Appropriate Assessment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
West of England Joint Local Transport Plan 4 Habitats Regulations Assessment: Appropriate Assessment Date: 27th June 2019 Prepared by: ClearLead Consulting Limited The Barn, Cadhay, Ottery St Mary, Devon, EX11 1QT, UK 01404 814273 Quality Management Issue/revision Issue 1 Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Revision 4 Report Status V1 - DRAFT V2 - FINAL FOR V3 - FINAL FOR V4 - FINAL FOR V5 - FINAL FOR CONSULTATION CONSULTATION CONSULTATION CONSULTATION WITH MINOR WITH FURTHER WITH FURTHER EDITS EDITS EDITS Date 11/01/19 14/02/19 25/02/19 30/05/19 27/06/19 Prepared by H Torr / V Pearson H Torr / V H Torr / V H Torr / V H Torr / V Pearson Pearson Pearson Pearson Signature Checked by J Mitchell J Mitchell J Mitchell J Mitchell J Mitchell Signature Project number C0156 C0156 C0156 C0156 C0156 LIMITATIONS This report has been prepared by ClearLead Consulting Limited solely for the use of the Client and those parties with whom a warranty agreement has been executed, or with whom an assignment has been agreed. Should any third party wish to use or rely upon the contents of the report, written approval must be sought from ClearLead Consulting Limited; a charge may be levied against such approval. ClearLead Consulting Limited accepts no responsibility or liability for: a) the consequences of this document being used for any purpose or project other than for which it was commissioned, and b) the use of this document by any third party with whom an agreement has not been executed. The work undertaken to provide the basis of this report comprised a study of available documented information from a variety of sources (including the Client) and discussions with relevant authorities and other interested parties. The opinions given in this report have been dictated by the finite data on which they are based and are relevant only to the purpose for which the report was commissioned. The information reviewed should not be considered exhaustive and has been accepted in good faith as providing true and representative data pertaining to site conditions. Should additional information become available which may affect the opinions expressed in this report, ClearLead Consulting Limited reserves the right to review such information and, if warranted, to modify the opinions accordingly. It should be noted that any recommendations identified in this report are based on information provided by the Client and as gathered during the site survey. In some cases access cannot be granted to all areas of the site, in these instances and in the absence of information to the contrary, ClearLead Consulting Limited will use the information provided to complete the report. Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 This Report............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1 2 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 3 2.1.1 Evidence Gathering .......................................................................................................... 5 2.1.2 Screening ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.3 Appropriate Assessment ................................................................................................. 26 2.1.4 Assessment Limitations .................................................................................................. 28 3 The West of England Joint Local Transport Plan 4 .......................................................................... 29 3.1 Contents of the Plan ............................................................................................................... 29 3.2 Relationship of the JLTP4 with the West of England JSP ......................................................... 33 4 Screening Findings ......................................................................................................................... 36 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 36 4.2 Screening Findings ................................................................................................................. 36 5 Appropriate Assessment: Loss of Supporting Sites for Bats associated with SACs ........................... 47 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 47 5.2 Background ............................................................................................................................ 48 5.3 Assessment of Effects Alone and In Combination with the JSP ................................................ 50 5.3.1 North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC ............................................................................ 50 5.3.2 Assessment of effects on the North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC in combination with the JSP 52 5.3.3 Assessment of effects on the Bath and Bradford-on-Avon Bats SAC ................................ 53 5.3.4 Assessment of effects on the Bath and Bradford-on-Avon SAC in combination with the JSP 55 5.4 Mitigation requirements ........................................................................................................ 55 5.4.1 Strategic mitigation ........................................................................................................ 55 5.4.2 Scheme level mitigation ................................................................................................. 56 5.4.3 Mitigation summary ....................................................................................................... 58 5.5 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 58 6 Appropriate Assessment: Loss of Supporting Sites for Birds ........................................................... 60 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 60 6.2 Background ............................................................................................................................ 60 6.4 Assessment of Effects............................................................................................................. 61 6.5 Assessment of effects in combination with the JSP ................................................................. 62 6.6 Mitigation requirements ........................................................................................................ 62 6.7 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 63 7 Appropriate Assessment: Coastal Squeeze ..................................................................................... 64 7.1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................. 64 7.2 Assessment of effects alone and in combination with the JSP ................................................ 64 7.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 64 8 Appropriate Assessment: Increase in Recreational Pressures ......................................................... 65 8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 65 8.2 Background ............................................................................................................................ 67 8.3 Assessment of Effects Alone and In Combination with the WoE JSP ....................................... 68 8.4 Mitigation requirements ........................................................................................................ 89 8.4.1 Strategic Mitigation ........................................................................................................ 89 8.4.2 Mitigation - Cycleways ................................................................................................... 91 8.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 92 9 Appropriate Assessment: Increase in Water Pollution and Marine Litter ........................................ 93 9.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 93 9.2 Background ............................................................................................................................ 93 9.2.1 Temporary Construction Effects ....................................................................................