Secretary of State (SoS) for Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) PARKSIDE INQUIRY PROOF OF EVIDENCE – ECOLOGY MR P BLACK, MR P ASTLES, DR P RICHARDSON PARKSIDE ACTION GROUP PARKSIDE LINK ROAD (PLR) Planning Inspectorate References St Helens BC: APP/H4315/V/20/3253230 Warrington BC: APP/MO655/V/20/3253232 St Helens BC (SHBC) Planning Application Reference: P/2018/2049/FUL Warrington BC (WBC) Planning Application Reference: 2018/32514 & 2019/34719 PARKSIDE REGENERATION LLP (PHASE 1) Planning Inspectorate Reference: APP/H4315/V20/ 3253194 St Helens BC (SHBC)Planning Application Reference: P/2018/0048/OUP PAG Proof of Evidence Ecology Document History Date Version Status/Purpose Author 8-Dec-2020 Rev 1.0 Final Dave Tyas Contents 1 A million species facing extinction ................................................................................. 2 2 Biodiversity - Background and Policy ............................................................................ 4 3 How important is Parkside for Biodiversity? .................................................................. 5 4 What about the wider context? ...................................................................................... 6 5 The Last Great Wild Space - biodiversity and people .................................................... 9 6 Biodiversity Net Gain and mitigation .............................................................................10 7 Other issues .................................................................................................................13 8 Cumulative effects ........................................................................................................14 9 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................14 10 Appendix A – Leigh Ecology Report .............................................................................16 11 Appendix B – GMLRC record .......................................................................................16 12 Appendix C – Evidence of badgers in the Parkside area ..............................................25 13 Appendix D – letter from Leigh Ornithological Society..................................................26 14 Appendix E – Letter from Local Ornithologists .............................................................28 Definitions AQMA Air Quality Management Area BNG Biodiversity Net Gain EIA Environmental Impact Assessment ES Environmental Statement GHG Greenhouse Gases GMLRC Greater Manchester Local records centre LOS Leigh Ornithology Society NPPF National Planning Policy Framework PLR Parkside Link Road Phase 1 Phase 1 Planning Application SHC St Helens Council SRFI Strategic Rail Freight Interchange TA Traffic Assessment Parkside Action Group (PAG) Page 1 of 30 8 December 2020 PAG Proof of Evidence Ecology 1 A million species facing extinction 1.1 In May 2019, the UN reported1 that human activity is causing an unprecedented decline in biodiversity, with more than a million species across the planet threatened with extinction. Scientists report that species extinction is 100 times the ‘normal rate’. England is already one of the most impoverished countries in the world for biodiversity as we progressively destroy our wild places. 1.2 ‘Biodiversity2‘refers to the variety of life on earth, including the different species of animals, plants, and micro-organisms that coexist globally. It covers the variety of ecosystems and their component habitats, including more human designed locations, like agricultural and urban landscapes. 1.3 This proof covers the importance of Parkside Phase 1 (Phase 1) and Parkside Link Road (PLR) sites for biodiversity and the community, and how the appellant has underestimated: • the importance of the site itself and reduced its wildlife value • its regional biodiversity value, • its future potential. • why wildlife and biodiversity of this ‘Last Great Wilderness’ are important to the people of St Helens, Warrington, and Wigan, including how Covid-19 has revealed exactly how nature enhances physical health and mental well-being. 1.4 It discusses the now universally accepted requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and how the proposals fail to measure up. We also discuss biodiversity in relation to climate change, air quality and aquatic habitats. 