_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ KING’S SOMBORNE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN SHADOW HABITATS REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT Draft Document August 2018 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Preliminary Ecological Appraisals • Protected Species Surveys and Licensing • NVC • EcIA • Management Plans Habitats • Badger • Bats • Hazel Dormouse • Birds • Reptiles • Amphibians • Invertebrates • Riparian and Aquatic Species ECOSA, Ten Hogs House, Manor Farm Offices, Flexford Road, North Baddesley, Hampshire, SO52 9DF Tel: 02380 261065 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ecosa.co.uk Registered Office: 3-4 Eastwood Court, SO51 8JJ Registered in England No: 6129868 King’s Somborne Neighbourhood Development Plan – Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment ECOSA Ltd Draft Document 24th August 2018 ECOSA Quality Assurance Record This report has been produced in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) Guidelines for Ecological Report Writing 20151. The report has been prepared in line with current best practice guidance and survey work has been undertaken in line with references within CIEEM’s Source of Survey Guidance2. Description: Habitats Regulations Assessment Produced For: Planning Issues Ltd Issue: Final Report Reference: 4053.D0 Date of Issue: 24th ugust 2018 Author: Samantha Munslow BSc (Hons) MCIEEM CEnv Principal Ecologist Checked by: Graeme Down BSc (Hons) PhD MCIEEM Senior Ecologist Reviewed by: Simon Colenutt BSc (Hons) MCIEEM CEnv Principal Ecologist DISCLAIMER This is a technical report which does not represent legal advice. You may wish to seek legal advice if this is required. This report may or may not be suitable to support a planning application. Should this report contain recommendations for further survey work or assessment, the results of this would be required in order to support a planning application. COPYRIGHT © This report is the copyright of ECOSA Ltd. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person is prohibited. 1 Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (2015). Guidelines for Ecological Report Writing. Technical Guidance Series. http://www.cieem.net/publications/23/ecological-report-writing 2 www.cieem.net i King’s Somborne Neighbourhood Development Plan – Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment ECOSA Ltd Draft Document 24th August 2018 KING’S SOMBORNE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN SHADOW HABITATS REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Background................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Purpose of this Report .................................................................................................. 2 2.0 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 A Proportionate Assessment ........................................................................................ 4 2.3 The Process of HRA ..................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Scope of the HRA ......................................................................................................... 5 2.5 The ‘In Combination’ Scope ......................................................................................... 5 3.0 PATHWAYS OF IMPACT ............................................................................................ 7 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Habitat Loss/Disturbance/Fragmentation and Habitat Degradation ............................. 7 4.0 HRA SCREENING – MOTTISFONT BATS SAC ........................................................ 9 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 9 4.2 Reasons for Designation .............................................................................................. 9 4.3 Current Threats ............................................................................................................ 9 4.4 Potential Effects of the NDP ....................................................................................... 10 4.5 Screening Conclusion ................................................................................................. 18 5.0 APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT – MOTTISFONT BATS SAC ................................. 19 5.1 Appropriate Assessment ............................................................................................ 19 5.2 Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 21 6.0 CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................................... 22 6.1 Conclusions After HRA Screening.............................................................................. 22 6.2 Conclusions After Appropriate Assessment ............................................................... 22 ii © This report is the copyright of ECOSA Ltd. King’s Somborne Neighbourhood Development Plan – Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment ECOSA Ltd Draft Document 24th August 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) has been undertaken of King’s Somborne Neighbourhood Development Plan (hereafter referred to as ‘the NDP’). The NDP proposes the allocation of five sites to be developed for housing within the parish of King’s Somborne. Natural England have provided a response to the plan, raising concerns of possible impacts on Mottisfont Bats SAC, located approximately 2.5 kilometres from the NDP area. ECOSA were commissioned by King’s Somborne Parish Council to carry out a shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment of the NDP to assess the potential for the Plan to lead to likely significant effects (LSE) on Natura 2000 sites, specifically, Mottisfont Bats SAC. It was determined that the pathways of impact by which the proposed development could lead to LSE on Natura 2000 sites would be through habitat loss/fragmentation, habitat degradation or disturbance of bat flight lines. Without mitigation, it was not possible to screen out LSE on the Mottisfont Bats SAC, either alone or in combination with other plans and projects. Therefore, an Appropriate Assessment was undertaken to determine mitigation approaches that could be implemented to enable a conclusion of no LSE to be reached. Mitigation that would enable the conclusion of no LSE on the Mottisfont Bats SAC would comprise project specific HRA screening reports for individual development applications in order to demonstrate avoidance of or mitigation for the above pathways of impact. The shadow HRA concludes that no likely significant effect will occur on Mottisfont Bats SAC (or any other Natura 2000 site) as a result of the proposed development, either alone or in combination with other plans and projects. 1 © This report is the copyright of ECOSA Ltd. King’s Somborne Neighbourhood Development Plan – Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment ECOSA Ltd Draft Document 24th August 2018 1.0 INTRODUCTION Ecological Survey & Assessment Limited (ECOSA) has been appointed by King’s Somborne Parish Council to assist in undertaking a shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of the potential effects of the King’s Somborne Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) on Natura 2000 sites. 1.1 Background A HRA screening report in relation to the NDP was produced by King’s Somborne Parish Council in March 2018. As part of the HRA screening process, Natural England were consulted on the findings of the HRA screening report. Natural England’s response is as follows: “Mottisfont Bats Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is situated within 2.5 kilometres of the King’s Somborne NDP area. Based on the information provided, namely the proposed allocation of 2.87 hectares of development sites (in addition to any development under Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) Local Plan policy COM2 (now COM1)) within the NDP, we advise that a HRA in relation to the designed site is required. This is to assess any likely significant effect (LSE) on the sensitive sites due to the potential loss of bat foraging habitat as a result of any development.” 1.2 Purpose of this Report This shadow HRA will: . Identify any aspects of the King’s Sombourne NDP that would cause an adverse effect on the integrity of the Mottisfont Bats SAC; and . To advise on appropriate mechanisms for delivering mitigation where such effects are identified. If the NDP cannot be screened out as being unlikely to lead to significant effects, then Appropriate Assessment (AA) is required which will include more detailed analysis of identified likely significant effects in order to develop appropriate mitigation that will enable Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) in their role as the ‘competent authority’ to conclude that no adverse effect on the integrity of Natura 2000 sites (specifically,