Appendix 9.1 Nature Conservation Technical Appendix
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
HIGHWAYS AGENCY – M4 JUNCTIONS 3 TO 12 SMART MOTORWAY APPENDIX 9.1 NATURE CONSERVATION TECHNICAL APPENDIX ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT APPENDICES NATURE CONSERVATION TECHNICAL APPENDIX MARCH 2015 APPENDIX 9.1 PAGE 1 HIGHWAYS AGENCY – M4 JUNCTIONS 3 TO 12 SMART MOTORWAY Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 SURVEY AREAS .....................................................................................................................................1 1.2 SURVEY OBJECTIVES .............................................................................................................................2 2 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 4 2.1 DESK STUDY .........................................................................................................................................4 2.2 FIELD SURVEY .......................................................................................................................................5 3 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 12 3.1 DESK STUDY ....................................................................................................................................... 12 3.2 FIELD SURVEY ..................................................................................................................................... 15 4 EVALUATION ................................................................................................................... 33 4.1 HABITATS ........................................................................................................................................... 33 4.2 AMPHIBIANS ........................................................................................................................................ 37 4.3 REPTILES ........................................................................................................................................... 39 4.4 BATS .................................................................................................................................................. 39 4.5 DORMICE ............................................................................................................................................ 40 4.6 OTTERS AND WATER VOLES .................................................................................................................. 40 5 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................. 42 5.1 HABITATS ........................................................................................................................................... 42 5.2 AMPHIBIANS ........................................................................................................................................ 42 5.3 REPTILES ........................................................................................................................................... 42 5.4 BATS .................................................................................................................................................. 43 5.5 DORMICE ............................................................................................................................................ 44 5.6 OTTERS AND WATER VOLES .................................................................................................................. 44 6 MITIGATION ..................................................................................................................... 46 6.1 HABITATS ........................................................................................................................................... 46 6.2 AMPHIBIANS ........................................................................................................................................ 47 6.3 REPTILES ........................................................................................................................................... 48 6.4 BATS .................................................................................................................................................. 49 6.5 DORMICE ............................................................................................................................................ 50 6.6 OTTERS AND WATER VOLES .................................................................................................................. 51 7 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................ 52 8 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 53 FIGURE 1 – LOCATION OF SACS DESIGNATED FOR BATS WITHIN 30KM FIGURE 2 – PROTECTED SPECIES SURVEY LOCATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT APPENDICES NATURE CONSERVATION TECHNICAL APPENDIX MARCH 2015 APPENDIX 9.1 PAGE 2 HIGHWAYS AGENCY – M4 JUNCTIONS 3 TO 12 SMART MOTORWAY ANNEX 1-A - PHASE 1 HABITAT PLANS AND TNS ANNEX 1-B – NON-STATUTORY DESIGNATED SITES ANNEX 2-A – GREAT CRESTED NEWT HSI RESULTS ANNEX 2-B – PONDS UNABLE TO BE SURVEYED ANNEX 3 – REPTILE SURVEY RECORDS ANNEX 4-A – BAT STRUCTURES SURVEY RESULTS ANNEX 4-B – BAT TREE SURVEY RESULTS ANNEX 5-A – DORMOUSE 2010 SURVEY RESULTS ANNEX 5-B – DORMOUSE 2013 SURVEY RESULTS ANNEX 6-A – OTTER AND WATER VOLE SURVEY RESULTS ANNEX 6-B – WATERCOURSE UNABLE TO BE SURVEYED ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT APPENDICES NATURE CONSERVATION TECHNICAL APPENDIX MARCH 2015 APPENDIX 9.1 PAGE 3 HIGHWAYS AGENCY – M4 JUNCTIONS 3 TO 12 SMART MOTORWAY 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Survey areas 1.1.1 The habitats surrounding the M4 between junctions 3 (Hayes) and 12 (Theale) consist of a mixture of grassland, scrub, mixed and broad-leaf woodland, major watercourses, ditch systems and associated riparian habitats. 1.1.2 The survey conducted as part of the Stage 2 Environmental Assessment Report (“EAR”) considered a buffer zone of 50 metres (“m”) adjacent to the Order limits. Whilst this is sufficient in areas with little or no adjacent semi- natural habitat, the survey area was expanded to about 100m where semi- natural habitats of significant nature conservation value occurred near the Order limits and where access was possible. 1.1.3 The Order limits outside the main carriageway and hard shoulder consists predominantly of typical roadside verge habitat, including dense and scattered scrub, plantation woodland, scattered trees, grassland, streams, ditches and ponds. The M4 also lies adjacent to a number of statutory and non-statutory designated sites and areas with a high density of ponds. 1.1.4 Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius ) and reptile surveys were targeted within the Scheme where areas of suitable habitat occurred. 1.1.5 The immediate off-site habitat was dominated by arable or pasture (improved grassland) with occasional amenity areas such as service stations and parks. There were several fields of semi-improved neutral grassland, woodlands, residential estates and scrub habitats, to the west. In addition to the above, the eastern portion of the Scheme incorporated urban areas, quarries and landfill sites. 1.1.6 Ponds within 250m of the Order limits were identified on Ordnance Survey maps and freely available web-based aerial photography. Habitat Suitability Index (“HSI") (Ref 9-29) assessments of the ponds identified were subsequently carried out to determine which ponds were likely to support great crested newts ( Triturus cristatus ). All ponds with a HSI score higher than 0.5 were surveyed to confirm the presence or likely absence of great crested newt. ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT APPENDICES NATURE CONSERVATION TECHNICAL APPENDIX MARCH 2015 APPENDIX 9.1 PAGE 1 HIGHWAYS AGENCY – M4 JUNCTIONS 3 TO 12 SMART MOTORWAY 1.1.7 The survey area for bats consisted of features such as mature or complex trees, bridges and culverts situated adjacent to woodland blocks or tree- lined waterways that could act as corridors to commute between roosts and feeding areas. 1.1.8 The survey area for otter ( Lutra lutra ) and water voles ( Arvicola amphibius ) consisted of watercourses that passed beneath the Scheme, up to 500m on third party land, as well as the ditch network within the Order limits. 1.1.9 To prevent unnecessary injury or death to badgers in compliance with the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, all information related to badgers (including survey methodology, baseline information, mitigation and residual effects and cumulative effects), is presented in Confidential Appendix 9.2. Release of Confidential Appendix 9.2 will only be to the Planning Inspectorate (the “Inspectorate”), and on request from suitably qualified professionals. 1.2 Survey objectives 1.2.1 The objectives of the surveys were: a) to assess the existing habitat mapping and Target Notes (“TNs”) and determine if any changes had occurred since these were produced; b) to appraise the species lists relating to each TN/habitat type, to update with regards to potential protected floral species in the optimal survey period, and determine if this has any implications in terms of habitat classification and evaluation; c) to recommend any additional detailed survey requirement necessary to inform the Scheme design; d) to identify