Bat Survey

Report:

St Mary’s

Association Club, former Argos building

and adjoining Gale Cottage, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, structures, County Durham, DL13 3LT Tel: 01388 526978 Skinnergate, Fax: 01388 526978 email: [email protected] website: www.barrettenvironmental.co.uk

February 2020

Company registered in England No. 5603818

Barrett Environmental Ltd

Contents

A Executive summary 2

B Introduction 2

C Survey and site assessment 4

D Impact assessment in the absence of mitigation 21

E Mitigation 22

F References 22

G Appendices 23

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A Executive summary

Barrett Environmental Ltd was commissioned by Darlington Borough Council to prepare a bat risk assessment of a complex of buildings on Skinnergate in central Darlington, which included the St Mary’s Association Club and adjoining former Argos retail unit. The assessment was informed by a data search from Durham Bat Group, daylight survey of the exterior of the buildings and a single dawn return bat survey to record bat activity.

Proposals for the site are not known, but are presumed to include the demolition of existing buildings and construction of a range of mixed-use structures.

There are no historic records of roosting bats at the Skinnergate site however several potential access points to typical roost features were identified and the daylight survey was constrained by lack of access to the interiors of the buildings.

No bat activity was recorded at the site during a dawn return survey at the end of the bat survey season by 4 experienced bat surveyors but a single common pipistrelle was recorded close by before the start of the survey.

The location of the site close to suitable foraging habitat, and presence of several potential access points for bats into the buildings render it a medium risk for use by roosting bats for which further surveys are required. The interiors of the buildings need to be searched for evidence of bat occupation and at least 1 additional bat activity survey is required to inform an impact assessment and mitigation strategy.

B Introduction

B1 Background to development Barrett Environmental Ltd was commissioned by Darlington Borough Council to prepare a risk assessment for the presence of roosting bats in a group of buildings along Skinnergate in Darlington. The survey area included the vacant former Argos retail premises, St Mary’s Association Club and adjacent structures. Proposals for the site were not available at the time of production of this report, but it is understood Darlington Borough Council is seeking to acquire the buildings with a view to demolition and re-development.

The site is situated at grid reference NZ286144 and lies in the heart of Darlington town centre. Its location is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

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Figure 1: Site location plan (adapted from MAGIC)

Figure 2: Detailed location plan (adapted from MAGIC).

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B2 Full details of proposed works Details of the proposed works were not available at the time of writing this report, but it is presumed that all structures within the red line boundary will be demolished and the site redeveloped.

Figure 3: Site boundary and survey area (drawing supplied by Darlington Borough Council)

C Survey and site assessment

C1 Pre-existing information on bats at the survey site Durham Bat Group holds the database for bat records in the county. The database was checked for the block of 25 Ordnance Survey 1-km squares centred on NZ2814.

Grid Date Location Species & no. Status Square 1, Grounded NZ2613 / 338 Coniscliffe Road, baby bat; Presumed 2013 2713 Darlington species roost unknown 60 Soprano 2011 Avenue, Darlington Active roost pipistrelle NZ2614 / [NZ269143] 2714 112 Hummersknott 2012 Avenue, Darlington 2 Pipistrelle Roost [NZ269145]

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Hummersknott Avenue, 1 Common Bat in NZ2614 / Darlington pipistrelle building 2013 2714 No house number supplied, but reported that there is no known roost at this address. Beech tree at High Active roost Linhams, Bridge Road, 47 Noctule 1986 then Blackwell, Darlington Also a hibernation site – 21 Noctules in 1986 NZ2712 Species Active roost 2003 Farrholme unknown, no then count Former Blackwell Golf 2014 1 Noctule Feeding Club Roost 3, species 1988 20 Blackwell, Darlington status unknown unknown Roost known since at least as early as 1985 (when the count was NZ2712 / also 3) 2713 Sheraton Park, Exclusion 70 Pipistrelle Blackwell, Darlington requested 1998 Exact location uncertain – address not traced on map and grid reference incorrectly given as NZ275176 on original form Species Coniscliffe Road, Active roost 1990 unknown, no Darlington, [NZ277137] then count On the evidence of the droppings may be Whiskered/Brandt’s bats Elm Ridge Church, Roost Pipistrelle, no 1999 Carmel Road South, status count Darlington unknown Species Roost Woodvale Road, 2002 unknown, no status Darlington count unknown NZ2713 Record based on report by householder, not followed up A67 by Baydale Wood 1 Common Flight 2006 [NZ27536 13086] pipistrelle record From Bats and Roadside Mammals Survey, 4 July 2006 1 Common Grounded Elm Ridge [NZ273136] 2008 pipistrelle January record Cypress Close, 510 Soprano 2015 Active roost Darlington pipistrelle Woodburn Drive, 169 Soprano Maternity 2016 Darlington pipistrelle roost

