmental Statement
Environmental Impacts Tables
Illustrative Mapping Examples

June 1993

Volume 11 Section 1
Part 1 The Application of the Advice Note

Chapter 1
Introduction

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 This Advice Note, which forms Volume 11 of
the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)
provides guidance on the environmental assessment of
trunk road schemes including motorways. It
supersedes the Manual of Environmental Appraisal
(DOT, 1983) and Departmental Standards TD 12/83
and HD 18/88 and in Scotland Parts C and D of the
Scottish Traffic and Environmental Appraisal Manual
(STEAM) - see Technical Memorandum SH 2/86
(DMRB 5.1). Part A of STEAM should be read with
due regard to this Volume of the DMRB. Advice Note
HA 51 (DMRB 1.0.1) provides advice on the content
and format of the DMRB.

1.5 The Design Organisation is appointed to

undertake the overall scheme assessment. Advice on
the reporting of the overall assessment process
covering the Environment, Economics, Traffic and
Engineering is given in Volume 5 of the DMRB.
1.6 Whilst parts of the overall assessment may be
carried out discretely it is for the Design Organisation
to co-ordinate the work of developing and refining
possible route corridors/route options and any
preferred route identified by the Overseeing
Departments Project Manager.
Implemcntation

1.2 This Advice Note provides guidance to the

Overseeing Departments Design Organisations on the
level of environmental assessment required at the key
stages in the development of a trunk road scheme and
the requirements for reporting the effects on the
environment.
1.3 SECTION 2 of the Advice Note sets out the
general principles which should guide environmental
assessment. SECTION 3 gives guidance on the
assessment techniques needed for most environmental
impacts associated with the construction and operation
of a trunk road scheme. In some cases it may be
necessary to consider environmental effects not
described in detail or to vary methods to suit the
particular requirements of a scheme. In such cases the
Design Organisation should seek the agreement of the
Overseeing Departments Project Manager. SECTION
4 provides guidance on reporting the environmental
assessments.

1.7 The Design Organisation should consult their

Overseeing Departments Project Manager for
instructions on the applicability of the Advice Note to
schemes already in the Roads Programme. The Advice
Note applies to all future programme entry studies and
to all schemes which subsequently enter the Roads
Programme.

1.4 The focus of this Advice Note is the

environmental assessmen t of schemes . Other aspects
of scheme assessment are described for England,
Wales and Northern Ireland in the COBA Manual of
Cost Benefit Analysis and the Traffic Appraisal
Manual, TAM. In Scotland the corresponding
documents are Network Evaluation From Surveys and
Assignments (NESA) - see Technical Memorandum
SH 2/91 (DMRB 5.1) and STEAM Part B. These
documents are used for the assessment of the traffic
and economic aspects of trunk road schemes. This
Advice Note does not cover the environmental
assessment of policies or programmes.

June 1993

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1/1

Volume 11 Section 1
Part 1 The Application of the Advice Note

Chapter 2
Glossary of Terms

2. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
2.1 DESIGN ORGANISATION - the organisation
commissioned to undertake the various stages of
scheme preparation and supervision of construction
2.2 DMRB - Design Manual for Roads and
Bridges.
2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TABLES
tables bringing together relevant information from the
environmental assessment.
2.4 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT - a
statement produced in accordance with EC Directive
85/337 as applied by Section 105A of the Highways
Act 1980, Sections 20A and 55A of the Roads
(Scotland) Act 1984 and Article 39B of the Roads
(Northern Ireland) Order 1980.
2.5 OVERSEEING DEPARTMENT - the
Department or Agency responsible for a scheme (the
Highways Agency, Scottish Office Industry
Department, Welsh Office or Department of the
Environment for Northern Ireland).
2.6 OVERSEEING DEPARTMENTS PROJECT
MANAGER - the person within the Overseeing
Department responsible for ensuring the progression
of a project in accordance with that Departments or
Agencys policies and procedures.
2.7 PREFERRED ROUTE - the route announced
by the Secretary of State for the Overseeing
Department as the preferred option on which further
design and assessment will take place.
2.8 ROUTE CORRIDOR - a corridor within which
a route may pass, but where the detailed alignment has
not been developed.
2.9 SCHEME - an improvement or extension to the
existing trunk road network.
2.10 STUDY AREA - the area between and around
the two likely terminal points of a scheme which
might experience significant environmental impacts
from possible routes.

August 1994

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Volume 11 Section 1
Part 1 The Application of the Advice Note

Chapter 3
References

3. REFERENCES
1.

COBA

Cost Benefit Analysis

COBA 9 Manual: DOT:
1981

2.

TAM

Traffic Appraisal Manual:

DOT: 1981

3.

STEAM

Scottish Traffic and Environmental

Appraisal Manual: SOID: 1986
(Parts C and D are superseded by
this Volume of the DMRB. [for
[for use in Scotland only]

4.

NESA

Network Evaluation From

Surveys and Assignments
(Computer Program) NESA
User Manual: SOID: 1986
[for use in Scotland only]

5.

Design Manual for Roads and Bridges

Volume 1: Section 0: Publication Procedure

HA 51

The Introduction of the

Design Manual for Roads and
Bridges (DMRB 1.0.1)

Volume 5: Section 1: Assessment of Road Schemes

SH 2/86

Scottish Traffic and

Environmental Appraisal
Manual (DMRB 5.1)
[for use in Scotland only]

SH 2/91

Traffic and Economic

Evaluation of Trunk Road
Schemes Using the NESA
Computer Program
(DMRB 5.1)
[for use in Scotland only]

Note: References in other Sections of this Volume of

the DMRB are included in the Chapters entitled
Further Reading.

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Volume 11 Section 1
Part 1 The Application of the Advice Note

Chapter 4
Enquiries

4. ENQUIRIES
All technical enquiries or comments on this Advice Note should be sent in writing, using the proforma set out in
Annex A, as appropriate to:

Head of Road Engineering and

Environmental Division
The Highways Agency
St Christopher House
Southwark Street
London
SE1 OTE

N S ORGAN
Head of Road Engineering
and Environmental Division

The Deputy Chief Engineer

The Scottish Office Industry Department
Roads Directorate
New St Andrews House
Edinburgh
EH1 3TG

J INNES
Deputy Chief Engineer

Head of Roads Engineering (Construction) Division

Welsh Office
Y Swyddfa Gymreig
Government Buildings
Ty Glas Road
Llanishen
Cardiff CF4 5PL

B H HAWKER
Head of Roads Engineering
(Construction) Division

Assistant Chief Engineer (Works)

Department of the Environment for
Northern Ireland
Road Service Headquarters
Clarence Court
10-18 Adelaide Street
Belfast BT2 8GB

D OHAGAN
Assistant Chief Engineer (Works)

August 1994

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Volume 11 Section 1
Part 1 The Application of the Advice Note

Annex A

PROFORMA - COMMENTS ON VOLUME 11

Head of Road Engineering and Environmental Division
The Highways Agency
St Christopher House
Southwark Street
London SE1 OTE
[Comments on aspects specific to use in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland should be sent to the appropriate
address on page 4/1 of this Part]

Name:

Date:

Organisation
and Address:

Telephone Number:

Please ring

SECTION:

1 2 3 4

PART:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

CHAPTER:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

PARAGRAPH
NUMBER:
(Please insert)

COMMENT

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