PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL A PPRAISAL CLIENT: SHEPWAY DISTRICT COUNCIL PRINCES PARADE HYTHE, KENT REF: 3609_RP_001 STATUS: FOR INFORMATION DOCUMENT CREATED: 28/09/2015 LLOYD BORE LTD 33 ST GEORGES PLACE CANTERBURY KENT CT1 1UT Tel: 01227 464 340 Fax: 01227 464 341 [email protected] www.lloydbore.co.uk 1 3609_RP_001 | PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL PRINCES PARADE STATUS: FOR INFORMATION CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 3 2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Instruction ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Scope of works .............................................................................................................................. 4 Assessment objectives ................................................................................................................... 4 3. SITE LOCATION ....................................................................................................................................... 5 4. METHOD .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Survey method ............................................................................................................................... 6 Desk study ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Assessment and evaluation ............................................................................................................ 6 Zone of influence ............................................................................................................................ 7 Survey limitations ........................................................................................................................... 7 5. RESULTS ................................................................................................................................................... 8 Designated sites............................................................................................................................. 8 Habitats of principal importance...................................................................................................... 8 Other habitats ................................................................................................................................ 8 Invertebrates (including white-clawed crayfish) ............................................................................... 9 Great crested newts and other amphibians ..................................................................................... 9 Reptiles .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Birds .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Water voles .................................................................................................................................. 10 Hazel dormouse ........................................................................................................................... 10 Badger ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Otter ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Bats ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Other mammals ........................................................................................................................... 10 6. PHOTOGRAPHS ..................................................................................................................................... 11 7. HABITAT PLAN ....................................................................................................................................... 12 8. EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................... 13 Designated sites........................................................................................................................... 13 Habitats of principal importance.................................................................................................... 13 Flora ............................................................................................................................................ 14 28/09/2015 2 3609_RP_001 | PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL PRINCES PARADE STATUS: FOR INFORMATION Invertebrates (including white-clawed crayfish) ............................................................................. 14 Great crested newts and other amphibians ................................................................................... 14 Reptiles ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Birds ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Water voles .................................................................................................................................. 15 Hazel dormouse ........................................................................................................................... 15 Badger ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Otter ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Bats ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Other mammals ........................................................................................................................... 16 9. ECOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENT MEASURES ....................................................................................... 17 10. REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................................... 18 11. APPENDIX 1: SUMMARY OF WILDLIFE LEGISLATION AND NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY ...... 20 12. APPENDIX 2 - HABITAT PLAN (LARGER VERSION) .......................................................................... 24 Author David W. Smith BSc (Hons), PhD, MCIEEM 28/09/2015 3 3609_RP_001 | PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL PRINCES PARADE STATUS: FOR INFORMATION 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY S.1 There are no existing development proposals and further survey work is required. Therefore this report is only intended to inform the emerging development proposals and should not be submitted to planning. S.2 Further surveys should be conducted prior to planning submission. The precise scope of the works may vary dependent on the response to an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping report. At this initial stage, surveys should include:- • A detailed botanical survey. This should focus on the semi-improved maritime grassland between the site and Princes Parade, as well as the marginal vegetation associated with the Royal Military Canal. Sample areas within the main site should also be subject to further work, although these are likely to be of much lower botanical value. Surveys should be conducted in June or July; • A habitat assessment of the site by a specialist invertebrate ecologist. This work should be conducted in the period mid-April to the end of May; • Assuming a formal Environmental Impact Assessment is required, further survey work of the Royal Military Canal for common toad is recommended. This is a Species of Principal Importance and as such their presence (or otherwise) may be a material consideration in planning. If toad is present it will be important to establish the ecological value of the adjacent canal for breeding toad, and therefore the potential value of the development site for toad; • A reptile survey to establish whether reptiles are present on site and if so, the associated species and size of population. These should be conducted in the period April to September (inclusive), and ideally in the optimum survey months of April, May or September; • A breeding bird survey. This should use territory mapping techniques to establish the value of the site for breeding birds. A minimum of five survey visits should be conducted between the start of April and end of June. The surveys should also determine whether kingfisher, which is listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, is breeding adjacent to the site on the Royal Military Canal; • Bat activity surveys of the Royal Military Canal to assess its value for foraging and commuting bats. This may comprise bat transects and/or the use of static recorders between May and September. The initial scope of works is likely to require