The Sizewell C Project 6.3 Volume 2 Main Development Site Chapter 14 Terrestrial Ecology and Ornithology Revision: 1.0 Applicable Regulation: Regulation 5(2)(a) PINS Reference Number: EN010012 May 2020 Planning Act 2008 Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 SIZEWELL C PROJECT – ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Contents 14. Terrestrial Ecology and Ornithology ......................................................................... 1 14.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 14.2 Legislation, policy and guidance ............................................................................... 2 14.3 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 9 14.4 Environmental design and mitigation ...................................................................... 21 14.5 Ecological receptor baseline, assessment, mitigation and monitoring .................... 32 14.6 Designated sites ..................................................................................................... 34 14.7 Plants and habitats ................................................................................................. 36 14.8 Invertebrates ........................................................................................................... 98 14.9 Fish ....................................................................................................................... 132 14.10 Amphibians ........................................................................................................... 134 14.11 Reptiles ................................................................................................................. 145 14.12 Ornithology ........................................................................................................... 155 14.13 Bats ...................................................................................................................... 227 14.14 Terrestrial mammals ............................................................................................. 349 References ........................................................................................................................ 367 Tables Table 14.1: Requirements of the National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) ..................... 4 Table 14.2: Requirements of the National Policy Statement for Nuclear Power Generation (EN-6) .................................................................................................................................... 5 Table 14.3: Summary of consultation responses that have informed the scope and methodology of the terrestrial ecology and ornithology assessment ................................... 10 Table 14.4: EIA criteria for the assessment of ecological value/sensitivity .......................... 13 Table 14.5: Generic guidelines for the assessment of magnitude of impact ........................ 14 Table 14.6: Criteria for determining the impact on ecological features under CIEEM guidelines (Ref 14.24) ........................................................................................................................... 15 Table 14.7: Generic effect definitions .................................................................................. 16 Table 14.8: Summary and comparison of EIA and CIEEM based measures of significance of ecological effects ................................................................................................................. 17 Table 14.9: Plant and habitat IEF taken forward for detailed assessment ........................... 38 Table 14.10: Land take from Sizewell Marshes SSSI required to accommodate the proposed development ........................................................................................................................ 62 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Volume 2 Chapter 14 Terrestrial Ecology and Ornithology | i SIZEWELL C PROJECT – ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Table 14.11: Land take from Sizewell Marshes and Associated Areas CWS and Southern Minsmere Levels CWS ........................................................................................................ 71 Table 14.12: Summary of effects arising from the construction phase for plants and habitats ................................................................................................................................ 90 Table 14.13: Summary of effect arising from the operational phase for plants and habitats 97 Table 14.14: Invertebrate baseline condition summary by Assessment Compartment (see Figure 14A4.3 for locations) ............................................................................................... 100 Table 14.15: Invertebrate Assessment Compartments taken forward for detailed assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 106 Table 14.16: Summary of effect araising from the construction for invertebrates .............. 129 Table 14.17: Summary of effect arising from the operational phase for invertebrates ....... 131 Table 14.18: Amphibian IEFs taken forward for detailed assessment ............................... 135 Table 14.19: Summary of effects araising from the construction for amphibians ............... 143 Table 14.20: Summary of effects arising from the operational phase for amphibians ....... 144 Table 14.21: Summary of effects arising from the construction for reptiles ....................... 154 Table 14.22: Summary of effects arising from the operational phase for reptiles .............. 154 Table 14.23: Bird species/assemblages identified as IEFs (based on information set out within Appendix 14A7 – Ornithology) ........................................................................................... 157 Table 14.24: Potential ornithological effects ...................................................................... 165 Table 14.25: Impact pathways which could be experienced by each IEF .......................... 170 Table 14.26: Summary of HRA assessment and EIA conclusions (for species assessed in both) .................................................................................................................................. 173 Table 14.27: Habitat loss required to accommodate the proposed development (excluding any offsetting and habitat creation outside of the MDS site) .............................................. 178 Table 14.28: Summary of species present at Sizewell Marshes SSSI within the breeding season ............................................................................................................................... 181 Table 14.29: Summary of species present within Sizewell Marshes SSSI during the Winter ................................................................................................................................ 182 Table 14.30: Impact pathways which could be experienced by each IEF .......................... 212 Table 14.31: Summary of HRA assessment and EIA conclusions (for species assessed in both) .................................................................................................................................. 214 Table 14.32: Summary of effects for the construction phase for terrestrial ornithology ..... 219 Table 14.33: Summary of effects for the operational phase for terrestrial ornithology ....... 225 Table 14.34: Assessment of bat populations within the Zol ............................................... 229 Table 14.35: Loss of woodland habitat .............................................................................. 232 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Volume 2 Chapter 14 Terrestrial Ecology and Ornithology | ii SIZEWELL C PROJECT – ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Table 14.36: Summary of tree roost potential in areas where tree removal may be required ............................................................................................................................. 232 Table 14.37: Habitat loss and value to barbastelle ............................................................ 234 Table 14.38: Areas of significant barbastelle movement ................................................... 238 Table 14.39: Predicted rating levels (free-field external) from the operational phase of proposed Sizewell C power station - Day .......................................................................... 241 Table 14.40: Barbastelle roosts with Predicted noise levels above 60dB (during construction phase) ................................................................................................................................ 250 Table 14.41: Noise in relation to barbastelle roosts in the vicinity of Kenton Hills ............. 251 Table 14.42: Barbastelle roosts within the vicinity of Ash Wood ........................................ 252 Table 14.43: Barbastelle foraging/ commuting areas with predicted noise levels .............. 253 Table 14.44: Night-time noise data for the construction period, for selected modelled receptors ............................................................................................................................ 255 Table 14.45: Retained barbastelle foraging areas and associated construction lighting levels ................................................................................................................................