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Elton Parade, Common Flight 2010 Darlington [NZ277140] pipistrelle Several passes West Cemetery, Common Feeding Darlington [NZ273140] pipistrelle 2013 “Surprisingly low numbers but weather quite cold” on 17 and 20 September Common Foraging NZ2714 St Clare’s Abbey, pipistrelle (“Several”) 2017 Darlington Foraging Myotis sp (“Several”) Elton Parade, 37 Whiskered / Active roost Darlington [NZ277140] Brandt’s 2019 Householder’s count. Roost known since 1986; maximum count 46 in 1991 DNA results from this site indicate the presence of Brandt’s bat Westlands Road, Bat in 1 Pipistrelle 1991 Darlington [NZ275156] house Probably brought in by cat Species Pierremont Road, Active roost unknown, no Darlington then (?) count 2003 Report from a member of the public: “a bat flew low over NZ2715 our heads and into a roost above the front bay window of my house” Brinkburn Dene, Species Flight Darlington unknown 2006 “There's quite a bit of bat activity in the Dene…” (From e- mail) Woodland Road, 2011 1 Pipistrelle Flight Darlington (NZ277152) Woodland Road, Species Flight 1985 Darlington unknown Bats flying over garden NZ2715 / Species 2815 The Denes, Darlington Flight unknown 2015 Mid-April record – “Saw several flying around the Denes in Darlington… while out for a walk.” Sandriggs, Darlington Active roost 97 Pipistrelle 2001 [NZ271162] then In 2011 reported by householders not seen since 2004 Bowen Road Allotments 1, species Foraging NZ2716 2009 [NZ273163] unknown Probably Pipistrelle Industrial Common Flight 2015 Estate [NZ274167] pipistrelle “High levels of foraging activity”

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Faverdale Industrial Noctule Flight NZ2716 2015 Estate [NZ274167] “Intermittent foraging activity” Grange Species NZ2716 / Feeding 1992 Farm, Darlington unknown 2816 Bats feeding along tree line Roost Harewood Hill Police Species status 1991 Hostel, Darlington unknown unknown Bat signs found while servicing boiler , South Field 2007? Daubenton’s Park, Darlington records Common Feeding Blackwell Lane, pipistrelle Darlington Soprano 2007 Feeding pipistrelle Bats approached from north/northeast on each of two survey evenings 2009 South Park, Darlington 5+ Noctule Foraging Common Feeding pipistrelle Polam School/River 1+ Soprano Skerne Feeding 2011 pipistrelle Daubenton’s Feeding Common pipistrelle and Daubenton’s both recorded as NZ2813 “Few” Marlborough Drive, Species Apparent Darlington unknown roost 2013 E-mail from DBG member: “…a random query from a friend who says there are bats that come out of a chimney on Marlborough Drive in Darlington” Common Present pipistrelle South Park, Darlington Soprano Present pipistrelle Daubenton’s Present Common pipistrelle also recorded in South Park in 2007 and 2011 (“several”) and Pipistrelle [sp.] (“numerous”) in 2014 2009; Soprano pipistrelle also recorded in 2007; Daubenton’s bat also recorded in South Park in 2007, 2009 (“several”) and 2011 (“many – the highest number I have recorded here”). “South Park is one of the best places in the Tees Valley to watch bats and usually turns up Pipistrelles, Daubenton’s and other Myotis bats”. [Tees Valley Bat News, April 2007]

