PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ROSEWOOD FARM ESSEX Prepared Checked Approved Version Date Date Date by by by R1 Jack 11/06/2013 Thomas 14/06/2013 Graeme 14/06/2013 Fenwick McQuillan Skinner PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ROSEWOOD FARM COMMON ROAD BROADLEY COMMON ESSEX EN9 2DF GRID REF: TL 422 071 FOR NIC PEACE Naturally Wild Consultants Limited Office 38 Evans Business Centre Unit 1 Stephenson Court Skippers Lane Ind. Est. Middleborough TS6 6UT Email: [email protected] Page 2 of 27 NP-13-01 11/06/2013 Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Rosewood Farm, Essex Contents Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 1 INTRODUCTION 5 1.1 Background 5 2 RELEVANT LEGISLATION & POLICY 6 3 PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY 6 3.1 Objective of Survey 6 3.2 Survey Area 6 3.3 Habitat Description 7 3.4 Survey Constraints 7 4 METHODOLOGY 8 5 RESULTS 9 5.1 Desktop Study 9 5.1.1 Desktop Study 9 5.1.2 Statutory and Non-statutory Search 10 5.2 Site Visit 12 5.2.1 On Site Ecological Features 12 5.2.2 Off Site Ecological Features 13 5.2.3 Protected Species 13 5.2.4 Phase 1 Habitat Map 15 6 EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIONS 17 7 SITE IMAGES 18 8 REFERENCES 25 9 APPENDIX 25 8.1 Additional Information for the Legislation 25 of Other Protected Species Page 3 of 27 NP-13-01 11/06/2013 Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Rosewood Farm, Essex EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Naturally Wild were commissioned to undertake a Phase 1 Habitat Survey at Rosewood Farm, and associated land to the south, which is located directly off Common Road, Broadley Common, Essex. The objectives of the survey were to classify and value the habitats on site and to determine the suitability of the site for protected species. The survey would also assess the suitability of the immediate surrounding features for protected species and habitat value. The proposed development will be subject to a planning application for the redevelopment of the site for residential use, to include the construction of 39 residential units on the site. The surveyed site is located at National Grid Reference Point TL 422 071, and covers 0.94 ha. As part of the planning process an ecological survey is required to assess the potential impacts upon protected species or habitats as a result of the development and whether any appropriate mitigation or compensation effort would be required to allow works to continue. The site survey work was completed in June 2013 by Ecologist Jack Fenwick and Senior Ecologist Thomas McQuillan. The site assessment included two parts: a desktop based search to collate publically available data on protected species and sites on and surrounding the development site; and a site visit in which all habitats were documented to determine their suitability to protected species, including great crested newts, badger, reptiles, birds, bats and other protected species. The site assessment concluded that the site offered negligible value to bats, amphibians and badger, of which no suitable habitat was recorded. The habitats on site are considered valuable to nesting birds (stables, mature trees and hedgerows) and reptile species (scrubby vegetation, refugia and open areas for basking). As such, further survey effort is recommended to provide additional information on reptile presence within the site. Following the site assessment, in line with initial objectives, Naturally Wild would recommend that the implementation of a series of mitigation measures to ensure that the development does not incur a negative impact on protected species and habitats. Details on such measures are provided within this report and further survey effort in relation to reptiles and avoidance of site clearance works during the bird-nesting season, which runs from early February to late August. Should the mitigation and compensation measures outlined within this report be implemented, the impacts of the development should be adequately mitigated. Page 4 of 27 NP-13-01 11/06/2013 Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Rosewood Farm, Essex PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY, ROSEWOOD FARM, ESSEX. 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Naturally Wild were commissioned to undertake a Phase 1 Habitat Survey at Rosewood Farm, and associated land to the south, which is located directly off Common Road, Broadley Common, Essex. The objectives of the survey were to classify and value the habitats on site and to determine the suitability of the site for protected species. The survey would also assess the suitability of the immediate surrounding features for protected species and habitat value. The proposed development will be subject to a planning application for the redevelopment of the site for residential use and associated infrastructure. The proposed redevelopment design plan is shown in Figure 6, and would include the construction of 39 residential units on the site. The surveyed site is located at National Grid Reference Point TL 422 071, as shown in Figure 1. The surveyed site is accessed via directly off Common Road, and covers 0.94 ha. The large residential area of Harlow is situated approximately 0.7 km to the northeast. As part of the planning process an ecological survey is required to assess the potential impacts upon protected species or habitats as a result of the development and whether any appropriate mitigation or compensation effort would be required to allow works to continue. Figure 1. The red line shows boundary of the application site.