ASBRI PLANNING LTD VALERO REFINERY, PEMBROKE PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL REPORT 01 August 2019 Telephone:- 07969146776 e-mail:- [email protected] ASBRI PLANNING LTD VALERO REFINERY, PEMBROKE PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL REPORT Document Ref: Doc 01 – 01/08/2019 Issue Revision Stage Date Prepared by 1 DRAFT 03/07/2019 David Rees FOR REVIEW Appendix III Final 01/08/2019 David Rees amendment Asbri Planning Ltd Valero Refinery, Pembroke Preliminary Ecological Survey CONTENTS Summary 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Methodology Desk study Field Survey 3.0 Results Desk study Field Survey 4.0 Legislation, Policies and Plans 5.0 Conclusions and Recommendations References Appendix I Site Location Map Appendix II Phase 1 Map & Target Notes Asbri Planning Ltd Valero Refinery, Pembroke Preliminary Ecological Survey SUMMARY Bay Ecology was commissioned to undertake an ecological appraisal of a parcel of land located at the south eastern extent of the Valero Refinery situated at its entrance. The parcel of land is proposed to be the location of a new workshop and lab facility. Desk based consultation confirmed that the site did not contain any statutory or non-statutory conservation designations. However, a number of notable and protected species records were also identified within 1km of the site and the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Milford Haven Waterway Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) was located within 1km of site. The combination of desk and field surveys undertaken at the site identified a limited range of habitat types predominantly comprised of hard standing located beneath an earth bund/bank that borders the site at its southern extent. The sloping earth bank has been colonised by areas of scrub and semi-improved grassland. A mixed broadleaf and pine treeline is located at the top of the earth bund, which segregates site from an improved grassland strip; whilst an area of amenity grassland was located at the eastern extent of site. In terms of the ecological importance of the site the hard standing is of low intrinsic ecological value and is the area which will be utilised as the main footprint of the development (Appendix III). The earth bank and associated habitats (scrub and semi improved grassland) were considered to be of ecological interest on a local context and were likely to be utilised by a variety of species such as birds, foraging & commuting mammals, and potentially populations of common reptile species. It is recommended that these habitats are retained where practicable, with no direct lighting of the treeline located on top of the earth bank, to retain the feature as a dark wildlife corridor for commuting mammals and birds. The Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Milford Haven Waterway Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) were located approximately 0.8km north east of site. However, the limited terrestrial habitats on site combined with the physical separation and lack of hydrological connectivity to the designations means that the proposed development was considered to have a negligible impact on the SAC and SSSI. The treeline located south of site was considered to be of negligible bat roosting potential due to the trees lack of bat roosting features. The feature is to remain undisturbed by the proposed development and is recommended to have no direct development lighting, maintaining it as a dark corridor for foraging and commuting bats. The earth bank and associated habitats located immediately south of site were considered potentially suitable to support small isolated populations of common reptile species such as Slow-worm Anguis fragilis. It is currently Asbri Planning Ltd Valero Refinery, Pembroke Preliminary Ecological Survey unclear whether any of the habitat will be lost as part of the development. However, it is recommended that a precautionary sensitive directional vegetation clearance to the retained habitats allowing dispersion is adopted. The scrub on the earth bank was considered suitable habitat for breeding birds. Given the likelihood of birds utilising the scrub, any proposed site clearance works should be undertaken outside the bird-breeding season (i.e. clearance between September and March inclusive) or preceded by a visual check for nesting birds. Additional considerations for the proposed development relates to the incorporation of bat and bird boxes and the use of soft landscaping species of known wildlife benefit. Asbri Planning Ltd Valero Refinery, Pembroke Preliminary Ecological Survey 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Bay Ecology was commissioned by Asbri Planning to undertake an ecological appraisal of a parcel of land located at the south eastern extent of the Valero Refinery situated at its entrance (Grid Ref:SM 91477 02117) (Appendix I). It is my understanding that the parcel of land is proposed to be the location of a new workshop and lab facility 1.2 The site footprint is comprised of a limited range of habitats dominated by a large narrow strip of hard standing, which is utilised as a parking area and location for prefabricated storage containers. The hard standing is located beneath an earth bund/bank that borders the site at its southern extent. The sloping earth bund has been colonised by areas of scrub, tall ruderal habitat and semi-improved grassland. A mixed broadleaf and pine treeline is located at the top of the earth bund, which segregates site from a improved grassland strip. An area of amenity grassland was located at the eastern extent of site. The site footprint is approximately 0.9 ha in area and is surrounded by agricultural fields to the south, refinery parking areas to the west and east, and refinery infrastructure and scrub to the north. 