‘The Square’ Beeston Town Centre, Nottingham Protected Species Assessment Report Reference: BG106 Prepared for Henry Boot Development Limited December 2012
‘TheSquare’BeestonTownCentre,Nottingham
ProtectedSpeciesAssessment
ReportReference:BG106
PreparedforHenryBootDevelopmentLimited
December2012
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thepriorwrittenpermissionofBrindle&Green.Thecontentofthisreportis,atleastinpart,baseduponinformationprovidedbyothersandontheassumptionthatallrelevantinformationhasbeenprovidedbythosepartiesfromwhomithas
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‘The Square’ Beeston Town Centre, Nottingham‐ Protected Species Assessment
BG106
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brindlegreen.co.uk
Brindle&GreenEcologicalConsultantsspecialiseindeliveringhighqualityandaffordableecologicalsurveysandreports‐tailoredfortheirsuitabilityforinformingplanningapplications.
Brindle&Greensurveyorshavethenecessaryexperience,technicalability,qualificationsandaccreditationstomeetthehighdemandsincreasinglyenforcedbyLocalAuthoritiesandNatural
England.
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CONTENTSProjectSummaryTable 5ReportSummary 6Introduction 9Background 9Scopeofthisreport 9Limitations 9PolicyFramework 10SitePlans 11 SiteContext 12Methodologies 13DeskStudy 13Phase1HabitatSurvey 13ProtectedSpeciesAssessment 14AnalysisofResults 15Conclusions 15Recommendations 21References 22Appendix1:PlansAppendix2:Photographs
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1ProjectSummaryTable
Proposal Theredevelopmentof‘TheSquare’withaseriesofunitstoberetainedandimprovedandotherstobedemolished‐sometomakewayfordevelopmentandotherstomakewayforanewtramlineinthearea.
GridReference SK5283536807ProtectedSpeciesPresenceConfirmedonsite
None
Mitigation NoneEnhancement Optionsforecologicalenhancement
ofthesiteislimitedduetoitahighdensityofbuildingsinacitycentrelocation.Possibilityofbatboxesandbirdboxesonwallsandanytreesthatremainaroundtheperimeterofthesite.
ProtectedHabitatsonSite NoAdditionalinputworkrequired
None
ProjectTitle TheSquare,Beestontowncentre‐ProtectedSpeciesAssessment
ProjectNumber BG106Surveyor(s) Christopher Needham BSc Hons MSc
MIEEM
ReportAuthor(s) Christopher Needham BSc Hons MScMIEEMNCroftsBScHons
PreliminarySurveys ProtectedSpeciesAssessment(inc)batbuildings&birds
AdditionalSurveys NoneDateofSurveys PreliminarySurvey‐30/11/12
SurveyGuidelinesAdheredToo
JNCC(2007)HandbookforPhase1HabitatSurvey–ATechniqueforEnvironmentalAudit.EnglandFieldUnit,NatureConservancyCouncil.ReprintedbyJointNatureConservationCommittee,Peterborough.BCTBatConservationTrustGoodPracticeGuidelinesRevised2012
DeskStudyRequested No
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2.0ReportSummary2.1 Brindle&GreenEcologicalConsultantswascommissionedbyHenryBootDevelopmentsLimitedtoassesspotentialecologicalconstraintsfromthe
possiblepresenceofprotectedspeciesat‘TheSquare’locatedinthecentreofBeestoninNottingham.2.2 Thisreporthasbeenpreparedtoinformaplanningapplicationfortheredevelopmentofthesite.‘TheSquare’isanexistingshoppingcentresplit
intomanyseparateunits.Manyoftheseunitswillremainaspartofthecurrentproposalsalthoughsomeofthesewillberenovated.Anumberofunitswillbedemolishedtomakewayforrenovationsbutalsotoaccommodatethatrouteofanewtramlinethatwillrunthroughthearea.
2.3 Thelocationofthesitecanbeseeninsection4ofthisreport.2.4 Thesitecomprisesanexistingshoppingcentre,datingbacktothe1960’s‐70’s.Thereareanumberofresidentialdwellingsonsiteintheformof
rooftopapartments‐locatedonthetopflooroftheshoppingcentre.2.5 Thesiteisnotgreenwedgeandisnotcoveredbyanystatutoryornon‐statutorydesignations.2.6 Awalkoverofthesitewasundertakenonthe30thNovember2012byasuitablyqualifiedecologistinordertoidentifythekeyhabitatsonsite.The
sitewalkoveralsoevaluatedthepotentialthatthesitehadforsupportingprotectedspecies.2.7 Basedonthehabitatsfoundtobepresent,theprotectedspeciesconsideredonthissitewerebatsandbirds.2.8 Theprincipalhabitatson sitewerebuildings andhard standing.This site represents anecologicalpoorhabitatwith little tono connectivity to
greenerareas.Thereisachurchlocatedtotheeastofthesitewhichisborderedbysomegreenery.Thisisoutsideoftheredlineplanandtheextentoftheprotectedspeciesassessment.
