Land at Porch Farm, Kingsclere Ecology Briefing Paper, April 2016 C_EDP3343_01a

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1 C_EDP3343_01a Introduction 1.1 This Ecology Briefing Paper has been prepared by The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd (EDP) on behalf of Linden Homes. This briefing paper considers the ecological circumstances pertinent to any development at land at Porch Farm, Kingsclere (hereafter referred to as the Promotion Site ). 1.2 The Promotion Site is located to the west of the village of Kingsclere, measures approximately 16 hectares (ha) and is centred approximately at Ordnance Survey Grid Reference (OSGR) SU The local planning authority is Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. The location and extent of the Promotion Site are illustrated on Plan EDP 1 - Phase 1 Habitat Plan, attached to this report. 1.3 The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of the ecological sensitivities associated with the Promotion Site that are pertinent to its potential for future development. Ecology constraints and opportunities are highlighted for the purposes of promoting the suitability of the site for residential development, with recommendations given for the scope of further survey work required to inform any future planning applications. 1.4 This briefing paper has been informed by a desk study (which involved collation of information on designated sites and species records from online sources and Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) and an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey undertaken by an experienced ecologist on 15 March Although March is considered to be at a transition between the optimal and sub-optimal periods for undertaking such surveys, given the nature of habitats present (predominantly arable) and the requirement to principally provide high level information to inform site promotion, the findings are not considered to be significantly limited by the time of year. Preliminary Ecological Baseline Designated Sites 1.5 No part of the Promotion Site is covered by any statutory designations and there are no internationally designated sites within 5km of the Promotion Site. Six nationally designated sites, five Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and one National Nature Reserve (NNR), are located within 5km of the Promotion Site. The Promotion Site resides within the Impact Risk Zone (IRZ) of one of these SSSI s, namely Greeham and Cookham Commons SSSI, for the type of development proposed (residential). However, the

2 C_EDP3343_01a 2 Promotion Site lies within the periphery of the IRZ and owing to the reasons for designation and the spatial separation from the site (circa 4.5km), no significant adverse impacts to the SSSI are anticipated. Full details of the statutory designations are provided in Appendix EDP No non-statutory designated sites are located within the Promotion Site. 26 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and 20 Ancient Woodland sites are located within 2km of the Promotion Site. The closest non-statutory designated site, Northwood Copse Remnants SINC and Ancient Woodland site, is located 0.3km north west of the Promotion Site. Owing to their reasons for designation and/or their spatial separation from the site, it is considered that appropriately designed residential development of the site, which includes sufficient provision of public open space for the new population, would not result in any indirect impacts on these off-site non-statutory designations. Habitats and Species 1.7 There are no records of Priority Habitats occurring within the Promotion Site. Ancient Woodland and Deciduous Woodland, both UK Priority Habitats, are known to be located within 2km of the Promotion Site. 1.8 The desk study returned several records of protected/notable species within 2km of the Promotion Site. The most pertinent of these, in light of the habitat present within the site, include recent records of bird species of conservation concern (including barn owl, lapwing, bullfinch, linnet, redwing, lesser redpoll, reed bunting, song thrush, cuckoo, yellowhammer and skylark), and species of principal importance (including hedgehog and brown hare). 1.9 A number of bat species records, two records of dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) and one record of great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), all European Protected Species (EPS), were returned from HBIC within 2km of the Promotion Site. One historic EPS licence that has been granted for a common species of bat was also returned from the desk study within 2km of the Promotion Site As illustrated in Plan EDP 1 the majority of the Promotion Site comprises four large arable fields bordered by highly managed hedgerows of variable species richness. Some of the fields are also partially bordered by shallow ditches with steep banks and field margins varying from approximately 2m - 8m in width. There is an area of marshy grassland to the north of the Promotion Site adjacent to the A339. The majority of the eastern site boundary is formed of a narrow woodland belt with a number of mature trees. Mature trees are also scattered across the rest of the site, located mainly within the hedgerows. There are approximately five ponds within 500m of the Promotion Site, one of which is located immediately adjacent to the north eastern site boundary The habitats on site are predominantly considered to be of local value (e.g. hedgerows, ditches, mature trees and grassland areas) or lower (e.g. arable) but also have potential

3 C_EDP3343_01a 3 to support protected/notable species including birds, bats, dormice, badger, great crested newts and reptiles The hedgerows and mature trees within the Promotion Site have the potential to support breeding birds, roosting bats and dormice. The arable fields and surrounding semi-improved grassland have also the potential to support ground-nesting birds, such as skylark (Alauda arvensis), a red list species, which was incidentally recorded on site during the Extended Phase 1 Habitat survey. The survey did not record any signs of badger (Meles meles) within the Promotion Site, however due to their highly mobile nature, the suitable habitats, such as hedgerows and scrub, could support badger setts in the future. The semi-improved and marshy grassland areas together with the ponds located nearby the site have the potential to support great crested newts and reptiles Although the Promotion Site is considered to support opportunities for several protected or notable species, these opportunities are primarily restricted to the boundary habitats, owing to the predominance of arable habitat. Constraints and Opportunities 1.14 On the basis of the preliminary investigations the following Phase 2 surveys are considered likely to be needed to support any future planning application: Hedgerow surveys; Bat activity surveys; Bat roost assessment of trees; Dormouse surveys; Badger update survey; Great crested newt surveys (including off-site ponds within 250m); and Reptile surveys The actual need and scope of further Phase 2 surveys will be subject to the nature of the development proposals and consultation with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) Ecologist. For instance, possible reptile presence could potentially be dealt with through precautionary site clearance measures and the need for surveys to be scoped out. Owing to the limited extent and nature of habitats on the Promotion Site other commonly undertaken ecology surveys (e.g. botanical or breeding bird surveys) are considered unlikely to be necessary, subject to consultation.