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Roost Pipistrelle (?), Parkside, Darlington status no count unknown NZ2813 / 2010 Identification based on photograph of one of two bats 2913 found in house on consecutive days in 2007. In 2011 householders reported bats had been present in 2010, but not in 2011 Roost British Home Stores, 4, species ? status Northgate, Darlington unknown unknown Queen Elizabeth Sixth NZ2814 Active roost 1989 Form College, Vane 56 Pipistrelle then Terrace, Darlington Stanhope Park, 2011 1 Pipistrelle Flight Darlington (NZ283147) Vancouver Street, 30+, species No longer Darlington unknown active? 1985 Reported “not seen in last 3 years”, July 1990. Bat found in kitchen sink at this address in July 2017 (see below) Maternity Ward, Roost Pipistrelle, no 1992 Darlington Memorial status count Hospital unknown There was an incident when around 8-10 bats became trapped between the two panes of a double-glazed

window at this hospital. It is not clear whether the record on the database refers to this occasion Active roost 1999 Craig Street, Darlington 25 Pipistrelle then Coronation Street, 1 Common NZ2815 2010 Grounded Darlington pipistrelle Brook Terrace, 1, species 2013 Grounded Darlington unknown 1, species 2013 Craig Street, Darlington Grounded unknown Easson Road, 1, species Commuting Darlington unknown 2013 “Pipistrelle?... flying quite high over the houses towards North Lodge Park” Vancouver Street, 1, species Bat in Darlington unknown building 2017 Bat found in kitchen sink. “I live next to the dene and have seen bats around at night”. Same address as 1985 record above

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4+ Common Junior Foraging 2003 pipistrelle School 1 Noctule Commuting 2007 Black Path, Darlington 1 Pipistrelle Foraging 2007 North Park, Darlington 1 Pipistrelle Commuting Honeypot Lane 1 Common NZ2816 2010 Grounded Caravan Site pipistrelle Thompson Street West, 1 Common 2011 Grounded Darlington pipistrelle Species Droppings; Hensfield Grove, 2016 unknown, no possible Darlington count roost North of 2 Pipistrelle Flight NZ2911 2006 (NZ293110) NBMP Sunset/Sunrise Survey 2014 Priestgate, Darlington 1 Pipistrelle Foraging Churchyard, St NZ2914 1 Common 2015 Cuthbert’s Church, Flight pipistrelle Darlington NZ2914 / Eastbourne Road, 1, species Bat in 2012 3014 Darlington unknown building 1+ Common NZ2915 2008 Location not disclosed Feeding pipistrelle Common Rockwell, Darlington Feeding 2007 pipistrelle A “few” River Skerne, Rockwell, 2007 2 Myotis Feeding Darlington (NZ299161) North Road, Darlington 2010 1 Pipistrelle Flight (NZ293169) Common Feeding River Skerne, Rockwell, pipistrelle Darlington Daubenton’s (46 Commuting 2011 passes) NZ2916 Common pipistrelles recorded as “Many…constant from NZ297161 - NZ307158”. National Bat Monitoring Programme Waterway Survey Rockwell (NZ296161) Myotis sp Feeding 2013 “Several…probably Daubentons; only found downstream of NZ298161” Common Rockwell Flight 2014 pipistrelle “Several” North Cemetery, Common Flight 2014 Darlington pipistrelle “Several”; “Few” noted here in 2010

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Baltimore Way, Common Droppings NZ2916 / Darlington pipistrelle? 2010 3016 Numerous droppings; grounded Common pipistrelle recovered from garden next door Common pipistrelle (16 Feeding Land N.E. of Darlington passes) 2013 Arena 1 Soprano Feeding pipistrelle NZ3012 Noctule Feeding Feeding (“Several”) 2 Common Roost South of Darlington pipistrelle 2014 (NZ306121) 2 Whiskered / Roost Brandt’s Roxby Court, Roxby Common Commuting NZ3013 2015 Moor Avenue, pipistrelle (“Few”) Darlington Species Active roost 1994 Hirst Grove, Darlington unknown, no then count Flight NZ2013 / record Milton Street, 3014 1 Pipistrelle (indoors); Darlington 2007 no known roost Householder reported at the end of 2011 that bats were still present, but “only 1 poss 2 seen for several years” Pease Street, 4, species Flight Darlington unknown record 2005 National Bat Monitoring Programme Sunset Survey. “Bats have been in this area for some years but seem to have reduced in number.” NZ3014 Heathfield Primary 1, species Bat in School, The Broadway, unknown building 2011 Darlington Message from BCT suggests there is a roost in another part of this school River Skerne, Rockwell, Common Feeding Darlington pipistrelle 2013 “Several”; also recorded in 2011 as “many…constant from NZ297161- NZ307158” Common NZ3015 Address not disclosed, pipistrelle, no Active roost Darlington count 2017 National Bat Monitoring Programme Colony Count; covered in most years from 2011 to date – maxima 20 in 2011 and 27 in 2012; 2 in 2013, 2015 and 2016.

