Ecological Impact Assessment Purn Way

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Ecological Impact Assessment Purn Way ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PURN WAY, BLEADON, NORTH SOMERSET carried out by commissioned by URBAN DESIGN PRACTICE LTD OCTOBER 2019 ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PURN WAY, BLEADON, NORTH SOMERSET CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Report Aims ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Site Description Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Development Proposals ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6 1.5 Quality Assurance ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Assessment Scope / Consultation ........................................................................................................................................................... 6 2 BASELINE CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 2.2 Evaluation Methodology .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Desk Study ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Habitat Survey .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.5 Protected Species Survey and Species of Conservation Concern ................................................................................................. 16 2.6 Summary of Ecological Importance ..................................................................................................................................................... 24 3 ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 3.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 3.2 Summary of Development Proposals .................................................................................................................................................... 27 3.3 Designated Sites ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 3.4 Habitats ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 3.5 Protected Species and Species of Conservation Concern .............................................................................................................. 30 3.6 Summary of Assessment of Effects ........................................................................................................................................................ 38 3.7 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................................................................................... 42 4 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 43 APPENDIX A: WILDLIFE LEGISLATION & SPECIES INFORMATION ............................................................................................................... 44 APPENDIX B: PHOTOGRAPHS OF SITE FEATURES .................................................................................................................................... 48 Project title: Purn Way, Bleadon, North Somerset Document title: Ecological Impact Assessment Project number: 6627 Client: Urban Design Practice Ltd Author: Henry Sturgess Version 1 Addendum report for Botany and Statutory Sites Issued on: 11.10.19 Quality Checked by: Approved by: Assurance Hannah Montag Jo Robinson The information, data and advice which has been prepared and provided is true, and has been prepared and provided in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s (CIEEM) Code of Professional Conduct. We confirm that the opinions expressed are our true and professional bona fide opinions. This report and its contents remain the property of Clarkson and Woods Ltd. until payment has been made in full. Purn Way, Bleadon, North Somerset 1 Ecological Impact Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Urban Design Practice Ltd commissioned Clarkson and Woods Ltd. to undertake an update Extended Phase 1 habitat survey of Land at Purn Way, Bleadon, North Somerset, BS24 0QF (central grid reference ST336571). This survey was required to update the previous ecological survey findings by Crossman Associates (March 2017), specifically with regard to botanical interest within the site and to address a number of issues with the assessment of protected species groups identified. In addition to the survey by Crossman Associates (2017), further surveys for reptiles and bats were undertaken within the Site between July and September 2018 by EcoLogic (2018). A summary of the survey data relating to these surveys is provided in this report and assessments made based on the findings of these surveys. Outline planning permission is being sought for the construction of 16 dwellings within the Site with gardens, associated infrastructure and access. This will result in the removal of approximately 0.5ha of the 0.8ha of habitat present within site. The update survey was undertaken on 12th of August 2019 by Henry Sturgess BSc GradCIEEM, an ecologist with over 5 years’ experience undertaking ecological assessments. The Site is located