Great Crested Newt Method Statement - Wyre · Document Title Great Crested Newt Method Statement...
Transcript of Great Crested Newt Method Statement - Wyre · Document Title Great Crested Newt Method Statement...
OLDFIELD CARR LANE
POULTON LE FYLDE
GREAT CRESTED NEWT METHOD STATEMENT
TEP
Genesis Centre
Birchwood Science Park
Warrington
WA3 7BH
Tel: 01925 844004
Email: [email protected]
www.tep.uk.com
Offices in Warrington, Market Harborough, Gateshead, London and Cornwall
PLANNING I DESIGN I ENVIRONMENT
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
Document Title Great Crested Newt Method Statement
Prepared for Redrow Homes Limited
Prepared by TEP - Warrington
Document Ref 5595.001
Author Kim Gallaher
Date February 2016
Checked M Nadouce
Approved M Nadouce
Amendment History
Version Date Modified
by
Check / Approved
by Reason(s) issue Status
1.0 07/02/15 KG MN Issued to client Final
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Version 1.0
February 2016
CONTENTS PAGE
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1
Background to the development .............................................................................. 1
Site description ........................................................................................................ 1
2.0 Survey and Site Assessment ...................................................................................... 2
3.0 Impact Assessment .................................................................................................... 4
4.0 Mitigation .................................................................................................................... 5
Exclusion ................................................................................................................. 5
Construction Mitigation ............................................................................................ 6
Compensation ......................................................................................................... 6
References ........................................................................................................................... 7
TABLES PAGE
Table 1 Habitat Suitability Score for Ponds P1 & P2 ............................................................. 2
Table 2 Habitat Suitability Score for Ponds P3 & P4 ............................................................. 2
Table 3 Habitat Suitability Score for Ponds P5 & P6 ............................................................. 3
Table 4 GCN presence/absence results ................................................................................ 3
Table 5 Section from Natural England's Survey Guidance Table .......................................... 3
FIGURES PAGE
Figure 1 Site location and surrounding landscape ................................................................. 1
DRAWINGS
G5595.001 Development site location, survey area and ponds
G5595.002 Amphibian capture and exclusion measures
D5595.001 Landscape Masterplan
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Page 1 February 2016 Version 1.0
1.0 Introduction
Background to the development
1.1 Outline planning permission for residential development on 5.38ha of land at
Oldfield Farm, Carr Head Lane, Poulton-le-Fylde was granted on 20th January
2016 (Ref: 14/00607/OUTMAJ & APP/U2370/W/15/3003166). This report has
been prepared to comply with Condition 15 of the outline planning permission
specifically:
"No development, including any vegetation clearance or ground works, shall take
place within the application site until a Comprehensive Great Crested Newt
Method Statement has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local
planning authority. Development shall only be carried out in accordance with the
approved Method Statement".
Site description
1.2 The site is located in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. The central grid reference is
SD 35239 38629. The survey area and site context is shown in Figure 1 below
and in the Drawing G5595.001.
Figure 1 Site location and surrounding landscape
1.3 The site comprises a pasture field and is approximately 5.38ha. It is bounded to
the north by Carr Head Primary School, beyond which lie a number of residential
properties. Further parcels of pasture lie to the east and south (beyond Oldfield
Carr Lane and Oldfield Carr Farm). While to the west the site lies adjacent to
private gardens and residential properties associated with Carr Head Lane.
Contains Ordinance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Page 2 February 2016 Version 1.0
2.0 Survey and Site Assessment
2.1 There are no ponds within the development site and no other features that could
support breeding amphibians. The site does contain suitable terrestrial habitat
such as hedgerows, ditches and scrub that have the potential to support foraging
and sheltering amphibians. In the wider landscape there are six ponds within 500m
of the site (see drawing G5595.001).
2.2 A great crested newt Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) assessment of the six ponds
was undertaken. The HSI scores ranged between poor to good and are detailed
in Tables 1-3. All ponds apart from Pond 6 contained water. Pond 6 is a heavily
shaded depression that was filled with debris and is only likely to contain water
during periods of heavy rain.
Table 1 Habitat Suitability Score for Ponds P1 & P2
Table 2 Habitat Suitability Score for Ponds P3 & P4
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Page 3 February 2016 Version 1.0
Table 3 Habitat Suitability Score for Ponds P5 & P6
2.3 Great crested newt (GCN) presence/absence surveys using eDNA analysis
techniques were undertaken at Ponds 1, 2, 3 and 4. Presence was confirmed at
Pond 5 by means of GCN eggs found within the pond during eDNA sampling.
Pond 6 was dry so this technique could not be used. Only Pond 1 was found to
have GCN present through eDNA (Table 4).
Table 4 GCN presence/absence results
2.4 As only eDNA analysis was undertaken the population size of the local population
is unknown. However, in accordance with Natural England licencing guidelines a
population estimate is not necessary and only presence/absence surveys are
required for the level of impact predicted, The relevant extract from (Natural
England's Survey Guidance Table) is provided in Table 5.
