Information to support Habitats Regulations Assessment and protected sites assessment Port

Background and information to support a Habitats Regulations Assessment and associated protected sites assessment for proposed Designated Point of Entry at Warrenpoint Port

1. Introduction

There is a requirement to extend the existing designation at Warrenpoint Port Point of Entry (PoE), to cater for the enhanced number Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks required for imports into Northern at the end of the transition period.

Warrenpoint Port is an EU approved BCP for the import of plants, plant products, and wood products (P, PP, PP(WP); OO). It does not receive livestock, therefore associated inspection facilities for those animals will not be required.

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) have completed this report, based on the best available information, to inform the Competent Authority, and District Council, of the potential for a likely significant effect on European sites from the construction and operation of the proposed development, as required by Regulation 43 (1) of the Habitats Regulations. The scope also extends to preliminary assessment of the protected sites network within the vicinity of the development.

2. Project description and location

The proposal is for the construction of inspection facilities at Warrenpoint Port PoE to carry out SPS inspections. These inspection facilities will be required at the end of the transition period on 1 January 2021.

The site is located within the Warrenpoint Harbour Estate in an area of industrial land adjacent to the Newry canal and the A2. The original port was constructed in the late 1770’s and has been substantially enlarged over the years to create a modern port facility.

The site is located just off the A2 road and beside Newry River at approximate Irish Grid Coordinates (easting, northing): 120872, 476389. The site is within the Warrenpoint Harbour industrial estate and is surrounded by industrial land uses to the south and is bound by the A2 and the Newry River, which is a tidal river. The site is currently derelict land, with a sloping embankment to the west and north of the site.

The proposed context and location is shown in Annex 1.0.

3. Applicant details

The proposed developments are considered permitted development under Part 14 Class B of the Planning (General Development Order) 2015 (PD). To confirm this applications for proposed Certificate of Lawful Use or Development (CLUD) will be submitted for the proposed facility at Warrenpoint harbour. The proposed applicant is the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

4. Legislative context

Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora, commonly known as the Habitats Directive, is transposed into law in by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.,) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (as amended).

Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive (transposed by Regulation 43) establishes the requirement that any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on any Natura 2000 Site(s) shall first be subject to an Appropriate Assessment (AA) of the implications for the site(s), and further that competent national authorities shall agree to the plan or project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site(s) concerned: “Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the [Natura 2000] site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans and projects, shall be subjected to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site’s conservation objectives.

For completeness, nationally designated sites – Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) and Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) – are also included in this assessment. The law relating to ASSIs is contained in the Environment Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 (as amended). Article 38 of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 places general duties on public bodies relating to ASSIs and decision making. MCZs protect rare, threatened or nationally important marine habitats, species and geological features, and are designated under the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013. An assessment process is also required to ensure public authorities, with respect to authorising an activity that may affect (other than insignificantly) the features of an MCZ, consider the proposal appropriately.

5. Assessment Methodology – Desk Study

All European and Ramsar designated sites within 2 km of the proposed development were identified using the DAERA Natural Environment Division Mapviewer. Sites which could fall within a zone of influence through a pathway connection to the proposed development have been identified and included, where appropriate. European sites with grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) as qualifying species within a distance of 135 km from the proposed development and with harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) as qualifying species within a distance of 50 km from the proposed development have also been included. Certain marine mobile species have also been placed within Marine Management Units, which has been completed for the seven most common cetacean species in UK waters. The management units provide an indication of the spatial scales at which impacts of plans and projects alone, cumulatively and in-combination, need to be assessed for the key cetacean species, with consistency across the UK. Information on management units can be found as follows: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/Report_547_webv2.pdf

Publically available information on European and Ramsar sites has been used from the DAERA website to identify the qualifying features of those sites as set out in the Conservation Objectives for

each site. Conservation objectives provide an indication of the type of effects which could affect the features of a European Site:

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/landing-pages/protected-areas

The zone of influence for nationally designated sites was taken as 2 km from the proposed development boundary. The publically available DAERA citation documents have also been used to identify the qualifying interest features of the site:

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/land-and-landscapes/areas-special-scientific-interest https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/marine-conservation-zones

The possibility of significant effects is considered in this report using the source-pathway-receptor model:

 ‘Source’ is defined as the individual elements of the proposed works that have the potential to affect the identified ecological feature (or receptor).

