Ecological Assessment Bat Building Assessment · Barnsley Office Brindle & Green Limited Sergeants...

Ecological Assessment &

Bat Building Assessment

Colourscan Imaging

Report Reference: BG187

October 2013

P/2013/01452Received 20/12/2013

Colourscan October 2013

Head Office Brindle & Green Limited

Horizon House Whiting Street

Sheffield. S8 9QR

Derby Office Brindle & Green Limited

Hackwood Farm Radbourne Derbyshire.

DE6 4LZ

Barnsley Office Brindle & Green Limited

Sergeants House 36 Edderthorpe Lane

Barnsley. S73 9AT

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants specialise in delivering high quality and affordable ecological surveys and reports-tailored for their suitability for

informing planning applications. Brindle & Green surveyors have the necessary experience, technical ability,

qualifications and accreditations to meet the high demands increasingly enforced by Local Authorities and Natural England.

Projects are undertaken against the recognised guidelines for the species or habitats being studied.

Brindle & Green reports are uniquely designed to provide the reader with the best possible understanding of our client’s proposals and to ensure that the information requested by the Local Planning Authority is easily found and

understood. This report has been prepared in accordance with the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Managements (IEEM) Professional Issue Series 13, Guidance

for Ecological Report Writing.

www.brindlegreen.co.uk


Document Control

Name Signature Date

Prepared by

Chris Needham

October 2013

Checked by

Neil Crofts

October 2013

Approved by

Neil Crofts

October 2013

Revision Record

Liability Brindle & Green has prepared this report for the sole use of: Peter Diffey The report is in accordance with the agreement under which our services were performed. No warranty, express or implied, is made as to the advice in this report or any other service provided by us. This report may not be relied upon by any other party except the person, company, agent or any third party for whom the report is intended without the prior written permission of Brindle & Green. The content of this report is, at least in part, based upon information provided by others and on the assumption that all relevant information has been provided by those parties from whom it has been requested. Information obtained from any third party has not been independently verified by Brindle & Green unless otherwise stated in the report. .

COPYRIGHT © This report is the copyright of Brindle & Green. Unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person is prohibited.


Project Details Survey carried out by: Brindle and Green Horizon House 2 Whiting Street Sheffield. S8 9QR Head Office: 01142 583663 Email: [email protected] Website: www.brindlegreen.co.uk Survey carried out for: Peter Diffey Cotesbach Villa 54 Wood Lane Stapenhill Burton upon Trent DE15 9DB 01283 537609 Survey Site: Colourscan Imaging Scalpcliffe Road Burton upon Trent Derbyshire. DE15 9AA


Contents 1 Summary..................................................................................................6 2 Introduction .............................................................................................. 7 3 Site Location ............................................................................................ 8 4 Methodology ............................................................................................ 9 4.1 General ....................................................................................................9 4.2 Bat Building Assessments......................................................................10 5 Site Description with Photographs ......................................................... 11 6 Conclusions & Recommendations ......................................................... 17 6.1 Roosting Bats......................................................................................... 17 6.2 Badgers..................................................................................................18 6.3 Breeding Birds ....................................................................................... 18 6.4 Biodiversity Enhancement......................................................................19 7 References............................................................................................. 20


1 Summary This report has been prepared to inform a planning application relating to the

demolition and clearing of land to make way for propose residetial development.

All ecological issues relating to the habitat site were considered during the survey.

Special attention was given to the potential presence of roosting bats in the buildings

on site and also the anecdotal evidence that badgers may be present in the area.

The surveyed buildings were assessed for their potential to support roosting bats

against the Bat Conservation Trust’s Bat Surveys Good Practise Guidelines 2nd

Edition 2012. Basically the buildings consist of two modern large workshop / offices

made from solid brick walls and corrugated metal sheets.

The survey found no evidence of bats within the structure of the building.

The building was assessed to have a Low Potential for roosting bats.

This category describes a building that bats are very unlikely to use.

Badgers

Anecdotal evidence suggests that badgers may be active in the area.

The south eastern boundary of the site offers scrub habitats underneath mature

leylandii. Evidence of use by something was noted along this corridor but nothing that

confirmed it was badger was identified. It could quite conceivably have been fox or

cats.

The site also adjoins a number of rear gardens from properties located along

Scalpcliffe Road to the east of the site. To the rear of these gardens is an

embankment that may offer potential for badgers setts although no setts were

identified. This embankment is actually located within the site boundary but is

separated from the site by a substantial fence.

Given that no badger setts were located on site but there is the possibility that they

are in the area we would recommend a cautious approach to the early stages of any

development on this site. Preferably a condition relating to the need for a pre-

commencement badger check would be implemented.

In addition, the developer may be bound by a condition that relates to the south

eastern boundary of the site being maintained as a more unkempt area to firstly

encourage and offer habitats for wildlife and secondly to offer a corridor for use by

badgers if they are indeed in the area.


It is recommended that any building work or any clearance of any vegetation be

undertaken outside of the breeding bird season. In the event that this is unachievable

then supervision of clearance works would be required by a suitably qualified

ecologist.

