Ecological Technical Note Longsdon Way, Caterham, Surrey
September 2019
1.0 Introduction
1.1 This Technical Note has been prepared by CSA Environmental on behalf of Croudace Homes Ltd in relation to land at Longsdon Way, Caterham, Surrey (hereafter referred to as, ‘the Site’), centred around Ordnance Survey grid reference TQ 348 551).
1.2 The Site (c.3.96 ha) is being promoted for allocation for residential housing (originally for up to c.60 units). Representations have been made to Tandridge District Council (TDC) for inclusion of a site allocation within the Tandridge ‘Our Local Plan 2033’, however the Site was excluded from further consideration as a result of Regulation 19 consultation. Whilst the evidence base previously provided by TDC confirmed that the Site is not performing Green Belt purposes and as such could be considered for release from the Green Belt, concerns were subsequently raised following publication of their ecology evidence base which identified the Site as ‘ecologically unsuitable’ due to the potential for the Site to be restored to calcareous grassland as S41 (NERC Act, 2006) habitat. The validity of this decision is explored and evaluated within this Technical Note, in light of revised proposals for development of a reduced scale (up to c.40 units), see Development Plan (Ref DES/929/600) provided in Appendix E.
1.3 A review of the Local Plan evidence base documents has been undertaken, and an assessment of the conclusions drawn against site based survey and biological records data commissioned by the applicant, has been made. Information presented within the following documents has been considered:
Tandridge District Council – Evidence Base Tandridge Local Plan site Based Ecology Assessment Volumes 1 & 2 – Blindley Heath, Bletchingly and Caterham 2016 (ECO 14) Tandrigde Local Plan Site Based Ecology Assessment (2017 & 2018) (ECO 4 & ECO 2) (as a contextual comparison on approach as CATT0016 is not included within this study) Tandridge Local Plan 2016 Site Based Ecological Assessment Rebuttals and Reponses to Promotor Representations 2018 (ECO 1).
44146 Longsdon Way, Caterham 1 Applicant Representations and Evidence Base Longsdon Way, Caterham - Ecological Assessment (April 2015). Derek Finnie Associates (Consultant Ecologists) Response to Tandridge District Council’s Local Plan: Sites Consultation (November 2016). Shrimplin Brown Planning & Development. Representations to Tandridge District Council – Local Plan Issues and Approaches Consultation (February 2016). ECE Planning.
1.4 In addition to the above CSA Environmental undertook an update Phase 1 Habitat survey, National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey and biological records search in July 2019, to provide an up to date assessment of ecological constraints to development in the context of the proposed allocation. Results of these update studies are summarised below.
2.0 Methods
2.1 Prior to the site visit, a desktop data search was completed in order to obtain records of designated wildlife sites and protected/notable species on-site or within the local area. The Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre was contacted to obtain records and details of non- statutory wildlife site designations from a 2km radius from the Site’s central grid reference (TQ 345551), while details of statutory designated wildlife sites were retrieved from the Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) online database. The MAGIC data search for statutory designations comprised those within a 10km radius for sites of International importance, 3km for sites of National importance and 2km for sites of Local importance.
2.2 A review of existing survey data from the Phase 1 habitats survey (Derek Finnie Associates, April 2015) and NVC survey (TEC, September 2016), was undertaken and a summary of findings present. These findings were compared with the results of an extended Phase 1 Habitat1 and NVC2 survey undertaken on 09 July 2019, in order to confirm the type, value and extent of on-site habitats and their potential to support notable and protected species. Habitats mapped during the 2019 survey are shown on the Habitats Plan (CSA/4416/01) provided in Appendix A. A copy of the full NVC Report provided in Appendix C.
1 Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1990. Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey – a technique for environmental audit. Revised reprint 2010. Peterborough: JNCC. 2 Assessed in line with Rodwell, JS, ed (1992) British plant communities Volume 3: Grasslands and montane communities. Cambridge University Press, and using MAVIS software - Hill (2016), available at https://www.ceh.ac.uk/services/modular-analysis-vegetation-information-system-mavis
44146 Longsdon Way, Caterham 2 3.0 Consideration of Designated Sites
3.1 No statutory or non-statutory wildlife designations, Ancient Woodland or a Biodiversity Opportunity Area (as identified within the emerging TDC Local Plan 2033) cover the Site or immediately adjacent land. The Site was not identified as a potential Site of Nature Conservation Interest (pSNCI) during the Tandrige SNCI project.
3.2 A number of designated sites were identified within the defined search area. These are summarised below, and include a number of sites designated for calcareous grassland. This highlights both the value of this area for calcareous grassland habitats, and illustrates the relative abundance of this habitat type within the local area. Natural England Condition Assessments for SSSI compartments indicate that these sites are mainly in ‘favourable’ or ‘unfavourable recovering’ condition.
Statutory Designations Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment Special Area of Conservation (SAC) – located c. 8.87km west of the Site. This site is designated for its Annex I habitats including the only area of stable box scrub Buxus sempervirens in the UK, as well as semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland faces on calcareous substrates (Festuco-brometalia) and Yew woodlands Taxus baccata. The Natural England Condition Assessment for SSSI units within the SAC concludes habitats are 52.79% favourable, 46.71% unfavourable recovering and 0.51% unfavourable- no change (total 1016.42 ha).