Ecological Impact Assessment Purn Way
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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