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St Andrew’s 2017 6 Noctule Flight Churchyard, Darlington St Andrew’s 1 Common NZ3015 Flight Churchyard, Darlington pipistrelle 2017 “Few” Common pipistrelles noted here in flight in August 2011 Roost Kennel Lane, Species NZ3015 / status 1991 Darlington unknown 3115 unknown Bat signs found while servicing boiler Wellbeck Avenue, Pipistrelle, no Active roost Darlington count 2006 Householder reported at the end of 2011 that bats had not been seen for 18 months NZ3016 River Skerne, Rockwell, Common Feeding Darlington pipistrelle 2013 “Several”; also recorded in 2011 as “many…constant from NZ297161- NZ307158” Bewick House, NZ3016 / 1, species 2015 Road, Grounded 3116 unknown Darlington 3+ Common 2008 Location not disclosed Feeding pipistrelle Common Foraging & pipistrelle commuting NZ3113 Fields south of Soprano Foraging & 2016 Cummins’ site pipistrelle commuting Brown Long- Foraging & eared commuting 1 Common Possible Malim Road, Darlington pipistrelle roost NZ3114 2012 “bat…found by the roofing contractor apparently just sitting on the roofing felt” Bisley Court, Red Hall, 1 Common 2015 Roost Darlington pipistrelle Aviemore Court, Red 56+ Common Roost 2015 Hall, Darlington pipistrelle Colony in two properties 1 Common Aviemore Court, Red Roost pipistrelle 2015 Hall, Darlington – third NZ3115 1 Soprano address Roost pipistrelle Aviemore Court, Red 1 Common 2015 Hall, Darlington – fourth Roost pipistrelle address Aviemore Court, Red 1 Common 2015 Hall, Darlington – fifth Roost pipistrelle address

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Aviemore Court, Red 1 Common NZ3115 2015 Hall, Darlington – sixth Roost pipistrelle address River Skerne, Great 6 Common 2007 Foraging Burdon pipistrelle NZ3116 Stockton Road, 1 Common 2007 Foraging Darlington pipistrelle Most of the northern two-thirds of the area covered by the search falls within urban/suburban Darlington, but the southern third is mainly rural. The flows to the south of the town, passing through the southwestern corner of the search block in NZ2713 to NZ2711. The Tees corridor is generally considered to be bat-rich, at least in the context of North East England. The River Skerne enters the block in NZ3116, flowing in a broadly westerly and then southerly direction, passing through the centre of Darlington and eventually joining the Tees in NZ2810. At least six of the eight bat species “normally occurring” in North East England appear on the list. The position regarding the myotid species is not clear – the records of Whiskered/Brandt’s bat and of Myotis sp may refer to one species or could cover more. Daubenton’s bat is specifically identified on the list and appears to be well-distributed along the course of the Tees from at least as far west as Middleton-in-Teesdale. The presence of Brandt’s bat is suggested by DNA analysis of a dropping from NZ2714. A further roost of Whiskered/Brandt’s bats is recorded from NZ3512 and there are also field records of Whiskered/Brandt’s bat and Myotis sp from fairly close to the search area in NZ2917 (found dead), NZ3017, NZ3313 and NZ3411. Natterer’s bat has been recorded foraging in NZ2612, just to the west of the area covered by the search, and there are additional field records of this species from Stodhoe (NZ3313) and from Middleton One Row (NZ3412), with a further possible record from NZ2719. There is only a single field record of Brown Long-eared bat on the list, but roosts are recorded from (NZ2215), Faverdale (NZ2717), Green Lane, Darlington (NZ3017), (NZ3217), (NZ3310), Dinsdale (NZ3411), (NZ3412 and NZ3512) and Low Middleton (NZ3610). Further large roosts of Soprano pipistrelle (in excess of 400 bats) are recorded from close to the Tees in NZ2809, NZ2909 and NZ3010. There are several additional field records of the high-flying and wide-ranging Noctule from the open countryside around Darlington. Up to 15+ have been noted foraging at Drinkfield Marsh (NZ2817), just to the north of the search block. This report uses some National Bat Monitoring Programme data, supplied by the Bat Conservation Trust and JNCC and based on fieldwork carried out by volunteers. In accordance with the request of BCT a copy of the NBMP notes on metadata accompanies this report. Table 1: Durham Bat group data

