Wirral Borough Council Core Strategy Habitats Regulations Assessment Revision Schedule Habitat Regulations Assessment August 2010 Rev Date Details Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by 01 31/08/10 Draft for client Leila Payne Ecologist Dr. James Riley Dr. James Riley comment and /Linda Swankie Senior Principal Ecological Principal Ecological internal review Ecologist Consultant Consultant 02 03/09/10 Amended draft Dr. James Riley for further Principal Ecological review Consultant Scott Wilson Scott House Alençon Link Basingstoke RG21 7PP This document has been prepared in accordance with the scope of Scott Wilson's appointment with its client and is subject to the terms of that appointment. Scott Wilson accepts no liability for any use of this document other than for the purposes for which it Tel: 01256 310200 was prepared and provided. 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The contents of this document do not provide legal or tax advice or opinion. www.scottwilson.com Wirral Borough Council Core Strategy Habitats Regulations Assessment Table of Contents 1 Introduction..................................................................................... 4 Wirral Core Strategy .......................................................................................................5 2 Methodology ................................................................................... 7 Introduction.....................................................................................................................7 A Proportionate Assessment...........................................................................................7 The Process of HRA .......................................................................................................8 Stage Two: Likely Significant Effect Test (Screening) .....................................................9 Stages 3 and 4: Appropriate Assessment and Mitigation ..............................................10 Physical scope of the HRA............................................................................................11 The ‘in combination’ scope............................................................................................13 3 Pathways of Impact .......................................................................16 Introduction...................................................................................................................16 Disturbance...................................................................................................................16 Atmospheric pollution....................................................................................................21 Water resources ...........................................................................................................25 Water quality.................................................................................................................26 Port and Channel Construction, Maintenance Shipping and Dredging ..........................27 Coastal squeeze ...........................................................................................................28 Summary of Screening .................................................................................................28 4 The Dee Estuary SAC, SPA & Ramsar site, pSPA Extension .......................................................................................30 Reasons for Designation...............................................................................................30 Historic Trends and Current Pressures .........................................................................32 Summary Screening: Key potential pressures from Wirral ............................................33 Appropriate Assessment...............................................................................................34 Conclusion....................................................................................................................50 5 Mersey Estuary SPA and Ramsar.................................................52 Introduction...................................................................................................................52 Reasons for Designation...............................................................................................52 Historic Trends and Existing Pressures.........................................................................53 Summary Screening: Key potential pressures from Wirral ............................................55 Appropriate Assessment...............................................................................................55 Conclusion....................................................................................................................71 Habitat Regulations Assessment Report August 2010 1 Wirral Borough Council Core Strategy Habitats Regulations Assessment 6 Mersey Narrows & North Wirral Foreshore pSPA / pRamsar site ..................................................................................72 Introduction...................................................................................................................72 Reasons for Designation...............................................................................................72 Historic Trends and Current Pressures .........................................................................73 Appropriate Assessment...............................................................................................74 Conclusion....................................................................................................................85 7 Liverpool Bay pSPA and pRamsar ...............................................86 Introduction...................................................................................................................86 Reasons for Designation...............................................................................................86 Historic Trends and Current Pressures .........................................................................87 Key Pressures from Wirral ............................................................................................87 Appropriate Assessment...............................................................................................88 Conclusion....................................................................................................................95 8 Sefton Coast SAC ..........................................................................96 Introduction...................................................................................................................96 Reasons for Designation...............................................................................................96 Historic Trends and Current Pressures .........................................................................96 Key potential pressures from Wirral ..............................................................................97 Appropriate Assessment...............................................................................................97 Conclusion....................................................................................................................98 9 Ribble and Alt Estuaries SPA / Ramsar site ................................99 Introduction...................................................................................................................99 Reasons for Designation...............................................................................................99 Historic Trends and Current Pressures .......................................................................100 Key potential pressures from Wirral ............................................................................102 Appropriate Assessment.............................................................................................102 Conclusion..................................................................................................................104 10 Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains SAC.................................105 Reasons for Designation.............................................................................................105 Historic Trends and Current Pressures .......................................................................105 Key potential pressures from Wirral ............................................................................105 Appropriate Assessment.............................................................................................105 Conclusion..................................................................................................................106 11 River Dee and Bala Lake SAC.....................................................107 Habitat Regulations Assessment Report August 2010 2 Wirral Borough Council Core Strategy Habitats Regulations Assessment Reasons for Designation.............................................................................................107 Historic Trends and Current Pressures .......................................................................107 Key potential pressures from Wirral ............................................................................108 Appropriate Assessment.............................................................................................108