Warfield Neighbourhood Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment
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Warfield Neighbourhood Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment Warfield Parish Council Project number: 60571087 February 2021 Warfield Neighbourhood Plan Warfield Parish Council Project number: 60571087 Quality information Prepared by Reviewed by Verified by Approved by Damiano Weitowitz Dr James Riley Dr Max Wade Dr James Riley Senior Ecologist Technical Director Technical Director Technical Director (CEnv MCIEEM) (CEcol, FCIEEM) (CEnv MCIEEM) Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position 0 February 2021 Final report JR James Riley Technical Director Distribution List # Hard Copies PDF Required Association / Company Name Prepared for: Warfield Parish Council AECOM Warfield Neighbourhood Plan Warfield Parish Council Project number: 60571087 Prepared for: Warfield Parish Council Prepared by: AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Midpoint, Alencon Link Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 7PP United Kingdom T: +44(0)1256 310200 aecom.com © 2021 AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for: Warfield Parish Council AECOM Warfield Neighbourhood Plan Warfield Parish Council Project number: 60571087 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 7 Background to the Project ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Legislation ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 Report Layout.......................................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Methodology .................................................................................................. 10 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 A Proportionate Assessment ................................................................................................................................. 10 The Process of HRA ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Task One: Test of Likely Significant Effects (LSEs) ............................................................................................... 12 Task Two: Appropriate Assessment (AA) .............................................................................................................. 12 The Geographic Scope ......................................................................................................................................... 13 The ‘In Combination’ Scope .................................................................................................................................. 13 District ................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Residential Growth (number of dwellings) ............................................................................................................. 14 Employment growth (ha) .................................................................................................................................... 14 3. Impact Pathways ........................................................................................... 15 Background to Recreational Pressure ................................................................................................................... 15 Disturbance to breeding birds ............................................................................................................................... 15 Trampling damage, erosion and nutrient enrichment ............................................................................................ 16 Background to Atmospheric Pollution .................................................................................................................... 18 Background to Loss of Functionally Linked Habitat............................................................................................... 21 Background to Construction Related Activities (Visual and Noise Disturbance, Dust Deposition) ........................ 22 4. Test of Likely Significant Effects (LSEs)......................................................... 24 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 24 Recreational Pressure ........................................................................................................................................... 24 Thames Basin Heaths SPA ................................................................................................................................... 24 Thursley, Ash, Pirbright & Chobham SAC ............................................................................................................. 24 Windsor Forest & Great Park SAC ........................................................................................................................ 25 Atmospheric Pollution (Through Nitrogen Deposition) .......................................................................................... 25 Thames Basin Heaths SPA ................................................................................................................................... 25 Thursley, Ash, Pirbright & Chobham SAC ............................................................................................................. 26 Windsor Forest & Great Park SAC ........................................................................................................................ 26 5. Appropriate Assessment ................................................................................ 28 Recreational Pressure ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Thames Basin Heaths SPA ................................................................................................................................... 28 Overview of In-Combination Visitor Survey Results as Relevant to Warfield Parish ............................................. 28 In-Combination Approach to Mitigation in the Thames Basin Heaths SPA ............................................................ 29 Relevant Mitigation in the Warfield Neighbourhood Plan ...................................................................................... 29 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................ 31 Atmospheric Pollution ........................................................................................................................................... 31 Thames Basin Heaths SPA ................................................................................................................................... 32 General Setting of the SPA ................................................................................................................................... 32 Commuter Traffic ................................................................................................................................................... 33 Traffic Modelling .................................................................................................................................................... 33 Air Quality Impact Assessment.............................................................................................................................. 34 Toxicity Effects of NOx and NH3 ............................................................................................................................ 34 Total Nitrogen Deposition Rates (incl. NOx and NH3) ........................................................................................... 34 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................ 37 Thursley, Ash, Pirbright & Chobham SAC ............................................................................................................. 38 Prepared for: Warfield Parish Council AECOM Warfield Neighbourhood Plan Warfield Parish Council Project number: 60571087 Traffic Modelling .................................................................................................................................................... 38 Air Quality Impact Assessment.............................................................................................................................