*1 Page 5 of 27 NP-13-01 11/06/2013 Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Rosewood Farm, Essex 2 RELEVANT LEGLISLATION AND POLICY British wildlife is protected by a range of legislation, the most important being the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 and the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000. The Wildlife and Countryside Act as amended mainly by the Countryside Rights of Way Act protects species listed in Schedules 5 and 8 of the Act (animals and plants respectively) from being killed, injured, and used for trade. For some species, such as Great Crested Newts and all bat species, the provisions of this act go further to protect animals from being disturbed or taken from the wild and protects aspects of their habitats. The act also stipulates that offences occur regardless of whether they were committed intentionally or recklessly. The parts of this legislation that apply to most reptile species are in regard to killing, injury and trade only and do not protect their habitat, nor are they protected from disturbance or from being taken from their habitat. The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations is the English enactment of European legislation and provides similar but subtly different protection for species listed on Schedules 2 and 4 of those regulations. A recent change in this legislation means that the provisions of this act now complement those of the Wildlife and Countryside Act more. Species to which these provisions apply are the European Protected Species. Activities that might cause offences to be committed can be legitimised by obtaining a licence from the relevant statutory body. Birds receive protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act also. It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take any wild bird; take, damage or destroy a nest of a wild bird whilst it is in use or being built; or to take, damage or destroy an egg of a wild bird. The bird-nesting season is defined as being from 1st February until 31st August with exceptions and alterations for some species. 3 PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY 3.1 Objective of Survey The objective of the survey was to ascertain if any protected species may be using the site, document the habitats present and determine any potential ecological risks posed by the development during and post construction. The survey would include a desktop assessment using a range of available resources. The site survey would be completed under suitable weather conditions and by experienced ecologists. The site survey also included an assessment of the stable buildings on site in regards bird species. Further to this, the survey would assess the details of the survey findings and the ecological risks posed by the work, and how such impacts should be mitigated and compensated for. The site visit was completed on 10/06/2013 by Ecologist Jack Fenwick and Senior Ecologist Thomas McQuillan. 3.2 Survey Area The footprint of the survey area, which covers 0.94 ha, and associated habitats were assessed, including the stable buildings on site, as were the immediate surrounding habitats. The site proposed for development is located at Grid Reference TL 442 071, and is shown in Figure 1. The Full National Grid Reference Point for the central point of the surveyed site is 542290, 207110. Page 6 of 27 NP-13-01 11/06/2013 Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Rosewood Farm, Essex 3.3 Habitat Description The application site covers 0.96 ha and for ease of description within this report has been split into two key areas (Figure 2). Area 1 on the north of the site included several adjoined stable buildings with associated hard standing; fenced dressage/ exercise area and horse grazed paddocks; whilst Area 2 to the south comprised of unmanaged grassland vegetation, hard standing and dumped refuge piles. The site is bordered by wooden fencing to the north, east and west, with a line of mature conifer trees forming the southern boundary. The site is accessed directly off Common Road to the west. The site is currently active and is used to keep horses (approximately 10 resident horses). The application site is not located on or directly adjacent to any statutory and non-statutory protected sites, with the nearest statutory protected area being Harlow Woods SSSI (Site code: 1064465, includes 24.35 ha of broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland – lowland habitat) located 1.62 km to the southeast.