Ecological Appraisal for A2 4th Arm Coastbound Slip Road, Wincheap, Canterbury October 2017 Status: Issue Quality management Project: A2 4th Arm Coastbound Slip Road, Wincheap, Canterbury Project No: B09037 Report title: Ecological Appraisal Report author: Name: Paul Evans Title: Ecologist Approved by: Name: Dr Jo Parmenter Title: Director Status: Issue Date of last revision: 27 October 2017 Client Details Client: Pentland Properties Ltd Client Address: The Estate Office |Etchinghill Golf | Etchinghill |Folkestone |Kent |CT18 8FA Contact Details The Landscape Partnership Ltd Greenwood House | 15a St Cuthberts Street | Bedford | MK40 3JG Tel: 01234 261315 Jonathan Scott Hall| Thorpe Road| Norwich| CB8 9DE Tel: 01603 230777 The Granary | Sun Wharf | Deben Road | Woodbridge |CB8 9DE Tel: 01394 380509 The Landscape Partnership Ltd is a practice of Chartered Landscape Architects, Chartered Ecologists and Chartered Environmentalists, registered with the Landscape Institute and a member of the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment & the Arboricultural Association. Registered Office: Greenwood House 15a St Cuthberts Street Bedford MK40 3JG. Registered in England No 2709001 Quality standards This report is certified BS 42020 compliant and has been prepared in accordance with The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s (CIEEM) Technical Guidance Series ‘Ecological Report Writing’ and Code of Professional Conduct. The copyright of this document rests with The Landscape Partnership. All rights reserved. Contents Non-technical summary 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Commission 1 1.2 Legislation and policy background 1 1.3 Reporting standards 1 1.4 Site location and context 1 1.5 Acknowledgements 1 1.6 Description of the project 2 1.7 Objectives of this appraisal 2 1.8 Previous ecological studies 3 1.9 Duration of appraisal validity 3 2 Methodology 4 2.1 Desk study methodology 4 2.2 Phase 1 habitat survey methodology 4 2.3 Great crested newt Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) survey methodology 5 2.4 Great crested newts: environmental DNA (eDNA) survey 6 2.5 Reptile survey 7 2.6 Badger survey 8 2.7 Preliminary bat roost assessment methodology: Trees 8 2.8 Assessment methodology 10 2.9 Mitigation hierarchy 11 3 Results 12 3.1 Desk study results 12 3.2 Phase 1 habitat survey results 16 3.3 Great crested newt Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) survey results 18 3.4 Great crested newts: environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis 19 3.5 Reptile survey results 20 3.6 Badger survey 21 3.7 Preliminary bat roost assessment results: Trees 21 4 Evaluation of conservation status and impact assessment 22 4.1 Assessment rationale 22 4.2 Evaluation of conservation status and assessment of designated sites 22 4.3 Evaluation of conservation status and assessment of habitats and green infrastructure 24 4.4 Evaluation of conservation status and assessment of species 25 4.5 Cumulative impacts 27 5 Mitigation and avoidance measures 28 5.1 Avoidance measures 28 5.2 Proposed mitigation for known impacts 28 5.3 Compensation for ecological impacts 29 5.4 Species licensing 29 6 Enhancement options 30 6.1 Ecological enhancement 30 6.2 Pollution control measures 30 6.3 Habitat enhancement options 30 6.4 Small-scale species enhancement options 30 7 Recommendations 31 7.1 Recommendations for further survey 31 7.2 Other recommendations 31 7.3 Recommended conditions 31 8 Conclusions 32 8.1 Overall assessment of value and impact 32 8.2 Further survey requirements 32 9 References 33 Figures 1. Location Plan 2. Phase 1 Habitat Survey 3. Preliminary Ground Level Bat Roosts Assessment: Trees 4. Reptile Survey Results Appendices 1. Summary of relevant legislation 2. Impact and assessment methodology 3. Red Line Boundary and Development Proposals 4. Landscape Proposals 5. Technical Advice Note for Field and Laboratory Sampling of Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) environmental (eDNA) 6. Designated sites (information provided by Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre) 7. Great Crested Newts: Pond 1 Environmental DNA (eDNA) Laboratory Results 8. Detailed Reptile Survey Results 9. Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) Guidance on Lighting Non-technical summary The Landscape Partnership was commissioned by Pentland Properties Ltd to undertake an Ecological Appraisal comprising a desk study, Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) survey of ponds, together with an assessment of impacts and subsequently, a number of protected species surveys including Great Crested Newts, Reptiles, an assessment of the potential of site features to support bats, and an assessment of the impacts of the proposed works to form the A2 4th Arm Coastbound Slip Road, Wincheap, Canterbury. The objectives of the ecological appraisal were to identify the habitats and species present or potentially present and evaluate their importance, assess the impact of the development proposal and describe any measures necessary to avoid impacts, reduce impacts or compensate for impacts so that there is no net harm to ecological features. The survey involved classifying and recording habitat types and features of ecological interest, undertaking detailed survey for the following protected species great crested newts, reptiles and identified the potential for protected species to be present by assessing habitat suitability for those species. The survey was undertaken by appropriately qualified and experienced personnel. The site comprises patches of dense, continuous scrub across the tall ruderal vegetation located within the attenuation basin, species poor semi-improved grassland with broad-leaved woodland planting along the A2 road verge and areas of landscape planting of shrubs and trees within the Park and Ride car park. Collectively the habitats within the proposed development site are assessed as being of overall value of Lower at the Parish scale. The proposed development is the construction of new coastbound slip road off the A2 at Wincheap, with associated reconfiguration of both Ten Perch Road and the Ten Perch Road / A28 junction, modified footpath / cycle route, works to existing surface water drainage, lighting and landscaping. It is understood that Ten Perch Road currently is not fitted with oil interceptors in its drainage system; oil interceptors will be fitted as part of the development to limit the potential for pollution to reach the River Stour. The development would utilise some of the existing Park and Ride car park to accommodate the new slip road and associated works. The impact of the proposed development upon site of European and National importance is considered to be Neutral. The impact of the proposed development upon veteran trees, rare, scarce or priority plants & invertebrates, amphibians including great crested newts, wintering birds, mammals including dormice, water vole, otter, badger and bats is considered to be Neutral. Reptiles were recorded on site at low numbers and the value of the site for reptile is therefore considered to be Lower at the Parish Scale. In the absence of mitigation, the impact of the development is assessed as Minor-Adverse. Mitigation has been proposed to reduce the impact of the development to Neutral. In the absence of mitigation, the proposed development would give rise to the desilting and removal of tall ruderal vegetation from the attenuation basin which forms part of the Great Stour Local Wildlife Site, a temporal minor impact on the habitat, affecting under 1% of the overall area of the local wildlife site. In addition the development would result in the loss of scrub and broadleaved woodland plantation, which in combination would give rise to a Minor Adverse impact upon habitat and species namely breeding birds which these habitats support. Mitigation has been proposed, including improvement to the attenuation basin for wildlife following the works and compensation planting of native mixed broadleaved trees and shrubs within the landscaping scheme for the development. This mitigation would reduce the impacts of the development proposals upon the habitats and species present, to give rise to an overall Neutral impact. No further surveys are recommended. A number of ecological enhancements have been proposed, which would improve the quality of the site for native flora and fauna, including improved management of the attenuation basin following the works and strengthening native planting around the Park and Ride complex. Delivery of these enhancements would lead to an overall Neutral-Minor Beneficial impact. Ecological Appraisal A2 4th Arm Coastbound Slip Road, Wincheap, Canterbury 1 Introduction 1.1 Commission 1.1.1 The Landscape Partnership was commissioned by Pentland Properties Ltd to carry out a Ecological Appraisal, comprising a desk study, Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) survey of ponds, together with an assessment of impacts and subsequently, a number of protected species surveys including Great Crested Newts, Reptiles, an assessment of the potential of site features to support bats, and an assessment of the impacts. 1.2 Legislation and policy background 1.2.1 There is a range of protection given to sites and species. Sites may be designated for local, national, European or global importance for nature conservation. Species may be protected by European-scale legislation or varying levels of national regulation. 1.2.2 The Local Planning Authority has a policy to protect features of nature conservation value within its Local Plan. Other regulators have policies relating to the consents issued by