December 2007 - i - 07514520059.501 Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey Version A.0 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Objectives................................................................................................1 1.2 Limitations ...............................................................................................1 2.0 LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND AND POLICY FRAMEWORK.................. 3 2.1 Planning Policy........................................................................................3 2.2 The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006...................4 2.3 Biodiversity Action Planning ....................................................................4 2.4 National Government Performance Indicators ........................................5 3.0 METHODOLOGY........................................................................................ 6 3.1 Desk Study ..............................................................................................6 3.2 Field Survey.............................................................................................6 3.3 Arrangement of Access ...........................................................................7 3.4 Database and GIS ...................................................................................7 4.0 RESULTS.................................................................................................... 9 4.1 Desk Study ..............................................................................................9 4.2 Data analysis ...........................................................................................9 4.3 Site Assessment....................................................................................15 4.3.1 Biological Heritage Sites............................................................15 4.3.2 Burnley Wildlife Survey..............................................................17 4.3.3 Potential Sites............................................................................17 4.4 Recommendations.................................................................................17 5.0 REFERENCES.......................................................................................... 19 Golder Associates December 2007 - ii - 07514520059.501 Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey Version A.0 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Summary of Habitat Area Data for Survey Phase 1 Habitat in Burnley Table 2 Site Evaluation Using Guidelines for Site Selection LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 An example of Phase 1 Habitat mapping form the Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey 2007 Figure 2 Proportion of each major habitat type Figure 3 Proportion of the different grassland types Figure 4 Proportion of the different woodland types Figure 5 UK BAP habitats Figure 6 Lancashire BAP habitats LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 List of Sites Surveyed Appendix 2 Species List Template Appendix 3 Recording Form Appendix 4 Letter of Access Appendix 5 Phase 1 Habitat Survey Mapping Colour Codes Golder Associates December 2007 - 1 - 07514520059.501 Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey Version A.0 1.0 INTRODUCTION Under instruction from Burnley Borough Council, Golder Associates (UK) Ltd has undertaken a re-survey of all sites of known or potential nature conservation value within Burnley Borough. This took the form of a Phase 1 Habitat Survey that followed the standard methodology set out by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC, 2004). This survey is described as the ‘Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey’. The most recent studies of the whole Borough were undertaken in the early 1990s and resulted in the production of Burnley’s Landscape and Wildlife Strategy in 1992. In order to meet the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive, Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, Planning Policy Statement 9, and the Regional Spatial Strategy, Burnley Borough Council required more up-to-date information to provide a sound evidence base for the production and monitoring of the Local Development Framework. 1.1 Objectives The objectives of the Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey were as follows: • Undertake a desk study including consultation with relevant organisations; collecting and recording data on the location of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and protected species; • Survey all sites of known potential value within Burnley using the standard methodology set out by the JNCC (2004); • Compile the above into an MS Access database provided by the Lancashire Records Centre, and create a Geographical Information System (GIS); and • Assess of all Biological Heritage Sites using the Guidelines for Site Selection (Lancashire County Council et al, 1998). This also includes the assessment of a sample of sites using the Guidelines for the Selection of Local Wildlife Sites in Lancashire (The Wildlife Trust, DRAFT version 5, August 2007). 1.2 Limitations One of the main limitations regarding survey work for any site with a number of habitats is the time of the year at which the surveys were undertaken. Accordingly, sites were assigned a survey period based on the dominant habitat present. Thus, woodlands were targeted in the first instance to be surveyed in May and June, grassland in July and August, and heathland and mires in August and September. Despite this, it is possible that some early or late flowering plants might have been missed as a single survey visit was made per site. Where it was considered that this might have compromised the overall evaluation of the floristic diversity of a particular site, this was indicated in the site evaluation. Golder Associates December 2007 - 2 - 07514520059.501 Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey Version A.0 Where the assessment process required the use of the Guidelines for Site Selection (Lancashire County Council et al, 1998), it was noted that several criteria are based on NVC communities. This survey was based on Phase 1 habitat mapping and did not produce data to the level of detail required for NVC. Consequently, this was a limitation for assessing the sites against the NVC criteria. Wherever possible, an approximate evaluation of the NVC communities present at a particular site was made; however it is important to keep in mind that further survey will be necessary for a more thorough assessment. A sample of sites was also assessed using the Guidelines for the Selection of Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) in Lancashire (provided by John Lamb, Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT)). These are designed specifically to assess the biodiversity value at the borough level. These guidelines, at the time of this assessment, are only in draft form and, as such, a full evaluation could not be made. As a general rule, the following was applied: “the BHS guidelines are 60% of the SSSI criteria and the LWS guidelines are 60% of the BHS guidelines” (Lamb, pers. comm). Recommendations that could be used to better define these criteria in their final versions are made, when judged applicable, and submitted to the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Golder Associates December 2007 - 3 - 07514520059.501 Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey Version A.0 2.0 LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND AND POLICY FRAMEWORK The following pieces of legislation, government policy and guidance are relevant to this project. 2.1 Planning Policy Planning Policy Statement 9 (HMSO, 2005) sets out the Government’s national planning policies on protection of biodiversity through the planning system. PPS9 is accompanied by: a) A joint ODPM (06/2005) and DEFRA (01/2005) circular which sets out statutory obligations and their importance within the planning system; b) Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: a Guide to Good Practice (ODPM, 2006); c) Local Sites Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management (DEFRA, 2006). PPS9 recognises that Local Sites have a fundamental role to play in helping to meet overall national biodiversity targets, contributing to the quality of life and the well-being of the community and in supporting research and education. The guidance stipulates that Local Development Frameworks should identify all local nature conservation areas on the proposals maps based upon up to date information regarding the habitats and species of the area. These policies are incorporated into development planning documents at regional and local scales, and are also of material worth in considering individual planning applications. Key principles 1(vi) sets out the sequential approach to the planning process along the principles of avoidance of harm, mitigation where harm cannot be avoided, compensation where impacts cannot be prevented or adequately mitigated and “if that significant harm cannot be prevented, adequately mitigated against, or compensated for, then planning permission should be refused”. The Burnley Wildlife and Habitat Survey and subsequent identification of valuable wildlife sites is an essential component of the planning process enabling effective planning decisions to be made based upon up to date objective and scientific data regarding the species and habitat within the administrative boundaries of the Burnley area. The data arising from this survey are also of use when considering biodiversity opportunities for sites that support a level of nature conservation interest that could be enhanced or improved through careful management or through the planning process. The guidance on identification,