Environment

Environmental summary

M1 junction 45 is situated in a semi-rural landscape approximately 4.6km south-east of Leeds city centre. The area is characterised by the proximity of Temple Newsam, a Grade II registered park and garden. There were no national or internationally designated statutory nature conservation sites, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or National Parks within the study area, however there are three non-statutory Leeds Nature Areas (LNAs) located nearby. There are no residential properties within 500m of the junction, with the closest being approximately 900m away. The presence of these environmental constraints all contribute to the relative environmental sensitivity of the junction and informed the environmental design of the project.

Five years after opening, the project is delivering many of the environmental outcomes that were originally forecast, however there are some environmental considerations which could not be subject to quantitative evaluation owing to the lack of availability of suitable data.

Overall, the project is performing broadly as expected, and with continued maintenance attention, the long‑term environmental outcomes should remain on track.

Environmental theme	Predicted appraisal outcome	Evaluation outcome	Evaluation summary
Noise	N/A	Evaluation not possible	Due to the lack of comparable traffic data, it has not been possible to complete the quantitative evaluation of impact of traffic changes on noise.
Air quality	N/A	As expected	A traffic data comparison was not possible. However, as local authority monitoring indicates pollutant concentrations below the relevant standards, the evaluation of significance is unchanged and the project is not likely to significantly affect air quality.
Greenhouse gases	Slight adverse	Evaluation not possible	Due to the lack of comparable traffic data, it has not been possible to complete the evaluation of impact of traffic changes on greenhouse gas.
Landscape	Neutral	As expected	All impacts are negligible and confined to within the highway boundary. The issues with failed planting identified at one-year after had been resolved although there was little evidence of recent maintenance. However, plots were still establishing, and the outcome was likely to be as expected.
Historic environment	Neutral	As expected	The project was unlikely to have affected Temple Newsam House due to intervening woodland and landscape. All works were within the highway boundary and so impacts to the setting of the registered park and garden were likely to be negligible as expected.
Biodiversity	Neutral	As expected	Adverse effects were limited to the small-scale loss of low value verge side habitats. Verges have been restored and new planting is in place. Plots were overgrown but were still providing beneficial habitats to replace those lost.

Images

Photo 1: View east towards M1 junction 45. A63 on right. Plots establishing, but plots contain weeds and becoming overgrown. Source: Evaluation site visit August 2019.

Photo 2: Near Colton Underpass. Guards still in place but trees and shrubs were growing. Plot contained some weeds (brambles, ragwort), but also some wildflowers (teasel, knapweed) Source: Evaluation site visit July 2023. — Near Colton Underpass. Guards still in place but trees and shrubs were growing. Plot contained some weeds (brambles, ragwort), but also some wildflowers (teasel, knapweed) Source: Evaluation site visit July 2023.

Photo 3: View north from new gantry on M1. Temple Newsam House beyond trees in centre of picture. Source: Evaluation site visit July 2023. — View north from new gantry on M1. Temple Newsam House beyond trees in centre of picture. Source: Evaluation site visit July 2023.

Photo 4: Dead planting in plot 20A/B. This should have been replaced as part of the aftercare requirements. Source: Evaluation site visit July 2023. — Dead planting in plot 20A/B. This should have been replaced as part of the aftercare requirements. Source: Evaluation site visit July 2023.