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Ecological Appraisal and Phase 1 & 2 Bat Surveys

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Ecological Appraisal and Phase 1 & 2 Bat Surveys ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL AND PHASE 1 & 2 BAT SURVEYS STUBWOOD FARM SAILSBURY ROAD WEST BERKSHIRE RG17 0RD JULY 2015 UPDATED MARCH 2016 ON BEHALF OF FOWLER ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING LIMITED The Old Squash Court, Rempstone Hall, Rempstone, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5JQ www.ecological-services.co.uk Tel: 01929 477115 Mobile: 07469956750 E-mail: [email protected] Authorisation Name Date Signature Report prepared by: Amy Parsons 28/07/2015 Report checked and Jenny Sutch 21/07/2015 authorised by: Report checked and Sophie Smith 28/07/2015 authorised by: Report updated by: Amy Parsons 25/02/2016 Report checked and Jenny Sutch 30.03.2016 authorised by: Fowler Architecture and Planning Limited Ecological Appraisal and Phase 1 & 2 bat surveys, Stubwood Farm, Wiltshire RG17 0RD CONTENTS SUMMARY .........................................................................................................................1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................2 2.0 LEGISLATION AND POLICY ...............................................................................3 2.1 Legislation ............................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Policy ...................................................................................................................... 5 3.0 METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................6 3.1 Desk study ............................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Field study ............................................................................................................... 6 3.2.1 Vegetation ............................................................................................................... 6 3.2.2 Protected Species Assessment ................................................................................ 6 4.0 RESULTS ................................................................................................................9 4.1 Desk study ............................................................................................................... 9 4.1.1 Statutory and non-statutory designated sites ........................................................... 9 4.1.2 Protected species search ........................................................................................ 11 4.2 Field study ............................................................................................................. 12 4.2.1 Vegetation ............................................................................................................. 12 4.2.2 Protected species ................................................................................................... 15 5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................25 5.1 Bats........................................................................................................................ 25 5.1.1 Summary of survey results .................................................................................... 25 5.1.2 Implications of survey findings and recommendations for further action ............ 25 5.1.3 Licence Application .............................................................................................. 26 5.2 Great crested newts ............................................................................................... 27 5.3 Reptiles.................................................................................................................. 28 5.4 Dormice ................................................................................................................. 28 5.5 Nesting birds ......................................................................................................... 29 5.5.1 Summary of survey findings ................................................................................. 29 5.5.2 Implications of survey findings and recommendations for further action ............ 29 5.6 Barn owls .............................................................................................................. 29 5.6.1 Summary of survey results .................................................................................... 30 5.6.2 Implications of survey findings and recommendations for further action ............ 30 5.7 Ecological enhancements ...................................................................................... 30 6.0 REFERENCES.......................................................................................................33 APPENDIX I: Plans for demolition and renovation works and proposed new builds layout.... ..............................................................................................................................34 APPENDIX II: Phase 1 habitat map .................................................................................35 APPENDIX III: Photographs of habitats on site ...............................................................39 APPENDIX IV: Locations of buildings on site .................................................................43 APPENDIX V: Location of evidence - bats .....................................................................45 APPENDIX VI: Phase 2 bat survey results .......................................................................46 APPENDIX VII: HSI results .............................................................................................62 APPENDIX VIII: Enhanced roost design ..........................................................................63 APPENDIX IX: Bat access provisions ...........................................................................64 APPENDIX X: Bat access provision locations..................................................................65 APPENDIX XI: Location of evidence – barn owls ...........................................................67 Lindsay Carrington Ecological Services Ltd March 2016 Fowler Architecture and Planning Limited Ecological Appraisal and Phase 1 & 2 bat surveys, Stubwood Farm, Wiltshire RG17 0RD APPENDIX XII: Reptile hibernacula design.....................................................................69 Lindsay Carrington Ecological Services Ltd March 2016 Fowler Architecture and Planning Limited Ecological Appraisal and Phase 1 & 2 bat surveys, Stubwood Farm, Wiltshire RG17 0RD SUMMARY 1. Lindsay Carrington Ecological Services Ltd were commissioned by Fowler Architecture and Planning Limited to undertake an ecological appraisal and Phase 1 and 2 bat surveys at Stubwood Farm, Salisbury Road, West Berkshire, Wiltshire RG17 0RD (Grid ref: SU 3288 6511). 2. The surveys were conducted to support a planning application for demolition works on the site and the erection of new cottages and residential dwellings with refurbishment of a series of retained buildings and plans have been provided in Appendix I. 3. A targeted phase 1 bat survey was undertaken and entails a detailed inspection of both internal and external features of the building looking for signs of bats. 4. The phase 1 bat survey revealed dropping evidence of brown long-eared bats within the farmhouse, with dropping counts totalling over 400. The dairy were classed as having high bat roost potential, and storage barn was medium, whilst the livestock barn was classed as low potential. All other buildings on site had negligible potential. As evidence of bats was recorded during the survey, the residential farmhouse is considered to be a confirmed bat roost and further phase 2 surveys were undertaken. 5. Two dusk emergence and one pre-dawn re-entry survey were conducted on the farmhouse and the dairy, two dusk emergence surveys were conducted on the storage barn and one dusk emergence was conducted on the livestock barn. One unidentified bat, most likely a pipistrelle bat, was recorded re-entering the dairy building during the pre- dawn re-entry survey on the 2nd July 2015. The surveys indicate that the dairy supports a non-breeding occasionally used summer roost for a small number of pipistrelle bats. 6. A mitigation strategy for pipistrelle and brown-long eared bat species has been provided and will include enhancement of the pre-existing brown long-eared bat roost within the farmhouse, with permanent and temporary bat roosting facilities for pipistrelle bats and a pre-works check and supervision of certain activities by a licensed bat worker. 7. A European Protected Species Licence will be required to facilitate the works once full planning consent has been granted. 8. Evidence of barn owl was recorded in one of the barns during the initial walkover survey. Approximately 30 intact pellets, 10 barn owl feathers, four egg casings and white wash was present in the void area of the cattle barn. 9. A mitigation strategy for barn owls is provided and will include temporary and permanent roosting facilities to replace nesting sites, a pre-works check and supervision of certain activities by an ecologist. 10. Nesting birds were present within four of the outbuildings. A mitigation strategy has been presented to negate the risk of disturbing nesting birds. 1 Lindsay Carrington Ecological Services Ltd March 2016 Fowler Architecture and Planning Limited Ecological Appraisal and Phase 1 & 2 bat surveys, Stubwood Farm, Wiltshire RG17 0RD 1.0 INTRODUCTION Lindsay Carrington Ecological
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