Opportunities should be explored to incorporate ecological enhancement schemes

within the new development proposals. Ecological enhancement schemes would

require consultation between the architect for the development and an ecological

consultant.

2 Introduction Brindle & Green was commissioned by Peter Diffey to carry out an ecological

assessment on the buildings and land at Colourscan Imaging, Scalpcliffe Road,

Burton upon Trent.

An initial ecological appraisal of the site was carried out on 15th October 2013.

Survey carried out by:

Christopher Needham BSc. (Hons.) MSc. MIEEM.

Neil Crofts BSc.

The purpose of this assessment is to clarify with some certainty whether the

proposed development work could have an impact protected species and habitats

especially in relation to roosting bats in the buildings on site and of the presence of

badgers that are known to be in the area.


3 Site Location Figure 1 An OS map of the area. The site is marked by a black arrow at Grid Ref. SK 25842 23015

Figure 2 Aerial view of the survey area. The surveyed building is outlined in yellow. For the purpose of the survey the buildings on site have been numbered 1 and 2. The area lies within a built up area of Burton with a large cemetery to the south of the site.


4 Methodology 4.1 General An Ecological Assessment followed by a Bat Building Assessment was undertaken

on the factory units and compound at Colourscan Imaging, Scalpcliffe Road

Burton upon Trent on Tuesday 15th October 2013.

All ecological issues relating to the habitat type was considered. Special attention

was given to the presence of badger as there is anecdotal evidence that badger setts

are present in the surrounding area.

During the Ecological Assessment the buildings on site were assessed for their

suitability to accommodate roosting bats in accordance with the Bat Conservation

Trust’s ‘Good Practice Survey Guidelines’ (Rev 2012).

During the survey the whole perimeters and interiors of the building were examined

for bats and signs of bats and also for features that bats could use such as crevices

leading to suitable enclosed spaces.

Equipment taken to the site consisted of:

• Ladders

• CB2 Clubman million candle power lamp

• Head lamps (not used)

• Compass

• Canon A710 camera

• GPS eTrex

• Opticron Verano BGA 8X32 close focus binoculars

• Endoscope, Ridgid SeeSnake Micro CA-100


4.2 Bat Building Assessments Bat Building Assessments consist of searching through buildings looking for obvious

use, such as the presence of bats or bat droppings, but also the survey has to

assess the potential of a building for roosting bats.

The assessment of buildings is placed into the following five categories:

No Potential: The building does not support features considered suitable for roosting

bats.

Low Potential: Bats are very unlikely to use the building for a roost. Suitable cavities

may exist but these are open to wind, rain or disturbance.

Minor Potential: This category describes a building that has some potential to

support roosting bats but is less than ideal in some way. For example, the feature

may be subject to some kind of intermittent disturbance. A survey would not expect

to find a bat using such a building and therefore the building may not be required to

qualify for presence/absence surveys.

Moderate Potential: This category describes a building considered to have suitable

habitat or features for roosting bats but no evidence of occupation by bats has been

found during the survey. Features considered to have adequate potential would

include cavities of appropriate dimensions that are generally free from disturbance

and free from fluctuations in the weather. Such features are likely to be subject to

further surveys (presence/absence surveys) at a time of year when bats are active.

High Potential/Confirmed: This category is where positive evidence of bats has

been recorded. For example, bats are found; bat droppings may be present at a

suitable location for roosting bats; existing bat records may be associated with the

building. A licence from Natural England is likely to be required if a bat roost is to be

disturbed by the development.


5 Site Description with Photographs Entrance gate to Colourscan Imaging from Scalpcliffe Road.

Building 1. Modern building constructed of brick with steel and plastic sheeting.

Building 1. External examination was carried out of the building to look for suitable crevices for roosting bats. None were found.


Building 1. Corrugated steel roof.

Building 1. Interior of building.

Building 1. Interior of suspended ceiling. Roof constructed of steel girders and steel corrugated sheets.


Building 2. Modern building constructed of brick with steel and plastic sheeting.

Building 2. Eastern view of the building. A large cemetery exists to the south of the site. Mature trees within the cemetery can be seen in this photograph.

Building 2. Edges of the building were examined for suitable crevices for roosting bats. None were found.


Building 2. Interior of building.

Building 2. Building constructed of solid brick wall.

Building 2. Interior of suspended ceiling. Roof constructed of steel girders and steel corrugated sheets.


Most of the site consists of hard standing or gravel areas.

Modern perimeter fence surrounds the site that will deter badgers (if present) from entering the site.

Beyond the perimeter fence is this narrow strip of land seen here between the fence on the left and the fence post to the right. Area of land is approximately 2m wide. This strip of land has a row of tall laylandii trees that could attract breeding birds.


This narrow strip opens up into a sloping area to the back gardens of houses along Scalpcliffe Road.

Semi-mature sycamore exists in the area between the proposed development site and the back gardens along Scalpcliffe Road. Two of these trees have ivy growing on them. Trees that have ivy growing on them can attract roosting bats. However, these trees were not sufficiently mature enough to provide adequate shelter for roosting bats.

