Flintshire Bridge 400Kv Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan
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Melissa Wilson (BA Hons MLPM) Landscape Manager 01925 844074 (Direct Dial) 07501 467995 (Mobile) Planning : Design : Environment Warrington: 01925 844004 Milton Keynes: 01908 526003 Gateshead: 0191 490 9210 Fax: 01925 844002 Please consider the environment before printing this email http://tepsharepoint/projectcentral/TEP2/nongreen/Useful%20Documents/Site%20Risk%20Assessme nt.doc Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Report Ref: 3840.018 May 2019 Version 7.0 LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR FLINTSHIRE BRIDGE 400kV CONVERTER STATION, FLINTSHIRE (Report Ref: 3840.018) May 2019 Version 7.0 Prepared by; TEP Genesis Centre Birchwood Science Park Warrington WA3 7BH Tel: 01925 844004 Fax: 01925 844002 E-mail: [email protected] for National Grid 1 – 3 Strand London WL2N 5EH Written: Checked: Approved: AB LD LD Amendment History Version Date Modified Checked/ Reason(s) for issue Status by Approved by 1.0 May 2013 AB LD Draft Superseded 2.0 April 2019 VJ AL Draft 2 Superseded 3.0 May 2019 DR/ AL JC Final Version Superseded 4.0 May 2019 VJ JC Amendment to Superseded Appendix 3 5.0 June 2019 VJ JC Amendment to Plan Superseded D3840.002E 6.0 July 2019 VJ JC Wildflower remedial Superseded scheme amendments 7.0 November VJ DR Added schedule from Issued 2019 client. Contents PAGE 1.0 Introduction Introduction to the Management Plan 1 Scope of the Management Plan 1 Structure of the Management Plan 1 Limitations of the Management Plan 2 2.0 Securing Future Management Responsibility for Site Management 3 3.0 Site Context Planning and Development Context 4 Biodiversity Action Plan and Habitat Action Plan 5 4.0 Site Description Site Location 6 Designations 6 Landscape Elements 6 5.0 Factors to be Considered within Management Decisions Ecological Factors 9 Social Factors 10 Legal Factors 11 6.0 Management Aims and Objectives 12 7.0 Monitoring and Review 13 8.0 Management Intentions and Maintenance Operations 15 Appendices 1. Landscape Proposals Plan (TEP ref: D3840.001C) 2. Planting and Seeding Plan (TEP ref: D3840.002E) 3. Remedial Scheme – Management the existing landscape with a view to increasing biodiversity (TEP ref: 3840.52) 4. Division of Responsibility Matrix (Siemens and NGET) Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 1.0 Introduction Introduction to the Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 1.1 National Grid received planning permission from Flintshire County Council in February 2013 (Application Ref: 050340) for the erection of a 400kV Converter Station and associated access landscaped areas and habitat creation on the land south of Weighbridge Road, Deeside. 1.2 This Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan provides sensitive management techniques for future management of the newly created landscape scheme (Drawing ref: P-010221_E_C5_0828_F_D3840.001 and P-010221_E_C5_0828_F_D3840.002 which includes mixed native woodland, grassland and swales. 1.3 The site covers 22.63 ha, and the landscape scheme will provide wildlife corridors to the north and west of the development which will improve biodiversity. National Grid will retain responsibility for the site and surrounding landscape. A landscape management organisation may be employed to facilitate the long-term maintenance and management of landscape elements on the site. 1.4 The site is brownfield and comprises trees, shrubs and rough grassland. Further landscape elements will be introduced providing habitat improvements and foraging opportunities for badgers, bats and birds. 1.5 This Management Plan has been produced by The Environment Partnership (TEP) Limited on behalf of National Grid to provide a framework for long term management and maintenance of the site, and to enhance wildlife value. The plan provides guidance on management techniques in respect of priority species and habitats which occur within the site, in particular within the areas that are important for their nature conservation value. Scope of the Management Plan 1.6 This Management Plan provides information on managing the landscape within the site boundary, specifically to enhance its biodiversity and that of the surrounding landscape. The Plan describes the site in terms of landscape elements and management operations. 1.7 The Management Plan should be read in conjunction with the Landscape Proposals Plan (TEP ref: D3840.001C), Planting and Seeding Plan (TEP ref: D3840.002E) and Grassland Management Remedial Scheme (TEP ref: 3840.052) included in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Structure of the Management Plan 1.8 Chapters 2.0 to 4.0 provide background information including proposals for securing the future management of the site, the policy context and a site analysis. A summary of factors influencing management can be found in Chapter 5.0. 