Table 5 Section from Natural England's Survey Guidance Table
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Page 4 February 2016 Version 1.0
3.0 Impact Assessment
3.1 There are no ponds within the development site. No ponds will be lost to
development and no habitat within 250m of a GCN pond (which is the distance
that GCN will commonly forage) will be lost.
3.2 No core habitat (habitat within 50m of a GCN pond) or intermediate habitat (habitat
within 50m to 250m of a GCN pond) will be impacted by the development.
(Habitats within the development site falls within the distant ranging habitat for
GCN (habitats within 250m to 500m of a GCN pond). Although approximately
4.9ha of distant ranging habitat will be lost to development, this habitat is highly
unlikely to be commonly used by GCN.
3.3 The proposals and impact assessment below are based on the loss of distant
habitat and direct harm or injury to any great crested newts that may range into
the development site during works.
3.4 During development works, clearance of vegetation offering refuge potential for
GCN will be limited to the ditch present along the eastern boundary of the site.
The associated hedgerow, trees and watercourse along the southern boundary
will be retained within the development.
3.5 The majority of the development site is improved neutral grassland that is sheep
grazed and offers little potential to the local population of GCN. There is little risk
that GCN will be present within this part of the site.
3.6 As the ditch will eventually be filled in, construction would put newts at risk of death
or injury if they were to enter the site during these construction works.
3.7 Development would not affect the connectivity of habitats used by GCN as no clear
corridors for movement occur within and through the site, particularly as all ponds
lie to the south of the site and none are present to the north of the site.
3.8 No other impacts are anticipated.
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Page 5 February 2016 Version 1.0
4.0 Mitigation
4.1 The following measures will be subject to the granting of a Natural England
European Protected Species Licence (EPSL).
Exclusion
4.2 The improved grassland that dominates the majority of the site is considered to
have low potential to support amphibians and therefore there is a low risk that
GCN will be present within this part of the site. However, the ditch along the
eastern boundary will be filled in and culverted and there is a risk that GCN could
be present in this area.
4.3 As the majority of the site provides only sub-optimal habitat for amphibians with
the hedgerow and ditches providing the main potential, fencing will be
concentrated in these areas.
4.4 To avoid injury or harm to GCN during clearance and construction works along the
ditch, amphibians will be captured and excluded within the footprint of the ditch
works (see drawing G5595.002). Standard measures of capture, exclusion and
translocation will be employed.
4.5 Vertical fencing will be installed along the eastern boundary compartmentalising
the ditch and hedgerow. Traps will be installed at 5m intervals along the fencing.
Installation of newt fencing and traps will be done under the supervision of a
licenced GCN ecologist and in suitable weather conditions between April and
October (inclusive).
4.6 Traps will be fitted with a mammal ladder to allow egress for any small mammals
that may fall into the trap. A cork raft with damp vegetation will be placed in the
base of the buckets. Traps will be checked every morning by an ecologist.
4.7 A minimum of 30 trap nights will be undertaken, where trap nights will be defined
as those with midnight temperatures above 5°C. If midnight temperatures fall
below this minimum level and no great crested newt captures occurred, the night
will be discounted and the trapping period extended to achieve the required clear
period before trap closure. The clear period will be defined as a period of five trap
nights, during which no great crested newts are captured. Trapping will be
extended as required to achieve this clear period.
4.8 Any GCN or other amphibians, trapped will be placed outside the development
area at a suitable translocation site will be identified prior to licensing. This could
be the area comprising the tree and watercourse habitats bounding site to the
south or around the offsite ponds but this would be subject to third party
permissions and agreed with Natural England.
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Page 6 February 2016 Version 1.0
4.9 On completion of trapping, the pitfall traps and drift fencing will be removed under
ecological watching brief. All holes will be in-filled to prevent GCN and other
animals being inadvertently trapped. Fencing will only be removed in suitable
weather conditions and at an appropriate time of the year (between April and
October inclusive). The perimeter amphibian exclusion fence will remain in place
for the duration of the construction period to ensure newts do not re-enter the site.
The detailed fencing strategy will be finalised as part of the Natural England
licence application.
4.10 On full completion of the development, the perimeter amphibian exclusion fence
will be removed. As above, this will be done under ecological watching brief and
in suitable weather conditions at an appropriate time of year.
Construction Mitigation
4.11 A tool box talk will be delivered on site prior to the start of works. The tool box talk
will include identification of smooth newt, palmate newt, great crested newt,
common frog and common toad as well as details of this method statement and
what to do in the eventuality that any amphibians are found following the site
clearance works.
Compensation
4.12 The areas of habitat on site that are most valuable to amphibians will be retained
within the proposals, therefore no compensation is proposed. However, a green
corridor will be retained along the western and eastern perimeter of the site and
this will be enhanced with amphibians in mind.
4.13 The new areas of planting will include areas of species rich grassland, native
hedgerow planting and native tree planting. Two hibernacula will also be created
within the southeast corner of the green corridor (see Drawing D5595.001 for
details and specification).