2.9 Basedontheresultsofthesiteassessment(providedinthisreport)nofurthersurveyworkhasbeenrecommendedinrelationtobirdsonthissite.2.10 Thebuildingsonsitewereassessedfortheirpotentialtosupportroostingbats.2.11 No evidence of batswas identified during the site assessment and no further surveys have been recommendation in relation to bats and this
application.2.12Whilst the site is likely to remain heavily developed itmust be noted thatwhere possible, landscape proposals should include native planting
suggestions,ideallymakinguseofspeciesthatbenefitpollinatorssuchasbeesandbutterflies.
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2.13Basedontheresultsofthesitesurveysthisreportconcludesthatthesitedoesnotpresentanyconstraintstothisapplicationwithrespect
to ecology. It is suggested that a condition be written in to any planning permission granted with the aim of securing ecologicalenhancementforthecompleteddevelopmentwherepossible;althoughitisacceptedthatthisislikelytobelimited.
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3 IntroductionBackground
3.1 Brindle&GreenwascommissionedbyHenryBootDevelopmentsLimitedtoassesspotentialecologicalconstraintsfromthepossiblepresenceof
protectedspeciesat‘TheSquare’locatedinBeestontowncentre,Nottingham.Thesurveyfindingsarepresentedinthisreport,togetherwithapreliminaryassessmentoftheecologicalstatusofthesite,toidentifyinparticular:
anypotentiallysignificantecologicalconstraintsthatmayaffectanyworksonsite;and recommendedfurthersurveys.
Scopeofthisreport
3.2 This report isbasedonadesk top studyand field surveyusing standard surveymethodology.This approachhasbeendesigned to identify thepresenceoforpotentialfornotablehabitatsandthepotentialforprotectedspecies.Weapplythemostwidelyusedandprofessionallyrecognisedmethodsforinitialecologicalsiteappraisal.
3.3 Aprotected speciesassessment first seeks toestablishwhich species shouldbe considered tohavepotential tobepresent.This isbasedonan
evaluationofthehabitatsonsiteandbuildsontheskillofthesurveyor(s)combinedwithrecognisedguidanceforeachspeciesgroup. Atthisstage,adecisioncanbemadeastowhetherthehabitatsonsitewarrantfurtherinvestigationofaparticularspeciesgroupornot.3.4 Theprimaryfocusofthisassessmentendedupbeinginrelationtobats.ThebatbuildingassessmentwasundertakenagainstBCTBatConservation
TrustGoodPracticeGuidelinesRevised2012.
Limitations3.5 It shouldbenoted thatwhilsteveryefforthasbeenmade toprovideacomprehensivedescriptionof thesite,no investigationcouldensure the
completecharacterisationandpredictionofthenaturalenvironment.ThispreliminaryecologicalassessmentdoesnotconstituteafullbotanicalsurveyoraPhase2preconstructionsurveyoraccurateGISmappingforinvasiveorprotectedplantspecies.Theassessmentprovidesapreliminaryviewofthelikelihoodofprotectedspeciesoccurringonthesite,basedonthesuitabilityofthehabitat,knowndistributionofthespeciesinthelocalareaprovidedinresponsetoourenquiriesandanydirectevidenceonthesite.Itshouldnotbetakenasprovidingafullanddefinitivesurveyofanyprotectedspeciesgroup.Itisonlyvalidatthetimethesurveywascarriedout.
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4 RegulatoryandPolicyFramework
NationalPlanningPolicyFramework4.1 TheFrameworkisguidanceforlocalplanningauthoritiesonthecontentoftheirLocalPlans,butisalsoamaterialconsiderationindetermining
planningapplications.TheNPPFhasreplacedmuchexistingplanningpolicyguidance,includingPlanningPolicyStatement9:BiologicalandGeologicalConservation.However,thegovernmentcircular06/05:BiodiversityandGeologicalConservation‐StatutoryObligationsandTheirImpactwithinthePlanningSystem,whichaccompanied,PPS9remainsvalid.
