EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT REPORT – UPDATED MAY 2013 Bridgewater Primary School REF: 12-2499/3614/D02/R2 DATE: February 2013 Architecture Initiative Ltd c/o Solange Design 3-5 Barrett Street London W1U 1AY Prepared By Lockhart Garratt Ltd 7-8 Melbourne House Corbygate Business Park Weldon, Corby Northants NN17 5JG Telephone: 01536 408840 Fax: 01536 408860 Email: [email protected] Web: www.lockhart-garratt.co.uk 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 3 1.1 Terms of Instruction ................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Report Limitations ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Documents Provided .................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Qualifications ............................................................................................................. 3 1.5 The Site ..................................................................................................................... 3 2. APPROACH ............................................................................................................... 3 3. METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Desk Study................................................................................................................. 4 3.2 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey .............................................................................. 4 3.3 Habitat Assessment Evaluation Criteria ..................................................................... 4 4. RESULTS .................................................................................................................. 5 4.1 Desk Study Results .................................................................................................... 5 4.2 Field Survey Limitations ............................................................................................. 7 4.3 Habitat Description ..................................................................................................... 7 4.4 Protected Species and Other Faunal Interest ............................................................. 9 5. RELEVANT LEGISLATION ...................................................................................... 13 6. EVALUATION .......................................................................................................... 14 6.1 Local Context ........................................................................................................... 14 6.2 Habitats .................................................................................................................... 14 6.3 Species .................................................................................................................... 14 7. CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................... 15 8. RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 17 8.1 General .................................................................................................................... 17 8.2 Habitats .................................................................................................................... 17 8.3 Species .................................................................................................................... 17 8.4 Enhancements ......................................................................................................... 18 APPENDIX I: SITE LOCATION PLAN ................................................................................. 19 APPENDIX II: DESK STUDY RESULTS ............................................................................. 20 APPENDIX III: PHASE 1 PLAN ........................................................................................... 21 APPENDIX IV: HABITAT SUITABLITY INDEX FOR GREAT CRESTED NEWTS .............. 22 APPENDIX V: GCN MITIGATION SKETCH PLANS ........................................................... 23 LOCKHART GARRATT LTD Trees, Woodland, Forestry 12-2499 3614 D02 R Phase 1 Habtiat Report Rev 2 May 2013 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Terms of Instruction 1.1.1 This report has been commissioned by Rowan Parnell of Architecture Initiative Ltd. It provides an ecological assessment of the proposed redevelopment of land at Bridgewater School in Northampton. 1.2 Report Limitations 1.2.1 This is an ecological report and as such no reliance should be given to comments relating to buildings, engineering, soils or other unrelated matters. 1.3 Documents Provided 1.3.1 As background information the following documentation was provided: Proposed Site Plan – Proposed Site Plan, Bridgewater Primary School, January 2013, Ref: BR-04. 1.4 Qualifications 1.4.1 The authors of this report are detailed below: James Whiteford BSc (Hons) MIEEM MSB - Primary Author/Primary Surveyor Katherine Breslin BSc (Hons) - Secondary Author/Secondary Surveyor John Lockhart FRICS CEnv - Project Director Marie Allcoat - Project Administrator 1.5 The Site 1.5.1 The assessment covered the whole of the site. A site location plan is located in Appendix I. 1.5.2 At the time of the assessment the site mostly comprised of amenity grassland, buildings and hard standing. 1.5.3 The majority of the surrounding landscape was recorded as being residential housing interspersed with areas of open green space. Allotments were recorded adjacent to the eastern boundary of the site. Directly to the north of the site was an area of derelict land. This area was covered in rank grassland with small areas of scattered scrub. 2. APPROACH 2.1.1 To assess the ecological issues associated with the site and to inform any further assessments the following tasks were undertaken: A Desk Study An Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey 3 LOCKHART GARRATT LTD Trees, Woodland, Forestry 12-2499 3614 D02 R Phase 1 Habtiat Report Rev 2 May 2013 3. METHODOLOGY 3.1 Desk Study 3.1.1 The purpose of the desk study was to collect baseline data held by statutory and non-statutory consultees and to obtain any views they may have about the proposals. A secondary purpose of the desk study was to collect records of species that may not be present at the time of survey and identify any protected species or habitats which may potentially be affected by the proposals. 3.1.2 Information was requested for the site as well as a 2km radius around the site in line with the IEEM Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (2012). This information was gathered from the following organisations (with the full information presented in Appendix II): Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre (NBRC) 3.2 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey 3.2.1 The aim of the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey was to provide information to establish the ecological value of the site and to determine any further assessments. 3.2.2 During the Phase 1 Habitat Survey the dominant plant species present were recorded and the habitats classified according to their vegetation types. 3.2.3 This information is presented in accordance with the standard Phase 1 Habitat Survey format with habitat descriptions and a habitat map (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2010), presented in Appendix III. In addition Target Notes providing supplementary information, for example relating to species, composition, structure and management are also presented on the Habitat map. 3.2.4 In addition invasive weeds were also searched for during the Phase 1 Habitat Survey 3.2.5 This assessment has followed the current baseline ecological survey guidance as set out in the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (2012). 3.3 Habitat Assessment Evaluation Criteria 3.3.1 A five point evaluation scale has been applied to assist with the identification of key features of ecological significance in relation to the proposed development, following guidance outlined in IEEM (2006) guidelines. This is an arbitrary scale which experience has shown is effective at this level of assessment. 3.3.2 The five point scale is outlined below: low value; intermediate value; high value (Local/District importance e.g. Local Wildlife Site); very high value (County importance e.g. Local Nature Reserve); and exceptional value (National importance e.g. Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)). 4 LOCKHART GARRATT LTD Trees, Woodland, Forestry 12-2499 3614 D02 R Phase 1 Habtiat Report Rev 2 May 2013 4. RESULTS 4.1 Desk Study Results 4.1.1 The full information collected during the desk study is presented in Appendix II and summarised below. Northamptonshire Biological Records Centre Ecological designations 4.1.2 The records search identified two statutory protected sites (e.g. Special Protection Area (SPA), Local Nature Reserve (LNR), RAMSAR, Wildlife Trust Reserve (WTR) or Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)) within 2kms of the study area. Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits (SSSI/SPA/RAMSAR): An area of sand and gravel pits within the flood plain of the River Nene. The SPA was designated on the basis of the nationally significant population of wetland birds which it supports. It is located approximately 1km south-east from the study area. Barnes Meadow Local