Flood
• The entire site falls outside of any flood plain
• The Environment Agency has determined that the chance of the site flooding each year is 0.1% (1:1000) or less which is the lowest status provided by the EA.
Topography
The site is flat sitting at circa 80 m (262 ft) above Sea Level.
Railways and Roads
• The Kings Cross/Stevenage line is the closest rail track to the site; this lies at the nearest point approximately 1.4 km (0.86 miles) to the west. Welwyn Garden City Station is 1.4 km (0.86 miles) away.
• The site sits on the B195, Black Fan Road. The closest 'A' road is the A1000, Broadwater Road being 0.91 km (0.56 miles) to the west.
• Closest motorway is the A1(M) at 2.83 km (1.76 miles) away.
Aircraft
• Luton airport is located 16 km (10 miles) away. Others are as follows:
| Stansted |
16 km (10 miles) |
| London City |
36 km (23 miles) |
| Heathrow |
42 km (26 miles) |
| Gatwick |
73 km (45 miles) |
• The closest aerodrome is Panshanger (grass) 1.55 km (0.96 miles) to the NE. No overfly is permitted to the west of the airfield i.e over the data centre.
• The site is outside both the Luton and Stansted Control Zones.
Hazardous Industries or Uses
• There are no COMAH registered sites within 5 km (3 miles)
• The nearest filing station is 400 m (1,300 ft) south of the site, along Black Fan Road on the east side.
Nuclear Sites
• The closest active nuclear power stations are Dungeness in Kent being 127 km (79 miles) away and Sizewell in Suffolk being 132 km (82 miles) away however Bradwell in Essex, which is 74 km (46 miles) away and currently de-commissioned, is on the list for reactivation by 2015.
• The closest point to a nuclear reprocessing transit route is 21 km (13 miles) at Hemel Hempstead.
• Aldermarston Atomic Weapons Establishment is located 88 km (55 miles) away.
Nearby Potential Terrorist/
Extremist Targets
• Welwyn Garden City is a new town with no Government or other sites of security or economic significance and therefore no potential terrorist targets.
• The closest military bases/ facilities are:
- Chicksands is 29 km (18 miles) away which hosts the Intelligence Corps, as well as the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, responsible for most of the UK’s armed forces training in intelligence, security and information support.
- RAF Halton is 37 km (23 miles) away which is home to the School of Recruit Training and other non-flying units.
- Northwood is 26 km (16 miles) away which is occupied by the Chief of Joint Operations (CJO) and is home to his own Permanent Joint Headquarters (including the JFHQ), the Commander Naval Forces North (one of NATO’s three major Commanders) and Headquarters of Commander in Chief Fleet. Northwood has seen much expansion over the past two decades and is still evolving. With the modern command, control and communications facilities installed here to allow both the Chief of Joint Operations to direct national operations world-wide and the Commander in Chief to direct maritime operations.
- RAF High Wycombe is 44 km (27.5 miles) away and is the base for RAF Strike Command which controls all of UK’s frontline aircrafts (including transport and maritime aircraft). It is also responsible for the Air Surveillance and Control System - providing early warning of air attacks, and as such a direct recipient of data from RAF Fylingdales. RAF High Wycombe also hosts NATO command centres.
Electromagnetic Influences
• There are no identified sources of EMF in close proximity to the site.
• There are no above ground HV power lines over-flying either the site or adjacent sites.
Adjoining Owners and
Neighbouring Hazards
The adjoining occupier uses are as follows:
• Northeast - main road, on the opposite side are school playing fields.
• East – Road, on opposite side various community buildings including Arts Trust.
• Southeast - Light industrial / office units, nearest occupied by First City Care (security contracting company).
• Southwest – Hern’s Wood, beyond the wood is the nearest residential to the site.
• Northwest – Sika, manufacturers of floor sealers and other cement based products. There are tanks and drums on site, but no hazard warnings; the product and materials are inert.
Other Similar Facilities
• The closest data centre (other than the adjacent occupier, COLT) is located 914 m (3,000 ft) away, occupied by HSBC.
Environmental Issues
• No environmental issues have been identified.
For full details go to the download area.