Macclesfield Old Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effects February 2015 Macclesfield Old Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effects Document Reference: 4984.001 Version 2.0 February 2015 Prepared by: Marj Nadouce MCIEEM TEP Genesis Centre Birchwood Science Park Warrington WA3 7BH Tel: 01925 844004 Fax: 01925 844002 e-mail: [email protected] for Persimmon Homes 30 – 34 Crofts Bank Road Urmston Greater Manchester M41 0UH Written: Checked: Approved: MN LSw LSw Macclesfield Old Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effects CONTENTS PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 19 2.0 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ................................................................. 21 3.0 FEATURES OF INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT EUROPEAN SITES ................ 22 4.0 BASELINE CONDITIONS ........................................................................ 24 5.0 ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS .................................... 31 6.0 SUMMARY ........................................................................................... 35 7.0 REFERENCES ...................................................................................... 37 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Designated Site Maps, Citations and Registry Entry Forms DRAWINGS G4984.001 Site location, designated sites and surrounding area Doc Ref: 4984.001 February 2015 Version: 2.0 Macclesfield Old Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effects 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 TEP was commissioned by Persimmon Homes in January 2015 to complete an Assessment of Likely Significant Effects (ALSE) upon a European designated site that might arise as a result of the proposed housing development at Macclesfield Old Road, Buxton. 1.2 The proposed housing development lies 4.5km from the Peak Dales Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Background 1.3 The proposals are for the demolition of an existing dwelling and outbuilding, and the erection of 31 dwellings, access and associated works. Proximity to European sites 1.4 The Peak District Dales SAC comprises thirteen separate dales, supporting ten interest features regarded as rare or threatened in a European context. The greatest in extent are the ash woodlands and the calcareous grasslands. 1.5 The Peak Dales SAC is designated for containing a number of Annex I habitats including semi-natural dry grasslands and Tilio-Acerion forests, and Annex II species including white clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. A location map and citation for the designated site is presented in Appendix 1. Details are summarised as follows: Special Area for Conservation (SAC) SAC name: Peak Dales SAC code: UK0019859 Cartesian Areas ha: 2326.33 1.6 The closest part of the SAC to the proposed development site above is a component Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) known as The Wye Valley SSSI. This component site is located 4.5km east from the Macclesfield Old Road site at its closest point. The development site is separated from the SSSI/SAC by the Grin Low and Buxton Country Park and the town of Buxton. Legislative considerations 1.7 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (hereafter referred to in this report as the Habitats Regulations) make provision for implementing the EC 1 Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora in Great Britain (hereafter referred to as the Habitats Directive). The Habitat Regulations detail measures relating to the conservation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs)2. 1.8 The Habitats Directive requires that the interest features (the species and habitats that occur on a European site) should be maintained in favourable conservation 1 Directive92/43/EEC, amended by Directive 97/62/EC 2 Classified under the Wild Birds Directive 79/409/EEC Doc Ref: 4984.001 February 2015 Version: 1.0 19 Macclesfield Old Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effects status. The Habitats Directive defines the conservation status of a species as favourable when: — population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long-term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats, and — the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future, and — there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its populations on a long-term basis; 1.9 The Habitats Directive defines the conservation status of a habitat as favourable when: — its natural range and areas it covers within that range are stable or increasing, and — the specific structure and functions which are necessary for its long-term maintenance exist and are likely to continue to exist for the foreseeable future, and — the conservation status of its typical species is favourable 1.10 To ensure European sites are managed to achieve and maintain favourable conservation status, objectives specific to the interest features are identified for each site. These include objectives relating to the maintenance of existing habitats, the monitoring of species distribution and abundance, and the assessment of potentially damaging activities. 1.11 Competent authorities have a statutory duty under Regulation 61 of the Habitats Regulations, to assess the implications of a plan or project on a European site: 61.—(1) A competent authority, before deciding to undertake, or give any consent, permission or other authorisation for, a plan or project which— (a) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site or a European offshore marine site (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects), and (b) is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of that site,. must make an appropriate assessment of the implications for that site in view of that site’s conservation objectives Approach 1.12 The first stage of exercising the duty imposed by Regulation 61 of the Habitats Regulation is therefore to assess whether the proposed housing development at Macclesfield Old Road, Buxton is likely to have a significant effect on the Peak Dales SAC, either alone or in combination with other plans or projects. It is also necessary to determine if the proposals are directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site. 1.13 There are no known plans or projects which may have in combination effects relevant to the proposals, however this is addressed later in the assessment. 1.14 To establish the baseline conditions of the site for the ALSE, ecological surveys have been carried out. The survey area includes the site and immediately adjacent land. Doc Ref: 4984.001 February 2015 Version: 1.0 20 Macclesfield Old Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effects 1.15 An extended Phase 1 Habitat survey was undertaken to identify key habitats and botanical species of interest within and adjacent to the proposed development site. 1.16 An appraisal of bird species likely to be using the habitats within the proposed development site was also completed. 2.0 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS Description of the site 2.1 The location of the site and surrounding area is illustrated at Drawing G4984.001. The site comprises 1.28ha of land which lies immediately adjacent to the south of Macclesfield Old Road at the south western end of Buxton. 2.2 The application site consists of two distinct halves separated by a dry stone wall and fence. The eastern half of the site contains an occupied dwelling which is surrounded by a large unmanaged garden and detached outbuildings. The western half of the application site contains grazed semi-improved neutral grassland bounded by a dry stone wall. 2.3 To the north and north-west of the site the land slopes upwards towards the Peak District National Park. Immediately north of Macclesfield Old Road to the north of the site are a few large grazed improved grassland fields. To the west of this is a strip of woodland plantation known as Burbage-edge plantation. North and west of this is a large area of moorland. 2.4 The town of Buxton borders the east of the site, the closest part known as Burbage. To the south east of the site is an area of new housing. Directly south of the site is an area of marshy grassland on the site of an in-filled reservoir. Description of works 2.5 The proposed scheme is to build 31 new detached properties. Vehicular access onto the site will be provided via the existing access point on Macclesfield Old Road. 2.6 Car parking provision on the site will be in accordance with Derbyshire County Council’s ‘Car Parking Standards in Derbyshire – Guidance Notes’. Within the site an access road which follows the existing access road will be provided. This will comprise two short (<25m) sections of 3.5m width with a 5.5m passing area. 2.7 The peak increase in traffic generated by the site has been calculated in the Transport Note produced by SBA. It was calculated that the trip generation from the proposed development will result in 19 two-way trips in the morning peak (08:00 – 09:00) and 20 two-way trips in the afternoon peak (17:00 – 18:00). The report concludes that the traffic generated by the proposed development will be minimal. Doc Ref: 4984.001 February 2015 Version: 1.0 21 Macclesfield Old Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effects 3.0 FEATURES OF INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT EUROPEAN SITE The Peak Dales SAC 3.1 The Peak Dales SAC is of international importance due to the Annex I habitats and Annex II species it supports. 3.2 The majority of the site comprises semi-natural dry grasslands and Tilio-Acerion forests. 3.3 The land use within this area is driven by a combination of agriculture, rough grazing for sheep and grouse shooting. Ecosystem maintenance relies on appropriate management of grazing and burning regimes. Overgrazing by sheep, scrub invasion and inappropriate drainage all present threats to the ecosystem. 3.4 Favourable management is attempting to be achieved through a number of projects, including the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and the White Peak Wildlife Enhancement Scheme.