Preliminary Ecological Appraisal 2019
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Site: Land South-east of NNUH off Colney Lane, Norfolk Work Preliminary Ecological Item: Appraisal (2019) Client: Priscilla Bacon Norfolk Hospice Care Ltd Author: Dr GW Hopkins CEnv MCIEEM Date: 22 September 2019 Hopkins Ecology Ltd, St George’s Works, 51 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1DD T. 01603 435598 M: 07481 477103 E: [email protected] W: www.hopkinsecology.co.uk CONTENTS SUMMARY 1 1. INTRODUCTION 2 2. METHODS 3 3. DESIGNATED SITES 5 4. SITE DESCRIPTION 7 5. SCOPING FOR SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN 9 6. DISCUSSION 12 7. APPENDIX 1: PHOTOGRAPHS 16 8. APPENDIX 2: LEGISLATION SUMMARY 18 SUMMARY Hopkins Ecology Ltd was appointed by Code DP on behalf of Priscilla Bacon Norfolk Hospice Care Limited to prepare an ecological appraisal of a plot of Land South-east of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), off Colney Lane, for a proposed 24 bed end of life hospice with associated offices and car parking. The Site lies south of the internal boundary road of the NNUH, with an access route off this and through a young plantation, then cutting into an adjacent field where the main development Site extends to ~2.8ha. This report covers the proposed re-located site for the hospice, the boundaries of which are roughly 170m north-east of the location surveyed and assessed by Hopkins Ecology Ltd in 2018. As well as a Phase 1 habitat survey and species scoping, the assessment is further informed by a data search and survey work for the adjacent ‘Newfound Farm’ residential scheme, where an extensive suite of surveys were undertaken in 2010. The on-Site habitats comprise a deciduous plantation dating from the 1990s, with access proposed through this. The main area is arable cropland, with a verge of improved grass sward separating this form the plantation. A defunct hedgerow runs along the north boundary. No habitats of principal importance are present, with the hedgerow considered to have too little woody vegetation to qualify. Great crested newts are scoped out on the basis that there are no ponds within 250m. There is a record of a small badger sett from the west of the Site, but no evidence of current presence of this species was found in the plantation or other nearby areas. None of the trees have roost potential, but the plantation edge may be used by commuting bats. Other species of conservation concern potentially present include nesting birds, hedgehogs and widespread but declining invertebrates. These are likely to be present as components of larger local populations and are of value at the local scale only. No additional surveys are currently recommended. However, if lighting and development impacts on the woodland and plantation edges cannot be avoided then bat surveys are recommended to assess the importance of these areas for bats. Scheme design should consequently aim to minimise impacts on the woodland and plantation edges. The site is within a sub-regional green infrastructure corridor and this provides a strategic context for enhancement measures, such as soft landscaping and other measures including bird boxes, retention of felled timber on-Site and ensuring that hedgehogs have access through the completed scheme. Clearance of vegetation should be outside of the nesting bird season. Page | 1 Land South-east of NNUH of Colney Lane, Norfolk: Preliminary Ecological Appraisal 2019 1. INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND 1.1 Hopkins Ecology Ltd was appointed by Code DP on behalf of Priscilla Bacon Norfolk Hospice Care Limited to prepare an ecological appraisal of a plot of Land south-east of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), off Colney Lane, for a proposed 24 bed end of life hospice with associated offices and car parking. The Site lies south of the internal boundary road of the NNUH, with an access route off this and through a young plantation, then cutting into an adjacent field where the main development Site extends to ~2.8ha. 1.2 This report covers the proposed re-located site for the hospice, the boundaries of which are roughly 170m north-east of the location surveyed and assessed by Hopkins Ecology Ltd in 2018. SITE CONTEXT 1.3 The Site is within the Mid Norfolk Natural Character Area1, which is characterised as an: “ancient countryside with a long settled agricultural character, where arable land is enclosed by winding lanes and hedgerows, interspersed by woodland and heath and dissected by lush pastoral river valleys”. LEGISLATION AND PLANNING POLICY 1.4 The following key pieces of nature conservation legislation are relevant to legally protected species (with a more detailed description in Appendix 2): • The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the Habitats Regulations); and • The Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended). 