There are no historic records of bats at the site itself, although there are 3 records from within the same kilometre square. 2 of these are around parkland 500m to

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the west. The final record is from a site 500m to the north but the bat species and year are unknown.

C.2 Status of species C2.1 Bats All bat species and their roost sites are partially protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

All bat species are listed on Annex IVa of the European Habitats Directive 1992 (EC Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora). In the UK the Directive has been transposed into The Conservation of Habitats and Species Amendment Regulations 2017. Under this legislation, a person commits an offence if they:

 deliberately capture, injure or kill any bat;  deliberately disturb any species in such a way as to be likely significantly to affect- i) the ability of any significant group of animals of that species to survive, breed or rear or nurture their young ii) the local distribution or abundance of that species;  damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place.

All UK bat species are also listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, 1982) and, except the pipistrelle, are listed in Appendix II. All UK bat species are protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe (under the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals).

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan included seven bat species on the priority species list and had plans for five, including soprano pipistrelle (UK BAP, 2007). The Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 adopted the species listed in the UK BAP, and these are included as Section 41 Species of Principal Importance in England under the legislation.

18 species of bat are native to the UK, and with an estimated population of 1.28 million, the common pipistrelle is the most common. The only other species with the status "common" are soprano pipistrelle and brown long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus). Four species, Daubenton's (Myotis daubentonii), Natterer's (Myotis nattereri) bat, Whiskered (Myotis mystacinus) and Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandtii), with populations between 150,000 - 300,000, are locally common. Five of the remaining species are vulnerable and four, including the grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus), with an estimated population of only 1,000, are rare. Alcathoe bat (Myotis alcathoe) has recently been discovered as resident although its status and distribution are not yet known.

The Durham Biodiversity Plan (BAP), has a Species Action Plan for bats (URL1) which states that the pipistrelle bat is probably the most abundant and widespread species in the Durham area. In this context, Durham is considered as including County Durham, Darlington, South Tyneside, Gateshead and City of Sunderland. It also states that common pipistrelles are found on modern housing

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estates and are ubiquitous throughout the whole of the Durham BAP area. Brown long-eared bats are reasonably widespread but localised.

Eight species are known to breed in the county, and a total of 11 species have been recorded. These are common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle, noctule, brown long-eared, whiskered, Brandt’s, Natterer's, Daubenton's, Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii), serotine (Eptesicus serotinus) and Leisler’s (Nyctalus leisleri).

The status of bats in Durham is shown in Table 2.

Species Status Found on modern housing estates and are Common pipistrelle ubiquitous throughout the whole of the Durham BAP area Are known to occur on the Tees, Wear and Soprano pipistrelle Derwent but are probably more widespread Are localised in the areas’ mature woodland, in Noctule rural areas Are reasonably widespread but localised. They Brown long-eared require large, undisturbed roof spaces within flying distance of suitable woods Are fairly widespread but localised. Roosts in the Whiskered Durham area are of national importance Much rarer and the roosts in the Durham area are Brandt's of national importance Roost in trees and large roof spaces where they Natterer's can warm up before leaving; this is one of Durham’s rarer species Are widespread along water courses and near Daubenton's water bodies throughout the region Have been recorded feeding over the Tees at Nathusius pipistrelle Cotherstone, near Bowes and Whitworth on the Wear, but no roost sites are known Bat detector records only – probably animals Serotine indulging in post-breeding dispersal Bat detector records in 2000 & 2007 only – Leisler’s nearest known breeding site near Sheffield Table 2: Status of bat species in Durham (Durham Biodiversity Action Plan)

C3 Objective of assessment and survey To determine the use of the buildings at the site by roosting bats in order to ascertain the likely impacts of future site developments on individual bats and on the conservation status of the local population.