 ‘Pathway’ is defined as the means or route by which a source can affect the ecological feature.

 An ‘Ecological feature’ is defined as qualifying features the SPA or SAC for which conservation objectives have been set for the European sites under consideration

Each element can exist independently however an effect is created when there is a linkage between the source, pathway and receptor.

In addition, an ‘in-combination’ assessment is required where the proposed development may have an effect on a European site, but on its own the effects would not be significant. Part of this desk top study has considered other plans or projects, either consented (started or not started), applications lodged, projects not requiring consent, appealed refusals and proposals in plans, which may need to be considered in-combination.

Finally, the assessment process for European and Ramsar sites has followed the methodology as applied in the DTA Handbook, which is utilised as a best practice guidance document for understanding and applying the Habitats Directive:

https://www.dtapublications.co.uk/

6. European and RAMSAR Site Designations and Considerations:

Natura 2000 site Distance from Site features: (approx.) km (refer to JNCC website) and location Natura 2000 site The application site is not situated within any Natura 2000 site. features that However, it is hydrologically linked to the Natura 2000 designations have been of via the Newry River. The SPA and Ramsar site screened within on the northern border share the same site boundary and are located 6 km southeast. Carlingford Shore SAC within the Republic

2 km of the of Ireland is located 1 km to the south/southwest. The boundary of development Carlingford Lough SPA within the is located 9 km proposal: to the southeast. Due to hydrological links, it is considered there is potential for the project to give rise to indirect impacts on the Natura 2000 sites from a source pathway receptor linkage.

Additional sites are within a 15 km boundary of the application site but have been screened out because there is no impact pathway identified i.e. they are not hydrologically/ecologically connected to the site. The European features are as follows:

Carlingford Lough SPA: 9 km  Area: 830.51 ha  Site code: UK9020161  Date Classified: March 1998

Carlingford Lough SPA is located between Point and Soldier Point on the northern shore of Carlingford Lough. The SPA habitat is dominated by tidal rivers, estuaries, mud flats, sand flats and lagoons. The conservation objective of the SPA is to ‘maintain each feature in favourable condition.’ With the SPA selection feature objectives identified as:  To maintain or enhance the population of the qualifying species;  Fledging success sufficient to maintain or enhance population;  To maintain or enhance the range of habitats utilised by the qualifying species;  To ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained;  To ensure there is no significant disturbance of the species; and  To ensure that the following are maintained in the long term:

 Population of the species as a viable component of the

site;

 Distribution of the species within the site;

 Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species;

 Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats

supporting the species

Carlingford lough Ramsar

 Area: 827.12 hectares  Site code: UK12004  Date Classified: March 1998

The Ramsar site includes all lands and intertidal areas seawards to the limits of territorial waters. Marine areas below mean low water are not included. The Ramsar site qualifies under Criterion 3c for supporting internationally important breeding populations of Sandwich tern and Criterion 2a for supporting an important assemblage of vulnerable and endangered Irish Red Data Book bird species. It is also known for supporting nationally important breeding populations of Common, Roseate and Artic terns.

Carlingford Shore SAC

 Area: 526.28 hectares  Site code: 002306  Date Classified: June 2001

Carlingford Shore SAC comprises the entire southern shoreline of the Lough within the Republic of Ireland from the Newry River estuary to just east of Cooley Point. The site is designated for vegetation of stony banks and vegetated drift lines and also comprises of intertidal sand and mudflats, patches of saltmarsh, some areas of dry grassland and an area of mixed deciduous woodland, habitats which support internationally important number of birds, including the Pale-bellied Brent Geese, and the presence of a population of the Annex II species the Grey Seal. The conservation objectives of Carlingford Shore SAC are to ‘maintain the favourable conservation condition Perennial vegetation of stony banks/Annual vegetation of drift lines in Carlingford Shore SAC.’

Carlingford Lough SPA ROI  Area: 526.28 hectares  Site code: 004078  Date Classified: October 1996

The site comprises part of the southern sector of Carlingford Lough within the Republic of Ireland, extending from Greenore Point to the harbour at Carlingford. The SPA includes all of the intertidal sand and mudflats to the low tide mark. The site supports part of a nationally important population of wintering Cormorant and a range of other wetland birds, notably Brent Goose, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit (Annex I of the EU Birds Directive), Redshank and Turnstone. The conservation objectives for the SPA are ’to maintain the favourable conservation condition of Light-bellied Brent Goose in Carlingford Lough SPA.’

