Erlegh House, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading Ecological Appraisal & Building Bat Survey Prepared on behalf of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Final Report 18 July 2019 P19/34-1C Ecological Planning & Research Ltd The Barn, Micheldever Station, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 3AR Tel: 01962 794720 Fax: 01962 794721 email: [email protected] www.epr.uk.com Erlegh House, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading Ecological Appraisal & Building Bat Survey Report Release Sheet Draft/Final: Final Report Issue Number: P19/34-1C Date: 18 July 2019 Client: Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Whiteknights Campus Reading RG6 6BW Main Author(s): Helen Demopoulos BSc (Hons) MRes MCIEEM Contributors/Surveyors: Helen Demopoulos BSc (Hons) MRes MCIEEM Report Prepared for Issue by: ………………………………… Helen Demopoulos BSc (Hons) MRes MCIEEM Report Approved for Issue by: ………………………………… Alison Hogan BSc (Hons) MSc MCIEEM Ecological Planning & Research Ltd The Barn, Micheldever Station, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 3AR Tel: 01962 794720 Fax: 01962 794721 email: [email protected] www.epr.uk.com Erlegh House, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading Ecological Appraisal & Building Bat Survey Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 2. NATURE AND EXTENT OF PREDICTED BIOPHYSICAL CHANGES ....................... 5 3. RESULTS OF ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL ................................................................ 6 4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................ 15 5. REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 16 MAPS Map 1 Site Location and Designations Map 2 Policy Sites within 2 km of the Proposals including Local Wildlife Sites Map 3 Protected & Notable species records from TVERC - Flowering Plants Map 4 Habitats and Features Map 5 Results of Building Inspections for Bats APPENDICES Appendix 1 Phase III Building Scheme – Outline Car Park Layout 23.10.17, Drawing no. 17031_T_A201 revision L Appendix 2 Summary of Relevant Legislation and Policy Appendix 3 Assessment Methodology Appendix 4 Photographs relating to Ecological Appraisal Appendix 5 Photographs from Bat Building Assessment Erlegh House, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading Ecological Appraisal & Building Bat Survey Executive Summary Ecological Planning & Research Ltd (EPR) was commissioned to carry out an Ecological Appraisal and building survey for bats of Erlegh House (formerly the Science and Technology Centre) and immediately surrounding area, at Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading. This is to inform an application for a change of use of the building from B1(b) Use (research and development) to D1 Use (clinical care) and additional car parking spaces. Erlegh House is situated on the eastern side of Whiteknights Campus. The Site itself (denoted by the red line on the maps) is at the edge of parkland habitat with planted trees, grassland managed as wildflower meadow, amenity grassland and university buildings. The proposals will result in a change of use of Erlegh House building. As the renovations are internal only, and the potential bat interest is external only, it is concluded to be very unlikely that the works will disturb bat roosts or bats. The proposals will also result in removal of a small area of poor semi-improved grassland currently managed as wildflower meadow, and replacement with tarmac for parking. Mitigation and ecological enhancement measures include installation of Swift boxes in suitable places on Erlegh House building, incorporation of Hedgehog hibernation boxes within sheltered areas and creation of an area of wildlflower meadow to replace that which will be lost to parking. Erlegh House, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading Ecological Appraisal & Building Bat Survey 1. INTRODUCTION Brief 1.1 Ecological Planning & Research Limited (EPR) was commissioned by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust through Barton Willmore to carry out an Ecological Appraisal of Erlegh House and the immediately surrounding area situated at Whiteknights Campus in Reading. The Site is centred on Grid reference SU 74007185. An Ecological Appraisal is required for a change of use application from B1(b) Use (research and development) to D1 Use (clinical care), for the building to be renovated for use by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as a treatment facility and for some of the surrounding grounds to be turned into car parking spaces. Background 1.2 A draft plan of the proposed works 17031_T-A201, Revision L is included in Appendix 1. If there are further revisions of the proposed plan, this document will need to be revisited. 