Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Wirral Local Plan 2020-2035: Issues and Options Consultation Document Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Project number: 60610735 December 2019 Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Wirral Local Plan 2020-2035: Issues and Options Consultation Document Project number: 60610735 Quality information Prepared by Checked by Verified by Approv ed by Damiano Weitowitz James Riley Max Wade James Riley Consultant Ecologist Technical Director Technical Director Technical Director Revision History Rev ision Rev ision date Details Authorized Name Position 0 29/11/19 Draft for MEAS and JR James Riley Technical Director Council review 1 19/12/19 Updated following JR James Riley Technical Director reviews Distribution List # Hard Copies PDF Required Association / Company Name Prepared f or: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council AECOM 2 Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Wirral Local Plan 2020-2035: Issues and Options Consultation Document Project number: 60610735 Prepared for: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Prepared by: Damiano Weitow itz Consultant Ecologist T: 01256-310-257 M: 077-959-179-87 E: Damiano.Weitow [email protected] AECOM Limited Midpoint, Alencon Link Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 7PP United Kingdom T: +44(0)1256 310200 aecom.com © 2019 AECOM Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared f or: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council AECOM 3 Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Wirral Local Plan 2020-2035: Issues and Options Consultation Document Project number: 60610735 Table of Contents 1. Background ......................................................................................................... 8 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8 Legislative Context................................................................................................................ 9 Scope of the Project .............................................................................................................10 Quality Assurance ................................................................................................................12 2. Methodology......................................................................................................13 Introduction .........................................................................................................................13 Description of HRA Tasks ......................................................................................................13 HRA Task 1 – Likely Significant Effects (LSE) ...........................................................................13 HRA Task 2 – Appropriate Assessment (AA) ............................................................................14 HRA Task 3 – Avoidance and Mitigation...................................................................................14 3. Background to Impact Pathways...................................................................16 Recreational Pressure ..........................................................................................................16 Disturbance of non-breeding waterfowl and waders (September – March) ....................................16 Trampling damage, erosion and nutrient enrichment..................................................................19 Loss of Functionally Linked Habitat.........................................................................................21 Water Quality ......................................................................................................................22 Water Resources .................................................................................................................23 Visual and Noise Disturbance (both in European sites and functionally linked habitat) ....................24 Atmospheric Pollution ...........................................................................................................26 4. Test of Likely Significant Effects (ToLSE) ....................................................29 Recreational Pressure ..........................................................................................................29 Loss of Functionally Linked Habitat.........................................................................................31 Water Quality ......................................................................................................................33 Visual and Noise Disturbance ................................................................................................35 Atmospheric Pollution ...........................................................................................................37 Plans / projects to be Considered In-Combination .....................................................................40 5. Appropriate Assessment .................................................................................43 Summary of the Growth Options ............................................................................................43 Options Requiring Green Belt Release ....................................................................................43 Recreational pressure...........................................................................................................43 Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore SPA and Ramsar ...................................................44 Visitor Survey ......................................................................................................................45 Relating Visitor Data to Bird Responses ..................................................................................46 Review of current management practices ................................................................................47 Wirral’s Spatial Development Options .....................................................................................47 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................48 Dee Estuary SPA and Ramsar ...............................................................................................48 Wirral’s Spatial Development Options .....................................................................................50 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................50 Mersey Estuary SPA and Ramsar ...........................................................................................50 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................51 Dee Estuary SAC.................................................................................................................51 Wirral’s Spatial Development Option .......................................................................................52 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................53 Liverpool Bay SPA ...............................................................................................................53 Sefton Coast SAC ................................................................................................................53 Ribble and Alt Estuaries SPA and Ramsar ...............................................................................54 Prepared f or: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council AECOM 4 Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Wirral Local Plan 2020-2035: Issues and Options Consultation Document Project number: 60610735 In-combination Assessment ...................................................................................................55 Recreational Pressure in Functionally Linked Habitat to the Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore SPA and Ramsar, the Mersey Estuary SPA and Ramsar, and Liverpool Bay SPA............58 Loss of Functionally Linked Habitat.........................................................................................59 Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore SPA and Ramsar, Dee Estuary SPA and Ramsar, Mersey Estuary SPA and Ramsar and Ribble and Alt Estuaries SPA and Ramsar ..........................60 Qualifying species that depend on functionally linked land..........................................................60 Option 1A: Urban Intensification .............................................................................................61 Option 2A: Release of Green Belt (Dispersed Development) ......................................................62 Option 2B: Release of Green Belt (Urban Extension).................................................................64 Water Quality ......................................................................................................................69 Dee Estuary SAC & Dee Estuary SPA and Ramsar ...................................................................69