Ecological Impact Assessment Report
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ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT LANDS at NEWTOWNPARK AVENUE, BLACKROCK, CO. DUBLIN December 2020 ON BEHALF OF Prepared by Enviroguide Consulting Dublin Kerry www.enviroguide.ie 3D Core C, Block 71, The Plaza, 19 Henry Street [email protected] Park West, Dublin 12 Kenmare, Co. Kerry +353 1 565 4730 Enviroguide Consulting Residential Development Ecological Impact Assessment Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET Client Glenveagh Homes Ltd Project Title Residential Development at Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Document Title Ecological Impact Assessment Report Revision Status Author(s) Reviewed Approved Issue Date Internal Liam Gaffney Jim Dowdall 1.0 - - Draft Project Ecologist Director Liam Gaffney Jim Dowdall 2.0 Draft - 09/04/2020 Project Ecologist Director Final Liam Gaffney Jim Dowdall Jim Dowdall 3.0 24/09/2020 Draft Project Ecologist Director Director Final Liam Gaffney 4.0 Draft - - 13/10/2020 Project Ecologist V.2 Liam Gaffney Jim Dowdall Jim Dowdall 5.0 Final 20/10/2020 Project Ecologist Director Director Final Liam Gaffney Jim Dowdall Jim Dowdall 6.0 09/12/2020 V.2 Project Ecologist Director Director December 2020 Page i Enviroguide Consulting Residential Development Ecological Impact Assessment Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................ 2 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................ 3 LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................... 4 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND COMPETENCE ......................................................................................................... 1 2 RELEVANT LEGISLATION .......................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 NATIONAL LEGISLATION............................................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 Wildlife Act 1976 and amendments .................................................................................................. 2 2.1.2 EU Habitats Directive 1992 and EC (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 ........................ 2 2.1.3 Flora (Protection) Order, 1999 .......................................................................................................... 3 2.2 INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION ....................................................................................................................... 3 2.2.1 EU Birds Directive .............................................................................................................................. 3 2.2.2 EU Habitats Directive ........................................................................................................................ 3 2.2.3 Bern and Bonn Convention ............................................................................................................... 3 2.2.4 Ramsar Convention ........................................................................................................................... 3 3 METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................................................... 4 3.1 SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................................ 4 3.2 DESK STUDY .............................................................................................................................................. 4 3.3 FIELD SURVEYS .......................................................................................................................................... 5 3.3.1 Habitat Surveys ................................................................................................................................. 5 3.3.2 Invasive Species Surveys ................................................................................................................... 5 3.3.3 Bat Surveys........................................................................................................................................ 5 3.3.4 Bird Surveys ....................................................................................................................................... 5 3.3.5 Mammal Surveys .............................................................................................................................. 6 3.3.6 Other Fauna ...................................................................................................................................... 6 3.4 CONSULTATION ......................................................................................................................................... 6 3.5 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................................. 6 3.6 LIMITATIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 7 4 BASELINE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS ....................................................................................................... 8 4.1 SITE OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................... 8 4.1.1 Geology, Hydrogeology and Hydrology ............................................................................................ 8 4.2 DESIGNATED SITES ..................................................................................................................................... 8 4.3 HABITATS ............................................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.1 Buildings and Artificial Surfaces (BL3)............................................................................................. 14 4.3.2 Dry Meadows and Grassy Verges (GS2) [unmanaged] ................................................................... 14 4.3.3 Recolonising Bare Ground (BL1)...................................................................................................... 14 4.3.4 Scrub (WS1) ..................................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.5 Mixed Broadleaved Woodland (WD1) ............................................................................................ 15 4.3.6 Hedgerows (WL1)............................................................................................................................ 15 4.3.7 Treelines (WL2) ............................................................................................................................... 15 4.3.8 Habitat Evaluation .......................................................................................................................... 15 4.4 SPECIES AND SPECIES GROUPS .................................................................................................................... 18 4.4.1 Flora ................................................................................................................................................ 18 December 2020 Page ii Enviroguide Consulting Residential Development Ecological Impact Assessment Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. 4.4.2 Mammals (excl. bats) ...................................................................................................................... 20 4.4.3 Bats ................................................................................................................................................. 22 4.4.4 Birds ................................................................................................................................................ 24 4.4.5 Fish .................................................................................................................................................. 25 4.4.6 Amphibians ..................................................................................................................................... 26 4.4.7 Invertebrates ................................................................................................................................... 26 4.4.8 Other species and species groups ................................................................................................... 26 4.4.9 Fauna Evaluation ............................................................................................................................ 27 5 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................. 28 6 POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................... 30 6.1 IMPACTS ON DESIGNATED SITES .................................................................................................................. 30