4 C_EDP3343_01a Subject to confirmation through consultation and further baseline investigation, the hedgerows, mature trees, ditches and grassland areas within the Promotion Site are, on a precautionary basis, potentially notable ecological constraints requiring some level of on-site retention, buffering and/or ecological compensation (habitat creation/enhancement) Subject to further surveys and identification of further protected/notable species interests the following recommendations are therefore made to inform the masterplanning of any future development proposals: Retention and enhancement, where possible, of existing hedgerows, particularly those that are species-rich, including utilising existing gaps for infrastructure crossings and the provision of at least 3-5m development buffers; Retention and suitable buffering (5 15m, depending on Phase 2 survey findings) of the woodland strip along the eastern site boundary; Integrated sustainable urban drainage (SUD) system including the provision of open water/marginal aquatic habitats onsite to prevent adverse changes in the volume or quality of run-off entering existing waterbodies and to increase habitat diversity onsite; Retention and buffering, where possible, of the waterbodies, including their incorporation with the wider SUD Strategy. The pond immediately adjacent to the north eastern site boundary and the field ditches also offer significant scope for enhancement; and Retention and enhancement of marshy grassland, and establishment of species-rich grassland in suitable areas to encourage structural and botanical diversity within the site boundaries. Conclusions 1.18 The Promotion Site appears to be relatively unconstrained ecologically, comprising predominantly arable habitat of negligible/low ecological value and with an absence of designated wildlife sites that are considered to potentially be at risk of adverse impacts resulting from its development. Only a limited suite of further Phase 2 surveys would therefore be required to support any future planning application given the nature and extent of habitats present within the Promotion Site While some of the habitats on-site, including the hedgerows, mature trees, ditches and grassland areas, are currently considered, on a precautionary basis, to be of greater ecological value (local conservation importance) these are relatively limited in extent and restricted mainly to the site boundaries. They can therefore be adequately

5 C_EDP3343_01a 5 accommodated and mitigated by the masterplanning of any future development proposals The possible presence of breeding birds, roosting bats, dormice, badgers, great crested newt and/or reptiles within the Promotion Site is considered to potentially be the most sensitive ecological receptor on site. However, it is considered that even if these protected species were found to be present the populations could be readily safeguarded through appropriate mitigation measures and sensitive timing of works. Opportunities for any protected species potentially present could be significantly enhanced in the long-term through appropriate design of any future development proposals It is considered therefore that the Promotion Site offers sufficient flexibility to ensure compliance with planning policy at all levels and to avoid significant harm to biodiversity. Furthermore, an appropriately designed development incorporating appropriate mitigation and enhancement has the potential to deliver a significant net gain in biodiversity.

6 C_EDP3343_01a 6 Appendix EDP 1 Designated Sites Table EDP A1.1: Nationally designated sites within 5km of the Promotion Site Site name Status Description Approximate site grid reference Duncroft Farm Pit (0.12ha) Ashford Hill Woods and Meadows (142.1ha) Ladle Hill (10.37ha) Greenham and Crookham Commons (278.61ha) Old Burghclere Lime Quarry (4.61ha) SSSI (Geological) SSSI & NNR (part of the site) SSSI SSSI SSSI The only known site of exposure of beds of Upper Chalk dipping 25 to the north within the middle limit of the regional fold structure known as the Kingsclere Monocline. The site comprises an extensive and varied complex of woodlands and agricultural unimproved meadows. The site is remarkable in its habitat quality, diversity of communities and number of rare and threatened species. The site supports some of the floristically richest chalk grassland on the northern escarpment of the Hampshire Chalk plateau. The site is of exceptional importance for its population of the rare July flowering form of the burnt-tip orchid (Orchis ustulata). An extensive complex of heathland, grassland, gorse scrub, broad-leaved woodland and alderlined gullies. The site also includes one large ancient coppice woodland, Peckmoor Copse. The disused limeworks exhibits various stages in the succession from bare chalk on the steep quarry sides through chalk grassland to scattered and dense scrub. The varied vegetational structure of the chalk grassland and scrub habitats supports a rich invertebrate fauna. SU SU SU SU / SU SU Approximate distance from site 4.2km W 4.2km NE 4.3km SW 4.5km N 4.8km SW

7 C_EDP3343_01a 7 Plan Plan EDP 1 Phase 1 Habitat Plan (EDP3343/01a 01 April 2016 WC/JWi)

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