European sites with grey seals Murlough SAC as a qualifying 35 km south east feature are • Area: 11903 hectares screened within • Site code: UK0016612 • Date Classified: December 2004 a distance of

135 km from the This site is designated for the following habitats: proposed • Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation; development • Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes; and with • Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time; harbour seals as • Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide; qualifying • Atlantic salt meadows; feature within a  Embryonic shifting dunes; distance of 50 • Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria; km from the • Dunes with Salix repens ssp. Argentea. This site is also designated for the following species: proposed • Marsh fritillary butterfly; development: • Harbour (common) seal. An important SAC supporting the largest area of shallow sub-littoral sandbanks in Northern Ireland. The inter-tidal sands and muds are

also extensive and the beach area at Ballykinler is important as a haul-out for Harbour Seal.

Conservation Objectives are: To maintain (or restore where appropriate)  Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea)

 Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae)

 Dunes with Salix repens ssp. Argentea (Salicion arenariae)  Embryonic shifting dunes  Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)  Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide  Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time  Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes)  Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia  Harbour (Common) Seal Phoca vitulina

To favourable condition 50 km East

Strangford Lough SAC

 Area: 15.398.54 hectares • Site code: UK0016618 • Date Classified: August 1996

Strangford Lough is a large (150 km2) marine inlet on the east coast of , of which about 50 km2 lies between high water mark mean tide (HWMMT) and low water mark mean tide (LWMMT). The Lough supports an impressive range of marine habitats and communities with over 2,000 recorded species. It is important for marine invertebrates, algae and saltmarsh plants, for wintering and breeding wetland birds, and for marine mammals, including Harbour Seals. Conservation Objectives are as follows: to maintain (or restore where appropriate) the:  Large shallow inlet and bay  Coastal lagoons  Mudflats and sandflats not covered by sea water at low tide  Reefs  Annual vegetation of drift lines  Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae)  Perennial vegetation of stony banks  Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand  Harbour (Common) Seal Phoca vitulina

- to favourable condition.

North Channel SAC

The site lies adjacent to the North Channel SAC, which is designated for harbour porpoise. Conservation Objectives aim to ensure for harbour porpoise that, subject to natural change, the following attributes are maintained or restored in the long term: - 1. The species is a viable component of the site. - 2. There is no significant disturbance of the species

-3 The condition of the supporting habitats and processes, and the availability of prey is maintained.

Description of the Project or Plan  Size and scale  Size and scale; The footprint size is estimated at 1,540 m²  Land-take;  Distance from Natura 2000 site or key  Land-take features of the site; It is not proposed there will be any land take.  Resource requirements (water abstraction etc);  Distance from Natura 2000 site or key features of the  Emission (disposal to land, water or air); site  Excavation requirements; Approx. 9 km from Carlingford Lough SPA/Ramsar  Transportation requirements;  Duration of construction, operation, de-  Resource requirements (water abstraction etc) commissioning etc; No anticipated resource requirements  Other.  Emission (disposal to land, water or air) Traffic movements will result in air emissions of NOx and SOx and particulate matter and disposal of waste water (surface or otherwise) will connect to foul systems/existing drainage systems.

 Excavation requirements None – site is existing hard standing but there will be new road access infrastructure

 Transportation requirements There will be traffic moving on and off the site facilities – as personnel and hauliers move around the site

 Duration of construction, operation, de- commissioning etc. Early preliminary site works are Planned to commence mid-August with construction September to December, facilities delivery required for 1 January 2021. This will be confirmed when Procurement is initiated and then delivery timelines can be realigned.

Is the proposal directly connected with or No necessary to management of the site for conservation of N2K features? If yes proceed no further.

Describe the individual elements of the Planning applications were identified in the vicinity of the project (either alone or in combination with proposed development. The list was correct at the time of other plans or projects) likely to give rise to writing (August 2020) and includes significant applications impacts on the Natura 2000 site. detailed from a search of PlanningNI planning portal for applications within 2 km of the proposed site, over the 5 years previous to the search being carried out. The search has included the following applications:  Proposal for the bulk storage of Carbon dioxide (CO2) at Warrenpoint Harbour. The project was granted planning approval in October 2015. This development (when completed) will occupy an area of land (1.82 ha) along the northern embankment of the Newry river. The proposal will involve the creation of new areas of hardstanding, erection of 6 no. storage tanks, creation of a loading bay and weighbridge, containerised MCC (electrical Motor Control Centre) to be installed to supply power for the development, creation of a containerised refrigeration centre to keep the liquid carbon dioxide at its normal operation temperature, creation of a containerised quality assurance laboratory and erection of two pipelines from the berth to the carbon dioxide storage tanks.

