The Severn Estuary Forum is a key annual event in its eighth year and hosted by the Severn Estuary Partnership: an independent, estuary-wide initiative, involving all those interested in the management of the estuary, from planners to port authorities, fishermen to farmers. This year’s Forum was opened by the Lord Mayor of Gloucester and supported by CIWEM. It focussed on a number of diverse topics, including the upper estuary; renewable energy possibilities; a review of the Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy; an overview of the operations and maintenance of the Severn River Crossings; Local Enterprise Partnerships; The Bristol Deep Sea Container Terminal; proposals for a Severnside Airport and Fisheries amongst others. These engaging and exciting events are intended for all interested in learning about the latest research and policy developments dealing with the Severn Estuary and its future, and always guarantee a lively and informative day of presentations and talks. They offer a unique opportunity to learn from others, share ideas and participate in the management of the Severn Estuary.

1. The Bristol Port Company
Bristol Deep Sea Container Terminal
Finding Consensus & Win-Win Solutions
Jerry Stanford
Haven Master

2. –
Bristol Maritime History
By the Middle Ages
Bristol City Docks
was a major port
Hazards of navigation
in the River Avon
Roman Port at Sea Mills
(Portus Abonae)

3. The Evolution of Bristol Port
The Future
Royal Edward
Dock 1908
Bristol Deep Sea
Container Terminal
Royal Portbury
Dock 1977
Avonmouth
Dock 1877

6. The Bristol Deep Sea Container Terminal
•
•
Ultra large container ships
•
1.2 km long quay wall
•
15 x super post-Panamax
gantry cranes
•
150 acre handling &
storage area
•
Approved March 2010
1.5 million TEU per year
(about 900,000 containers)
Excellent road & rail links

7. Capital Dredging and Disposal
• Deepen navigation channel & create turning /berth area
• Channel: 14m deep (below chart datum)
• Berth pocket: 18m deep (below chart datum)
• 24 million cubic metres to be dredged
• Sands & gravels used in construction
• New disposal site in outer estuary

8. BDSCT Compensation
The Severn Estuary is
designated for its
internationally important
marine habitats, birds &
other wildlife
SAC – Special Area of Conservation
SPA – Special Protection Area
Ramsar – Wetlands of International Importance
SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest
Compensate for
temporary adverse
affect on designated
intertidal habitat &
birds here (sediment
deposition & smothering)
Compensate for
loss of
designated
intertidal habitat
here
COMPENSATION OBJECTIVES:
Create 120ha of Intertidal habitat in Severn Estuary
Support over 3,000 birds over winter
Habitat functioning before impact at Avonmouth

9. Compensation
Scheme
•
192 ha site on Steart Peninsula
•
Creation of over 130 ha of intertidal
wetlands
•
More sustainable approach to
managing flood risk & improved
defences
•
Enhanced access network &
education facilities
•
Partnership with RSPB
•
Together with Environment Agency’s
project next-door, its one of largest
created wetlands in UK (over 600ha)
Approved April 2012

10. A Transformational Project
•
Provide deep-water container capacity for UK on
the West Coast
•
Unrestricted access for deep-draft vessels
•
Enable the efficient distribution of cargo, reducing
road miles and emissions
•
Maintain and improve Port’s standing, ensuring
growth and providing new opportunities (creating
about 1,500 new jobs)
•
Generate additional regional GDP and support
developing local distribution market
•
Create new wetland habitat for both wildlife and
people to enjoy long into the future

11. Environmental Impact Assessment
A full Environmental Impact Assessment was undertaken by a team of experts
in 2007 and 2008. Including potential impacts on the following:
•
Hydrodynamic & sediment regime
•
Ports & navigation
•
Water, soil & sediment quality
•
Recreation & tourism
•
Marine/Coastal Ecology & Ornithology
•
Traffic & transport
•
Nature Conservation
•
Noise & vibration
•
Archaeology & Heritage
•
Coastal protection & flood defence
•
Landscape & visual setting
•
Other activities (aggregate dredging, fishing)

12. Key Issues & Concerns
Environment
Ports & navigation
Fishing and Angling Activities
Traffic & Transport
Marine Aggregates
Archaeology & Heritage
Photo: British Marine Aggregate Producers Association

13. Consultation & Agreement
• Regular meetings of sector interest groups throughout EIA process
• Pulling together regulators, statutory consultees, NGO’s and local
interest groups
• Objectives:
– to fully inform
– identify & address concerns
each step of the way
– gradually reach consensus
(e.g from scoping & identifying potential impacts, to agreeing scale & consequence of
impacts and finally developing proposed mitigation measures, monitoring programmes
and where necessary required compensation measures)
Overall aim was that when the Environmental Statement was submitted
there was NO SURPRISES for stakeholders or the port