within Band C of the North Somerset and Mendip Bat Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is also within close proximity to a number of other designated sites. The Site was found to contain primarily poor semi-improved grassland with smaller extents of developing tall ruderal, ephemeral and scrub habitat. The site was surrounded by residential development to the south and west with gardens facing onto the Site. The northern and eastern boundaries comprised species-poor hedgerows with a derelict farm building present just outside of the Site in the North West corner; beyond this was ‘The Mendip Way’ footpath and a series of allotments and small holdings. The update survey found that the habitats on Site were generally of poor quality with the grassland and other central habitats being of low ecological value. The hedgerows, although well-established and tall, were species-poor and had suboptimal structure. Previous surveys identified the presence of a low population of slow worms on site. Bat activity surveys, including the use of static detectors, recorded 8 bat species using Purn Way, Bleadon, North Somerset 2 Ecological Impact Assessment habitats for foraging/commuting within the Site, including low use by both greater and lesser horseshoe bats. Key mitigation measures include the retention, protection and enhancement of the boundary hedgerows. A large extent of grassland will also be retained and enhanced acting as a buffer to these features. These retained boundaries will be enhanced through management and form a receptor area for reptiles within the Site and the key mitigation habitat for bats associated with the North Somerset and Mendip Bat Special Area of Conservation (SAC). A reptile translocation will be undertaken to remove reptiles and common amphibians from the construction zone and retain them within the receptor area on site. Other mitigation measures include: nesting bird checks, removal of the small sections of scrub under a Reasonable Avoidance Method Statement (RAMS) for dormice and a pre- commencement update badger survey. A Construction Ecological Management Plan and a Landscape Ecological Management Plan are also proposed to ensure that both the construction and operation of the site protect valuable ecological features and manage retained and created habitats to maximise their ecological value. A lux contour plan is proposed, which will map the spill of all external and relevant internal
Recommended publications
  • JNCC Coastal Directories Project Team
    Coasts and seas of the United Kingdom Region 11 The Western Approaches: Falmouth Bay to Kenfig edited by J.H. Barne, C.F. Robson, S.S. Kaznowska, J.P. Doody, N.C. Davidson & A.L. Buck Joint Nature Conservation Committee Monkstone House, City Road Peterborough PE1 1JY UK ©JNCC 1996 This volume has been produced by the Coastal Directories Project of the JNCC on behalf of the project Steering Group and supported by WWF-UK. JNCC Coastal Directories Project Team Project directors Dr J.P. Doody, Dr N.C. Davidson Project management and co-ordination J.H. Barne, C.F. Robson Editing and publication S.S. Kaznowska, J.C. Brooksbank, A.L. Buck Administration & editorial assistance C.A. Smith, R. Keddie, J. Plaza, S. Palasiuk, N.M. Stevenson The project receives guidance from a Steering Group which has more than 200 members. More detailed information and advice came from the members of the Core Steering Group, which is composed as follows: Dr J.M. Baxter Scottish Natural Heritage R.J. Bleakley Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland R. Bradley The Association of Sea Fisheries Committees of England and Wales Dr J.P. Doody Joint Nature Conservation Committee B. Empson Environment Agency Dr K. Hiscock Joint Nature Conservation Committee C. Gilbert Kent County Council & National Coasts and Estuaries Advisory Group Prof. S.J. Lockwood MAFF Directorate of Fisheries Research C.R. Macduff-Duncan Esso UK (on behalf of the UK Offshore Operators Association) Dr D.J. Murison Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment & Fisheries Department Dr H.J. Prosser Welsh Office Dr J.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Uphill Beach to Brean Cross Sluice