3840.018 Version 4.0 1 Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 1.9 Chapter 6.0 outlines the long-term aims and objectives for management and Chapter 7.0 sets out how the success of the plan will be monitored, reviewed and updated over time. 1.10 Chapter 8.0 provides a table of management intentions and maintenance operations. 1.11 Appendices 1, 2 and 3 contain the Landscape Proposals Plan (TEP ref: D3840.001C), Planting and Seeding Plan (TEP ref: D3840.002E) and Grassland Management Remedial Scheme (TEP ref: 3840.052). Limitations of the Management Plan 1.12 The Management Plan is for the duration of 10 years but should be fully reviewed after 5 years to secure a sustainable and financially viable future for the site. 1.13 It is also recommended that the Plan is subject to an informal annual review to ensure the management operations remain conducive to the situation. 1.14 This plan has been updated in April 2019, post construction, to reflect the as built landscape, therefore the first 12 months of landscape maintenance has already been undertaken as part of the Landscape Contract. 3840.018 Version 4.0 2 Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 2.0 Securing Future Management Responsibility for Site Management 2.1 The site owner and/or manager may employ/facilitate a managing organisation or organisations who will be responsible for operational management and maintenance of the landscape within the site boundary, if this responsibility is not retained in-house. 2.2 Therefore at this stage the Management Plan needs to be flexible and responsive to enable the most appropriate and responsible management to be undertaken. 2.3 It will be ensured that any managing organisation has the necessary experience and certificates of competence to undertake landscape management operations and contractors with experience in management for biodiversity will be sought where practical. The managing organisation will ensure that management complies with the guidelines set out in this plan. 2.4 In November 2019 Siemens and NGET agreed a division of responsibility with regards to the grassland and swale management for maintenance works up to December 2022. The Division of Responsibility Matrix has been provided in Appendix 4. 3840.018 Version 4.0 3 Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 3.0 Site Context Planning and Development Context 3.1 National Grid received planning permission in February 2013 (Application Ref: 050340) for the erection of a converter station at Flintshire Bridge for conversion and transmission of electricity. Planning Condition 3.2 National Grid have been granted planning permission, subject to conditions including, Condition 15, which states that: “15. All planting, seeding, turfing, fencing, walling or other treatment comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following the completion of the development and any trees or plant which, within a period of five years of the development, die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased, shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species.” 3.3 Conditions 14 and 16, also relating to this Plan, state: “14. No development shall take place, unless otherwise agreed, until there has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority, a detailed scheme of hard and soft landscaping for the site, and such scheme shall include details of: a) all existing trees, hedgerows and other vegetation on the land, details of any to be retained, and measures for their protection during the course of the development b) proposed new trees, hedgerows, shrubs or vegetation, including confirmation of species, numbers and location and the proposed timing of the planting c) proposed materials to be used on the driveway(s), paths and other hard surfaced areas d) proposed earthworks, grading and the mounding of land/land profiling and changes in levels, final contours and the relationship of proposed mounding to existing vegetation and surrounding landform e) proposed positions, design, materials and type of boundary treatment” and, “16. Prior to commencement of development an Environmental Management Plan shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval and implemented to a timeframe agreed beforehand by the Local Planning authority.” 3840.018 Version 4.0 4 Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 3.4 This Management Plan has been informed by the Landscape