UPDATE EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY RELATING TO WILNECOTE BRICKWORKS FOR A WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM For HANSON BUILDING PRODUCTS PREPARED BY PLEYDELL SMITHYMAN LIMITED JULY 2015 20a The Wharfage, Ironbridge, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 7NH T: 01952 433211 F: 01952 433323 [email protected] UPDATE EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY AT WILNECOTE BRICKWORKS, TAMWORTH Wilnecote Brickworks, Hedging Lane, Report Prepared for Wilnecote, Hanson UK, Tamworth, The Ridge, B77 5EU Chipping, Sodbury, Bristol, BS37 6AY UPDATE EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ON LAND AT WILNECOTE BRICKWORKS, HEDGING LANE, WILNECOTE, TAMWORTH, B77 5EU By: Pleydell Smithyman Limited Main Contributors July 2015 Kelly Downward Issued By ……………………………………………….. Kelly Downward BSc (Hons) Grad CIEEM Report Checked By ……………………………………………….. Robin Smithyman BSc (Hons) PG DipLA CMLI PG DipTP PG DipUD MIQ Pleydell Smithyman Limited 20a The Wharfage Ironbridge Telford Shropshire TF8 7NH Tel: 01952 433211 Fax: 01952 433323 E-mail: [email protected] S:\M14.142(b) Wilnecote Brickworks - Ecological Services\Reports\M141.142(b).R.001 Wilnecote Brickworks - Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey\M14.142(b)R.001 Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey.doc Pleydell Smithyman Limited Printed copies of this document may be out of date July 2015 UPDATE EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY AT WILNECOTE BRICKWORKS, TAMWORTH Reference Contents Page Number 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Survey Methodology 4 3.0 Results 7 4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations 18 5.0 References 22 Drawings M14.142(b).D.001 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Appendices Appendix 1 - Information obtained from Staffordshire Ecological Record Appendix 2 - Information obtained from Warwickshire Biological Records Centre Appendix 3 - Wildlife Legislation Appendix 4 - Photographs S:\M14.142(b) Wilnecote Brickworks - Ecological Services\Reports\M141.142(b).R.001 Wilnecote Brickworks - Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey\M14.142(b)R.001 Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey.doc Pleydell Smithyman Limited Printed copies of this document may be out of date July 2015 UPDATE EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY AT WILNECOTE BRICKWORKS, TAMWORTH 1.0 INTRODUCTION Background and Proposals 1.1 Pleydell Smithyman Limited was instructed by Steve Godfrey of Hanson Building Products to undertake an update extended Phase 1 habitat survey on an area of land at Wilnecote Brickworks, Tamworth (hereafter referred to as the site). Please see Drawing Number M14.142(b).D.001: Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey, for a plan showing the area surveyed. 1.2 It is our understanding that the survey was required to proposals for the creation of two new water management lagoons. The survey is also required to help ensure compliance with national and European legislation. 1.3 Previous surveys have been undertaken on the site and the wider area by Philip Parker Associates. These surveys included great crested newt, reptile, water vole, bat activity and breeding bird surveys. A biodiversity action plan for the site and the wider area was also produced by SLR in 2014 (SLR, 2014). Site Location 1.4 The site is located off Hedging Lane, Wilnecote, approximately 3.9km to the south-east of the centre of Tamworth in Staffordshire. The central grid reference for the site is: SK222002. Site Description 1.5 The site is approximately 1ha in size and consists of an existing water management lagoon surrounded by areas of scrub, tall herb and ruderal, species-poor grassland and young broad-leaved semi-natural woodland. A moderately-flowing stream is also present through the site running from north-east to south-west. To the east of the site is an area dominated by bracken. The south and west of the site is surrounded by the existing quarry and brickwork sales areas. To the north of the site is an inaccessible waterbody with residential properties further to the north and north-east. Aims and Objectives of the Survey 1.6 The key objective of the extended Phase 1 habitat survey was to classify the main habitats present according to the Phase 1 habitat survey methodology and establish the potential of the site to support protected species of which account must be taken S:\M14.142(b) Wilnecote Brickworks - Ecological Services\Reports\M141.142(b).R.001 Wilnecote Brickworks - Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey\M14.142(b)R.001 Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey.doc Pleydell Smithyman Limited Printed copies of this document may be out of date July 2015 1 UPDATE EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY AT WILNECOTE BRICKWORKS, TAMWORTH prior to and during the planned works in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. The survey assessment also aimed to identify notable habitats and species, including those recognised within national and local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) and those of Principal Importance listed on Section 41 (S41) on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006. Notable birds (on the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) Red or Amber List) were also identified and commented upon. 1.7 Where necessary, further species specific surveys and mitigation measures are recommended to help safeguard any significant existing ecological interest within the site and where appropriate, opportunities for ecological enhancement are proposed with reference to national and local BAPs. 1.8 Furthermore, the survey assessment recommendations are guided by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), where the policies in paragraphs 18 to 219, taken as a whole, constitute the Government’s view of what sustainable development in England means in practice for the planning system. The following paragraphs of the NPPF are of particular relevance: • With regard to paragraph 117, in order to minimise impacts on biodiversity and geodiversity, planning policies should: - plan for biodiversity at a landscape-scale across local authority boundaries; - promote the preservation, restoration and re-creation of priority habitats, ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority species populations, linked to national and local targets, and identify suitable indicators for monitoring biodiversity in the plan; - where Nature Improvement Areas are identified in Local Plans, consider specifying the types of development that may be appropriate in these areas. • With reference to paragraph 118, when determining planning applications, local planning authorities should aim to conserve and enhance biodiversity by applying the following principals: S:\M14.142(b) Wilnecote Brickworks - Ecological Services\Reports\M141.142(b).R.001 Wilnecote Brickworks - Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey\M14.142(b)R.001 Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey.doc Pleydell Smithyman Limited Printed copies of this document may be out of date July 2015 2 UPDATE EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY AT WILNECOTE BRICKWORKS, TAMWORTH - if significant harm resulting from a development cannot be avoided (through locating on an alternative site with less harmful impacts), adequately mitigated, or, as a last resort, compensated for, then planning permission should be refused; - proposed development on land within or outside a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) likely to have an adverse effect on a SSSI (either individually or in combination with other developments) should not normally be permitted; - development proposals where the primary objective is to conserve or enhance biodiversity should be permitted; - opportunities to incorporate biodiversity in and around developments should be encouraged; - planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland and the loss of aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss; and - the following wildlife sites should be given the same protection as European sites: potential Special Protection Areas (SPA), possible Special Areas of Conservation (SAC); listed or proposed Ramsar sites and sites identified, or required, as compensatory measures for adverse effects on European sites, potential SPA, possible SAC, and listed or proposed Ramsar sites. 1.9 The site visit also focussed on assessing the potential of the site to support populations of priority species, whose protection and recovery is promoted in paragraph 117, especially those given protection under British or European wildlife legislation as stated above. 1.10 The survey assessment recommendations are also guided by the relevant legislation: • The NERC Act 2006 states: “Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity”. S:\M14.142(b) Wilnecote Brickworks - Ecological Services\Reports\M141.142(b).R.001 Wilnecote Brickworks - Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey\M14.142(b)R.001 Update Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey.doc Pleydell Smithyman Limited Printed copies of this document may be out of date July 2015 3 UPDATE EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY AT WILNECOTE BRICKWORKS, TAMWORTH 2.0 SURVEY METHODOLOGY 2.1 The extended Phase 1 habitat survey was undertaken on the site on 19th June 2015 by Kelly Downward of Pleydell Smithyman Limited. The weather on the day of the survey assessment was overcast with a light breeze. Desk Study 2.2 In order to compile