NEATH PORT TALBOT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2011-2026) EXAMINATION IN PUBLIC: Matter 6: Economy Action Point 8 AS(A)13 Land adjacent to Junction 38 (M4) Margam Strategic Employment Site - the Council to provide a map showing extent of the C2 flood zone on site, and any information relating to biodiversity / habitats / ecology produced for the site as part of their on-going SINC review. Council’s Response Development Advice Map (2015) The appended DAM (2015) indicates that the allocation at Junction 38 (M4), Margam includes small areas that are within Zone C2. The Council considers however that these areas can readily be excluded from the developed area. The land immediately to the west of the allocated site is heavily constrained by Zone C2. Biodiversity Habitats within the Allocated Site [EC1/2] The allocated site largely excludes the important wet habitats to the west and is dominated by improved grasslands. Notwithstanding this point, the site does include patches of BAP/S42 woodland and hedges that provide connectivity to the wet woodland habitat to the west. The Council considers that these habitats could be retained and connectivity improved as part of any development within this allocation. Land to the West of the Allocation identified as a SINC The western area outside the extent of the allocated site supports a complex of wetland habitats. This type of complex is rare in Neath Port Talbot, with the only other known good quality example found at Crymlyn Bog Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Smaller areas of wet woodland are located elsewhere in the County Borough but not to the same extent as in this location or in such interesting combination with other wetland habitat types. Furthermore, the habitat complex also supports various BAP/S42 and protected species such as reptiles, water vole and otter. The ditch system in this area is also a key element of the complex, which forms part of a larger system that includes Margam Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Council’s Biodiversity Unit has confirmed that the majority of land to the west of the allocation meets criteria for a ‘Site of Importance for Nature Conservation’ (SINC) – NPTSINC057 Junction 38 Wetland Complex1. Part of the habitat complex adjacent to the national grid substation is covered by a S106 for management as a nature reserve by the Wildlife Trust, to potentially come into force on construction of a new substation. The wet woodland and ancient woodland at this location are considered to be irreplaceable and not possible to re-create due to the complexities of the hydrology requirements of this habitat. Consequently, previous planning applications / development have tried to avoid encroachment into such habitat as far as possible2. An ‘Ecological Constraints Plan’ is appended for information. A Biodiversity Records Centre Search has also been undertaken which details the species recorded within the vicinity of the site3. 1 Full details of NPTSINC057 - Junction 38 Wetland Complex is provided in the appended proforma. 2 As an example, the area of wet woodland to the north of the existing Biomass Power Plant was required to be retained and enhanced as part of the planning consent. 3 Full details of the ‘South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre Site Assessment Report’ are appended for information. Junction 38 Wetland complex Reference NPTSINC057 no: Ward: MARGAM Grid ref at SN7874586334 centre: Area (ha) 20.5 Reason(s) for H1:3) Native Woodlands selection H9:2) Lowland Fen H9:3) Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pastures Site of Interest for Nature Conservation Junction 38 Wetland complex About the site Site Description: This is a cohesive wetland site comprised of wet woodland, reed beds, ditches, and marshy grassland. Some drier areas support indicators of the neutral grassland NVC type MG5. Much is known about this site because it been included in several planning applications over recent years. The site is located to the rear of Port Talbot Steelworks near Junction 38 of the M4 motorway. Margam Moors SSSI is approx 800m south west of the site, and is fairly well connected by the network of drains and ditches in the area. Eglwys Nunydd SSSI is about 750m directly south of the site and is designated due to the waterfowl populations it supports and as a SINC (NPTSINC056) it additionally includes the surrounding wetland and scrub habitats. The area is very wet but is occasionally grazed by cattle. There is a National Grid substation directly west of the site and high voltage power lines cross the site in several directions; resilience clearance works are undertaken under these pylons on a fairly regular basis. Features recorded at this site leading to SINC selection: A semi‐natural woodland with a wet woodland