Bat and Nesting Bird Survey for Proposed Barn Conversion at Grange Farm, Dereham Road, Pettywell, Norfolk, Nr10 4Rn

BAT AND NESTING BIRD SURVEY FOR PROPOSED BARN CONVERSION AT GRANGE FARM, DEREHAM ROAD, PETTYWELL, NORFOLK, NR10 4RN Report produced by Client details James Hodson BSc MSc Alan Rawlings Architecture Eco-Check Consultancy Ltd, Stable Cottage Greystones, Bell Inn Yard Horning Road West, The Street Hoveton, Bawdeswell NR12 8QH NR20 4RR Tel/ 01603 784905 -07914 130493 Contact: Alan Rawlings [email protected] [email protected] JULY 2016 1 Eco-Check Consultancy Ltd, Protected Species Survey at Grange Farm, Dereham Road, Pettywell, Norfolk, NR10 4RN CONTENTS: 1.0 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………. 3 2.0 AIM OF SURVEY.......................................................................................................... 3 3.0 LEGAL STATUS……….................................................................................................. 4 3.1 Barn Owls……………………………….………………………………………………….. 4 3.2 Bats…………………………………………..………………………………………………. 4 3.3 European Protected Species (EPS) Licensing……………………………………….. 5 4.0 SITE LOCATION……………………………………………………..................................... 5 5.0 SITE DESCRIPTION……………………………………………........................................... 6 5.3 Barn A Construction……………………………………………………………………….. 6 5.4 Barn B Construction……………………………………………………………………….. 8 6.0 DESK STUDY AND SITE ASSESSMENT…………………………........................................ 9 6.1 Statutory Sites…………………….……………………………………………………….. 9 6.2 Non-Statutory Sites……………………………………………………………………….. 9 6.3 Bat Records……………………………………………………………………………….. 10 7.0 HABITAT DESCRIPTION……………………………………............................................. 11 8.0 SURVEY METHODOLOGY……………………………………......................................... 12 9.0 CONSTRAINTS………………………………………………............................................ 12 10.0 FIELD SURVEY RESULTS……………………………………........................................... 13 10.1 Barn Owls………………………………………………………………………………… 13 10.2 Bats………………………………………………………………………………………… 13 11.0 EMERGENCE/ACTIVITY SURVEY…………………………......................................... 14 12.0 ROOSTING POTENTIAL CRITERIA…………………………......................................... 19 13.0 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLIFE LICENSING...... 19 14.0 HABITAT CREATION, RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT……............................... 20 15.0 REFERENCES………………………..…………………………......................................... 22 16.0 DISCLAIMER……………………….…………………………......................................... 23 APPENDIX 1 SITE PLANS AND EMERGENCE AND ACTIVITY SURVEY RESULTS MAPS APPENDIX 2 PHOTOS APPENDIX 3 DESK STUDY INFORMATION & MITIGATION 2 Eco-Check Consultancy Ltd, Protected Species Survey at Grange Farm, Dereham Road, Pettywell, Norfolk, NR10 4RN 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Eco-Check was contacted by Alan Rawlings Architectural Design in June 2016 with regard to undertaking a European Protected Species (EPS) survey of a brick barn and cart-shed within the curtilage of Grange Farm, Dereham Road, Pettywell, Reepham, Norfolk, NR10 4RN. 1.2 The presence of protected species, barn owls (Tyto alba) and bats (all species) has been considered a possibility. Bats, owls and other nesting birds are normally the species most likely to be affected by barn developments and so the buildings were surveyed for the likely presence/absence of both species. 1.3 This survey was commissioned to accompany a planning application to Broadland District Council in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (Replacement of PPS9) which establishes that the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment, minimise impacts on biodiversity and geodiversity and to conserve and enhance biodiversity. 1.4 A survey of the buildings on the 30th June 2016 found evidence of bat activity in the enclosed barn with approximately 20-25 old bat droppings and some butterfly wings which suggested foraging activity. Two further dusk emergence/activity surveys were therefore undertaken on the 5th and 18th July 2016 in addition to static monitoring in the barn between the 30th June and 5th July 2016. 2.0 Aim of survey 2.1 To examine the buildings to determine the presence or likely absence of nesting barn owls and/or roosting bats, species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 with respect to the proposed development works. If found to be present, the survey aimed to determine the use of the buildings by protected species so that the impacts of the development proposal can be assessed and appropriate advice given to address these impacts. 