C4 Plan/map of survey area See Figure 3.

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C5 Site description St Mary’s Association Club house and adjoining buildings form a complex in central Darlington. The shopping street of Skinnergate lies to the east, with Raby Terrace to the left and an open area, Punchbowl Yard to the north. To the south west lies a small burial ground, but otherwise the area is entirely urban with the area to the east being the main central shopping precinct area of Darlington.

The site layout is depicted in Figure 3 and relevant site images are presented in Section C5.1.

The majority of the site comprises a large brick-built, flat roof structure formerly occupied by Argos. The roof is covered in felt which appears in reasonable condition with no apparent gaps that could be used by bats to gain access for roosting.

The 2-storey St Marys Association Club building lies in the south west corner of the site and has pitched roofs adjoining roofs are pitched, with some areas tiled and some with corrugated metal. To the east of the site, there are a row of ground floor shops facing onto Skinnergate, with flats above and a pitched roof.

The building immediately south of the former Argos store was mostly destroyed by fire prior to the survey, and work had commenced to make the building safe and clear the debris. The presence of scaffolding to roof height provided an excellent vantage point for the bat activity survey.

C5.1 Images

Image 1: View from Raby Terrace of the west side of the complex

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Image 2: View from Raby Terrace of the west side of the complex

Image 3: View of the north side of the complex from Punchbowl Yard

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Image 4: View of the east side with shop frontage and false pitched roof

Image 5: View north along Skinnergate from roof level

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Image 6: View south west towards St Mary’s Association and adjacent buildings

Image 7: View across flat roofs of the west side of the building

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Image 8: View west towards the burial ground area.

C6 Field survey C6.1 Methods Survey methodologies were those recommended in “The Bat Workers Manual” (2004), the “Bat Mitigation Guidelines” (2004) and “Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists – Good Practice Guidelines” (2016). The survey was commissioned at the end of the bat survey season and a full suite of surveys was not possible. The exterior of the buildings were examined for opportunities and evidence of roosting bats, but access to the interiors was not possible.

A data search by Durham Bat Group and a single dawn return survey were conducted in 2019.

The dawn return survey was carried out by a team of four surveyors. Surveyors each covered a section of buildings (some mobile, some remaining static) such that all aspects of the site were observed. Equipment used included Batbox Duet bat detectors attached to digital recorders, EM Touch detectors and Batlogger M detectors. Bat calls were recorded and analysed with the appropriate software to confirm bat species.

C6.2 Personnel The dawn return survey was implemented by a team of four experienced bat surveyors; David Long (WML CL18 Bat Survey Level 2 No: 2015-14746-CLS- CLS), Stacey Adlard, Dave Thew (WML CL18 Bat Survey Level 2 No. 2015- 15639-CLS-CLS) and Jonathan Pounder (2015-11439-CLS-CLS).

David Long was positioned on scaffolding at the south east corner of the site overlooking the roofs, whilst Stacey Adlard was positioned at first floor level

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overlooking the roofs from the south west corner. The remaining surveyors were constantly mobile and covered half of the site each.

The survey area covered by each of the surveyors is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Routes of survey taken by each surveyor

C6.3 Timing The dawn return survey was carried out on 10th September 2019.

C6.4 Weather conditions during survey

Environmental 10th September 2019 conditions Dawn Start time 04:54 Finish time 06:29 Sunrise 06:29 Cloud 0% Temp at start 8°C Temp at end 8°C Precipitation None Wind W f1 Insect abundance Low Table 3: Weather conditions and timings of bat activity surveys

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C7 Results C7.1 Data search and daylight survey There are no records of bats from the site and no records of roosts in close proximity. Access restrictions limited the daylight survey to the exterior of the buildings only, and several potential bat access points were identified, primarily in the St Mary’s Association Club and adjacent pitched-roof store.

