Benscliffe Hay, Newton Linford Preliminary Ecological Appraisal
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BENSCLIFFE HAY, NEWTON LINFORD PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL A Report to: Franklin Ellis Report No: RT-MME-127450-01 Date: April 2018 Triumph House, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry CV5 9AZ Tel: 01676 525880 Fax: 01676 521400 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.middlemarch-environmental.com Benscliffe Hay, Newton Linford RT-MME-127450-01 Preliminary Ecological Appraisal REPORT VERIFICATION AND DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE This study has been undertaken in accordance with British Standard 42020:2013 “Biodiversity, Code of practice for planning and development”. Report Date Completed by: Checked by: Approved by: Version Amy Finnegan MSc Grad CIEEM (Ecological Tom Docker MSc Dr Philip Fermor Consultant) and Sarah MCIEEM (Ecological Final 11/04/2018 MICEEM CEnv Boulstridge BSc (Hons) Impact Assessment (Managing Director) Grad CIEEM (Principal Manager) Consultant) The information which we have prepared is true, and has been prepared and provided in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Code of Professional Conduct. We confirm that the opinions expressed are our true and professional bona fide opinions. DISCLAIMER The contents of this report are the responsibility of Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. It should be noted that, whilst every effort is made to meet the client’s brief, no site investigation can ensure complete assessment or prediction of the natural environment. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability for any use that is made of this document other than by the client for the purposes for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. VALIDITY OF DATA The findings of this study are valid for a period of 24 months from the date of survey. If works have not commenced by this date, an updated site visit should be carried out by a suitably qualified ecologist to assess any changes in the habitats present on site, and to inform a review of the conclusions and recommendations made. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 1 Benscliffe Hay, Newton Linford RT-MME-127450-01 Preliminary Ecological Appraisal NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY Middlemarch Environmental Ltd was commissioned by Franklin Ellis to carry out a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal at the site of a proposed development at Benscliffe Hay in Newton Linford. To fulfil this brief an ecological desk study and a walkover survey (in accordance with Phase 1 Habitat Survey methodology) were undertaken. The desk study exercise identified no European statutory sites within 5 km of the survey area, five UK statutory sites within 2 km and 17 non-statutory sites within 1 km. The site is not located within 10 km of a statutory site designated for bats. The desk study also provided records of protected and notable species including bats, badger, brown hare, reptiles, amphibians, birds, invertebrates and plants. The walkover survey was undertaken on 20th March 2018 by Amy Finnegan, Ecological Consultant. The eastern portion of the site comprises a residential detached property surrounded by hardstanding and ornamental gardens comprising amenity lawns, scattered trees, introduced shrub and a pond. An access road is present leading from Benscliffe Road. The western portion of the site is dominated by grazed poor semi-improved grassland fields. Other habitats on site include hedgerows tall ruderal vegetation and ditches. The key ecological features on site/in the locality are adjacent nature conservation sites, the presence of notable habitats (pond, hedgerow, early-mature and mature trees) and the suitability of the habitats on site to support notable and/or protected species, including roosting/foraging bats, herpetofauna, nesting birds and terrestrial mammals. In order to ensure compliance with wildlife legislation and relevant planning policy, the following recommendations are made (full recommendations are made in Section 7): R1 LWS / pLWS: The proposed works could potentially indirectly impact upon Blakeshay Wood which is designated as a Local Wildlife Site and Newton Linford Rough Hill Wildlife Area which is designated as a Potential Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, a Construction Ecological Management Plan (CEcMP) should be compiled for the site. R2 Habitat Loss and Enhancement: Biodiversity enhancement measures should be incorporated into the landscaping scheme of any proposed works to maximise the ecological value of the site. R3 Protect Standing Water/Ditches: The proposals should be designed to allow for the retention of the pond and ditches on site. Environment Agency Pollution Prevention Guidelines should be adhered to throughout the works. R4 Trees/Hedgerows: The development should be designed to allow for the retention of early- mature/mature trees and hedgerow. Any trees or hedgerows on site, or overhanging the site, which are to be retained as a part of any proposed works should be protected in accordance with British Standard 5837: 2012 "Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction - recommendations". R5 Roosting Bats: If any buildings, or trees identified with bat potential (Target Note 3), are to be impacted by the development then a preliminary bat roost assessment/ground level bat roost assessment should be undertaken. R6 Foraging/Commuting Bats: The lighting strategy for the proposed development should be designed to minimise light spill onto retained site boundary features that are likely to be used by foraging and commuting bats, in particular any hedgerows/adjacent wood. R7 Herpetofauna: It is considered that the adverse impacts on the favourable conservation status of great crested newt and reptiles (if present) can be avoided through the implementation of reasonable avoidance measures. It is recommended that a method statement is compiled, detailing how the proposed works will be undertaken in a sensitive manner to avoid any potential breach of legislation. R9 Nesting Birds: Vegetation and building clearance should be undertaken outside the nesting bird season. The nesting bird season is weather dependent but generally extends between March and September inclusive (peak period March-August). R10 Terrestrial Mammals including Badger, Hedgehog and Brown Hare: Any excavations that need to be left overnight should be covered or fitted with mammal ramps to ensure that any animals that enter can safely escape. R11 Rhododendron: The rhododendron should either remain in situ, or if removed, a Method Statement should be developed to ensure that the proposed works do not result in the spread of any invasive non-native species. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 2 Benscliffe Hay, Newton Linford RT-MME-127450-01 Preliminary Ecological Appraisal CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 SITE DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT .......................................................................................................... 4 1.3 DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED .................................................................................................................. 4 2. METHODOLOGIES.................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 DESK STUDY ......................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ..................................................................................................................... 5 3. LEGISLATION AND POLICY .................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 GENERAL BIODIVERSITY LEGISLATION AND POLICY ................................................................................. 6 3.2 NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK AND PRACTICE GUIDANCE ..................................................... 7 3.3 LOCAL PLANNING POLICY- CHARNWOOD ................................................................................................ 8 4. DESK STUDY RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 10 4.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 10 4.2 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES ............................................................................................................ 10 4.3 PROTECTED / NOTABLE SPECIES .......................................................................................................... 12 4.4 INVASIVE SPECIES ................................................................................................................................ 14 5. PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ................................................................................................................. 15 5.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 15 5.2 SURVEY CONSTRAINTS AND LIMITATIONS .............................................................................................. 15 5.3 HABITATS ...........................................................................................................................................