Following consideration of the proposal, due to the location and nature of the infrastructure to be constructed at the intended location, it is not proposed there will be any in- combination impacts with other plans or projects.

The application site is not located within any of the Natura 2000 designated areas and no associated works will be undertaken within the identified SACs and SPAs. Applying the source-pathway-receptor model for the assessment it is therefore assessed that no direct impacts e.g. habitat loss will occur on the sites.

During construction, there may be a potential pathway for effects on the features of the European Sites (namely bird species listed as qualifying features). The potential effects may arise from habitat degradation and/or disturbance. It is not envisaged there will be impacts from the operation of the development.

Construction of the proposed development may involve the use of plant and machinery as well as the associated temporary storage of construction materials, oils, fuels and chemicals in designated areas within the site compound. Impacts could arise through activities such as additional vehicle movements, movement of material to the site, piling for foundations, disturbance of contaminated material, creation of pollution pathways through works on site with the associated potential for disturbance and pollution events.

Further consideration is given below.

N2K Feature: Describe any likely direct or indirect *Effect Significant/Not Significant? Why? Mention all effects to the N2K features arising features as a result of:  loss;  reduction of habitat area;  disturbance;  habitat or species fragmentation;  reduction in species density; changes in key indicators of conservation value (e.g. water quality, climate change). Carlingford Lough – SPA/RAMSAR Although there are no works directly Tern species breed on an island close to the mouth within the SPA boundaries, there are of the lough and use the lough and open water as a Qualifying Feature potential in-direct impacts from a feeding source. Works will take place well away of interest: hydrological connection with the from breeding locations (as well as being outside Common Tern proposal location and the Natura the breeding season) and also from feeding areas. Sandwich Tern 2000 sites. Any potential impact on SPA/Ramsar features from pollution during construction works, via surface Carlingford Lough - It is not anticipated there will be water and accidental spills, will be prevented via SPA (ROI) likely significant effects on SPA built in standard mitigation associated with the features due to habitat loss, project, to ensure all appropriate pollution Qualifying feature fragmentation and degradation as measures are followed. Siltation may also be a risk of Interest: there will be no land take from the if there is excavation/in-ground works required Brent Goose Natura 2000 sites. that may result in sediment loading into the river Wetlands Contaminated land has not been to travel downstream, although in-built standard identified as an issue and will be industry mitigation to the project will aim to addressed separately if found to be prevent solids entering the river and on that basis the case it is expected there will be no likely significant Any potential air quality impacts effects. This in-built mitigation will follow industry from NOx and SOx and particulate and legislative requirements to prevent water matter have been ruled out given the pollution, such as appropriate buffers, re-direction development is taking place in a of surface water through oil separators, protection heavily industrialised location and of storm water drains etc. there is no intended increase in Light disturbance may occur from operations traffic. taking place, especially during winter months, from Brent Geese feed on intertidal construction and operation. It is acknowledged eelgrass areas not within the vicinity that further consideration may be required in the of the project and as the location of design phase to the light sources used on the the works are a sufficient distance project, if the proposal is deemed to be a source of from the SPA boundaries, it is not light pollution to Light Bellied Brent Geese SPA anticipated there will be disturbance features, if they feed in this area. Similarly there to over wintering birds. may be a noise disturbance factor, and relevant It is not anticipated there will be an screening will be included as part of the project impact on wetland features as the design, to ensure there is minimal visual and noise works are not in the vicinity, or disturbance. spatially overlapped in location with Prior to any water discharge, if required, relevant the wetland features of interest. government bodies will be consulted for any legislative requirements that must be adhered to.

