Edgbaston Central Campus Development Hybrid Planning Application March 2012 Ecological Assessment Edgbaston Central Campus Development Hybrid Planning Application Ecological Assessment Sophie Smith BSc (Hons) AIEEM For: University of Birmingham Kevin Doidge MSc BSc (Hons) Estates West Jennifer Spelling BA (Hons) MSc South West Campus Edgbaston th Birmingham 27 February 2012 B15 2TT © RPS Willow Mere House Compass Point Business Park Stocks Bridge Way St Ives Cambridgeshire PE27 5JL Telephone: +44 (0) 1480 302751 Fax: +44 (0) 1480 466911 E-mail: [email protected] www.rpsgroup.com/ecology Notice to Interested Parties To achieve the study objectives stated in this report, we were required to base our conclusions on the best information available during the period of the investigation and within the limits prescribed by our client in the agreement. No investigative method can completely eliminate the possibility of obtaining partially imprecise or incomplete information. Thus, we cannot guarantee that the investigations completely defined the degree or extent of e.g. species abundances or habitat management efficacy described in the report. Document Information Report title: Edgbaston Central Campus Development Ecological Assessment Client: University of Birmingham Document ref: JPP2890_R_003j Project manager: Max Wade Author(s)/Surveyor: Sophie Smith, Jenny Spelling, Kevin Doidge, Dru Hall Report date: 27/02/12 Checked by: Matt Fasham 18/11/11 Authorised by: Max Wade 27/02/12 Edgbaston Central Campus Development: Ecology assessment CONTENTS 0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .....................................................................................1 Baseline......................................................................................................................2 Proposed Indoor Sports Facility Site......................................................................4 Pritchatts Road Car Park.........................................................................................4 Pedestrian Route to the Vale ..................................................................................5 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................8 Background to the study..........................................................................................8 Aims and objectives..................................................................................................9 Study area .................................................................................................................9 2 METHODS...........................................................................................................11 Desk study ...............................................................................................................11 Phase 1 Habitat Survey..........................................................................................11 Ecological Scoping Survey .....................................................................................11 Great Crested Newt Habitat Suitability Index....................................................11 Reptile survey..........................................................................................................12 Peregrine Falcon survey.........................................................................................13 Bat roost assessment .............................................................................................13 Water Vole survey..................................................................................................14 3 RESULTS .............................................................................................................15 Desk Study ..............................................................................................................15 Designated sites................................................................................................................................ 15 Species of conservation concern.................................................................................................. 17 Recent planning applications local to the Campus..............................................18 Selly Oak New Road Development............................................................................................. 18 Sainsbury’s superstore development........................................................................................... 20 Dale Road, Selly Oak....................................................................................................................... 21 Staff at the University ............................................................................................21 Dr Jon Sadler and Dr Adam Bates............................................................................................... 21 James Hale.......................................................................................................................................... 23 Prof Graham Martin, Biosciences................................................................................................. 25 Phase 1 Habitat Survey..........................................................................................25 Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 25 General overview............................................................................................................................. 26 Proposed Indoor Sports Facility Site........................................................................................... 31 RPS 27/02/12 i JPP2890-R-003j.doc Edgbaston Central Campus Development: Ecology assessment S pecies .....................................................................................................................32 Invasive plants ................................................................................................................................... 32 Invertebrates..................................................................................................................................... 32 Fish....................................................................................................................................................... 33 Amphibians ........................................................................................................................................ 33 Reptiles............................................................................................................................................... 33 Birds .................................................................................................................................................... 34 Mammals............................................................................................................................................. 34 Proposed Indoor Sports Facility Site........................................................................................... 39 4 EVALUATION ....................................................................................................40 Designated Sites .....................................................................................................40 Habitats ...................................................................................................................40 Woodland and scrub....................................................................................................................... 40 Grassland............................................................................................................................................ 40 Hedgerows ........................................................................................................................................ 41 Rivers and streams........................................................................................................................... 41 Ponds................................................................................................................................................... 41 Managed green space ...................................................................................................................... 42 Built-up areas .................................................................................................................................... 42 Species .....................................................................................................................42 Plants................................................................................................................................................... 42 Invasive plants ................................................................................................................................... 42 Invertebrates..................................................................................................................................... 42 Fish....................................................................................................................................................... 43 Amphibians ........................................................................................................................................ 43 Reptiles..............................................................................................................................................