T H Etfo Rd a Cad Em Y / Ecology S Urvey / Report for NPS South East
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Thetford Academy / Ecology Survey / Report for NPS South East Thetford Academy Academy Thetford / Ecology Survey / / Ecology Thetford Academy Ecology Survey Report for NPS South East Report for NPS South East Report for NPS South Alex Prendergast BSc (Hons), MSc and Graham Author Hopkins BSc (Hons) PhD PGCE FRES MIEEM Status Date Approved by Initial 17th May 2011 Jit Thacker Revision 19th May 2011 Sam Phillips Revision 31st May 2011 Sam Phillips Job No. 110373 The Ecology Consultancy 79 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1UA T. 01603 628408 E. [email protected] W. www.ecologyconsultancy.co.uk CONTENTS Executive Summary 1 1 Introduction 2 Background 2 Development Proposal 2 Site Context and Status 2 legislation and Planning Policy 2 2 Methods 3 Personnel 3 Desk Top Study 3 Phase 1 Habitat and Botanical SurveyS 3 Protected Species Risk Assessment and Survey 3 constraints 4 3 Results 5 Desk Top Study 5 Phase 1 Habitat and Botanical SurveyS 7 Protected Animal Species 8 4 Evaluation & Protected Species Assessment 9 Habitats 9 Protected Species Assessment 9 5 Impacts, Mitigation & Enhancements 12 Impacts on Designated Sites 12 Impacts on Site Features 12 Mitigation 13 Enhancement 14 References 17 Appendix 1: Figures 19 Appendix 2: Legislation & Planning Policy 23 Appendix 3: Data Search 32 Appendix 4: Bird & Bat Boxes 39 Executive Summary The Ecology Consultancy was commissioned by NPS South East to undertake an extended Phase 1 habitat survey, protected species assessment and botanical survey of land at Thetford Academy (North Campus), Croxton Road, Thetford, Norfolk, to inform proposed plans to significantly expand the North Camps site over the existing site and part of an arable field to the north. The existing main school buildings will not be impacted by the works, however a temporary classroom will be removed. The site is within 2km of the Breckland Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a component site of the Breckland Special Protection Area (SPA). A Phase 1 habitat survey, protected species assessment and botany survey were undertaken on the 12th May 2011. The habitats on-site comprise heavily trampled amenity grassland, mature mixed plantation woodland, hardstanding, arable margins and hedgerows. The protected species assessment identified: three trees as having some bat roost potential, the potential for nesting birds to be present in the hedgerows and arable field and a possibility of reptiles being present. The site is generally suitable for a number of UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species, although populations are likely to be small. The site is considered to be of low ecological significance overall, and the populations of noteworthy species are unlikely to be of more than local significance. With respect to bats, the impacts of the project are considered to be low. However, three trees on the school site were identified as having low bat potential but they appear to be in a potentially dangerous condition; if arboricultural work is required then it should follow a ‘soft felling approach’. Site lighting should be directed away from woodland and hedgerows to minimise disturbance to foraging bats. To avoid destruction of birds’ nests then vegetation should be cleared outside of the nesting season or else under a watching brief. With respect to reptiles, there is a low risk of reptiles being present. Habitat manipulation prior to clearance is sufficient to mitigate for the risk of injury, therefore low vegetation should be strimmed in the weeks prior to clearance to displace reptiles. Enhancements of the site in line with PPS9 include soft landscaping, habitat enhancement, erection of bird boxes and creation of dead wood habitat. It is considered that there will be no impact on the designated sites nearby, either directly or indirectly. The designated sites are too distant to be affected by disturbance and the site is very unlikely to be used by birds for which the SPA is designated either due to inappropriate habitat or the existing levels of disturbance locally. The SPA will not be affected and there will not be an effect on site integrity. Thetford Academy / Ecology Report / Report for NPS South East 1 1 Introduction BACKGROUND 1.1 The Ecology Consultancy was commissioned by NPS to undertake a Phase 1 habitat survey, a protected species assessment and a botanical survey of land at Thetford Academy (North Campus), Thetford, Norfolk. 1.2 This report presents the results of the surveys, and highlights any potential implications for the proposals with respect to timing of works, recommended working practice and potential enhancements. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL 1.3 The current proposals are to significantly expand the North Campus site, to accommodate students from the academy’s South Campus. The expansion site is an arable field to the north of the existing school site, separated from the school site by a public footpath. 