Taking into consideration the potential impacts on SPA features, it is considered there will be no likely significant effects from the proposed development on Carlingford Lough SPA/Ramsar but further consideration may be required for Carlingford lough SPA (ROI). Carlingford Shore It is not anticipated there will be a Perennial vegetation of stony banks is vegetation SAC direct or indirect effect on either of on shingle beaches that grow year on year, which these features due to the location of are located at or above the mean high water spring Qualifying the works. tide mark and are therefore outside the zone of Features: influence of this project and there is no mechanism Perennial for direct or indirect impacts. Annual vegetation of vegetation of stony drift lines occurs on deposits of shingle lying at or banks above mean high-water spring tides and there is Annual vegetation also no mechanism for direct or indirect impacts. of drift lines Murlough SAC It is not anticipated there will be a Harbour Seals are an Annex II feature of Murlough direct or indirect effect on Harbour and Stangford SAC. A detailed seal survey of Qualifying Seals or Harbour Porpoise due to the Carlingford Lough, identified 10 Seal Haul-out sites, features: location of the works. none of which are in the vicinity of the project. Any Harbour Seal potential impacts may arise through water quality issues, however, given the seals are a mobile Strangford Lough species, it is not envisaged any water quality issues SAC would significantly affect the features and/or undermine the conservation objectives of the SAC. Qualifying features: Harbour Porpoise are an Annex II feature of North Harbour Seal Channel SAC. Small numbers are recorded in Carlingford Lough. It is not envisaged that any issues would significantly affect the feature and/or North Channel SAC undermine the conservation objectives of the SAC.

Qualifying However, noisy activities on land (not just in the features: riverine or marine environment) can disturb Harbour Porpoise marine mammals, depending on the type of activity undertaken and although it is not foreseen that any prolonged noisy activity will take place that will cause a long term disturbance issue for marine mammals, all recommended SNCB guidance will be followed, if an activity with potential for noise disturbance (on land) was to occur.

Describe any potential effects on the Natura 2000 site Effect considered significant/non-significant: Finding as a whole in terms of: interference with the key of No significant effects Matrix relationships that define the structure or function of the site None considered likely None considered likely

List of Agencies Consulted: Provide contact name N/A – This has been prepared for consultation with and telephone or email address. appropriate SNCBs and consultee responses will be considered appropriately. Above consultee response. N/A

7. Summary of Potential Effects on additional ASSI Features

ASSI Feature: Describe any likely direct or indirect (Mention all features). effects to the ASSI features arising as a result of:  loss;  reduction of habitat area;  disturbance;  habitat or species fragmentation;  reduction in species density;  changes in key indicators of conservation value (e.g. water quality, climate change). The 2 km screening distance for nationally The assessment for the ASSI features has identified there is potential for the project designated sites has to cause disturbance to over wintering birds that may feed on the mud flats to the identified Carlingford west of the proposed application site and also to the north of the site and, especially Lough ASSI requires for sensitive features such as Light Bellied Brent Geese. However, it is not further assessment. anticipated that noise levels will be beyond what is currently experienced in the port at the moment – this would apply either in construction or operation phase - and it Qualifying features for the is assumed the birds will habituate quickly. As the proposal is within a working site are as follows: harbour, it is expected that birds will be used to some level of noise disturbance, , Shelduck however, physical screening will be considered during the design phase to prevent Dunlin any visual disturbance of sensitive species, which may together with the activity on Red-breasted Merganser site, lead to a higher chance of disturbance to foraging birds. Light disturbance may Oystercatcher occur from operations taking place, especially during winter months, from Scaup construction and operation. It is acknowledged that further consideration may be Redshank required in the design phase to the light sources used on the project, if the proposal Arctic Tern is deemed to be a source of light pollution to ASSI features. Common Tern There is potential for water quality impacts on the coastal mudflats and saltmarsh Sandwich Tern that may be in the vicinity of the works but it is not anticipated that any direct Light Bellied Brent Goose impacts from pollution, siltation etc. will occur due to the aforementioned built in Great Crested Grebe mitigation plans for the project. It is acknowledged, however, the site drainage and Carboniferous management of water on the site may require further assessment once details are stratigraphy known and this also applies to potential for contamination. Pleistocene Spread of Spartina is also an issue for saltmarsh habitat, which is recorded as Mudflats unfavourable in recent condition assessments – but given works will not take place Coastal saltmarsh directly within the ASSI, it is not anticipated there will be contamination from seed Invertebrate assemblage transferal and appropriate mitigation will be followed for washing down compounds Invertebrate assemblage etc as needed. The additional ASSI features, which are geological have not been considered separately, as it is predicted these features will not be impacted by this proposal.

