Appendix E1: Ecological Assessment Land south and east of Adastral Park, Ipswich, Suffolk, On Behalf of: Carlyle Land Ltd and Commercial Estates Group March 2017 © SES 2017 www.ses-eco.co.uk Lucy Addison BSc (Hons) MSc GradCIEEM, Dr Matthew Denny MCIEEM, Dr Graham Hopkins Authors MCIEEM FRES and Darren Denmead BSc (Hons) Grad CIEEM Technical Review Sean Crossland BSc BCA MCIEEM Report Status Final Date of Issue 27.03.17 Contents 1.0 Introduction and Aims ...............................................................................................................................1 2.0 Methods ....................................................................................................................................................2 3.0 Results .......................................................................................................................................................7 4.0 Evaluation ............................................................................................................................................... 41 5.0 Impacts without Mitigation .................................................................................................................... 49 6.0 Mitigation, Enhancement and Residual Impacts ................................................................................... 57 7.0 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 72 8.0 References .............................................................................................................................................. 73 Appendices Appendix 1 – Illustrative Framework Masterplan (Reference no. 08, Revision G) Appendix 2 –Legislation Appendix 3 – Survey Methods Appendix 4 – Phase 1 Habitat Survey Plan Appendix 5 – Bat activity survey locations Appendix 6 – Ponds surveyed for GCN Appendix 7 – Invertebrate Sampling Stations Appendix 8 – Reptile Refugia Locations Appendix 9 – Botanical Survey Results Appendix 10 – Bat Survey Results Appendix 11 – Bird Territories Appendix 12 – Badger Survey Results (Confidential) Appendix 13 – Invertebrate Survey Results Appendix 14 – Reptile Survey Results Appendix 15 – Ecological Mitigation Masterplan 1.0 Introduction and Aims 1.1 Southern Ecological Solutions Ltd. (SES) was commissioned by Commercial Estates Group (CEG) and Carlyle Land Ltd to undertake a Phase 1 Habitat Survey following JNCC guidelines (2010) at the proposed development site at Land to the south and east of Adastral Park, Ipswich in Suffolk (the Site). Follow-up species specific Phase 2 ecological surveys were then undertaken. 1.2 The land south and east of Adastral Park is subject to an outline application for up to 2,000 dwellings, an employment area of c0.6ha (use Class B1), primary local centre (comprising use Classes A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C3, D1 and D2), secondary centre (comprising possible use Classes A1, A3 and A5), a school, green infrastructure (including Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANGS), outdoor play areas, sports ground and allotments/community orchards), public footpaths and cycleways, vehicle accesses and associated infrastructure. The whole site covers approximately 113.3ha of land with approximately 25.1ha for use as suitable alternative greenspace. 1.3 Following an initial Phase 1 Habitat Assessment the following species specific surveys were recommended: • Bats – roosting (including emergence) and activity surveys; • Great crested newt presence/likely absence survey; • Otter and Water vole; • Wintering and breeding bird surveys; • Botanical survey; • Badger survey; • Invertebrate survey; • Reptiles presence/likely absence survey; • Small and medium-sized notable mammal surveys. 1.4 The aims of these surveys were to: • Determine the value of habitats on Site; • Determine the usage and value of the Site by protected and notable species; • Assess the value of the Site and potential direct and indirect impacts the proposed development may have on these species/habitats; • Outline a mitigation strategy where necessary. 1.5 This report summarises the results of the Extended Phase 1 Survey and Phase 2 Surveys and Assessments. All features, including statutory and non-statutory sites, habitats and protected and notable features are then evaluated using the evidence from the desk study, field surveys and relevant literature. The development details are set out and the impacts on receptors assessed without mitigation. Mitigation options are outlined and the residual impacts assessed. 1.6 The Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey indicated the requirement for a shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment (sHRA) screening report because of the potential impacts on internationally designated sites, designated under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010) and located within 10km of the Site. This assessment is presented in Baker Consultants (2017). 