The lack of access to the interiors of all the buildings is a major constraint on the survey.

C7.1. Dawn return survey results 10th September 2019 A common pipistrelle was briefly heard foraging around a mature tree immediately west of the St Mary’s Association Club building shortly before the survey started, however no bats were seen or heard by any of the surveyors during the survey.

C8 Interpretation and evaluation C8.1 Survey results There are no historic records of bats at the site, and those from the same kilometre square were from the more rural areas to the west.

The daylight survey was constrained by lack of access to the interiors of the structures, and whilst the majority of the former Argos building is deemed a negligible risk for use by roosting bats, the false pitched roof along the east elevation provides limited roost potential, and the traditional buildings in the south west corner of the plot (St Mary’s complex) provide several opportunities.

The site lies in a well-lit urban location but the small burial ground immediately south west provides suitable bat foraging habitat in the vicinity.

Due to timing constraints a single dawn return activity survey was carried out to determine bat use across the site and identify roost locations. The complete lack of bat activity cannot be used to indicate bat absence and further activity surveys are necessary. The common pipistrelle heard immediately prior to the survey indicates bats utilise the locality.

C 8.2 Constraints There were two constraints to the survey; the dawn survey was commissioned and implemented at the end of the recommended period for bat surveys and access was not possible to the interiors of any of the buildings.

D Impact assessment

The survey has been partially undertaken and requires internal inspection of all the buildings and further bat activity surveys at the correct time of year.

It is not possible to consider the likely impacts of the development until the details of the proposals are known and the presence or otherwise of roosting bats has been determined.

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E Mitigation

A mitigation strategy cannot be formulated until the full development proposals are understood, and the presence or otherwise of bats has been determined through further survey.

F References

Collins, J, (ed) (2016) Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists - Good Practice Guidelines (3rd Edition), Bat Conservation Trust, London.

Mitchell-Jones, A. J. (2004), Bat Mitigation Guidelines, Peterborough: English Nature.

Mitchell-Jones, A. J. & McLeish, A. P. (2004), Bat Workers’ Manual, 3rd Edition, Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Russ, J (2012), British bat calls: a guide to species identification, Pelagic Publishing, Exeter

URL1: http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/bats/

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G Appendices

G1 Existing reports No previous bat surveys are known to have been carried out at the Skinnergate site.

G2 Raw Survey Data

Skinnergate Bat Return survey Darlington DL3 7NG Surveyor initials J Pounder Project no. BE001238 Date 10.09.2019 Temp at start 8°C Time in position 04:54 Temp at end 8°C Sunrise 06:29 Insect abundance Few Finish time 06:29 Precipitation None Bat detector Batbox Duet Cloud cover % 0% Recording device Edirol Wind (direction & speed) W 1 Street name Property number

Time Position Bat species & activity Common pipistrelle commuting unseen 04:54 A before survey began

Skinnergate Bat Return survey Darlington DL3 7NG Surveyor initials SA Project no. BE001238 Date 10.09.2019 Temp at start 9°C Time in position 04:55 Temp at end 8°C Sunrise 06:29 Insect abundance low Finish time 06:30 Precipitation none Bat detector Batlogger Cloud cover % <10% Recording device Wind (direction & speed) none

Time Position Bat species & activity

NO BATS SEEN/HEARD

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Skinnergate Bat Return survey Darlington DL3 7NG Surveyor initials DWT Project no. BE001238 Date 10.09.2019 Temp at start 11°C Time in position 04:50 Temp at end 10°C Sunrise 06:29 Insect abundance Low Finish time 06:29 Precipitation Nil Bat detector Duet Cloud cover % 0% Recording device Edirol Wind (direction & speed) W.1 Street name Skinnergate Property number ---

Time Position Bat species & activity

No bat activity detected or observed.

Skinnergate Bat Return survey Darlington DL3 7NG Surveyor initials DL Project no. BE001238 Date 10.09.2019 Temp at start 10°C Time in position 04:55 Temp at end 8°C Sunrise 06:29 Insect abundance low Finish time 06:30 Precipitation none Bat detector Batlogger Cloud cover % 0% Recording device Wind (direction & speed) none

Time Position Bat species & activity

No bats.

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