14. Environmental Issues & Concerns
•
Port worked in partnership with Natural England, RSPB & EA to develop a
Mitigation, Compensation & Monitoring Agreement
•
In consultation with CCW, Cefas, Avon Wildlife Trust and Bristol City Council
– Legal agreement implementing Habitats Regulations
– Agreed statement of impacts on Severn Estuary
– Commitment to the implementation of:
•
•
•
•
an agreed outline mitigation plan
a compensation scheme with agreed objectives
an agreed outline monitoring plan
an Environmental Steering Group

15. Summary of Harbour Revision Order
Approval Process
2006-2008 – Design & Environmental Assessment
2008
• Harbour Revision Order and Environmental
Statement submitted to DfT - July
•
42 day statutory consultation period
•
Addressing concerns and objections
•
Agreements reached & all objections removed
by end of year
2009 - Public Inquiry planned for January cancelled
2010 - HRO granted – March
Very rare for a Major Port
Development not to have a
Public Inquiry

16. HRO Approval
In granting the HRO the Secretary of State
(SoS) concluded that:
•
There is an economic need for container
port expansion at Bristol to help meet
national need
•
Assisting market flexibility & resilience by
providing capacity outside SE England and
closer to main inland freight destinations
•
Reducing inland journey miles and saving
fuel and carbon emissions
•
Global economic downturn has deferred (but
not removed) need for additional capacity

17. Habitats Regulations Assessment
In considering impacts on European sites SoS concluded:
•
impacts agreed by Applicant, Natural England & RSPB
•
it cannot be ascertained there will not be an adverse impact
•
there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest
why the works should be permitted
•
no other alternative within the Applicant’s control is more
suitable for meeting the identified need
•
adequate compensation measures can be secured to offset
the adverse impact on European and international sites of
conservation importance

18. Summary of TBPC approach to developing in a
designated estuary
• Consult extensively throughout EIA process, setting up an
Environmental Steering Group (ESG) of regulators and key NGOs at
the start
• Try to design a project and mitigation measures to avoid/reduce
adverse affects wherever possible
• Accept from onset that mitigation for loss of designated intertidal
habitat is probably not possible and requirement for compensation is
likely
• Start to investigate possible compensation schemes early in process
• Develop a Mitigation, Compensation and Monitoring Agreement to
formalise the process in partnership with key environmental regulators
and NGO’s
• Investigate opportunities for a partnership approach in
designing, delivering and managing the compensation schemes

19. Habitat Creation Partnerships
•
TBPC & RSPB - design & deliver habitat creation together
– RSPB’s extensive experience of planning, designing, delivering &
managing wetland creation projects throughout the UK
– Optimisation of ecological design for birds and other wildlife
– Providing enhanced access and observation areas, whilst minimising
visitor disturbance
– Long-term site management & maintenance (including opportunities
for sustainable farming, education and training)
– Win-win: for Port, wildlife and local communities
•
TBPC & EA – cooperation over 2 compensation schemes
– Masterplan for consistency and integration between two
projects, enabling delivery of schemes in a phased approach
– Additional joint mitigation e.g. New sea wall protecting road to village
– Joint surveys/assessments e.g. ecology, archaeology & visitors
– Developing mutually beneficial solutions to shared problems

20. Compensation Timescales
Assess development impacts and agree compensation requirement
2007-2008
Select compensation site, secure land options & scoping/feasibility
2008-2009
Design Scheme, Environmental Impact Assessment & Consultation
2010-2011
Secure planning permissions
2012-2013
Secure funding for BDSCT and associated Compensation Scheme
?
We are here
Compensation construction (1 to 2 years)
Indicative* 2015/2016?
Created habitat develops to provide functioning habitat (2 winters)
Indicative* 2016/2017?
* Indicative dates depend on construction start – earliest dates shown – currently delayed pending funding of BDSCT and recovery of global container market
Around 8-10 year process for 130ha compensation scheme on a site where consultation had
been taking place for many years in advance and land owners & stakeholders generally
supportive
Planning and delivering compensation schemes take long periods of time
Implications for other large development proposals in the Severn Estuary?

21. The Way Forward?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Timing for progressing proposals is uncertain
Container shipping market yet to recover from global recession & need
improvement to secure funding
Construction at Steart & Avonmouth unlikely to start within next few years
Construction consents valid until 2020
As soon as there is a definitive view on when we will proceed, TBPC will write
to all stakeholders & publicise in the local media
Once decision is made to proceed much work has to be done prior to
construction:
– Detailed construction planning and programmes
– Obtaining further consents and licences
– Agreeing details of mitigation & monitoring plans
We trust we can count on your continued co-operation when the time comes

22. Conclusions
•
Effective consultation pays off – but takes
some effort for all concerned
•
Gradual building of consensus and trust - no
surprises
•
Challenges of limited resources & consultation
overload
•
Partnership approaches between
developers, regulators & NGOs work:
– negotiating agreements to address concerns
– in planning and delivering compensation
schemes
– delivering real benefits & better
environmental and socio-economic
outcomes (win-win)
– avoiding expensive public inquiries is in
everyone’s interests – if possible

23. Thank you
jerry.stanford@bristolport.co.uk
http://www.bristolport.co.uk/