1.7 The proposed outline mitigation also seeks to minimise impacts on biodiversity and provide net gains where possible, in accordance with relevant wildlife legislation and planning policy such as Chapter 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF): Conserving and Enhancing the Natural 1 Environment (DCLG, 2012), and policies SP1, SP2, SP12, SP14, SP15, SP20, DM27 and SSP1 of the Local Plan formed from the Suffolk Coastal District Local Plan: Core Strategy & Development Management Policies (Suffolk Coastal District Council, 2013), the Site Allocations and Area Specific Development Policy Document (Suffolk Coastal District Council, 2017a), Felixstowe Peninsula Area Action Plan Development Plan Document (Suffolk Coastal District Council, 2017b) and the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan: remaining ‘Saved Policies’ (Suffolk Coastal District Council, 2017c). 1.8 All surveys were undertaken following best practice guidance. Other than those listed in section 2, all surveys were undertaken or supervised by suitably qualified ecologist Lucy Addison BSc (Hons) MSc Graduate Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM, Grad CIEEM) and overseen by suitably qualified ecologist Sean Crossland BSc BCA Full Member of CIEEM (MCIEEM). 1.9 The Site is located to the east of Ipswich, between Waldringfield, Martlesham and Martlesham Heath. The Site is a varied area of land consisting of habitats of generally low ecological value such as arable farmland, offices, warehouses and a sand and gravel quarry as well as areas of relatively higher ecological value, such as woodland, lakes and semi-natural grasslands. The wider landscape surrounding the Site is made up of a mixture of industrial, residential, arable farmland, caravan parks, mixed woodlands a golf course and lakes. The Site is mainly bound by roads, to the west of the Site is the A12 dual carriageway, to the south is Ipswich Road, Newbourne Road bounds the Site in the east and the Adastral Park industrial area marks the north boundary. A plan of the Site showing the boundary and the proposed development area within it is provided in Appendix 1. 2.0 Methods Desk Study 2.1 Previous survey reports (The Landscape Partnership, 2012 and Environ UK, 2009) were reviewed and informed the assessment. A summary of the results has been included within this report. 2.2 Data searches were requested from the Suffolk Biological Information Service (SBIS) in April 2016 which included records of all protected and notable species within 2km of the Site’s boundaries, non- statutory designated sites within 2km of the Site’s boundaries and designated sites within 10kms of the Site’s boundaries, including those listed on Schedules within the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010); Schedules within the Wildlife and Countryside Act (WCA, 1981) (5km); National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, (1949) Section 21, non-statutory designated sites (2km), those listed as priority species on Schedule 41 (S41) of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC, 2006), previously Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species / habitats; those listed on other wildlife legislation for example Badgers (detailed within Chapter 3, Results), and other species of conservation concern (e.g. Nationally Scarce invertebrates). Relevant legislation is detailed in Appendix 2. 2.3 An Ordnance Survey map of the area using the government’s Magic Maps website (www.magic.gov.uk) and aerial photographs on Google Earth (Google Inc., 2011) were examined to determine the possible habitats present on, and adjacent to the Site, and their context in the surrounding landscape, searching in particular for waterbodies, watercourses and other landscape 2 features that may be of ecological significance to protected species, notably mobile species such as bats and birds. Field surveys 2.4 The following is a summary of the methods employed during field surveys; full details of each survey method are provided in Appendix 3. Habitats 2.5 A Phase 1 Habitat Survey using JNCC (2010) guidelines was undertaken over the course of 2016. The Phase 1 Habitat map can be found in Appendix 4. 2.6 The Phase 2 botanical survey was undertaken 5th (Sean Crossland BSc BCA MCIEEM and Stephen Parr) and 13th (Sean Crossland BSc BCA MCIEEM and Lucy Addison BSc (Hons) MSc GradCIEEM) July 2016, aims were to: • Produce a summary description of habitat diversity, management and condition. • Record a comprehensive plant species list for the areas of semi-natural grassland, with an indication of relative