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Page 7 February 2016 Version 1.0
References
Natural England's Survey Guidance Table. “Great crested newts: apply for a mitigation
licence.” 14 December 2015. Gov.UK. Method statement template for great crested newt
mitigation licence (Form WML-A14-2. Version: December 2015). 15 February 2016.
Oldfield Carr Lane Poulton le Fylde Great Crested Newt Method Statement
5595.001 Drawings February 2016 Version 1.0
DRAWINGS
G5595.001 Development site location, survey area and ponds G5595.002 Amphibian capture and exclusion measures
D5595.001 Landscape Masterplan
P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6 Project
Drawing Number
Drawn
Title
Checked Approved
Oldfield Carr Lane, Poulton-le-Fylde
Development Site Location, Survey Area and Ponds
G5595.001
LGKG LG 16/02/20161:3,500 @ A3
Genesis Centre, Birchwood Science Park, Warrington WA3 7BHTel 01925 844004 e-mail [email protected] www.tep.uk.com
Scale Date
Rev Description Drawn Approved Date
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.© Crown Copyright and database right 2016. All rights reserved.
KEY
Text
1:9,000
0 100 20050Metres
Site boundary500m site boundary bufferGCN presentGCN absentDry pondNo pond present50m buffer from GCN pond250m buffer from GCN pond500m buffer from GCN pond
OLDFIELD CARR LANE
CARR
HEAD
LANE
Project
Drawing Number
Drawn
Title
Checked Approved
Oldfield Carr Lane, Poulton-le-Fylde
Amphibian Capture & Exclusion Measures
G5595.002
LGKG LG 16/02/20161:1,250 @ A3
Genesis Centre, Birchwood Science Park, Warrington WA3 7BHTel 01925 844004 e-mail [email protected] www.tep.uk.com
Scale Date
Rev Description Drawn Approved Date
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.© Crown Copyright and database right 2016. All rights reserved.
KEY
Text
1:9,000
0 20 4010Metres
Short term drift fence(traps internally - eastern side)Long term vertical perimeter fence(traps internally)Long term vertical perimeter fence(no traps proposed)250m buffer from GCN pond500m buffer from GCN pond
E Scattered scrub! Scattered broad-leaved trees? Running water
Species-poor intact hedgeSpecies-poor defunct hedgeFenceDry ditch
M MG G Modified neutral grassland
I IImproved grasslandTall ruderal
A A
A AAmenity grasslandIntroduced shrubBuildingsHardstanding
Drwg No
Drawn
Scale
SW RJC
1:750 @ A1
D5595.001
Checked
Title
Landscape Masterplan
Oldfield, Carr Head Lane
RJC
12/02/16
Approved
Date
Genesis Centre
Birchwood Science Park Warrington
WA3 7BH
Tel 01925 844004
Fax 01925 844002
e-mail [email protected]
Project
Description
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of Her Majesty's
Stationery Office.
Rev Drawn Approved Date
NOTES
Amphibian Refuge Notes
1. The refuge is to be no less than 5m length x 2m width x
1m height (0.5m above ground level). Refuge should
take a natural looking form.
2. Turfs are removed prior to excavation for re-use.
3. The refuge is to be constructed from new, clean bricks,
(brick sizes to be half and full brick) and/or untreated
logs.
4. Vertical gaps to be no more than 50% filled with soil /
vegetative matter so that voids are created for
amphibians.
5. Bricks or logs to be hand placed, roughly coursed with
some bricks placed at 45° to the ground and locally found
soil / dead leaves / grass roots to be placed in 300mm
layers between courses.
6. Mound is to be covered with 150mm topsoil and turfs
(open areas) & 250mm topsoil (planted areas)
1B Schwegler Tit Box
WoodStone Swift Nest Box
1FQ Schwegler Bat Roost
1SP Schwegler Sparrow Terrace 9A Schwegler House Martin Box
Amphibian Refuge Detail - Not to scale
For bird boxes - all boxes should be positioned at least 2m above ground and
should face between north and west, to maximise light, and reduce weather
ingress. Selected trees should be mature and in good health in order to support
the bird boxes in the long term i.e. reduce the chance of the tree failing and the
box having to be relocated.
For bat boxes - all boxes should be installed at least 3m from the ground, facing
east, southeast and southwest whilst avoiding light spillage (eg positioned above
windows).
HEAD OFFICE MARKET HARBOROUGH
GATESHEAD LONDON CORNWALL
Genesis Centre, Birchwood Science Park, Warrington WA3 7BH
Harborough Innovation Centre, Airfield Business Park, Leicester Road, Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7WB
Office 26, Gateshead International Business Centre, Mulgrave Terrace, Gateshead NE8 1AN
45 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0ES
4 Park Noweth, Churchtown, Cury, Helston Cornwall TR12 7BW
Tel: 01925 844004 Tel: 01858 383120 Tel: 0191 605 3340 Tel: 020 3096 6050 Tel: 01326 240081 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]