4.2 TheNPPFplacesmuchemphasisonsustainabledevelopment,andstatesthatthisgivesrisetotheneedfortheplanningsystemtoperforma
numberofroles,suchas‘improvingbiodiversity’.ThespecificpolicieswithintheFrameworkwhichrelatetobiodiversitytendtoreaffirmtheprotectionpreviouslyaffordedthroughPPS9todesignatedsites,priorityhabitatsandpriorityspecies,ancientwoodlandandveterantrees.WithintheFramework,moreemphasisisplacedonecologicalnetworksthaninPPS9,requiringtheircreationratherthansimplymaintenanceandrepair.TheFrameworkalsostatesthattheplanningsystemshouldprovideanetgainforbiodiversitywhereverpossible,andcontributetotheGovernment’scommitmenttohaltthelossofbiodiversity;whichwerenotspecificallyrequiredunderPPS9.However,theFrameworkplaceslessemphasisonlegallyprotectedspeciesthanPPS9,referringinsteadtotheneedtomaintainbiodiversityandtheprotectionofpriorityspecies,presumablythoselistedintheUKBiodiversityActionPlan.
4.3 Theprotectionaffordedtowildlifeonproposeddevelopmentsitesthroughplanningpolicyappearslargelyunchanged.Therearestillrequirements
toavoid,mitigateandcompensateforsignificantharmtobiodiversityandprotectSitesofSpecialScientificInterestandirreplaceablehabitats,suchasancientwoodland.
4.4 ArticlesofBritishwildlifeandcountrysidelegislation,policyguidanceandbothLocalandNationalBiodiversityActionPlans(BAPs)maybereferred
tointhisdocument.Thearticlesoflegislationare: TheWildlifeandCountrysideAct1981(asamended); TheConservationofHabitatsandSpeciesRegulations2010; ECCouncilDirectiveontheConservationofWildBirds79/409/EEC; NationalParksandAccesstotheCountrysideAct1949; TheProtectionofBadgersAct1992; TheCountrysideandRightsofWayAct2000; TheNaturalEnvironmentandRuralCommunitiesAct2006; TheUnitedKingdomBiodiversityActionPlan2006; TheLocalBiodiversityActionPlan(LBAP).
AfullversionoftheNPFF(27thMarch2012)canbefoundonthefollowinglink…..
http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planningsystem/planningpolicy/planningpolicyframework/
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5 SitePlans
Fig1.OSPlandepictingthelocationof‘TheSquare’markedbytheblack
arrow.Fig2.ExtractfromGoogleMaps‐Satelliteimageofthesite(inyellow)
Fig3.Issuedredlineboundaryplan Fig4.Issuedplanofproposedtramrouteinrelationto‘TheSquare’
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6 Sitecontextandstatus6.1 ThesiteislocatedinthecentreofBeestoninNottingham6.2 PlansofthesitecanbeseeninSection5andinAppendix1.6.3 Thesitecomprisesamatrixofunits,mostlyretailwithinatowncentresetting.Anumberofresidentialdwellingsarelocatedonthetopfloorofthe
shoppingcentreintheformofresidentialdwellings.6.4 ThesiteisnotclassifiedasGreenBelt.6.5 Thesitedoesnotappeartosupportanystatutoryornonstatutorydesignations.6.6 Thehabitatspresentonsitecomprisebuildingsandhardstanding.6.7 AmasterplanfortheredevelopmentofBeestontowncentreidentifiestheChurchadjacentto‘TheSquare’asbeingthefocusforopengreenspace
whichisoutsideofthescopeofthisstudy.
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7 Methodologies
Phase1HabitatSurvey
ProtectedSpeciesAssessment7.1 Anassessmentofthesitespotentialforsupportingprotectedspecieswasundertaken.Theprocessfordeterminingthoseprotectedspeciesgroups
toinitiallyconsiderisbasedlargelyontheexperienceofthesurveyor(s)inassessingthehabitatsonsite,factorssuchasconnectivitytoothersitesandhabitatsandforagingopportunitiesarealsoimportant.
