TM PROVIDING TRUSTED ECOLOGICAL ADVICE EXTENDED PHASE 1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY OF LAND AT LANDHURST HARTFIELD Project Prepared By Approved by Client Status Date RGA047 A.R. Graves CEcol A.R. Graves CEcol VERVE FINAL AUG CEnv FCIEEM CEnv FCIEEM PROPERTIES 14 LTD Richard Graves Associates Ltd, Company Number: 7931959 Address: 10B Star Lane, Orpington, Kent, BR5 3LJ Tel: 020 32861419 E-mail: [email protected] www.richardgravesassociates.com Conditions of Use This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of Verve Properties Ltd its consultants and the local planning authority by Richard Graves Associates Ltd. The purpose of the report is explicitly stated in the text. It is not to be used for any other purposes unless agreed with Richard Graves Associates. The copyright for the report rests with Richard Graves Associates unless otherwise agreed. According to the purpose of the report, survey information supplied reflects the findings of the surveyor at the time of the visit. Species and habitats are subject to change over time, some species may not be apparent at certain times (for example subject to seasonal variation) and some species may colonise a site after a survey has been completed. These matters should be considered when using this report. Richard Graves Associates takes no responsibility for ecological features present after the date of the most recent survey. Ecological information over two years old should be updated before use in a decision making process. Ecological desktop information from third parties including local records centres is used in accordance with the appropriate terms and conditions of the suppliers. Ecological information more than five years old should be considered of historic interest only and not be relied on for decision making. All Richard Graves Associates staff are members of, at the appropriate level of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and subscribe to its code of professional conduct in their work. In accordance with the code limitations to the methods, results and conclusions will be accurately stated and any biological records collected as part of the project will be supplied to the appropriate local records centre one year after the date of issue of the report unless otherwise agreed. 2 Contents 1. Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 5 3. Methods ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Extended Phase 1 Survey ................................................................................................................ 6 4. Results and Evaluation ................................................................................................................ 8 Desktop Study .................................................................................................................................. 8 Phase 1 Survey .................................................................................................................................. 9 Protected Species ............................................................................................................................ 11 5. Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 13 Habitats ........................................................................................................................................... 13 European Protected Species .......................................................................................................... 13 Other Protected Species................................................................................................................. 13 General Measures During Construction ..................................................................................... 14 6. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 15 7. References ................................................................................................................................... 16 8. Appendices ................................................................................................................................. 17 Appendix A - Figure 1. Phase 1 Survey Plan ............................................................................. 17 Appendix B – SBRC Desktop Summary ..................................................................................... 18 3 1. Summary Richard Graves Associates undertook an Extended Phase 1 survey of land at Landhurst near Hartfield, East Sussex. No statutorily or locally designated sites are within or adjacent to the site or are likely to be impacted by the proposed development. Hedgerows form the southern, eastern and western boundaries of the site and are of high or moderate ecological value. None of the other habitats recorded were of intrinsic ecological value. Evidence of bat and nesting bird activity was recorded within the site. However there was no evidence of bats roosting within the buildings and structures. In order to further avoid potential harm to protected species timing of demolition and vegetation clearance when these species are least likely to be present is recommended. The report concludes that there are no material considerations in respect of biodiversity which should prevent the local planning authority granting permission for the development. 4 2. Introduction Instruction Richard Graves Associates were instructed by to undertake an Extended Phase 1 Survey of land comprising of Plot 7 at Landhurst. The survey is required to inform the local planning authority, Wealden District Council of any ecological interest associated with the plot and requirements for appropriate mitigation. It is understood that all of the buildings within the current plot will be demolished. Location The site is located to the south of Gallipot Street / Hill, Landhurst, Hartfield, at Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference at TQ 4715 3502 as part of the Landhurst Estate within a rural location. Assessment, Extended Phase 1 Survey The purpose of the assessment is to identify the habitats and species of ecological interest present, provide an indication of any protected species present and make recommendation for the protection of ecological features and mitigation. Protected Species are those, which are fully or partially protected by legislation. The relevant legislation includes: • The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (HMG, 2010) • The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (HMG, 1981) • The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 (HMG, 1992) 5 3. Methods Extended Phase 1 Survey The Extended Phase 1 Survey is described in Guidelines for Baseline Ecological Assessment (Institute of Environmental Assessment, 1995). This approach is based on: A Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey (JNCC, 2010 (Revised)), which includes classification of basic habitats and standard mapping, to which are added a desktop survey and a protected species walkover. The methodology is deviated from as target notes are not used on the plan but presented separately as waypoint generated by a GPS application (Peto, 2010) which provide more accurate locations and is easier to interpret for the reader. Hedges were also classified using the hedgerow evaluation and grading system (HEGS) (Clements, 1992) Desktop Study Baseline data for protected sites and protected species is held for most parts of the country, some of this, in particular protected sites, is open source (freely available) and some, in particular species information, may be supplied by local records centres for a charge. Given the location of the site in East Sussex the following source was consulted: • Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre (SBRC) A desktop study from SBRC (Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre, 2014) was obtained and is included as an appendix to this report. Protected Species Walkover and Phase 1 Survey The site was visited by Richard Graves and Phil Bolton on the 8th August 2014. Habitats were identified and are plotted on a map (Figure 2, Appendix A); botanical species were recorded and are noted in the text using nomenclature in accordance with (Stace, 2010) and (Veldhuijzen Van Zanten, 2010). Hedgerows were assessed for dormouse interest and potential and buildings were investigated for evidence of and potential for bats. Surveyor qualifications and experience The following surveyors conducted the work undertaken for the Landhurst site: Richard Graves Richard Graves BSc (Hons) MSc PGDip CEcol CEnv FCIEEM has over twenty years’ experience as a practising ecologist and has undertaken, commissioned and reviewed several hundred Extended Phase 1 Surveys all over the UK. Richard is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) a chartered ecologist and a chartered environmentalist. Richard is also class licenced for great crested newt surveys, a class licenced bat surveyor and author of current good practice guidelines for bat surveys. 6 Phil Bolton Phil Bolton BSc (Hons) ACIEEM MACMA is an experienced ecologist and countryside manager with over thirty