1.3 This report provides a summary of the preliminary ecological appraisal undertaken in June 2019, and includes recommendations on any ecological constraints/ opportunities associated with the proposed development. Asbri Planning Ltd Valero Refinery, Pembroke Preliminary Ecological Survey 2.1 METHODOLOGY 2.2 In order to establish the baseline ecological conditions on site and in the adjoining habitats, a combination of desk-based consultation and field survey were undertaken in June/July 2019. Desk study 2.3 This element of the work primarily involved consultation with the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre (WWBIC) to identify any records of rare, protected or notable flora and fauna within the proposed development site boundary (see plan in Appendix I) and surrounding 1 km area. Extended Phase I Habitat Survey 2.4 Fieldwork was undertaken on the 14th June 2019 by a suitably qualified ecologist and followed standard Phase 1 Habitat Survey protocol (JNCC 1990) as amended by the Institute of Environmental Assessment (1995). All habitats within the proposed development site were classified. All habitats considered having potential to support rare, protected or otherwise notable species of flora and fauna were noted, as were any direct signs of these species (e.g. Badger setts and dung-pits). The survey also incorporated a subjective, ground-based assessment of the potential of mature trees to support roosting bats. 2.5 During the field survey, any trees immediately adjacent to the site were assessed for their potential to support roosting bats and were categorised in relation to the bat roosting features (BCT, 2016). The categories are as follows: • Known or confirmed roost • High – A tree with one or more potential roost sites that are obviously suitable for use by larger numbers of bats on a more regular basis and potentially for longer periods of time due to their size, shelter, protection, conditions and surrounding habitat. • Moderate – A tree with one or more potential roost sites that could be used by bats due to their size, shelter, protection, conditions and surrounding habitat but unlikely to support a roost of high conservation status. • Low – A tree of sufficient size and age to contain Potential Roosting Features (PRFs) but with none seen from the ground or features seen with only very limited roosting potential. • Negligible - Negligible habitat features on site likely to be used by roosting bats. Asbri Planning Ltd Valero Refinery, Pembroke Preliminary Ecological Survey 2.6 Additionally any species listed as a pernicious weed under Schedule 9, Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) were also noted during the field survey. Examples of such species include Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica and Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera. 3.0 RESULTS Desk study 3.1 The data provided by WWBIC confirmed that the site did not contain any statutory or non-statutory conservation designations. However, Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Milford Haven Waterway Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) were located approximately 0.8km north east of site. These designations were of negligible ecological relevance to site due to the limited terrestrial habitats present within the site footprint, and physical separation between the site and the designations, along with a lack of hydrological connectivity. The SSSI included Lesser & Greater Horseshoe bats as qualifying features that are mobile creatures that could potentially frequent site. However, the treeline that border the southern boundary of site was considered only to be of a limited foraging and commuting resource to bats due to its defunct nature and lack of connectivity to the surrounding landscape. 3.2 An area of Ancient Semi Natural Woodland and Coastal Saltmarsh (NRW Priority Area) habitat were located 0.5km & 09km north east of site (respectively). However, were considered to be of no relevance to site due to the limited terrestrial habitats onsite a, physical separation and lack of hydrological connectivity. 3.3 No protected species records were associated with the site footprint or immediate habitats. However, a number of notable and protected species records were also identified within 1km of the site. The majority of these records were bird species associated with the farmland and scrub habitats such as Skylark Alauda arvensis, Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, Linnet Linaria cannabina and Barn Owl Tyto alba.