    www.gov.uk/englandcoastpath England Coast Path Stretch: Aust to Brean Down Report ABD 9: Uphill Beach to Brean Cross Sluice Part 9.1: Introduction Start Point: Uphill Beach car park (grid reference: ST 3116 5881) End Point: Brean Cross Sluice (grid reference: ST 3086 5623) Relevant Maps: ABD 9a to ABD 9b 9.1.1. This is one of a series of linked but legally separate reports published by Natural England under section 51 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, which make proposals to the Secretary of State for improved public access along and to this stretch of coast between Aust to Brean Down. 9.1.2 This report covers length ABD 9 of the stretch, which is the coast between Uphill Beach and Brean Cross Sluice. It makes free-standing statutory proposals for this part of the stretch, and seeks approval for them by the Secretary of State in their own right under section 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. 9.1.3 The report explains how we propose to implement the England Coast Path (“the trail”) on this part of the stretch, and details the likely consequences in terms of the wider ‘Coastal Margin’ that will be created if our proposals are approved by the Secretary of State. Our report also sets out: any proposals we think are necessary for restricting or excluding coastal access rights to address particular issues, in line with the powers in the legislation; and any proposed powers for the trail to be capable of being relocated on particular sections (“roll- back”), if this proves necessary in the future because of coastal change.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature in Avon Volume 77
    Nature in Avon Volume 77 Bristol Naturalists’ Society Registered Charity No: 235494 The Bristol Naturalists’ Society aims to stimulate a greater awareness of natural history and geology in the Bristol area. It is a thriving and friendly Society with something of interest for everybody, young or old, professional or amateur. It is actively involved in a long term programme of education, research and conservation. Each year its talks, trips and publications are enjoyed by hundreds of people wanting to find out more about our natural world. For details of membership and activities please see the website at: www.bristolnats.org.uk Nature in Avon ISSN 0068-1040 Receiving Editor: Dee Holladay, [email protected] Editorial Committee: Ray Barnett, Tim Corner, Clive Lovatt, Mark Pajak, Nick Wray. 2 Nature in Avon Volume 77 CONTENTS Editorial . 1 Winter Hoverflies of the Bristol Region Jon Mortin 2 Peregrines Ten Years On Ed Drewitt 8 J W White’s Racy Botanical Articles Graham Avery 13 Lower Writhlington Tip, Radstock Simon Carpenter 20 Chills and Thrills of Plant Sex Alex Morss 29 New Moth Records to the Bristol Region Ray Barnett 35 Land of Limestone and Levels: Lincoln Garland Defining the West of England & MikeWells 42 Phenology Report, 2016 and 2017 Richard Bland 53 The Queen's Hitchhikers Alex Morss 55 A Slime Flux Jean Oliver 59 Slimbridge 72 Years Ago Richard Bland & Martin Davis 61 Seeds of Change Nicholas Wray 66 Geology and Landscape of the Bristol Region Richard Arthur 80 Bristol & District Invertebrate Report, 2017 Ray Barnett 85 Weather Report for 2017 Richard Bland 95 Society Annual Report 2017 103 Treasurer's Report for 2017 113 3 4 Editorial How encouraging to see that natural history recording is alive and well, and that social media is encouraging a new generation to join in! There are Facebook groups and identification websites for almost every group of animals and plants, and Citizen Science is the new buzzword.
    [Show full text]
  • 3.2 Conservation Value of Scrub
    ••••••. a a a a a= 11111. a a aaaalaaaa JNCC Report No 308 The nature conservation value of scrub in Britain SR Mortimer.. AJ Turner' VK Brown', RJ Fuller'. JEG Goods SA Bell'. PA Stevens'. D Norris', N Bayfieldn, & LK Ward' August 2000 This report should be cited as: Mortimer. SR. Turner. Al. Brown, VIC,Fuller, RJ, Good. JEG, Bell, SA. Stevens. PA. Norris. D. Bayfield. N & Ward, LK 2000. TI The nature conservation value of scrub in Britain. JNCC Report No. 308. JNCC. Peterborough 2000 For further information please contact: Habitats Advice Joint Nature Conservation Committee Monkstone House. City Road. Peterborough PEI HY. UK ISSN 0963-8091 CYNCOI cm' CWLAD SCOTTISH CYMRU N=77-",\! NATURAL COUNMSIDI HERITAGE COUNCII Mt WU It ENGLISH NATURE 0-4^70, This report was produced as a result of a commission research contract for English Nature with contributions from Scottish Nature Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales CABI Bioseienee, Sik%ilod Park. A.eoi. Berks. SI.5 7TA 1- British Trust I-or Ornitholouy. The Nunnery. Thcilord. :Sorkin:. IP24 2PU Centre lor EcoioL:y and Hydoilou . Demo! 12ikid. Bangor. Gviy nedd. LL.57 2U1' II Centre tor licidoey and Ilydroloy. I lill uI Brathens. Glasse!. Banchory. Kincardineshire AB3 I 413Y + 53 Nide, Avenue. Sandtord. Wareham. Dorset. 131120 7AS 1 JOINT NATURE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE: REPORT DISTRIBUTION Report number 308 Report title: The nature conservation value of scrub Contract number: FIN/CON/VT998 Nominated Officer Jeanette Hall. Woodland Network Liaison Officer Date received: April 20110 Contract title: A review of the nature conservation value of scrub in the UK Contractors: CABI Bioscience.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplementary Advice on Conserving and Restoring Site Features
