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Ecological Assessment

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Ecological Assessment Ecological Assessment Land North of Dowding Way, Waltham Abbey, Essex On Behalf of: Next plc and Trinity Hall May 2018 © SES 2018 www.ses-eco.co.uk Lucy Addison BSc (Hons) MSc Grad CIEEM, Dr Authors Graham Hopkins MCIEEM FRES and Darren Denmead BSc (Hons) Grad CIEEM Technical Review Sean Crossland BSC BCA MCIEEM Report Status Final Date of Issue 15th May 2018 Contents 1.0 Introduction and Aims ...............................................................................................................................1 2.0 Methods ....................................................................................................................................................3 3.0 Results .......................................................................................................................................................6 4.0 Evaluation ............................................................................................................................................... 24 5.0 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................ 28 6.0 References .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Tables Table 1: Statutory designated sites within 8km of the Site (European) and 5km from Site (UK) .................. 6 Table 2: Non-statutory Designated Sites within 2km of the Site ................................................................... 8 Table 3: Hedgerow Survey Summary Results .............................................................................................. 10 Table 4: Bat records held by data suppliers (EFC, 2018) .............................................................................. 11 Table 5: Activity Survey Summary (by season) ............................................................................................ 12 Table 6: Activity Survey Summary (by stop / walk) ...................................................................................... 12 Table 7: Static Detector Survey Summary (2017 - 2018) ............................................................................. 13 Table 8: Trees on site surveyed for roosting bats. ....................................................................................... 14 Table 9: Status of breeding and non-breeding birds within the Site ........................................................... 16 Table 10: Hazel Dormouse Survey Summary ................................................................................................. 18 Table 11: ISIS Summary of Data Search ......................................................................................................... 18 Table 12: Assemblage Type Associations of Widespread but Declining Moths ............................................ 19 Table 13: Descriptions of Sampling Stations .................................................................................................. 20 Table 14: Number of species in Broad and Specific Assemblage Types ........................................................ 20 Table 15: Occurrence of Specialist Species within Specific Assemblage Types ............................................. 21 Table 16: Reptile Species Recorded from Data Search .................................................................................. 22 Table 17: Weather Conditions and Reptile Species Recorded ....................................................................... 22 Table 18: Site value based on breeding bird community size (Fuller 1980) .................................................. 26 Table 19: Summary Evaluation of Site Features ............................................................................................ 28 Appendices Appendix 1 Site Boundary Plan Appendix 2 Proposed Layout Phase 1 and Parameter Plan Phase 2 Appendix 3 Phase 1 Habitat Plan Showing Study Area and Indicative Site Boundary Appendix 4 Legislation Appendix 5 Survey Methods Appendix 6 Bats Survey Results Appendix 7 Badger Survey Results Appendix 8 Hazel Dormouse Tube Locations Appendix 9 Invertebrate Sampling Stations and Survey Results Appendix 10 Reptile Refugia Locations Appendix 11 Hedgerow Survey Results Appendix 12 Plant Species of Known Benefit to Bats 1.0 Introduction and Aims 1.1 Southern Ecological Solutions Ltd. (SES) was commissioned by Next plc and Trinity Hall to undertake Phase 2 ecology surveys and assessments at Land North of Dowding Way, Waltham Abbey in Essex (the site). A site boundary plan is provided in Appendix 1. 1.2 The development proposals for the site (the ‘Development’) are subject to a hybrid planning application being submitted to Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) and are defined as: “Hybrid: full planning application for erection of 1 no. warehouse (Class B8) including access and servicing arrangements, car parking and landscaping and associated works including new junction to A121; outline planning application for up to 22,733m2 Gross Internal Area (GIA) of employment floorspace (Classes B1(c), B2 and B8) with all matters reserved.” 1.3 Phase 1 of the Development is submitted in detail and Phase 2 is submitted in outline with all matters reserved. The Development would provide up to 80,000m2 GIA of employment floorspace. Appendix 2 provides details of the proposed layout for Phase 1 and the development Parameter plan for Phase 2. Site Description 1.4 The site extends to 12.01ha and bordered by the M25 Motorway to the north and agricultural land to the south, with the A121 dissecting the southern part of the Site east/west. Within the wider landscape, Greater London dominates to the south and west, agricultural land to the north and Epping Forest to the east. The Site is in agricultural use and is divided by a hedgerow into two fields. Zone of Influence 1.5 The ‘zone of influence’ has been established as 2km from the site boundary for records of notable and protected species as well as non-statutory designated sites, 5km for non-statutory designated sites and 8km for statutory designated sites. In addition, the boundary used for the protected species surveys is shown in Appendix 3 and is hereafter referred to as the ‘study area’. The results reflect this wider site boundary. Phase 2 Surveys and Assessments 1.6 Following an initial Phase 1 Habitat Survey in 2013 and an update in 2017, the following surveys and assessments were recommended: Habitats • Hedgerows. Protected and Notable Species • Badger; • Bats – roosting (including emergence) and activity; • Birds – breeding and wintering; • Hazel Dormouse; 1 • Invertebrate; • Reptiles; and • Small and medium-sized mammals. 1.7 The aims of these surveys were to: • Determine the value of habitats on Site and within the study area; • Determine the usage and value of the Site and within the study area for protected and notable species; • Assess the value of the Site and within the study area and potential direct and indirect impacts the proposed development may have on habitats and species; and • Inform the impact assessment and mitigation strategy within the Environmental statement. 1.8 This report summarises the results of the Phase 2 surveys and assessments. All features, including statutory and non-statutory sites, habitats and protected and notable features are evaluated using the evidence from the desk study, field surveys and relevant literature. 1.9 The assessment within this report are made in accordance with relevant wildlife legislation and planning policy such as Chapter 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF): Conserving and Enhancing the Natural Environment (DCLG, 2012), current policies within the Combined Policies with the Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) Local Plan (1998) and Alterations (2006) document (EFDC, 2008) and draft policies relating to the new, draft Local Plan (EFDC, 2016). Personnel 1.10 All surveys were undertaken following best practice guidance. Other than those listed in section 2, all surveys were undertaken or supervised by suitably qualified ecologist Lucy Addison BSc (Hons) MSc Graduate Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM, Grad CIEEM) and overseen by suitably qualified ecologist Sean Crossland MSc Full Member of CIEEM (MCIEEM). 2 2.0 Methods Desk Study 2.1 A search for European designated sites was undertaken up to 8km from the study area, via the MAGIC online spatial data resource (magic.defra.gov.uk), including those listed on Schedules within the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. 2.2 A radius of 5km, or within the Natural England Impact Risk Zones (IRZ) from the study area for UK designated sites via the MAGIC online spatial data resource (magic.defra.gov.uk), including those listed on Schedules within; the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 Section 21. 2.3 A data search was requested from the Essex Field Club (EFC) in April 2013 with the results being updated in April 2018. The data search included records of all protected and notable species within 2km of the study area boundary, including those listed as priority species on Schedule 41 (S41) of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006, previously Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species / habitats; those listed on other wildlife legislation for example Badgers (detailed within Chapter 3, Results), and other
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