Great Crested Newt Method Statement - Wyre · Document Title Great Crested Newt Method Statement Prepared for ... what to do in the eventuality that any amphibians are found following

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


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 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


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



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





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



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.



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.



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).



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.


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]

Documents

Great Crested Newt Method Statement - Wyre · Document Title Great Crested Newt Method Statement Prepared for ... what to do in the eventuality that any amphibians are found following