Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Land to Rear of 1 Pinfold Lane Almington Market Drayton
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Land to Rear of 1 Pinfold lane Almington Market drayton Report no. P62.T87.15. Date of publication: 3rd June 2015 Staffordshire Ecological Services The Wolseley Centre Wolseley Bridge Stafford ST17 0WT Tel: 01889 880124 Project Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Land Rear of 1 Pinfold Lane, Almington, Market Drayton Report No: P62.T87.15 Date: 3rd June 2015 Description: Preliminary Ecological Appraisal to consider potential impacts to habitats and protected species in relation to development proposal Client Details Aspire Housing Author Principal Ecologist: Dave Haslam MSc, MCIEEM Disclosure The information which I have prepared and provided is true, and has been prepared and given in accordance with the guidance of my professional institution’s Code of Professional Conduct, and I confirm that the opinions expressed are my true and professional opinions. Dave Haslam MSc MCIEEM Principal Ecologist Staffordshire Ecological Services Direct dial: 01889 880 124 Switchboard: 01889 880 100 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ses-gb.co.uk Contents Non-Technical Summary ................................................................................. 2 1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 3 2 Methodology ............................................................................................. 4 3 Results ...................................................................................................... 7 4 Evaluation and Impacts ............................................................................ 9 5 Recommendations & Mitigation .............................................................. 10 6 Bibliography ............................................................................................ 12 Appendix A: Site Plans .................................................................................. 13 Appendix B: Survey Plan &Target Notes ....................................................... 16 Appendix C: Results of Desk Study ............................................................... 17 Appendix D: Photographs .............................................................................. 19 Figures Figure A.1: Location Plan ............................................................................... 13 Figure A2: Aerial: Wider Landscape .............................................................. 14 Figure A.4: Proposal Plan .............................................................................. 15 Figure B.1: Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Plan ....................................... 16 Figure C.1: Designated Sites Plan ................................................................. 18 Plates Plate D.1 Arable Field ................................................................................ 19 Plate D.2 Garden Area (Location of Treatment Plant) ............................... 19 Plate D.3 Access Track Southern End (Location of Existing Treatment Tank) ………………………………………………………………………..20 Plate D.4 Arable Field Location of Soak Away. .......................................... 20 Tables Table 1.1: Main legislation relevant to the site ................................................. 3 Table 2.1: Surveyor information ....................................................................... 4 Table 2.2: PEA Survey Methodology ............................................................... 4 Table 3.1: Designated Sites within 1 km .......................................................... 7 Table 3.2: Phase 1 habitat descriptions ........................................................... 8 Table 4.1: Evaluation and Impacts ................................................................... 9 Table 5.1: Further Survey & Licensing ........................................................... 10 Table 5.2: Mitigation Hierarchy: Further Actions ............................................ 10 Table B1 Target notes ................................................................................... 16 Table C.1: Protected Species Records within 1km of site .............................. 17 Preliminary Ecological Appraisal V.1 1 1 Pinfold Lane, Almington, Market Drayton Non-Technical Summary On the 27th May 2015, SES Ltd. conducted a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) of land to the rear of 1 Pinfold Lane, Almington near Market Drayton, which is proposed for the installation of a sewage treatment plant with associated piping, soak away and electricity supply. The site was fully accessible with good weather conditions (Section 2). There was no evidence of protected or BAP Priority habitats or species within the site. There is a hedgerow along the northern boundary (Pinfold Lane) which will not be impacted upon, all works will take place within the arable field (Section 3). The installation of the sewage plant and associated works will not have a negative impact on the existing ecological value of the site or the surrounding area (Section 4). Table S1 below provides a brief summary of mitigation onsite subject to the mitigation hierarchy and whether further detailed survey is required. Table S2 provides a summary of net losses/gains with respect to bats & birds (nesting in buildings); for bats, this cannot be determined until further survey is completed. Table S1: Mitigation Hierarchy Ecological Avoid Mitigate Compensate Further Mitigation measures Receptor survey Summary needed? (See section 5) Designated X No Pollution prevention measures sites Exclusion zone NERC X No Precautionary approach of a 3m habitat buffer zone between the soak (hedgerow) away and the hedgerow. Badger X No Included in advice on working methods Bats X No None required as potential foraging routes (boundaries) will be retained. Nesting X No Timed clearance Birds Habitat replacement Table S2: Net Loss/Gain Ecological Predicted Legal Designing for Receptor net loss without Implications? net gain/enhancement compensation i.e. net gain Designated sites No No N/A NERC habitat None NERC Act Buffer zone to protect hedgerow during excavation works. Badger None Not if avoidance Precautionary measures approach during implemented excavation works. Bats None None N/A Nesting Birds None Not if avoidance N/A (individuals) measures implemented Preliminary Ecological Appraisal V.1 2 1 Pinfold Lane, Almington, Market Drayton 1 Introduction 1.1 Terms of Reference Staffordshire Ecological Service (SES) Ltd. has been commissioned by Aspire Housing to undertake a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) in support of a planning application for the installation of a sewage treatment plant with associated piping, soak away and electricity supply at land to the rear of 1 Pinfold Lane in Almington near Market Drayton (hereafter referred to as the ‘site’). This PEA report presents ecological information from the desk study, Extended Phase 1 Habitat survey, preliminary roost assessment and preliminary protected species surveys on 27th May 2015. The purpose of this report is to provide ecological information to support the planning proposal and thus survey objectives include: identifying ecological features onsite; subjecting them to evaluation and impact assessment; providing advice on the potential for contravention of legislation/policy; and providing recommendations on any further actions needed (licensing, mitigation, enhancement, etc.). A summary of main statutory provisions for biodiversity conservation relevant to this site is provided in Table 1.1 below. Table 1.1: Main legislation relevant to the site Biodiversity Legislation Ecological Feature Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) Bats, Nesting Birds, Schedule 1 Birds Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations Bats 2010 Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) Wild Birds Regulations 2012 Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Badgers Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 Hedgerow (NERC) Hedgerows Regulation 1997 Hedgerows 1.2 The Site Site Name Land to rear of 1 Pinfold Lane Address: Pinfold Lane, Almington, Market Drayton TF9 2QR OS Grid Ref: SJ 703351 Location Plan (to scale): see Figure A.1 (Appendix A) ; Wider Landscape Aerial Photo Figure A.2 (Appendix A) Site Boundary: see Figure B1 (Appendix B). Brief Description of Site: Site is located to the east of the properties along Pinfold Lane which is a arable field with a narrow field margin (1-2m wide) of vegetation indicating nutrient enrichment. The site includes a small area of garden to the rear of 1 Pinfold Lane and a vehicle access area to the south of the site. There is a mature hedgerow forming the northern boundary along Pinfold Lane which is outside the operational area. Brief Description of Surroundings: The surrounding land is agricultural with large areas of improved grassland, Preliminary Ecological Appraisal V.1 3 1 Pinfold Lane, Almington, Market Drayton arable, mature hedgerows and trees, small woodlands. There is a small residential area to the south (Almington Village) and scattered agricultural holdings. 1.3 Proposed Works The client intends to undertake the replacement of the existing sewage services with a new treatment plant, soak away and associated piping and electricity cabling. The proposals are shown in Figure A.4 provided in Appendix A. 2 Methodology 2.1 Surveyor Information Table 2.1: Surveyor information Ecologist Position Relevant Experience (in yrs) Dave Haslam MSc MCIEEM Principle Ecologist 30 2.2 Survey Methods & Design Criteria The focus of the surveys was habitats,