1.3 Erlegh House will be renovated internally, keeping the external structure intact, and several of the outlying buildings will be demolished. The Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust requires more car parking spaces; the proposals therefore also include an increase in car parking at Erlegh House. Landscaping planting will be provided around the new parking spaces as per the Planting Scheme (17031_T_A202). The Study Area 1.4 The area within the red line on Map 1 indicates the study area, referred to as the Site within this document. It is situated in the centre of Reading in the south east area of Whiteknights Campus of Reading University. National Character Area 115: Thames Valley 1.5 Whiteknights Campus is located within the Thames Valley Character Area (NCA). NCAs are areas that share similar landscape characteristics, and which follow natural lines in the landscape rather than administrative boundaries. The information contained within NCAs supports planning of conservation initiatives at a landscape scale and includes a description of the natural and cultural features that shape the landscape and a broad analysis of each area’s characteristics and ecosystem services. 1.6 The Thames Valley NCA is mainly low-lying, with the River Thames as the central feature through a diverse landscape of fragmented agricultural land, historic parks and commons, woodlands, reservoirs, mineral workings and urban and suburban settlements. The Thames Valley is dominated by the Thames and its tributaries, part of the Grand Union Canal and the reservoirs which form the South-West London Waterbodies Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar Site. These provide essential water supply services for London and the surrounding area, as well as being important for wildlife. Erlegh House, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading Ecological Appraisal & Building Bat Survey P19/34-1C Final Report – 18 July 2019 1 1.7 Although the landscape of the NCA is densely populated and developed, there are pockets of woodland, open grassland, parkland and wetland with a variety of habitats supporting important populations of many species such as wildfowl and invertebrates such as Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus. 1.8 Within each Natural Area profile, there are associated Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEO). Specific environmental opportunities relevant to the Site could include (see Statement of Environmental Opportunity SEO 4: ‘Protect and manage the area’s historic parklands, wood pastures, ancient woodland, commons, orchards and distinctive ancient pollards, and restore and increase woodland for carbon sequestration, noise and pollution reduction, wood fuel and protection from soil erosion, while also enhancing biodiversity, sense of place and history’: Restoring and sustainably managing the area’s historic parkland and wood pasture. Conserving characteristic ancient trees in hedgerows, fields, historic parklands and areas of wood pasture. Restoring, expanding and sustainably managing woodlands, including ancient woodland, for the prevention of soil erosion, carbon sequestration and storage, recreation, enhancing biodiversity and landscape and providing a local source of wood fuel. Geology 1.9 With reference to the British Geological Survey website www.bgs.ac.uk, and the 1:50,000 scale geology maps, the bedrock geology of the Site is of London Clay formation with clay, silt and sand. The Sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 48 to 56 million years ago in the Palaeogene period. These sedimentary rocks are marine in origin and are detrital, comprising coarse to fine grained slurries of debris from the continental shelf flowing into a deep sea environment, forming graded beds. 1.10 The superficial deposits over the Site are described as Boyn Hill Gravel Member – Sand and Gravel. Superficial Deposits formed up to 2 million years ago in the Quaternary Period. The local environment was previously dominated by rivers. These deposits are fluvial in origin and are detrital, ranging from coarse to fine-grained and form beds and lenses of deposits reflecting the channels, floodplains and levees of a river. 1.11 No superficial deposits are recorded next to Whiteknights Lake. Soils 1.12 With reference to the Soil Survey of England and Wales (http://landis.org.uk/soilscapes), the soils within the Site are classified as ‘Soilscape 22’ – loamy soils with naturally high groundwater. The soils tend to have a natural low fertility. Hydrology 1.13 With reference to the Environment Agency’s flood maps for planning website, the building and surrounds are all within ‘Flood Zone 1’ which means there is a very low probability of flooding from river or sea (less than 1 in 1,000 annual probability of flooding). No flood risk assessment is therefore