The$Chase,$Coldwell$End$ Youlgrave$$$ $ $ Ecological$mitigation$statement$$ and$slow$worm$protection$and$ mitigation$plan$$ $ $ $ 18th$August$2015$ $ $ Introduction $ The purpose of this Ecological Mitigation Statement is to discharge Condition 5 of Conditions Application NP/DIS/0715/0696 for planning application DDD/0415/0374 for a residential development at The Chase, Youlgrave. A statement was first submitted on July 30th 2015(validation date) however following a site visit with Jonathan Ayres one of the PDNP ecologists further detail was required regarding mitigation for slowworms (Anguis fragilis) which are present on the site. This document is the updated Ecological Mitigation Statement (replacing the earlier submission) and includes more detail on the proposed measure to mitigate possible impacts upon slowworms. Background Full planning permission was originally granted for the development of a single earth shelter house on land at the west end of Youlgrave in September 2014. An amended (reduced) scheme was subsequently given full permission in July 2015. Prior to this the site has a long planning history and was originally the subject of an ecological survey in October 2010 by Sheaf Ecology Ltd. In March 2014 the site was re- surveyed by Sheaf Ecology, which confirmed the results of the 2010 survey. The ecology reports submitted with the various planning applications are reproduced in Appendix 1. Each of the surveys highlighted the fact that slowworms were known to be present on the site. The applicant, Andrew Baker is a life-long resident of the village of Youlgrave and is also a professional ecologist and a full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. He has considerable experience of working with slowworms and the legislation under which they are protected. When the scheme was granted full planning permission in September 2014 the applicant offered to submit an ecological mitigation scheme, which was to include a slowworm mitigation plan however, no ecological condition was applied to that planning permission. The applicant nonetheless instigated a mitigation scheme the spring of 2015 to move any slowworms out of the way of the development footprint. During 2015 in the run up to the commencement of construction the Peak District National Park Planning Authority required the applicant to submit a further planning application in response to proposed amendments to the scheme. The amendments reduce the footprint of the proposed scheme. The revised planning application was granted full planning permission on July 14th 2015 and included the following condition. 5. No development shall take place until an Ecological Mitigation Statement has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Authority. Thereafter, the development shall not be carried out otherwise than in complete accordance with the approved Ecological Mitigation Statement. Ecological context of the site The half-hectare site supports neutral semi-improved grassland, tall ruderal grassland and scattered scrub. The grassland habitat makes up the eastern half of the site while the western half is dominated by scrub with a ground layer of nettles and bindweed. The 2010 survey found no evidence of bats or badgers, or other protected species on the site. The report did however identify the potential for bats to be present in the old barn and recommend that any cracks should be investigated using an endoscope. The report also identified the potential nesting birds on the site and recommended that any scrub removal should be done outside the bird-breeding season. Much of Youlgrave is positioned on the south-facing slope of the river Bradford and the dale side supports a considerable population of slowworms. While there have been no systematic surveys of slowworms in and around the village the applicant knows from personal experience that they are wide spread and numerous in gardens, allotments and rough grassland across the village. Proposed Mitigation Slowworms There are two aspects to the protection of slowworms that this mitigation strategy aims to address. Firstly is the legal protection of the species Slowworms are protected under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect to intentional killing and injuring only and offer for sale. It is therefore necessary to demonstrate that reasonable steps have been taken to reduced the chances of slowworms being killed or injured as a result of the development. Secondly there is the need to ensure that the slowworms will remain on the site and continue to thrive in the habitat that will be retained around the property and in the garden. Translocation of slowworms Following the granting of planning permission in 2014 a program of mitigation work has already been carried out. The purpose of the work was to move any slowworms to an area of grassland at the top of the site (northern boundary) that has been fenced off with reptile proof fencing. This area coincides with the root protection zone that is in place to protect tree number 1 that is to be retained (see Figure 1 below and the tree protection report). Given the number of slowworms captured they are now being moved to suitable habitat off site further up Bradford Dale. Thirty reptile traps (roofing felt sheets) were placed across the site. Each trap has been check on suitable days for the past 3 months. Each capture has been recorded and the capture results are shown in Appendix 2. The final capture records will be provided to the PDNPA once the site clearance is complete. It is proposed to continue with the trapping work until site clearance is carried out. The fenced area will remain in place for the duration of the construction work. Grass cuttings will be place within the fenced area in order to provide additional feeding and hibernation habitat. Site Clearance Immediately before site clearance the site will be strimmed and a destructive search carried out. Strimming will start at the center of the site and will progress outwards to the edges of the build area. This work is already under way. During the initial soil strip an ecologist will be present to ensure that any remaining animals that might be found are rescued and removed from the site. Long-term mitigation Once construction is completed the reptile fencing will be removed the slow worms will be allowed to colonise the entire grounds of the property. Habitat will be retained and new habitat created within the site that will be specifically managed to maintain optimal habitat for slowworms. The grassland will be cut once or twice a year using a strimmer so as not to endanger the slowworms. The arising will be kept on site to provide additional habitat and hibernacula. The retained/new habitat will include, the grassland within the tree protection zone, grassland around the periphery of the site and a new area of meadow at the western end of the site. The extent of the grassland habitat and other habitats is shown in Figure 2. As well as the grassland the building will as feature areas of green roofs (that will be at ground level), dry stone retaining walls, and formal and informal gardens all of which will provide habitat for slowworms. Figure 1 T1 Root Protection Area and Retained Woodland Bats No bats are present on the site. While the stone building had cracks and crevices that could support roosts none of these have been found to have any evidence of usage. The building is used regularly by the applicant and he has recently confirmed that he has not found any evidence of roosting bats. As a precaution immediately prior to any works being carried out on the stone barn any gaps in the stone work will be checked again. If evidence of bat is found then no work shall be carried out on the building until an appropriate license is secured from Natural England. Birds Following grant of full planning permission in September 2014 scrub clearance was carried out outside the bird-breeding season. No further scrub clearance is anticipated but should it be required it will again be done outside the breeding period. Badgers The applicant has confirmed that there are no badger setts currently on site. _______________________________ Appendix 1 2010 Ecology Report Ecological Assessment Land at Coldwell End, Youlgreave Date: November 2010 Report written and checked by Sheaf Ecology Ltd Sheaf Ecology Ltd. Registered Office: 54 Carter Knowle Rd, Sheffield, S7 2DX Email: [email protected], Web: www.sheafecology.co.uk, Telephone: 07828 582985. Registered in: England, No. 7117260, VAT No: 984 2493 80. 1 Ecological Assessment – Coldwell End, Youlgreave November 2010 CONTENTS 1.0 Non-technical summary ............................................................................ 3 2.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 4 3.0 Extended Phase 1 survey methodologies .................................................. 5 4.0 Results ...................................................................................................... 7 5.0 Evaluation of impacts and recommendations for mitigation .................. 13 6.0 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 16 Bibliography ..................................................................................................... 17 Appendix A - Desk study map and annotations ................................................ 18 Appendix B - Phase 1 habitat map ..................................................................