Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility Chapter 10 – Biodiversity Prepared for: WTI/EfW Holdings Ltd. AECOM Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility Table of Contents 10. Ecology ............................................................................................... 10-2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 10-2 Stakeholder Engagement ............................................................................................................. 10-2 Legislation and Planning Policy .................................................................................................... 10-4 Assessment Assumptions and Limitations ..................................................................................... 10-7 Assessment Methodology ............................................................................................................. 10-8 Baseline Conditions .................................................................................................................... 10-17 Design Measures and Impact Avoidance .................................................................................... 10-29 Assessment of Likely Impacts and Effects................................................................................... 10-30 Mitigation and Enhancement Measures ...................................................................................... 10-44 Residual Effects.......................................................................................................................... 10-44 Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................................................... 10-45 References ................................................................................................................................. 10-46 Figures Figure 10-1a: Statutory Designated Sites for Nature Conservation Located Within 10 km Figure 10-1b: Designated Sites for Nature Conservation and Notable Habitat Located Within 2 km Figure 10-2: Phase 1 Habitat Plan Figure 10-3: Bat Activity Transect Routes and Static Detector Locations Tables Table 10-1: Key consultation responses to main matters .............................................................. 10-3 Table 10-2: Summary of Local Planning Policy ............................................................................. 10-7 Table 10-3: Survey and reporting status ....................................................................................... 10-8 Table 10-4: Desk Study Data Sources ........................................................................................... 10-9 Table 10-5: HSI score and interpretation ..................................................................................... 10-11 Table 10-6: Summary of dusk bat activity surveys undertaken .................................................... 10-13 Table 10-7: Summary of static bat detector deployments ............................................................ 10-13 Table 10-8: Dormouse ‘index of probability’ scores by month ...................................................... 10-14 Table 10-9: Relating CIEEM assessment terms to those used in other chapters ......................... 10-17 Table 10-10: Sites with Statutory Designations for Nature Conservation ...................................... 10-18 Table 10-11: Sites with Non-Statutory Designations for Nature Conservation .............................. 10-19 Table 10-12: Summary of amphibian survey results .................................................................... 10-26 Table 10-13: Summary of reptile survey results ........................................................................... 10-27 Table 10-14: Reptile population size categories........................................................................... 10-28 Table 10-15: Summary of Magnitude of Impact and Significance of Effect during Enabling Works, Construction and Commissioning ................................................................................................ 10-36 Table 10-16: Summary of Magnitude of Impact and Significance of Effect during Operation and Maintenance ............................................................................................................................... 10-42 Prepared for:WTI/EfW Holdings Ltd. AECOM 10-1 Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility 10.Ecology Introduction This chapter of the PEIR reports the findings of an assessment of the likely significant effects on Ecology as a result of the Harewood Waste-to-Energy Facility (hereafter referred to as the ‘Proposed Development’). For more details about the Proposed Development, refer to Chapter 4: The Proposed Development. This chapter identifies and proposes measures to address the potential impacts and effects of the Proposed Development on ecological receptors, during construction, operation, and decommissioning. This document provides the preliminary findings of the environmental assessment undertaken to date to inform the formal consultation process. It does not constitute a full Environmental Statement (ES), which will be produced as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) application. It is intended that this chapter provides consultees with an early opportunity to provide informed comments on the work undertaken to date and its findings. The Applicant will take into account these comments when finalising the ES and DCO application. The various assessments are at differing stages of completion due to outstanding design and baseline information, and in some areas there are gaps that are highlighted along with an explanation on how this will be further developed for the ES. This approach adheres with the EIA Regulations and Planning Inspectorate Advice Note 7. Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholders for the Proposed Development include statutory consultees, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, local conservation groups, and local communities. A high-level summary of responses to the Scoping Opinion can be found in Chapter 2: Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria. Key comments relevant to this discipline are outlined below. Prepared for: WTI/EfW Holdings Ltd. AECOM 10-2 Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility Table 10-1: Key consultation responses to main matters Consultee Main matter raised Key responses Natural England In order to secure appropriate biodiversity An integrated biodiversity and landscape mitigation and enhancements Natural mitigation and management plan will be England recommends that the provided alongside the ES at DCO Environmental Statement (ES) is submission. supported by a Biodiversity Mitigation and Enhancement Plan (BMEP). See paragraph 10.234 of this chapter for an initial discussion of mitigation measures to be incorporated. The ES should include consideration of All of these items are considered in this PEIR potential impacts on protected and notable and will be assessed in full within the ES. species and include consideration of impact of lighting on bats. See paragraphs 10.120 to 10.165 of this chapter. Barton Stacey There is the potential for impacts on Breeding bird and dormouse surveys have Parish Council dormice, bees, and ground nesting birds. been undertaken and a summary of results is provided in paragraphs 10.135, and 10.159 of this chapter. The Site and adjacent land does not support bee hives. Honey bees (the focus of the parish council comments) are not legally protected or notable. In addition they forage over a very large area, such that the loss of habitat at the Site would be a very small percentage of that suitable habitat available to local bee populations. On this basis no significant effects are expected and they have been scoped out of the assessment. Basingstoke and Ensure consideration of two Sites of The assessment includes consideration of the Deane Borough Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (River SSSI’s listed and all other SINC’s within a 2 Council Test and East Aston Common) and Sites of km radius of the Site. Importance for Nature Conservation See paragraph 10.93 and Table: 10-10 of this (SINCs) including Test Valley Meadow and chapter. Tidbury Ringwood. Prepared for: WTI/EfW Holdings Ltd. AECOM 10-3 Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility Consultee Main matter raised Key responses Bracknell Forest There is the potential for longer distance The full assessment of potential impacts of air Borough Council environmental impacts which may have quality on protected and/or notable sites will potential to impact distant Special be provided in the final ES, when traffic data is Protection Areas (SPAs) including Windsor available. If initial modelling indicates potential Great Park and Thames Basin Heaths for impacts on designated sites and/or habitat SPAs. of principal importance within a 2 km radius then the sites considered will be extended to include those more distant from the Site. There are no internationally designated sites within 10 km of the Site. See paragraph 10.79. Hampshire There is the potential for air quality impacts The air quality assessment includes all County Council on ecological receptors. Requested that designated sites and protected/notable effects on ancient woodland and other air habitats within 2 km of the Site. quality sensitive priority habitats to be The extent may be extended if the initial scoped into the assessment. results for