The overall conclusion, is there may be some disturbance to ASSI features through noise, but no direct long term sustained impacts will occur and noise levels are not anticipated to be above current levels in a port and therefore some habituation is expected. Operation of the activity is therefore not considered to have any long term impacts for this reason. However mitigation for sensitive wintering ASSI birds will need further discussion in the implementation phase of the project – for

potential light pollution and visual disturbance.

The following comment has been made by Natural Environment Division 14.08.20:

– the site is adjacent to the Carlingford Lough ASSI boundary. Intertidal mud between Warrenpoint and Newry can be used by up to 80% of the ASSI totals of Shelduck and Redshank but we have no data on finer-grained distribution within this area. It is likely that most birds will be found south-east of the site, nearer the Lough. The site is currently part of a larger industrial area, so some habituation to noisy human activity is likely and we would not anticipate significant disturbance. Again, some mitigation against disturbance would be recommended by screening adjacent to intertidal areas.

8. Marine Conservation Zone Considerations

MCZ SCREENING Matrix

All applications to be screened to determine whether section 23 of the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 should apply to the application.

(i) Name of Project or Plan. Construction of SPS Inspection facilities at Warrenpoint Port

(ii) Application number/reference. N/A

DAERA are intending on applying for permitted development (iii) Brief description of the plan/project. rights under relevant planning legislation, to construct Inspection facilities at Warrenpoint Harbour, to allow for additional product checks, after the EU Exit transition period. Carlingford Lough MCZ (iv) Name and location of the MCZ site(s) potentially affected.

Carlingford Lough has been designated as an MCZ for the (v) Description of MCZ site(s). habitat Philine aperta and Virgularia mirabilis in soft stable

infralittoral mud. This habitat is referred to as Subtidal (sublittoral) mud containing White lobe shell Philine aperta and Sea-pen Virgularia mirabilis communities.

The following have been identified as potentially impacting the (vi) Summary of activities that may potentially species for which the MCZ is designated, which are mostly affect the MCZ. related to changed impacting or changing the habitat environment and activities should be managed so they do not result in these pressures:  Salinity changes  Water flow (tidal current) changes  De-oxygenation  Organic enrichment  Physical loss (to land or freshwater habitat)  Physical change (to another seabed or sediment type)  Habitat structure changes - removal of substratum (extraction)  Overall abrasion/disturbance of the surface/subsurface of the substratum or the seabed  Siltation rate changes (including smothering)  Removal of non-target species

A number of activities have been identified that would potentially lead to a damaging impact on the features and this includes waste management - outfalls, waste water etc. Based on the information included in the MCZ conservation objectives, this would be the mostly likely activity that may have an impact/increase pressure on the MCZ features. No (vii) Is the activity capable of affecting (other than insignificantly) the protected features of the MCZ?

If the answer is “no” proceed to next question; if “yes” detail the features and proceed to the next question. No - although the project is only 2 km from the MCZ, it is (viii) Is the activity capable of affecting (other considered that sufficient mitigation will be applied to the than insignificantly) any ecological or project to prevent any water quality impacts on the site geomorphological process on which the selection features and therefore, the assessment will not be

conservation of any protected feature of an taken to the next stage. MCZ is (wholly or in part) dependent?

If the answer is “no” to vii and viii, no further assessment is required.

If the answer is “yes”, detail the processes.

If the answer is “yes” to either vii or viii proceed to Stage 1 assessment.

9. Priority Habitats and Species

- Priority Habitat:

Open Mosaic Habitats (a Northern Ireland priority habitat) are a possibility on sites in these types of location. https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2020/01/Identifying-open-mosaic-habitat.pdf

From an inspection of aerial photographs it appears the boundaries of the Warrenpoint sites may have some potential for priority habitat. This could be verified by survey.

10. Mourne Area Of Outstanding National Beauty

It is noted that the Warrenpoint proposal lies within the Mourne AONB, which is designated for its rich cultural, architectural and natural heritage features as well as for its intrinsic uniqueness and value on a landscape scale. The objectives of the designation are to preserve this uniqueness by conserving the natural and cultural heritage as well as ensuring encouraging and ensuring there is public access to the AONB.

The development proposal for Warrenpoint recognises this designation and it is considered the proposal is not undermining the AONB designation, nor is it out of step with the surrounding landscape in terms of the industrial use of the area and heavily modernised buildings and usage of the site.

Annex 1.0