2.2 In the light of the survey this report provides initial recommendations for potential mitigation measures if protected species are likely to be affected by the proposed works it may be necessary to obtain a European Protected Species (EPS) license. 2.3 This report has been prepared in accordance with the recommended format in ‘Bat Surveys-Good Practice Guidelines, Hundt, 2012’ and ‘Bat Mitigation Guidelines, Natural England, 2004’. The methodology of the survey adopts the recommended best working practice for the inspection of buildings for bats and bat roosts. 3 Eco-Check Consultancy Ltd, Protected Species Survey at Grange Farm, Dereham Road, Pettywell, Norfolk, NR10 4RN 3.0 Legal status 3.1 Barn Owls (Tyto alba) All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law under Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Barn owls are listed on Schedule 1, which gives them special protection: It is normally an offence to: Intentionally kill, injure or take (handle) any wild barn owl. Intentionally take, damage or destroy any wild barn owl nest whilst in use by the birds. Intentionally take or destroy a wild barn owl egg. Possess or control a wild barn owl (dead or alive) or wild barn owl egg. Intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild barn owl whilst ‘building’ a nest or whilst in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young. Intentionally or recklessly disturb any dependant young of wild barn owls. Should anyone disturb a barn owl at or near the nest that is genuinely unaware of its presence, this does not constitute an offence unless it can be shown that the defendant was reckless. Disturbance may be deemed reckless if it committed by someone who could be expected to know that the bird or birds might be present but failed to check. 3.2 Bats (all species) All species of British bat and their roosts are protected under British law by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), which is extended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Bats are classified as European Protected Species under the Conservation (Natural Habitats and Species) Regulations 1994, amended 2007 & 2010. Together, the legislation makes it illegal to: Intentionally or deliberately kill, injure or capture (or take) bats; Deliberately disturb bats (whether in a roost or not); Recklessly disturb roosting bats or obstruct access to their roosts; Damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of a bat; Possess, control, transport, exchange or sell a bat or parts of a bat, alive or dead A bat roost is interpreted as “any structure or place which any wild bat...uses for shelter or protection”. As bats tend to re-use the same roosts, moving around seasonally, a roost is legally protected whether or not bats are present at the time. Activities that may result in the 4 Eco-Check Consultancy Ltd, Protected Species Survey at Grange Farm, Dereham Road, Pettywell, Norfolk, NR10 4RN above offences taking place can in some instances be permitted. However a strict process of licensing must be observed and followed for this to be lawful. 3.3 European Protected Species (EPS) Licensing Any developments which may affect a known bat roost are now required to obtain a license. Mitigation licences are normally issued for ‘imperative reasons of overriding public interest’, although they may also be issued by the same authority for the purpose of health and safety. When deciding whether to grant an EPS license application, the licencing authority must apply three tests to the proposed action: The main reason for undertaking the action must be one for which a licence can be issued, such as preserving public health or safety, or other reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature. There must be no satisfactory alternative. The action authorised will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the population of the species concerned at a favourable conservation (FCS) status in their natural range. Favourable conservation status is defined in the Habitats and Species Directive (Article 1(i)) as “the sum of the influences acting on the species concerned that may affect the long term distribution and abundance of its population within the territory.” It is assessed as favourable when: “population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats, and the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future, and there is, or will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its populations on a long term basis.” 4.0 Site Location 4.1 Grange Farm is situated in an isolated rural location approximately 1km west of Reepham and 4.5km north-east of Bawdeswell within the civil parish of Reepham in the Broadland District. The site is accessed from the B1145 Dereham Road to the south via a private driveway through to the barn situated to the south of the dwelling

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