Environmental Impact Assessment: Kingston Marine Park, Isle of Wight, UK
- Client:
- South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
- Project Team:
- SEEDA, Turley Associates, Campbell Reith Hill
- Services required:
- Masterplanning,
- Feasibility Studies and Market Research,
- Environmental and Legislative Advice
As part of the Strategic Development Framework for the Medina Estuary a site at Kingston on the east of the River Medina was identified as aligning with the Cowes Waterfront Initiative as a key waterfront location for future marine industry uses. The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) commissioned Marina Projects Ltd, Turley Associates and CampbellReith, working in partnership to produce the development proposals for the Kingston Marine Park which included development of the masterplan, detailed design and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in support of the planning application. CampbellReith undertook overall management of the EIA and completed assessment of the terrestrial impacts associated with the proposal. Working in partnership with Campbell Reith, Marina Projects Ltd managed and compiled the marine-side elements associated with the Scoping Report and Environmental Statement of the EIA. These elements included:
- Hydrodynamics and Geomorphology;
- Water and Sediment Quality;
- Intertidal and Subtidal Ecology;
- Commercial and Recreational Fisheries;
- Tourism; and
- Commercial and Recreational Navigation.
As an element of the assessment of the above environmental issues, Marina Projects designed the necessary specifications for intertidal/subtidal ecology and sediment quality surveys, managed subcontractors, conducted stakeholder engagement and undertook the review of the specialist surveys and final assessments.
Key challenges in addition to the potential for rare species, consideration of sediment quality and the impacts on the sediment budget of the estuary was balancing the needs of the marine industry with those of the marine environment due to the sensitivity of the Medina estuary in terms of internationally designated sites.