    European Site Conservation Objectives: Supplementary advice on conserving and restoring site features Mendip Limestone Grasslands Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Site Code: UK0030203 Uphill Cliff SSSI – Chris Westcott Natural England Date of Publication: 14 March 2019 Page 1 of 36 About this document This document provides Natural England’s supplementary advice about the European Site Conservation Objectives relating to Mendip Limestone Grasslands SAC. This advice should therefore be read together with the SAC Conservation Objectives available here. Where this site overlaps with other European Site(s), you should also refer to the separate European Site Conservation Objectives and Supplementary Advice (where available) provided for those sites. This advice replaces a draft version dated 21 January 2019 following the receipt of comments from the site’s stakeholders. You should use the Conservation Objectives, this Supplementary Advice and any case-specific advice given by Natural England when developing, proposing or assessing an activity, plan or project that may affect this site’ This Supplementary Advice to the Conservation Objectives presents attributes which are ecological characteristics of the designated species and habitats within a site. The listed attributes are considered to be those that best describe the site’s ecological integrity and which, if safeguarded, will enable achievement of the Conservation Objectives. Each attribute has a target which is either quantified or qualitative depending on the available evidence. The target identifies as far as possible the desired state to be achieved for the attribute. The tables provided below bring together the findings of the best available scientific evidence relating to the site’s qualifying features, which may be updated or supplemented in further publications from Natural England and other sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Aust to Brean Down Habitats Regulations Assessment
    Assessment of the Coastal Access programme under regulation 63 of the Habitats Regulations 2017 (‘Habitats Regulations Assessment’) Assessment of England Coast Path proposals between Aust and Brean Down on the: • Severn Estuary Special Area for Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, • the Mendips Limestone Grasslands SAC, • the Chew Valley Lakes SPA, • the Somerset Levels and Moors SPA and Ramsar site, and • the North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC. 25 July 2019 Page 1 Assessment of the Coastal Access programme under regulation 63 of the Habitats Regulations 2017 (‘Habitats Regulations Assessment’) Contents: Summary .................................................................................................................... 3 PART A: Introduction and information about the England Coast Path ....................... 9 PART B: Information about the European Site(s) which could be affected .............. 11 PART C: Screening of the plan or project for appropriate assessment .................... 18 PART D: Appropriate Assessment and Conclusions on Site Integrity ...................... 29 PART E: Permission decision with respect to European Sites ............................... 145 References to evidence .......................................................................................... 146 Index of tables ........................................................................................................ 153 Maps .....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Aster Linosyris
    Crouch, H.J. (date accessed). Somerset Rare Plant Register account: Aster linosyris. Somerset Rare Plants Group, www.somersetrareplantsgroup.org.uk [Last amended 17-02-2015] Aster linosyris (L.) Bernh. Goldilocks Aster Native GB: Least Concern England: Endangered GB Rare VC5 Absent; VC6 Rare A perennial, growing on the shallow soil of ledges on limestone sea-cliffs. Absent from VC5 and always rare in VC6, this species now occurs only at Uphill and Brean Down. The earliest record for Somerset is a specimen in BM collected by Dr Wollaston in 1813 at Uphill. Murray (1896) reported this species as lost and did not mention the Uphill site. The site was refound in 1904 by Druce, who reported seeing Aster linosyris “on a low range of carboniferous rocks in the neighbourhood of Weston-super-Mare, but not in the published locality”; he recorded about a hundred plants (Druce, 1904). This record was mentioned cryptically by White (1912) as a newly discovered site. It persists here within an enclosure on a rocky ledge at the edge of a quarry. Clearing of scrub resulted in a fine display of flowering shoots in 2007 and a small population was found outside the enclosure; however the population remains critically small and constantly in danger from encroaching scrub. Aster linosyris was formerly known from two other sites at Weston-super-Mare, Worle Hill and Birnbeck Island; only the latter was listed by Murray (1896). The earliest record for Worle Hill was a specimen collected in 1830 by W. Christy Jun. from “rocks on Worle Hill above Worle village”; the last record was made by Rev.
