Hafodyrynys Road, Caerphilly
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Hafodyrynys Road, Caerphilly Ecological Appraisal For Caerphilly County Borough Council February 2020 WYG 5th Floor, Longcross Court, 47 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AD Tel: 02920 829 200 Email: [email protected] www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands Hafodyrynys Road, Caerphilly: Ecological Appraisal Document Control Project: Hafodyrynys Road, Caerphilly Client: Caerphilly County Borough Council Job Number: A082625-18 File Origin: A082625-18 Caerphilly\REPORTS\Ecological Appraisal Issue 1 February 2020 FINAL Kirsty Rogers ACIEEM Senior Ecologist Prepared by: Tim Rich MCIEEM Principal Ecologist Michelle McGinn ACIEEM Checked By: Senior Ecologist Clare May CEnv CIEEM Verified By: Director Rev: Date: Updated by: Verified by: Description of changes: WYG Environment Planning Transport Ltd. accept no responsibility or liability for the use which is made of this document other than by the Client for the purpose for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. Caerphilly County Borough Council i February 2020 A082625-18 Hafodyrynys Road, Caerphilly: Ecological Appraisal Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 1 Glossary ................................................................................................................................ 3 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 Site Location ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Development Proposals ....................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Purpose of the Report ......................................................................................................... 4 2.0 Method ........................................................................................................................ 6 2.1 Desk Study ......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Field Surveys ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 9 3.0 Baseline Conditions .................................................................................................. 11 3.1 Designated Sites ............................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Habitats ........................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Protected & Notable Species .............................................................................................. 16 3.4 Importance of Ecological Features...................................................................................... 21 4.0 Relevant Planning Policy & Legislation .................................................................... 23 4.1 National Planning Policy..................................................................................................... 23 4.2 Environment (Wales) Act ................................................................................................... 24 4.3 Local Biodiversity Action Plan ............................................................................................. 25 4.4 Local Plan ......................................................................................................................... 27 4.5 Legislation ........................................................................................................................ 28 5.0 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 29 5.1 Designated Sites ............................................................................................................... 29 5.2 Habitats ........................................................................................................................... 30 5.3 Protected & Notable Species .............................................................................................. 30 5.4 Enhancements .................................................................................................................. 34 6.0 Summary .................................................................................................................. 36 6.1 Designated Sites ............................................................................................................... 36 6.2 Habitats ........................................................................................................................... 36 6.3 Protected & Notable Species .............................................................................................. 36 7.0 References ................................................................................................................ 37 FIGURES Figure 1 – Site Location Plan Figure 2 – SINC & Ancient Woodland Location Plan Appendix A – Report Conditions Figure 3 – Phase 1 Habitat Plan Appendix B – Wildlife Legislation Figure 4 – Pond Plan Appendix C – Target Notes Figure 5 – Buildings Plan Appendix D – HSI Results Caerphilly County Borough Council ii February 2020 A082625-18 Hafodyrynys Road, Caerphilly: Ecological Appraisal Executive Summary Contents Summary Site Location The site comprises twenty-three properties and two woodland parcels located immediately south of Hafodyrynys Road (A472), Crumlin, Caerphilly NP11 5BE. The site is centred at Ordnance Survey National Grid Reference ST 21703 98568, within the Caerphilly County Borough Council administrative authority. Proposals The development proposal includes the demolition of all twenty-three properties, associated outbuildings and two woodland parcels, to facilitate the re-alignment of a public footpath in their place. Details regarding the scale of impact, construction/demolition method or final design are still under development and for the purposes of this assessment total site clearance/worst case scenario is assumed with retention of boundary features (i.e. un-named stream along southern site boundary). This report will be revised as and when further information becomes available. Scope of this A preliminary ecological appraisal to identify potential ecological constraints Survey(s) to development. Results Designated sites • The closest Natura 2000 site is located 5.1km west. • Ty’r Hen Forwyn SSSI is located 1.8km north east. • 37 locally adopted & candidate SINC’s within 2km. • Approximately 60% of the site is designated as restored ancient woodland site and several parcels of Ancient Woodland (various categories) within search radius. Habitats & protected species The site comprises buildings, broad-leaved plantation woodland, semi- natural broadleaved woodland, running water and other habitats (i.e. residential gardens). Running water and woodland habitats on site are likely to qualify as HPI. Habitats on site offer potential for the following species, GCN, reptiles, roosting bats, foraging & commuting bats, badgers, hazel dormouse and breeding birds. Invasive flora (Japanese knotweed) also identified on site in several locations on site. Recommendations This section has been prepared based on total site clearance/worst case only and should be revised following confirmation of proposals and site-layout, and prior to submission. • Avoid impacts to River Ebbw SINC, River Ebbw South Section SINC and running water HPI through adherence with Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP5). • NVC survey of Ancient Woodland and consultation with NRW and LPA regarding loss of Ancient Woodland and Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland HPI. • eDNA surveys of ponds within 500m to determine presence/likely absence of GCN. • Presence/likely absence surveys for reptiles and hazel dormouse. Caerphilly County Borough Council 1 February 2020 A082625-18 Hafodyrynys Road, Caerphilly: Ecological Appraisal • Internal bat roost assessments and emergence re-entry surveys of all buildings on site to determine presence/likely absence of roosting bats. • Hibernation survey of Plot 23 (20 Woodside Terrace) to determine presence/likely absence of hibernating bats. • Tree survey using a tree climber and endoscope of 10 (moderate suitability only) trees to determine presence/likely absence of roosting bats. • Activity survey of habitats on site to identify bat species on site and key foraging and commuting resources for local bat populations. • Pre-works check and precautionary working methods during construction to avoid impacts to badgers commuting through the site. • The requirement for specific breeding bird surveys of the woodland will be confirmed once the level of habitat loss is known. Clearance of vegetation outside of breeding bird season (March to August inclusive) and pre-works checks of Plot 23 (20 Woodside Terrace) within 48 hours of works. • Seek advice from a specialist invasive weeds contractor for treatment/removal of Japanese knotweed within proximity of flowing water. Walkover survey to identify other invasive species within flowering