Northern Gateway Area GMA 1.1 - Ecological Constraints and Opportunities A104444-7 June 2021 Prepared by WYG Environment Planning Transport Limited On behalf of Northern Gateway Development Vehicle LLP Quay West at MediaCityUK, Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1HH Tel: +44 (0)161 872 3223 Fax: +44 (0)161 872 3193 Email: Website: www.wyg.com WYG Environment Planning Transport Limited. Registered in England & Wales Number: 03050297 Registered Office: 3 Sovereign Square, Sovereign Street, Leeds, LS1 4ER Northern Gateway – High-Level Constraints – Area GMA 1.1 Document control A104444-5 June 2021 www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands 2 Northern Gateway – High-Level Constraints – Area GMA 1.1 Document: Area G1.1 – Ecological Constraints and Opportunities Project: Northern Gateway Client: Northern Gateway Development Vehicle LLP Job Number: A104444-7 File Origin: A104444- 5/Reports/Draft/Volume 2 Revision: 0 Date: December 2019 Prepared by: Checked by: Approved By: Laura Holmes MCIEEM Philip Preston MCIEEM Rachel Kerr CEnv Principal Ecologist Principal Ecologist MCIEEM Associate Ecologist Description of revision: First Issue Revision: 1 Date: August 2020 Prepared by: Checked by: Approved By: Jessica Yorke ACIEEM Laura Holmes MCIEEM Rachel Kerr CEnv Consultant Ecologist Principal Ecologist MCIEEM Associate Ecologist Description of revision: Update following an extended Phase 1 habitat survey of part of the site and addressing client’s comments Revision: 2 Date: September 2020 Prepared by: Checked by: Approved By: Jessica Yorke ACIEEM Laura Holmes MCIEEM Rachel Kerr CEnv Consultant Ecologist Principal Ecologist MCIEEM Associate Ecologist A104444-5 June 2021 www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands 3 Northern Gateway – High-Level Constraints – Area GMA 1.1 Description of revision: Update to reflect client comments Revision: 3 Date: June 2021 Prepared by: Checked by: Approved By: Samantha Wood Caroline Martin Caroline Martin Description of revision: Accessibility Check A104444-5 June 2021 www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands 4 Northern Gateway – High-Level Constraints – Area GMA 1.1 Contents 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 8 1.1 Instruction .................................................................................................. 8 1.2 Objectives .................................................................................................. 8 1.3 Proposed Development ............................................................................. 9 2.0 Site Setting ....................................................................................................... 11 2.1 Location and Size .................................................................................... 11 2.2 Site Description ........................................................................................ 11 2.3 Desk Study .............................................................................................. 12 2.3.1 Previous Surveys ........................................................................... 12 2.3.2 Desk Based Study ......................................................................... 13 2.4 2020 Site Surveys .................................................................................... 14 2.5 Limitations ................................................................................................ 14 3.0 Baseline Ecological Conditions ........................................................................ 16 3.1 Desk Study .............................................................................................. 16 3.1.1 Designated Sites and Habitats of Principal Importance ................. 16 3.1.2 Previous Survey ............................................................................. 18 3.2 2020 Update: Habitats ............................................................................. 19 3.3 2020 Update: Protected and Notable Species ......................................... 26 3.3.1 Invertebrates .................................................................................. 26 3.3.2 Amphibians including Great Crested Newt .................................... 27 3.3.3 Reptiles .......................................................................................... 28 3.3.4 Bats ................................................................................................ 29 3.3.5 Birds ............................................................................................... 30 A104444-5 June 2021 www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands 5 Northern Gateway – High-Level Constraints – Area GMA 1.1 3.3.6 Badger ........................................................................................... 31 3.3.7 Otter ............................................................................................... 32 3.3.8 Water Vole ..................................................................................... 32 3.3.9 Brown Hare .................................................................................... 32 3.3.10 European Hedgehog ...................................................................... 33 3.3.11 Invasive non-native plant species .................................................. 33 4.0 Constraints and Opportunities .......................................................................... 34 4.1 Constraints ............................................................................................... 37 4.1.1 Biodiversity Net Gain ..................................................................... 37 4.1.2 Internationally Designated Sites ..................................................... 39 4.1.3 Nationally and Locally Designated Sites ........................................ 40 4.1.4 Habitats .......................................................................................... 41 4.1.5 Protected and Notable Species ...................................................... 41 4.2 Opportunities ........................................................................................... 43 4.2.1 Biodiversity Net Gain ..................................................................... 43 4.2.2 Habitats / Protected and Notable Species ..................................... 44 4.3 Next Steps to Assess Constraints and Opportunities ............................... 46 4.3.1 Next Steps – Requirements for Future Planning Application ......... 46 4.3.2 Next Steps - Opportunities ............................................................. 47 4.4 Conclusions ............................................................................................. 47 Appendices ............................................................................................................... 49 National Planning Policy Framework ................................................................ 73 Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife & ecosystem services ....... 73 Local Biodiversity Action Plan .......................................................................... 74 Local Plans ....................................................................................................... 75 A104444-5 June 2021 www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands 6 Northern Gateway – High-Level Constraints – Area GMA 1.1 Bury Metropolitan Borough Council .................................................................. 75 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council .......................................................... 79 Drawings A104444-5-MAN-N-01 Site Location Plan A104444-5-MAN-N-301 GMA 1.1 Desk Study Search Area A104444-5-MAN-N-305 GMA 1.1. High Level Constraints Plan Appendices: Appendix A: Report Conditions Appendix B: Wildlife Legislation Appendix B: Relevant Planning Policy and Legislation Appendix C: Survey Calendar A104444-5 June 2021 www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands 7 Northern Gateway – High-Level Constraints – Area GMA 1.1 1.0 Introduction WYG has been commissioned by Northern Gateway Development Vehicle LLP (‘NGDV’) to undertake a high-level desktop and site reconnaissance constraints and opportunities review of a site referred to as Area GMA 1.1 within the proposed Greater Manchester Northern Gateway development area. The site is identified as Allocation GM 1.1 in the draft Greater Manchester Strategic Framework (GMSF). It forms part of the strategic cross-boundary ‘Northern Gateway’ allocation positioned around the intersection of the M60, M62 and M66 Motorways. 1.1 Instruction This desk top assessment and constraints review provides information to support the promotion of GMA 1.1 for allocation in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF). The findings from the assessment will be used to inform the site masterplan as it is updated and refined This report has assessed the land shown on Figure A104444-5-MAN-N-01. It forms the majority part of proposed allocation GMA 1.1 ‘Heywood/Pilsworth (Northern Gateway)’ in the draft GMSF. The north-eastern part of the proposed allocation already benefits from an outline planning permission for mixed use employment and residential development (the ‘South Heywood’ scheme, granted in March 2020); as such it is not included within this assessment work commissioned by the NGDV. 1.2 Objectives Following a desk top, site reconnaissance, constraints and opportunities review in December 2019 by WYG1, the main body of the site was assessed in greater detail in June 2020; WYG undertook an extended Phase 1 habitat