Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads Ecological Appraisal
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Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads Ecological Appraisal ERAP Ltd ref: 2012_047 Submitted to: Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd Submitted by: ERAP Ltd Consultant Ecologists May 2012 49a Manor Lane Penwortham Preston Lancashire PR1 0TA Tel: 01772 750502 E-mail: [email protected] www.erap.co.uk Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd Ecological Appraisal Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads May 2012 Document Control Sheet Client: Countryside Properties Project: 2012_047 Title: Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads – Ecological Appraisal Report Authors Lisa Rigby B.Sc. (Hons) M.Sc. MIEEM Senior Ecologist Signed Date 25th April 2012 Brian Robinson B.Sc. (Hons) AIEEM Checked by Ecologist Signed Date 3rd May 2012 Report Issued to: Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd Copy Number v1 Page (i) Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd Ecological Appraisal Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads May 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................(iii) 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................ 4 1.2 Objectives of the Study ....................................................................................................... 5 2 CONSULTATION AND REVIEW OF EXISTING DATA ................................................................. 6 2.1 Consultees .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Statutory Designated Nature Conservation Sites ............................................................... 6 2.3 Non-Statutory Designated Nature Conservation Sites ....................................................... 6 2.4 Habitats and Plants ............................................................................................................. 6 2.5 Fauna .................................................................................................................................. 7 2.6 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 7 3 SURVEY METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 7 3.1 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey ...................................................................................... 7 3.2 Protected Species ............................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Survey Limitations ............................................................................................................. 10 4 BASELINE CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................. 10 4.1 Habitats and Flora ............................................................................................................. 10 4.2 Fauna ................................................................................................................................ 15 5 EVALUATION & CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................ 17 5.1 Evaluation Methodology .................................................................................................... 17 5.2 Habitats and Species ........................................................................................................ 18 6 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................. 21 6.1 Protection of Existing Features ......................................................................................... 21 6.2 Habitat Enhancement and Landscape Planting ................................................................ 21 6.3 Potential for Development ................................................................................................. 24 7 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 25 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Phase 1 Habitat Map LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX A: TABLE 1 – RESULTS OF DATA SEARCH Page i Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd Ecological Appraisal Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads May 2012 APPENDIX B: LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT APPENDIX C: TABLE 5 – HEDGEROW ASSESSMENT Page ii Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd Ecological Appraisal Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads May 2012 SUMMARY i) ERAP Ltd (Consultant Ecologists) was commissioned by Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd in April 2012 to carry out an ecological survey and appraisal of the land at the former Acre Mill site, Stacksteads, Bacup. ii) The survey was requested in connection with proposals to re-develop the site for residential use. iii) The assessment presents the results of a desktop study and a comprehensive ecological survey of the site carried out in April 2012. The scope of survey undertaken is sufficient to enable the identification and accurate assessment of any potential ecological constraints and opportunities. iv) The Site is located approximately 2 kilometres (km) to the south-west of Bacup town centre and comprises bare ground and hardstanding, species poor neutral grassland, amenity grassland, dense/continuous scrub, scattered trees and scrub, a hedgerow (UK BAP Priority Habitat), standing water / ephemeral pool and tall ruderal vegetation. v) There are no ponds within an unobstructed 250 metres (m) of the site and no ponds suitable for use by breeding amphibians within the site boundary. vi) Montbretia, an invasive species listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, is present within the Site. No other invasive species are present within the Site. vii) The Site provides nesting and foraging opportunities for birds but is unsuitable for use by ground-nesting species such as Lapwing and Skylark. All wild birds are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 while they are nesting. Guidance in relation to the retention and protection of the trees and protection of nesting birds is presented in this report. viii) All trees within the Site have negligible suitability for roosting bats and have been assessed as ‘Category 3’ trees, with ‘no potential to support bats’. ix) No evidence of any protected species was found within the Site or immediate surrounding area and the Site has been assessed as unsuitable for reptile species. xi) Section 7 of this report describes the mandatory and precautionary measures to be applied to ensure compliance with all EU and UK wildlife legislation, Natural England guidance, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and local planning policy. Where possible, practicable and reasonable opportunities to achieve biodiversity gain by appropriate management, habitat creation and landscape planting have been identified and incorporated in the development proposals. xii) Based on the survey information presented in this assessment, it is concluded that the principle of the proposed development of land at the former Acre Mill Site, Stacksteads, Bacup is acceptable and feasible in terms of ecological considerations. The proposals provide an opportunity to enhance and improve local biodiversity through landscape planting and habitat creation. This conclusion is valid provided that guidance detailed in Section 7 of this report is implemented in full. Page iii Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd Ecological Appraisal Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads May 2012 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Terms of Reference 1.1.1 ERAP Ltd (Consultant Ecologists) was commissioned by Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd in April 2012 to carry out an ecological survey and appraisal of land at the former Acre Mill site, Stacksteads, Bacup, Lancashire (hereafter referred to as the “Site”). 1.1.2 The Site is located approximately 2 kilometres (km) to the south-west of Bacup town centre (central OS grid reference SD 857 214) and covers approximately 2.5 acres (circa 1 hectares). 1.1.3 The Site comprises bare ground and hardstanding, species poor neutral grassland, amenity grassland, dense/continuous scrub, scattered trees and scrub, a hedgerow, standing water / ehphemeral pool and tall ruderal vegetation. The Site is bounded to the north, south and west by existing residential housing and to the east by agricultural land. There is an earth bank running along the southern and eastern boundaries of the Site. 1.1.4 The approximate Site boundary is highlighted in yellow on the aerial photo (insert 1) below, which also provides an overview of the immediate surrounding area. Insert 1: Aerial photo showing the approximate site boundary (yellow line) and surrounding area (Google Earth) 1.1.5 The ecological survey and report have been requested by Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd in order to assess the Sites suitability for possible future development from biodiversity and nature conservation perspectives. 2012_047 4 LR/Rev1 Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd Ecological Appraisal Former Acre Mill, Stacksteads May 2012 1.2 Objectives of the Study 1.2.1 The objectives of the study were to: • Describe and evaluate existing species and habitats on the Site; • Identify whether or not the Site is likely to be inhabited and/or used by protected species; • Identify habitats and species of biodiversity importance1; • Advise on further survey