1.5 Also, the National Planning Policy Framework (MHCLG, 20192) requires local authorities to avoid and minimise impacts on biodiversity and, where possible, to provide net gains in biodiversity when making planning decisions. A substantial number of habitats and species are of conservation concern in the UK. A small number of these species are fully protected under the legislation listed above, but others in England are recognised as Habitats / Species of Principal Importance under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 and reinforced by the National Planning Policy Framework. For these habitats / species local planning authorities are required to promote the “protection and recovery” via planning and development control. Examples include hedgerows, and species such as the widespread reptiles, house sparrows and soprano pipistrelle and noctule bats. 1.6 Although the NPPF has an overarching aim of minimising impacts to biodiversity, the majority of species of conservation concern are not specifically recognised by legislation or planning policy. The level of protection afforded to these is undefined and should be considered within the overall aim of minimising impacts on biodiversity. 1 Natural England (2014) NCA Profile 84: Mid Norfolk. Available from: http://www.greaternorwichgrowth.org.uk/dmsdocument/1590 2 MHCLG (2019) National Planning Policy Framework for England. Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, London. Page | 2 Land South-east of NNUH of Colney Lane, Norfolk: Preliminary Ecological Appraisal 2019 2. METHODS PERSONNEL 2.1 This ecological assessment was prepared by Dr Graham Hopkins CEnv MCIEEM FRES, who holds full survey licences for great crested newts and bats. He has over 15 years of consultancy experience in East Anglia. DATA SEARCH 2.2 At the desk study comprised a formal data search from the local records centre commissioned in 2015 and a review of relevant data from and information from other sources (Table 1). The location of designated sites and other relevant features was verified with reference to the survey reports accompanying unrelated schemes. Table 1. Overview of desk study data sources. Source Information Norfolk Biodiversity Information Designated sites, species of conservation concern; 2km Service search radius MAGIC (www.magic.gov.uk) Additional information on statutory sites, habitats of principal importance and wider countryside information South Norfolk DC and GNDP Information regarding local green infrastructure proposals planning policy documents Local Planning Applications, Recent survey data for protected species locally, including manual searching of the Broadland negative data DC website Various literature and web-based Information on local projects and initiatives of potential searches relevance as well as some species-level data, including the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Living Landscape3 and Buglife B-Line4 (bee-line) initiatives Historic maps of Norfolk Aerial photographs from 1988 and 1946 (with Google Earth (http://www.historic- for later images); OS maps from 1880s and earlier maps.norfolk.gov.uk/) 2.3 Reference is also made to survey information from two nearby schemes: • Land Adjacent the NNUH5 (located to the north-east of the Site, separated by the hospital complex); • Land South-west of Newfound Farm6 (located on the farmland to the south and east of the Site, within 30m of the Site boundary); and • Land to The South of NNUH Colney Lane7 (a hospice application immediately west of the Site and with the access route very similar to the current Site). 3 http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/living-landscape 4 https://www.buglife.org.uk/b-lines-hub/map 5 2012/1880 | Proposed offices, etc | Land Adj Norfolk And Norwich University Hospital Colney Lane Colney Norfolk NR4 7UY 6 2013/1793 | Outline planning permission for a development for up to 650 dwellings etc | Land South- west Of Newfound Farm Colney Lane Cringleford Norfolk 7 2015/2924 | 25 bed end of life, not for profit hospice with associated offices and car parking | Land To The South Of Norfolk And Norwich Hospital Colney Lane Colney Norfolk Page | 3 Land South-east of NNUH of Colney Lane, Norfolk: Preliminary Ecological Appraisal 2019 FIELD SURVEY 2.4 The walkover survey was undertaken on 07 September 2019. The description of habitats was based on the methods of JNCC (2010)8 and trees were surveyed from ground level for their potential suitability for roosting bats, looking for gaps, cracks and other voids9; searches were also made for signs of badgers. 2.5 Hedgerows were surveyed according to the guidance of DEFRA (2007)10, recording woody species within a 30m section and associated features such as banks, ditches and ground flora (see constraints). These are used to determine Important Hedgerows according to the Hedgerow Regulations as described in the text (‘Evaluation’), but also see ‘Constraints’ below. 2.6 The local presence of ponds (to a radius of 250m) was determined from OS maps and Google Earth and previous survey reports. GUIDANCE 2.7 The ecological assessment has been prepared with reference to best practice guidance published by the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and as detailed in British Standard 42020:2013 Biodiversity - Code of Practice for Biodiversity and Development.