Preliminary Ecological Assessment
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LAND SOUTH OF HIGH STREET, GREAT WAKERING, ESSEX PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT A Report to: Taylor Wimpey Report No: RT-MME-119852-01-RevA Date: July 2016 Triumph House, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry CV5 9AZ Tel: 01676 525880 Fax: 01676 521400 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.middlemarch-environmental.com Land South of High Street, Great Wakering, Essex RT-MME-119852-01-RevA Preliminary Ecological Assessment REPORT VERIFICATION AND DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE This study has been undertaken in accordance with British Standard 42020:2013 “Biodiversity, Code of practice for planning and development”. Report Date Completed by: Checked by: Approved by: Version Tim Hextell MCIEEM (Principal Technical Dr Katy Read CEnv Dr Philip Fermor Ecological Consultant) MCIEEM MCIWEM Final 31-07-15 CEnv MCIEEM and Sarah Boulstridge C.WEM DipSM (Managing Director) BSc (Hons) (Ecological (Executive Director) Consultant) Tim Hextell MCIEEM (Principal Technical Dr Katy Read CEnv Dr Philip Fermor Ecological Consultant) MCIEEM MCIWEM Rev A 13-07-16 CEnv MCIEEM and Dr Tom Matthews C.WEM DipSM (Managing Director) (Senior Ecological (Executive Director) Consultant) The information which we have prepared is true, and has been prepared and provided in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Code of Professional Conduct. We confirm that the opinions expressed are our true and professional bona fide opinions. DISCLAIMER The contents of this report are the responsibility of Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. It should be noted that, whilst every effort is made to meet the client’s brief, no site investigation can ensure complete assessment or prediction of the natural environment. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability for any use that is made of this document other than by the client for the purposes for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. VALIDITY OF DATA The findings of this study are valid for a period of 24 months from the date of survey. If works have not commenced by this date, an updated site visit should be carried out by a suitably qualified ecologist to assess any changes in the habitats present on site, and to inform a review of the conclusions and recommendations made. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 1 Land South of High Street, Great Wakering, Essex RT-MME-119852-01-RevA Preliminary Ecological Assessment NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY Middlemarch Environmental Ltd was commissioned by Taylor Wimpey to carry out an initial ecological appraisal of land south of high Street, Great Wakering, Essex. This information is required to inform a planning application associated with the redevelopment of the site for housing. The illustrative masterplan indicates that the site will mainly comprise residential housing, and that the Local Wildlife Site adjacent to the south of the site boundary will be retained. The drainage plans indicate that drainage from the site will run into the ponds within the LWS to the south of the site, and that a balancing pond will be constructed to the south of the LWS. To fulfil this brief an ecological desk study and a walkover survey (in accordance with Phase 1 Habitat Survey methodology) were undertaken. Initial consultation with Taylor Wimpey resulted in the survey area for the proposed development being delineated to follow the original development site boundary. However, the site boundary subsequently changed, such that the current site boundary is now smaller (i.e. encompassed within) than the survey area. This report and its conclusions are based on the current site boundary; however, the survey data relates to the wider survey area. The desk study exercise identified four European statutory sites within 5 km of the survey area, one UK statutory site within 2 km and three non-statutory sites within 1 km. The site is not located within 10 km of a statutory site designated for bats. The desk study also provided records of protected/notable species within a 2 km radius of the survey area including: bats, badger, hedgehog, brown hare, harvest mouse, water vole, harbour porpoise, amphibians, reptiles, birds, invertebrates, plants. The walkover survey was undertaken on 15th June 2015 by Tim Hextell, Principal Technical Ecological Consultant. The survey area was dominated by arable farmland consisting of large cereal fields delineated by a mixture of open boundaries, ditches and irregularly managed hedgerows. The central section of the survey area largely consisted of several pools and ponds surrounded by dense scrub interspersed with some areas of short grassland possessing colonising scrub and tall ruderal vegetation. Additional habitats recorded within the survey area included bare ground and buildings/structures. Foulness Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), Foulness (Mid Essex Coast Phase 5) Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar Site and Essex Estuaries Special Conservation Area (SAC) are located 1.30 km north. In addition Benfleet and Southern Marshes (Ramsar Site, SPA) is located 2.8 km south-west and Croach and Roach Estuaries (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 3) (Ramsar Site, SPA) is located 3.20 km north-west. Consideration should be given to the potential for qualifying bird species from these sites to be using the open water habitats within the study site. Star Lane Pits Local Wildlife Site (LWS), is situated towards the south of the proposed development site and could potentially be detrimentally impacted without implementation of appropriate measures prior to commencement of site-based activities. The current illustrative masterplan for the site indicates that the site will be developed for residential purposes, whilst the Star Lane Pits LWS to the south of the site boundary will largely be retained with only a narrow band on the western side being lost to permit creation of a new access road; a new balancing pond will be created to the south of the LWS. It is understood that this LWS will be retained and managed appropriately for biodiversity. Based upon the above a variety of recommendations have been made including: Consultation with the Local Authority and Natural England with respect to possible impacts upon European statutory protected sites Consultation with the Local Authority Ecologist and / or The Essex Wildlife Trust with respect to possible impacts upon Star Lane Pits LWS. Production and implementation of a Habitat Management Plan for Star Lane Pits LWS targeted at creation and maintenance of habitats for invertebrates, reptiles and plants. Additional Survey / Assessment Work: The following additional survey works are recommended for the site: Breeding Bird Survey; Wintering Bird Survey; Daytime Bat Survey on the buildings and trees with bat potential; Great Crested Newt eDNA Sampling and Habitat Suitability Index Assessment; Badger Survey; Reptile Survey; Water Vole Survey and Invertebrate Survey. These surveys have been commissioned by the client. All recommendations outlined in these reports must be adhered to. Removal of vegetation should be undertaken outside of the nesting bird season. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 2 Land South of High Street, Great Wakering, Essex RT-MME-119852-01-RevA Preliminary Ecological Assessment Sensitive vegetation clearance/removal to avoid harming small mammals (including hedgehog and harvest mice) and common amphibians. Protection of retained trees and hedgerows in accordance with British Standard 5837: 2012 "Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction - recommendations". Please refer to Chapter 6 for full details of the recommendations provided. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 3 Land South of High Street, Great Wakering, Essex RT-MME-119852-01-RevA Preliminary Ecological Assessment CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 5 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 SITE DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT .......................................................................................................... 5 1.3 DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED .................................................................................................................. 5 2. METHODOLOGIES.................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 DESK STUDY ......................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ..................................................................................................................... 7 3. DESK STUDY RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 8 3.2 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES .............................................................................................................. 8 3.3 PROTECTED / NOTABLE SPECIES .......................................................................................................... 10 3.4 INVASIVE SPECIES ...............................................................................................................................