Thurrock Flexible Generation Plant Preliminary Environmental Information Report Appendix 9.1: Ecological desk study and surveys Date: September 2018 Appendix 9.1: Ecological desk study and surveys Ecology desk study and survey report September 2018 Environmental Impact Assessment Preliminary Environmental Information Report Volume 6 Copyright © RPS Appendix 9.1 The material presented in this report is confidential. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of Thurrock Power Ltd and shall not be distributed or made available to any other company or person without the knowledge and written consent of RPS. Report Number: OXF10872 Version: Final Date: September 2018 This report is also downloadable from the Thurrock Flexible Generation Plant website at: Prepared by: Jacquelyn Kerr http://www.thurrockpower.co.uk Contributors: Matthew White, Matthew Fasham, Colin Plant Associates Checked by: Matthew Fasham Thurrock Power Ltd 1st Floor 145 Kensington Church Street London W8 7LP i Appendix 9.1: Ecological desk study and surveys Ecology desk study and survey report September 2018 Table of Contents List of Tables 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Table 2.1: DOMIN abundance scale for NVC analysis. ............................................................ 6 1.1 Background to the study ............................................................................................... 1 Table 2.2: Reptile survey dates and weather conditions. ......................................................... 8 Table 3.1: Statutory designated sites within 2 km of the Phase 1 survey area. ..................... 19 1.2 Application site and study area ..................................................................................... 1 Table 3.2: Non-statutory designated sites within 2 km of the Phase 1 survey area. .............. 19 1.3 Report structure ............................................................................................................ 2 Table 3.3: Summary of protected and notable plant species recorded within 2 km of the 2. Methods ............................................................................................................................... 4 Phase 1 survey area. ............................................................................................ 21 2.1 Desk study .................................................................................................................... 4 Table 3.4: Summary of protected and notable invertebrate species recorded within 2 km of 2.2 Phase 1 habitat survey and ecological scoping survey ................................................. 4 the Phase 1 survey area. ...................................................................................... 21 Table 3.5: Summary of protected and notable amphibian species recorded within 2 km of the 2.3 Plants ............................................................................................................................ 6 Phase 1 survey area. ............................................................................................ 22 2.4 Invertebrates ................................................................................................................. 6 Table 3.6: Summary of protected and notable reptile species recorded within 2 km of the 2.5 Amphibians ................................................................................................................... 6 Phase 1 survey area. ............................................................................................ 22 2.6 Reptiles ......................................................................................................................... 7 Table 3.7: Summary of protected and notable bird species recorded within 2 km of the Phase 2.7 Breeding birds ............................................................................................................. 10 1 survey area. ....................................................................................................... 22 Table 3.8: Summary of protected and notable mammal species recorded within 2 km of the 2.8 Water voles and otters ................................................................................................ 12 Phase 1 survey area. ............................................................................................ 23 2.9 Badgers ....................................................................................................................... 14 Table 3.9: Conservation status abbreviations used in Table 3.3 – Table 3.8. ........................ 25 2.10 Limitations ................................................................................................................... 14 Table 3.10: Reptile survey results Zones A-I. .......................................................................... 38 3. Results ............................................................................................................................... 15 Table 3.11: Reptile survey results Zone J. ............................................................................... 38 3.1 Desk study .................................................................................................................. 15 Table 3.12: Maximum reptile counts by Zone. ......................................................................... 39 Table 3.13: Breeding status of species recorded during the breeding bird survey at Tilbury, 3.2 Protected and other notable species ........................................................................... 21 April-June 2018. .................................................................................................... 40 3.3 Phase 1 habitat survey ................................................................................................ 28 Table 3.14: Conservation status of confirmed breeding species recorded during the breeding 3.4 Botanical survey .......................................................................................................... 35 bird survey at Tilbury, April-June 2018. ................................................................. 41 3.5 Invertebrate scoping survey ........................................................................................ 35 Table 3.15: Breeding bird assemblage diversity criteria. .......................................................... 42 3.6 Amphibian survey ........................................................................................................ 35 Table 3.16: Water vole survey results. ..................................................................................... 48 Table 3.17: Water vole survey results per 100m of ditch surveyed. ......................................... 49 3.7 Reptile survey ............................................................................................................. 35 Table 4.1: Criteria for assessing relative water vole population size (from Dean et al., 2016). 3.8 Breeding bird survey ................................................................................................... 40 .............................................................................................................................. 56 3.9 Water vole and otter survey ........................................................................................ 48 3.10 Badger survey ............................................................................................................. 52 4. Evaluation and summary ................................................................................................... 54 List of Figures 4.1 Designated sites .......................................................................................................... 54 4.2 Habitats ....................................................................................................................... 54 Figure 1.1: Development zones. ............................................................................................... 3 Figure 2.1: Phase 1 survey extent. ............................................................................................ 5 4.3 Species ....................................................................................................................... 54 Figure 2.2: GCN, invertebrate and reptile survey extents. ......................................................... 9 4.4 References .................................................................................................................. 58 Figure 2.3: Breeding bird survey extent. .................................................................................. 11 Annex A Relevant Legislation ............................................................................................. 59 Figure 2.4: Water vole survey extent. ...................................................................................... 13 Annex B Plant species recorded on semi-improved grassland ........................................... 61 Figure 3.1: Designated sites within 2km. ................................................................................. 16 Annex C Reptile survey results (adults and juveniles) ......................................................... 63 Figure 3.2: Designated sites within 10km of development zone A. ......................................... 17 Figure 3.3: Phase 1 habitat map. ...........................................................................................