component, Fen habitat, A species‐rich example of marshy grassland Protected and Priority species: Species recorded: Arvicola amphibious (Water vole), Lutra lutra (Otter), Natrix natrix (Grass snake), Lacerta vivipara (Common lizard), Emberiza schoeniclus (Reed bunting), Cettia cetti (Cetti’s warbler) Habitat suitable for: Other species of note: Recommendations for management of the site: The western field is due to be managed by the Wildlife Trust as part of a package related to the proposed development of fields to the north. There is Rhododendron in the wet woodland which should be eradicated. Please note: This area has been designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. This does not formally protect the site or place any restrictions upon the landowner. Neath Port Talbot Council’s Countryside & Wildlife Team will endeavour to support and encourage activities that maintain and enhance the biodiversity interest of the land; where funding is available, funds may be provided to facilitate these activities. The information given is used to ensure that nature conservation is taken into account in planning decisions. The designation itself does not confer any rights of access to the site and places no restriction on the management of the land. Surveyor Various Author ER Date Various Date 01/11/2012 Junction 38 Wetland complex About the site Photographs: Looking east over reedbed towards wet woodland Floristic composition Species List: See separate sheets NPTSINC057 JUNCTION 38 WETLAND COMPLEX ‐ SPECIES LIST HABITAT TAXON VERNACULAR REEDBED Phragmites australis Common Reed Orchids Pond Sedge Iris pseudacorus Yellow-flag Iris Lathyrus spp. Cardamine pratensis Cuckoo Flower Dactylorhiza praetermissa Southern Marsh Orchid Carex riparia Greater Pond Sedge Junus effusus Soft Rush Potentilla spp. Querus robur English Oak Rumex spp. Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel Convolvulus arvensis Bindweed Glyceria maxima Reed Sweetgrass Juncus acutiflorus Sharp-flowered rush Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle WET WOODLAND with reedbed and marsh grassland glades and understorey Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore Agrostis capillaris Common Bent Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent Ajuga reptans Bugle Angelica sylvestris Wild Angelica Apium nodiflorum Fool's watercress Athyrium filix-femina Lady's Fern Betula pendula Silver Birch Betula pubescens Downy Birch Callitriche stagnalis Common Water Star-wort Cardamine flexuosa Wavy Bittercress Cardamine pratensis Cuckoo Flower Carex acutiformis Lesser Pond-sedge Carex panicea Carnation Sedge Carex paniculata Greater Tussock-sedge Carex remota Remote Sedge Carex sylvatica Wood Sedge Cerastium fontanum Mouse-ear Chickweed Circaea lutetiana Enchanter's Nightshade Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle Convolvulus avensis Bindweed Corylus avellana Hazel Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dogstail Dactylis glomerata Cock's Foot Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hairgrass Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Dryopteris dilatata Broad Buckler Fern Dryopteris filix-mas Male Fern Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb Epilobium palustre Marsh Willowherb Equisetum fluviatile Water Horsetail Equisetum palustre Marsh Horsetail Eupatorium cannabium Hemp Agrimony Festuca rubra Red Fescue Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Frazinus excelsior Ash Galium aparine Cleavers Galium palustre Marsh Bedstraw Geranium robertianum Herb Robert Glyceria fluitans Floating Sweet-grass Hedera helix Ivy Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell Hydrocotyle vulgaris Marsh Pennywort Ilex aquifolium Holly Iris pseudacorus Yellow Flag-Iris Juncus articulatus Jointed Rush Juncus effusus Soft Rush Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Lotus penduculatus Bird's Foot Trefoil Lychnis flos-cuculi Ragged Robin Lysimachia vulgaris Yellow Loostrife Mentha aquatica Water Mint Molinia caerulea Purple Moor-grass Oenanthe crocata Water Dropwort Phragmites australis Common Reed Poa trivalis Rough-stalked meadow-grass Potentialla erecta Tormentil Potentilla anserina Silverweed Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Quercus petraea Sessile Oak Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus flammula Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup Rhododendron ponticum Rhododendron Rubus fruticosus Bramble Rumex conglomeratus Clustered Dock Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock Salix cinerea Grey Willow Sambucus nigra Elder Silene dioica Red Campion Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Sparganium erectum Branched bur-reed Sphagnum sp. Stellaria uliginosa Bog Stitchwort Typha angustifolia Lesser Bulrush Ulex europaeus Common Gorse