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Newsletter 15
    SOMERSET RARE PLANTS GROUP 2014 Newsletter Issue no. 15 Editor Liz McDonnell Introduction The membership of SRPG is currently standing at 74. We are always looking for people to take an ac- tive part in the group and to lead or help lead meetings. For information on subscriptions and member- ship see the Membership section in the back of the Newsletter. Visit www.somersetrareplantsgroup.org.uk to see the current year’s meetings programme, Somerset Rare Plant Register - list of species, criteria for inclusion and written accounts, Newsletter archive and information on SRPG recording. In 2014 we had 18 field meetings, 10 of them were fully or partially coastal. This fitted in with Natural England undertaking a review of the botanical interest of the Severn Estuary and the SRPG helped to gather records to contribute to this project. We also had meetings to find and monitor the rare and scarce species and general recording meetings, trying to fill in some of the under-recorded areas of the two vice-counties (VC5 South Somerset & VC6 North Somerset). We are keen to encourage members to either ‘adopt’ a species or a suite of species (especially those in our Rare Plant Register) or record in their chosen area, whether it is a patch, Parish or tetrad, as we need good coverage of the county. Members of the SRPG currently record at a scale of monad (1km square) level or finer. Six, eight or ten figure grid references are routinely recorded for rarer species. The Mapping program MapMate is used by the Somerset Vice-County Recorders to store, analyse and share data, all records being passed to the BSBI (Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland).
    [Show full text]
  • Aust to Brean Down Nature Conservation Assessment
    Nature Conservation Assessment for Coastal Access Proposals between Aust and Brean Down Assessment of Coastal Access Proposals between Aust and Brean Down on sites and features of nature conservation concern 25 July 2019 Page 1 Nature Conservation Assessment for Coastal Access Proposals between Aust and Brean Down About this document This document should be read in conjunction with the published Reports for the Aust to Brean Stretch and the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) The Coastal Access Reports contain a full description of the access proposals, including any additional mitigation measures that have been included. These Reports can be viewed here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-from-aust-to-brean-down-comment-on- proposals A HRA is required for European sites (SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites). The HRA is published alongside the Coastal Access Reports. This document, the Nature Conservation Assessment (NCA), covers all other aspects (including SSSIs, MCZs and undesignated but locally important sites and features) in so far as any HRA does not already address the issue for the sites and feature(s) in question. The NCA is arranged site by site. Map A shows Sites of Special Scientific Interest along this stretch of coast. See Annex 1 for an index to designated sites and features for this stretch of coast, including features that have been considered within any HRA. Page 2 Nature Conservation Assessment for Coastal Access Proposals between Aust and Brean Down Contents About this document .................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Defining the West of England's Genius Loci: 'Land of Limestone and Levels'
    preprints.org > doi: 10.20944/preprints201708.0100.v1 (registering DOI) PPreprint Article Version 1 NOT YET PEER-REVIEWED Defining the West of England’s Genius Loci: ‘Land of Limestone and Levels’ to Lateral Thinking Lincoln Garland * and Mike Wells Version 1: Received: 28 August 2017 / Approved: 29 August 2017 / Online: 29 August 2017 (03:42:37 CEST) How to cite: Garland, L.; Wells, M.. Defining the West of England’s Genius Loci: ‘Land of Limestone and Levels’ to Lateral Thinking. Preprints 2017, 2017080100 (doi: 10.20944/preprints201708.0100.v1). Abstract The County of Avon in England was abolished in 1996 and replaced by four unitary planning authorities. Recently the authorities have been working closely to develop a West of England Joint Spatial Plan to facilitate better integration of policies on transport, housing, the environment etc. The Joint Spatial Plan team commissioned a multidisciplinary study to investigate whether the West of England has special characteristics of 'place' that engender shared interest and regional affinity, i.e. ‘sense of place’, to which emerging planning policies might positively respond. In this regard the present article is particularly focused on identifying whether the West of England has unique and unifying landscape characteristics, relating to topography, rural scenery, and flora and fauna, which combine with human experiences to distinguish the Region from adjoining areas. It is concluded that the West of England does indeed have real geographical integrity, being bound on all sides by attractive and prominent landscape features - the Mendip Hills, Cotswold Hills and Severn Estuary – that contribute to a sense of identity and belonging among its inhabitants.
