LEEK ROAD BUXTON ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT TEP Genesis Centre Birchwood Science Park Warrington WA3 7BH Tel: 01925 844004 Email: [email protected] www.tep.uk.com Offices in Warrington, Market Harborough, Gateshead, London and Cornwall PLANNING I DESIGN I ENVIRONMENT Leek Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effect Document Title Assessment of Likely Significant Effect Prepared for Persimmon Homes Ltd Prepared by TEP - Warrington Document Ref 5112.01.001 Author Dr Mike Walker MCIEEM Date March 2016 Checked Lee Greenhough Approved Lee Greenhough Amendment History Check / Modified Version Date Approved Reason(s) issue Status by by Leek Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effect CONTENTS PAGE Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 3 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 4 Background ............................................................................................................. 4 Proximity to European sites ..................................................................................... 4 Legislative considerations ....................................................................................... 5 Approach ................................................................................................................. 6 2.0 Development Proposals ............................................................................................. 8 3.0 Features of Interest in the Relevant European Sites ................................................... 9 The Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1) SPA ............................... 9 Merlin .................................................................................................................... 11 Golden Plover ....................................................................................................... 11 Short-eared Owl .................................................................................................... 12 Peregrine Falcon ................................................................................................... 12 Dunlin .................................................................................................................... 12 The South Pennine Moors SAC ............................................................................. 13 The Peak District Dales SAC ................................................................................. 15 Conservation objectives ........................................................................................ 18 4.0 Baseline Conditions .................................................................................................. 21 Habitats within the site........................................................................................... 21 Bird species within the site .................................................................................... 22 Desktop records .................................................................................................... 22 2015 Breeding Bird Survey .................................................................................... 28 Key ecological features ......................................................................................... 28 5.0 Assessment of Likely Significant Effect..................................................................... 33 Qualifying Features of Peak District Moors SPA .................................................... 33 Golden Plover ....................................................................................................... 33 Merlin .................................................................................................................... 36 Short-eared Owl .................................................................................................... 37 Peregrine............................................................................................................... 38 Dunlin .................................................................................................................... 39 5112.01.001 March 2016 Version A Leek Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effect Annex 1 Habitats Associated with South Pennine Moors SAC .............................. 40 Northern Atlantic Wet Heath .................................................................................. 40 European Dry Heath .............................................................................................. 42 Blanket Bog ........................................................................................................... 43 Transition Mires and Quaking Bog ........................................................................ 44 Old Sessile Oak Woodlands .................................................................................. 45 Annex 1 SAC Habitats Associated with Peak District Dales SAC .......................... 46 Annex II SAC Species Associated with Peak District Dales SAC ........................... 47 Austropotamobius pallipes (White-clawed Crayfish) .............................................. 47 Lampetra planeri (River Lamprey) ......................................................................... 48 Cottus gobio (Bullhead) ......................................................................................... 49 In-combination Effects ........................................................................................... 50 References ......................................................................................................................... 51 TABLES PAGE Table 3.1: Bird species for which the Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1) SPA is important .................................................................................................. 10 FIGURES PAGE Figure 1. Heavily grazed improved pasture within site. .......................................... 21 Figure 2 Patches of rush pasture scattered across the western half of the site. ..... 22 APPENDICES APPENDIX A: Designated Site Maps, Citations and Registry Entry Forms APPENDIX B: Records of qualifying bird species for Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1) SPA received from Derbyshire Ornithological Society APPENDIX C: Masterplan (014-040-P009, Rev A) DRAWINGS G5112.001 – Phase 1 habitat survey 5112.01.001 March 2016 Version A Leek Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effect Executive Summary 1. TEP was commissioned by Persimmon Homes to complete an Assessment of Likely Significant Effects (ALSE) upon European designated sites that might arise as a result of the proposed housing development at Leek Road, Buxton. 2. The proposals are for 120 properties covering an area of 3.8ha. The total site area is 6.56 ha, with the remaining 2.76 ha proposed to be green infrastructure, including woodland and parkland. The development lies 300m from the Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1) SPA and the South Pennine Moors SAC and 3.75km from the Peak District Dales SAC. 3. A combination of ecological records and survey data obtained by TEP during 2015 (including Phase 1 habitat assessment and breeding bird surveys) were used to undertake this assessment. The effects of the proposed development was also assessed in combination with other relevant plans/projects in the nearby area. 4. The nearby Peak District Moors SPA is designated for a number of breeding wader and raptor species that it supports. Potential impacts from the proposed development on the nearby SPA site assessed included loss of habitat, disturbance, recreational impacts, increases in predation levels and pollution. 5. No significant impacts on the Peak District Moors SPA were identified as a result of the proposed development either alone or in-combination with other relevant plans/projects and therefore it is concluded that no likely significant effect on this SPA would arise. 6. The South Pennine Moors SAC and the Peak District Dales SAC are designated for a range of Annex 1 habitats. The Peak District Dales SAC is also designated for supporting important populations of Annex 2 species brook lamprey Lampetra planeri, bullhead Cottus gobio and white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. 7. Potential impacts from the proposed development on the two SAC sites include loss of habitat, erosion, pollution and fire risk. No significant impacts on either SAC were identified. 8. It is concluded that there is no likely significant effect on the South Pennine Moors SAC or the Peak District Dales SAC either from the proposed development alone, or in-combination with other relevant developments. 5112.01.001 Page 3 March 2016 Version A Leek Road Buxton Assessment of Likely Significant Effect 1.0 Introduction 1.1 TEP was commissioned by Persimmon Homes in November 2015 to complete an Assessment of Likely Significant Effects (ALSE) upon European designated sites that might arise as a result of the proposed housing development at Leek Road, Buxton. 1.2 The proposed housing development lies 300m from the Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1) SPA and the South Pennine Moors SAC and 3.75km from the Peak District Dales SAC. Background 1.3 The proposals are for 120 properties constructed within nine parcels of land covering an area of 3.8ha. The total site area is 6.56 ha, with the remaining 2.76 ha proposed