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Application for a Licence Bats ‐ Method Statement

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Application for a Licence Bats ‐ Method Statement 36 Chichester Lane Hampton Magna Warwick Warwickshire CV35 8TG Tel: Mob: Email: [email protected] APPLICATION FOR A LICENCE BATS ‐ METHOD STATEMENT Document 1 – Background and Supporting Information Date: January 2013 Client: Site: Ridgeway Ecology has prepared this report in accordance with the instructions of their client, , for their sole and specific use. Any other persons who use any information contained herein do so at their own risk. © Ridgeway Ecology 2013 Ridgeway Ecology 1 Contents A Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 4 B Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 B.1 Background to activity/development ................................................................................................... 5 B.2 Full details of proposed works on site that are to be covered by the licence ...................................... 6 C Survey and site assessment .......................................................................................................................... 6 C.1 Pre‐existing information on species at survey site................................................................................ 6 C.2 Status of species (at the local, county and regional levels)................................................................... 6 C.3 Objectives of the survey ........................................................................................................................... 6 C.4 Scaled plan/map of survey area ............................................................................................................... 7 C.5 Site/habitat description (relevant to bats), based on day‐time visits ...................................................... 8 C.6 Field survey(s)......................................................................................................................................... 18 C.6.1 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 18 C.6.2 Timing ......................................................................................................................................... 20 C.6.3 Weather conditions .................................................................................................................... 20 C.6.4 Personnel .................................................................................................................................... 20 C.7 Survey results. ........................................................................................................................................ 20 C.7.1 Internal and External Inspection ................................................................................................ 20 C.7.2 Nocturnal Surveys ...................................................................................................................... 23 C.8 Interpretation/evaluation of survey results ........................................................................................... 30 C.8.1 Presence/absence ...................................................................................................................... 30 C.8.2 Population assessment ............................................................................................................... 30 C.8.3 Site status assessment................................................................................................................ 30 C.8.4 Constraints ................................................................................................................................. 31 D Impact assessment in absence of mitigation. .................................................................................................. 31 D.1 Short‐term impacts: disturbance ........................................................................................................ 31 D.2 Long‐term impacts: roost modification .............................................................................................. 31 D.3 Long‐term impacts: roost loss ............................................................................................................. 31 D.4 Long‐term impacts: fragmentation and isolation ............................................................................... 31 D.5 Post‐development interference impacts ............................................................................................ 31 D.6 Predicted scale of impact .................................................................................................................... 32 E References .................................................................................................................................................. 33 F Annexes ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 F.1 Pre‐existing survey reports..................................................................................................................... 34 F.2 Raw survey data ..................................................................................................................................... 35 Appendix 1 ............................................................................................................................................................ 51 Appendix 2 ............................................................................................................................................................ 52 Appendix 3 ............................................................................................................................................................ 53 A Mitigation and compensation ..................................................................................................................... 55 A.1 Summary of mitigation strategy .......................................................................................................... 55 B Works to be undertaken by the ecologist or suitably experienced person. ............................................... 57 B.1 Capture and exclusion (if applicable) .................................................................................................. 57 C Works to be undertaken by the Developer/Landowner. ............................................................................ 57 C.1 Bat roosts ............................................................................................................................................ 57 C.1.1 In‐situ retention of roost(s) ........................................................................................................ 57 C.1.2 Modification of existing roost(s) ................................................................................................ 58 C.1.3 New roost creation (including bat houses, cotes and bat boxes) .............................................. 58 C.1.4 Scaled maps/plans to show proposals/mitigation outlined above in relation to existing and proposed habitat features. ......................................................................................................................... 61 D Post‐development site safeguard ............................................................................................................... 62 D.1 Habitat/site management and maintenance ...................................................................................... 62 D.2 Population monitoring, roost usage etc. ............................................................................................. 62 D.3 Mechanism for ensuring delivery of post‐development works .......................................................... 62 E Land ownership ................................................................................................................................................. 62 Ridgeway Ecology 2 E.1 Declaration Statement(s) .......................................................................................................................... 62 E.1 Mitigation site ownership ......................................................................................................................... 62 F Timetable of works ........................................................................................................................................... 63 Ridgeway Ecology 3 A Executive Summary A bat survey of the buildings at , carried out in the summer of 2012, identified a small maternity colony of brown long‐eared bats (Plecotus auritus) roosting within the enclosed roof void in the north wing of the house and a single brown long‐eared bat utilising the east wing of the house as a day roost for a very short period of time. In addition, a barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus) and a brown long‐eared bat were utilising the open roof void of the adjacent barn as a night roost. Planning consent is being sought from Cherwell District Council to renovate the at , carry out repairs to the front and then convert the adjoining barn into residential accommodation with an open ceiling. In addition, there are plans to construct a double garage, swimming pool/pool buildings and a garden
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