    [Show full text]
  • Uphill Hill Local Nature Reserve DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN 2012-2016
    Uphill Hill Local Nature Reserve DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN 2012-2016 CONTENTS Page Page 4.1 Site Analysis 21-22 1.0 INTRODUCTION 4.2 Qualitative Assessment 22-25 1.1 Purpose of plan 1 5.0 VISION, AIMS, OBJECTIVES & ACTION PLAN 2.0 POLICY CONTEXT 5.1 Vision 26 1-2 5.2 Aims 26-27 3.0 SITE DECSRIPTION 5.3 1 and 5 year priorities 27-28 3.1 Location and access 3 5.4 Action plan 29-40 3.2 Relationship to green infrastructure 3 & 5 6.0 FINANCE 3.3 Ownership and Designations 4 & 6 6.1 Existing expenditure 41 3.4 History 7 7.0 MONITORING & REVIEW 41 3.5 Overview of the park today 7-9 Appendix 1: List of partners 42 3.6 Mapping the park 9-10 Appendix 2: Standard safety risk assessment forms 43-45 3.7 Description of Key Features 11-18 Appendix 3: Interesting and rare plants (photos) 46 3.8 Detailed site statistics 19 Appendix 4: Marketing strategy 47 3.9 Existing management arrangements 20 Appendix 5: Observations and surveys report 2011 48-57 Appendix 6: SSSI Citation 58 Appendix 7: Natural England views about management 59 Appendix 8: List of ‘operations likely to damage’ 60 Appendix 9: Inspection forms 61-63 Appendix 10: RSPB and farmer alliance bird survey 64 Appendix 11: Management and events 2011/12 65-68 Appendix 12: Butterfly survey transect route 69 Appendix 13: Bird survey stops 70 Uphill Hill Local Nature Reserve Draft Management Plan Feb 2012 V4 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of the plan The need for site management plans has been identified as a key issue in the recent Green Infrastructure Strategy for the District1.
    [Show full text]
  • 6. Survey and Monitoring
    6. Survey and monitoring Survey and monitoring are essential components of good Surveying management. Surveys of the scrub itself give information on extent, species composition and structure, and are essential ‘Survey’ is the recording of qualitative or quantitative for planning management. By using standard, repeatable biological data using easily repeatable standardised techniques for the initial surveys, they become the techniques over a restricted period without preconception baseline against which further monitoring is done. of the results. Surveys of species associated with scrub provide ‘Monitoring’ is the comparison of repeated surveys. It is information on their distribution and status, which is critically important that initial (baseline) surveys are done essential when planning management. Many scrub to a standard, described method and that the results are dependent species are now rare, due to loss and fully documented so that they can be repeated. fragmentation of their preferred scrub habitat. Management decisions made without regard to rare Baseline information should be gathered to inform species could damage or extinguish them; for example, management decisions and ongoing monitoring is needed eradication of willow scrub to prevent succession on a to continuously refine management techniques. This is wet heath could cause the local loss of the rare Dingy especially important on sites designated for nature Mocha moth. conservation. In England and Wales, targets have been set to ensure that SSSIs are in, or moving towards, It is theoretically possible to survey everything within the favourable condition. It is the responsibility of the statutory scrub community but this would take a great deal of time nature conservation body to assess whether this is the and money.
    [Show full text]