A large cemetery exists to the south of the site and there are some impressive looking mature trees in the surrounding area of Scalpcliffe Road.


6 Conclusions & Recommendations Although all ecological issues relating to the site were considered there are four

areas of note:

• Roosting Bats

• Badgers

• Breeding Birds

• Biodiversity Enhancement

6.1 Roosting Bats All bats in the United Kingdom are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside

Act 1981 (as amended) and the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations

1994. It is an offence to damage or destroy any bat roost, intentionally or recklessly

obstruct a bat roost, deliberately, intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat or

intentionally kill, injure or take any bat. Please refer to the original Acts for precise

wording. It is stressed that bat roosts are protected against damage, destruction or

obstruction, irrespective of whether or not bats are present at the time, and that

current guidance issued by Natural England state that once bats have occupied a

roost, it is, under normal circumstances, protected indefinitely.

No evidence of bat occupation was observed during the site survey which included a

thorough search of the external features within the building.

The buildings were assessed to have a Low Potential for roosting bats.

This category describes a building that bats are very unlikely to use.

There are a number of semi-mature trees beyond the site fence but inside the site

boundary. These trees are not sufficiently mature enough or possess adequate

habitat and features to accommodate roosting bats.

Activity surveys are not recommended.

However, it is always stressed in all cases relating to bats that in the unlikely event

that single bats are found within the structure of the building while work is in

progress, work should stop immediately in that area and advice sought from an

ecological consultant or Natural England.


6.2 Badgers Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. It is illegal to

wilfully kill, injure or take any Badger, or attempt to do so and it is an offence to

intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any part of a Badger

sett. The developer is under a duty to avoid disturbance to badgers or their setts. All

activities within 30 metres of a badger sett will need to comply with the requirements

of this legislation.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that badgers may be active in the area.

The south eastern boundary of the site offers scrub habitats underneath mature

leylandii. Evidence of use by something was noted along this corridor but nothing that

confirmed it as badger was identified. It could quite conceivably been fox or cats.

The site also adjoins a number of rear gardens from properties located along

Scalpcliffe Road to the east of the site. To the rear of these gardens is an

embankment that may offer potential for badgers setts although no setts were

identified. This embankment is actually located within the site boundary but is

separated from the site by a substantial fence.

Given that no badger setts were located on site but there is the possibility that they

are in the area we would recommend a cautious approach to the early stages of any

development on this site. Preferably a condition relating to the need for a pre-

commencement badger check would be implemented.

In addition, the developer may be bound by a condition that relates to the south

eastern boundary of the site being maintained as a more unkempt area to firstly

encourage and offer habitats for wildlife and secondly to offer a corridor for use by

badgers if they are indeed in the area.

6.3 Breeding Birds All nesting birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which

makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird or take, damage or

destroy its nest whilst in use or being built, or take or destroy its eggs.

Depending on the species, the bird breeding season can start in March and continue

through until August. It is usually recommended that any vegetation clearance is

undertaken outside of this period.


There is a narrow strip of land belonging to the site that is outside of this boundary

fence. This narrow strip of land has a number of semi-mature trees growing on it that

could attract breeding birds.

It is recommended that any building work or any clearance of any vegetation be

undertaken outside of the breeding bird season. In the event that this is unachievable

then supervision of clearance works would be required by a suitably qualified

ecologist.

6.4 Biodiversity Enhancement In March 2012 the Department for Communities and Local Government published the

National Planning Policy Framework. This sets out planning policies on protection of

biodiversity through the planning system. The document states - opportunities to

incorporate biodiversity in and around developments should be encouraged.

The area surrounding Scalpcliffe Road consists mostly of a built environment but

there is a large cemetery to the south of the site that possesses a number of mature

trees that. Rows of mature trees exist in the area and the river Trent Washlands

within Burton are not very far away. All these areas will provide suitable foraging

areas for bats and birds. Opportunities should therefore be explored to incorporate

ecological enhancement schemes within the new development proposals. The site

should seek to enhance its ecological value through the planting of native plants and

trees. Also through the erection of bat and bird boxes on the row of ash trees at the

boundary of the property and on walls once the development is complete.

Ecological enhancement schemes would require consultation between the architect

for the development and an ecological consultant.


7 References Bell, S. McGillivary, D. (2006) Environmental Law. 6th ed. Oxford University Press. Byron, H (2000) Biodiversity and Environmental Impact Assessment: A Good Practice Guide for Road Schemes. The RSPB, WWF-UK, English Nature and the Wildlife Trusts, Sandy. Hundt L (2012) Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines, 2nd edition, Bat Conservation Trust. Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey (2003). JNCC. Mitchell-Jones A.J. McLeish, A.P. (2004) Bat Workers Manual (3rd Edition). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Mitchell-Jones A.J. Bat Mitigation Guidelines 2004. English Nature. Sutherland, W.J. (1996) Ecological Census Techniques. Cambridge University Press. Treweek, J. (1999) Ecological Impact Assessment. Blackwell Science.

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