1.5 We commissioned an independent consultant review of the appellants’ case and include the evidence knowledge from residents with over 40 years of experience in studying nature in the area. 1 UN Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, 2019 2 UN Convention on Biological Diversity www.cbd.int/ Parkside Action Group (PAG) Page 2 of 30 8 December 2020 PAG Proof of Evidence Ecology Qualifications and Professional Expertise 1.6 Peter Black is a chartered town planner, with more than 25 years’ experience in planning, habitat and tree surveys, habitat management, environmental impact assessment, and strategic environmental assessment who has worked in the public, private and voluntary sectors. He is familiar with the area and the site. He holds a Masters in Civic Design from Liverpool University and a BA (Hons) in Natural Science (Botany) from the University of Oxford. He is an Associate member of the Arboricultural Association. 1.7 Peter Black is separately representing Croft Parish Council and Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council but here is representing the views of Parkside Action Group He is also providing evidence on Cumulative Effects, and climate change. 1.8 Peter Astles, Associate Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA), Associate Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ACIS), an accountant by profession now retired and above membership lapsed. He has held senior financial positions in the Brewing, Banking, Insurance and Pharmaceutical sectors analysing complex commercial situations throughout his working life, both UK and overseas. He represented Newton-Le-Willows at the St Helens MBC core strategy in 2012. Brought up in rural Cheshire, his father instilled in him as a toddler a lifelong love and appreciation of the natural world. He is a local resident, amateur wildlife photographer, who has lived in Newton-Le-Willows for 50 years and studied and observed the natural world both directly on Parkside and the surrounding area for over 40 years. 1.9 Dr Paul Richardson will provide support at the biodiversity round table discussion. He is a retired GP who practised for 30 years in Leigh, 5 miles NE of the proposed development. For the past 10 years he has been involved with Leigh Ornithological Society, and participating in bird species surveys and recording in the area, including the Barrow Lane arable land which would be affected by the access/relief road proposal. He has been involved with development and management policy discussions about local green spaces on the Wigan Greenheart Forum, and the Bickershaw (Country Park) Steering Group, as well as speaking on behalf of LOS at planning meetings and inquiries. Parkside Action Group (PAG) Page 3 of 30 8 December 2020 PAG Proof of Evidence Ecology Roy Leigh3 ACIEEM is an experienced ecologist with over 20 years working as a consultant. He holds numerous survey licences and has worked on a wide range of EIA projects from large infrastructure schemes and windfarms to house extensions. He has also undertaken many novel specific studies using intrusive methods for example pit tagging and radio tracking as part of research and conservation projects. He has led on owls, raptors, and mammal species in Cheshire. He is chair of the Cheshire and Wirral Raptor Study Group. 2 Biodiversity - Background and Policy 2.1 There is a Biodiversity Crisis. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Living Planet Report Sept 2020 reported an average 68% decline in global species population sizes tracked over 46 years (1970-2016). For the UK, the 2019 state of nature report declared around 41% of UK species have declined over a similar timeframe. one in 7 species in the UK are in danger of extinction and 58% of species are in decline. This serious situation is replicated in St Helens and threatens our environment, health and wellbeing, economy, and quality of life. 2.2 The Environment Bill due to receive Royal Assent in early 2020 will put the environment at the centre of policy making. It will make sure that we have a cleaner, greener, and more resilient country for the next generation. In September 2020, the Prime Minister committed to 30% nature recovery by 2030. 2.3 Protection and enhancement of biodiversity is entrenched in policy. NPPF 175a requires Biodiversity Net Gain. National Planning Practice Guidance Natural Environment (10 – 35) highlights protected and priority species and habitats; assessment on biodiversity impacts at all stages of development; local ecology networks and nature recovery networks; mitigation hierarchy, net gain metrics, and promotion of woodlands, 2.4 Local planning policies for St Helens and Warrington also theoretically emphasise the need to protect and enhance biodiversity. 3 Leigh Ecology: http://www.leighecology.co.uk/ Parkside Action Group (PAG) Page 4 of 30 8 December 2020 PAG Proof of Evidence Ecology 3 How important is Parkside for Biodiversity? 3.1 Leigh Ecology was commissioned to review ecology documents submitted for Phase 1 and PLR. (Appendix A). We have also used the expertise of Leigh Ornithological Society (LOS), a group founded in 1971 which conserves wildlife, collects, and publishes biological