1.4 The existing school site is to the south and largely comprises hardstanding, amenity grassland and a block of plantation woodland. It is likely that vehicle access to the expansion site will be required from Croxton Road, with a pedestrian link across the footpath between the existing and expansion sites (Appendix 1, Figure 2). SITE CONTEXT AND STATUS 1.5 The approximate centre of the development site is located on the northern edge of Thetford at TG 876 846, to the east of Croxton Road, Thetford, Norfolk. The immediate surroundings comprise suburban residential properties and arable habitats whilst the wider landscape is largely arable and urban. 1.6 Ordnance Survey maps (1:10,000) indicate that no ponds are present within 500m. LEGISLATION AND PLANNING POLICY 1.7 Appendix 3 contains details of legislation, planning policy and Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) relating to wildlife and conservation, and is provided for general guidance only. The Appendix includes: Details of national legislation afforded to species Statutory designated sites Non-statutory designated sites National Planning Policy UK and Local Biodiversity Action Plans Thetford Academy / Ecology Report / Report for NPS South East 2 2 Methods PERSONNEL 2.1 The Phase 1 survey, protected species assessment and botanical survey were undertaken by Dr Graham Hopkins and Alex Prendergast MSc. The protected species assessments were by Graham (Senior Ecologist, The Ecology Consultancy); he holds a Natural England bat licence (number 20103306) and is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. The botanical work was undertaken by Alex (Ecologist, The Ecology Consultancy); he holds a level-5 field identification skills certificate from the Botanical Society of the British Isles. DESK TOP STUDY 2.2 Information regarding the present and historical ecological interest of the site and within a further 2km radius was requested from the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service. 2.3 The status of species is taken directly from the relevant legislation, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP 2009) or the list of Birds of Conservation Concern (Eaton et al. 2009). PHASE 1 HABITAT AND BOTANICAL SURVEYS 2.4 The Phase 1 habitat survey of the development site was undertaken on the 12th May 2011. Habitats were described following standard Phase 1 habitat survey methods (JNCC 2010). A full botanical survey was also carried out at this time (although see constraints, below). Nomenclature follows Stace (2010) for vascular plant species. 2.5 Incidental records of birds and other fauna noted during the course of the habitat survey were also compiled. Scientific names are given after the first mention of a species, thereafter, common names only are used. PROTECTED SPECIES RISK ASSESSMENT AND SURVEY 2.6 The potential of the development site to provide habitat for protected and otherwise noteworthy species was assessed from field observations carried out at the same time as the habitat survey in conjunction with the records provided by the desktop search. The purpose of this assessment was to establish the likelihood of such species being present and to identify whether more comprehensive surveys for protected species are required. Thetford Academy / Ecology Report / Report for NPS South East 3 2.7 Particular attention was given to looking for field signs of, and suitable habitat features for: Bats Breeding birds Reptiles and amphibians (including great crested newt) 2.8 A search for signs of use by bats was undertaken from ground level using close focusing binoculars, following good practice guidelines for inspection surveys recommended by the Bat Conservation Trust (2007). 2.9 The habitats present on/adjacent to the development site were not deemed suitable for other protected species such as water voles Arvicola amphibius (=terrestris), otters Lutra lutra and white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes due to the absence of any watercourses. CONSTRAINTS 2.10 The survey provides a preliminary view of the likelihood of protected species occurring on the development site, based on the suitability of the habitat and any direct evidence found during the survey. It should not be taken as providing a full and definitive survey of any protected species group. It is only valid at the time the survey was carried out. 2.11 The botanical survey was constrained by the extended period of warm, dry weather preceding the survey. Due to the early season it was noted that many early-flowering plant species had flowered and shrivelled away by mid-May when they would normally be in full flower, and as such it is possible that some species were missed by the survey. Thetford Academy / Ecology Report / Report for NPS South East 4 3 Results DESK TOP STUDY Statutory Sites 3.1 Within 2km, there are two areas with statutory designation both at approximately 1.9km distance, one to the north-west and one to the north-east. Both sites are part of the Breckland Forest SSSI which itself is a component site of the Breckland Special Protection Area (SPA).