GAZELLE CLOSE, WINNERSH Ecologocal Impact Assessment (Ecia)
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GAZELLE CLOSE, WINNERSH Ecologocal Impact Assessment (EcIA) for Roy Wood Transits Ltd April 2017 01 April 2017 © The Landmark Practice 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this document may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of The Landmark Practice. The Landmark Practice is a division of Landmark Environmental Consultants Ltd (Limited Company No 1939302). Landmark Ref: 2955 Client: Roy Wood Transits Ltd This document was produced under Landmark contract for Roy Wood Transits Ltd. Version Prepared by Checked by Approved by Issued D01 AP/MCIEEM RP/MCIEEM BR/MCIEEM AP/MCIEEM 20/03/2017 21/03/2017 22/03/2017 24/03/2017 FV AP/MCIEEM 21/04/2017 *D denotes a Draft version The information which we have prepared and provided is true, and has been prepared and provided in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Code of Professional Conduct. We confirm that the opinions expressed are our true and professional bona fide opinions. Tel: 0117 923 0455 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) has been prepared to assess the potential impacts of a proposed camper van showroom and car parking development at Gazelle Close, Winnersh by Roy Wood Transits Ltd. The report describes the ecological survey work undertaken to inform the application scheme, considers the impacts of the proposed development on the ecology of the site and its environs and describes the strategy devised to inform suitable mitigation and/or compensation measures required to address these impacts. The site lies on the north-western edge of the village of Winnersh, in the Borough of Wokingham. It is bordered by an industrial estate to the north and east and open countryside to the south and west. The area immediately to the west of the site is consented to become a country park, as part of large-scale residential development to the south. An Extended Phase 1 Habitat survey (including a data search), a roost assessment of trees and HSI assessment of nearby ponds have been undertaken. The Council has requested that this scheme should synthesise with the wildlife enhancements associated with the adjacent country park. Therefore, the reports associated with the country park have been referred to and referenced where appropriate. The site is dominated by good quality semi-improved grassland which has been tightly grazed by rabbits, with variable amounts of scrub/tree cover. An historic line of mature pedunculate oak trees forms the south-western boundary of the site. Open countryside is present to the west of the site, albeit the site is temporarily isolated by construction of the link road in the adjacent plot of land. Although fairly limited in extent, botanical interest and habitat diversity, the site has not been subject to recent management therefore there are increased opportunities for wildlife. The site may support bats, nesting birds, reptiles and potentially great crested newt, which together add to the strategic and intrinsic value of the site. Overall the site is considered to be of local ecological value only. The most important ecological feature at the site is the line of mature trees, along the south- western boundary. The focus of the mitigation strategy has, therefore, been to protect this line of trees from potential development impacts. The mitigation strategy also proposes phased vegetation clearance under a non-licensed method statement to include RAMs. The principals of the mitigation strategy have been scoped with the LPA ecologist. Roy Wood Transits Ltd Gazelle Close, Winnersh Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 Scope of Report ................................................................................................................... 1 Site Location and Description .............................................................................................. 1 Development Proposals ....................................................................................................... 1 2.0 PLANNING POLICY AND LEGISLATION ................................................................ 1 National Planning Policy ...................................................................................................... 1 Local Planning Policy ............................................................................................................ 2 Pre-Application Advice ........................................................................................................ 4 Planning Guidance ............................................................................................................... 4 Legislation ............................................................................................................................ 5 3.0 METHODS ......................................................................................................... 5 Scope of Assessment ........................................................................................................... 5 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................... 6 Consultation ......................................................................................................................... 6 Field Surveys ........................................................................................................................ 7 Survey Constraints and Limitations ..................................................................................... 8 Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 8 4.0 BASELINE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS ................................................................. 8 Designated Sites .................................................................................................................. 9 Habitats .............................................................................................................................. 11 Species ............................................................................................................................... 12 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 16 5.0 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................. 17 6.0 ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES .................................. 17 Designated Sites ................................................................................................................ 17 Habitats .............................................................................................................................. 18 Species ............................................................................................................................... 19 7.0 SUMMARY OF MITIGATION/COMPENSATION REQUIREMENTS ....................... 22 8.0 ENHANCEMENT .............................................................................................. 24 9.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................ 24 FIGURES Figure 1: Site Location Figure 2: Waterbody Locations Figure 3: Statutory Designated Site Locations Figure 4: Extended Phase 1 Habitat plan APPENDIX A: LEGAL CONTEXT APPENDIX B: MASTERPLAN APPENDIX C: EVALUATION TECHNIQUES APPENDIX D: NON-STATUTORY DESIGNATED SITES APPENDIX E: TARGET NOTES AND PHOTOGRAPHS APPENDIX F: HIBERNACULUM DESIGN The Landmark Practice Page i Roy Wood Transits Ltd Gazelle Close, Winnersh Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) APPENDIX G: FSC GCN IDENTIFICATION GUIDE Page ii The Landmark Practice Roy Wood Transits Ltd Gazelle Close, Winnersh Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) 1.0 INTRODUCTION Scope of Report 1.1 The Landmark Practice (TLP) was commissioned by Roy Wood Transits Ltd in January 2017 to assess the potential ecological impacts associated with the proposed development of a motorhome showroom and parking at Gazelle Close, Winnersh. Site Location and Description 1.2 The site lies on the north-western edge of the village of Winnersh, in the borough of Wokingham (Figure 1 refers). The site is centred on Grid Reference SU769712 and is approximately 1 ha in size. 1.3 The site currently comprises a single parcel of derelict land. It is bordered by an industrial estate to the north and east and open countryside to the south and west. The area immediately to the west of the site is consented due to become a country park, delivered as part of large-scale residential development to the south (Ref: O/2006/8687). To facilitate this scheme a link road is currently being constructed in the field adjacent to the site. Development Proposals 1.4 Roy Wood Transits Ltd is seeking full planning permission to create a new van and motorhome showroom and an additional parking area for the adjacent offices to the west of the site. The development proposals include landscaping and the maintenance of an area of open green space in the north-west of the site. As embedded mitigation, the development has been designed to avoid impacts on a mature line of trees which bounds the site to the south west, by ensuring it is retained and adequately