7.2 Bats
Thesitewasassessedforitsvalueinsupportingbatspecies.Thesitecontainedanumberofexistingbuildingswhichmayhavepresentedopportunitiesforbatroosting.ThebuildingsonsitewereassessedfortheirsuitabilityforbatroostingagainsttheBCTsGoodPracticeSurveyGuidelines,2ndEdition2012,theresultofwhichisdeterminedwithinthisreport.Duringthesurveythewholeperimeterofthebuildingswereexaminedforsignsofbatsandpotentialbataccess/exitpoints.Therewasnoaccessintotheinteriorofthebuildings.Most/allbuildingshaveflatfeltandconcreteroofsthatprovidenointeriorspaceforinspections.Thebuildingsweresurveyedforfeaturessuchasfractures,cracksandslippedtiles.Allpartsofthebuildingwereinvestigatedforsignsofbats,batdroppings,feedingremainssuchasmothwings,urineandfuroilstains.EquipmenttakentothesiteconsistedofLadders,CB2Clubmanmillioncandlepowerlamp,Headlamps(notused),Compass,CanonA710camera,GPSeTrex,Tallycounter(notused),OpticronVeranoBGA8X32closefocusbinoculars,Endoscope,RidgidSeeSnakeMicroCA‐100.
7.3 Reptiles
Habitatsonsitewereconsiderednegligibleforsupportingreptiles. 7.4 Badgers
Habitatsonsitewereconsiderednegligibleforsupportingbadgers. 7.5 NestingBirds
Thesitewasevaluatedforitspotentialtosupportnestingbirds.Buildingswereevaluatedforevidenceofnests.7.6 GreatCrestedNewts
HabitatsonsitewereconsiderednegligibleforsupportingGreatCrestedNewts.
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8 AnalysesofResultsConclusionsSiteAssessment8.1 Thesitecomprisesamatrixofunitsusedmainlyforretailalthoughthereareseveralresidentialdwellingsonthetopfloor.‘TheSquare’represents
afairlypoorexampleofatowncentreshoppingcomplexwhichhasbecomeverydatedandrundown.Builtaroundthe1960’s,thesiteisnowwellrundownandanumberoftheretailunitsareempty.Severalwindowsanddoorswithinthecomplexareboardedup.Thecomplexisalmostentirelybrickbuiltwithsomesectionsofconcretecladding.Althoughthecomplexoffersarangeofbuildingsofdifferentheights,theroofsareallflatandareconcreteorcoveredinroofingfelt.Thereareoccasionalsectionsofwoodenfaciabutthesewereaccessibleandweresearchedthoroughlyforbatpresence.Windowsanddoorsarewellsealed.Thesiteoffersnootherhabitats.Theadjacentchurchisborderedbysomegreenerybutthisisoutsideofthesurveyarea.Theplaninappendix1showsthecurrentarrangementofbuildingsonsiteandphotographsinappendix2willgiveabetterimpressionofthecomplex‐farmoresothanlengthydescriptionsofthebuildinganditslayout.
Bats8.2 Section7.2ofthisreportdetailsthemethodologyemployedtoassesswhetherbatsarepresentonthissite.Noevidenceofbatswasrecorded
followingthesiteassessment.Furthermore,thesiteisconsideredtobenegligibleinitsecologicalvaluewithfewfeaturestoattractwildlifeofanynotablesignificanceorvalue‐furtherlesseningthelikelihoodofthesitesupportingbats.Thesitedoesnotbenefitfromanynotablegreencorridorsthatconnectthissitetomorenotablehabitatsorecologicalfeaturesthatmayallowbatstoroostinthebuildings.
Birds8.3 Noevidenceofnestingbirdswasnotedduringthesiteassessmentthroughthepresenceofoldbird’snests.Somespeciesofbirdsareknowntonest
inheavilyurbanisedareasandsoacautiousapproachshouldbehadwhenworkingonsitebetweenthemonthsofMarch‐August.Itmustberememberedthatallspeciesofbird,theirnests,eggsandyoungareprotectedbylawintheUK.Intheeventthatabird’snestisfoundonsiteduringtheconstructionphasethenworksshouldstopimmediatelyandadvicebesoughtfromasuitablyqualifiedecologist.
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9 RecommendationsHabitats9.1 Asstatedpreviously,thehabitatsonthissiteshouldnotbeconsideredrareornotableinalocal,regionalornationalcontext.
ProtectedSpeciesBats9.2 Nobatswerefoundtobeusingthebuildingsonsiteforroosting.Intheunlikelyeventthatbatsarefoundduringtheconstructionphaseofthis
projectthenworksmuststopimmediatelyandadvicebesoughtfromasuitablyqualifiedecologist.Birds9.3 Thesiteprovideslimitedopportunitiesfornestingbirds.Intheeventthatabird’snestisfoundonsiteduringtheconstructionphasethenworks
shouldstopimmediatelyandadvicebesoughtfromasuitablyqualifiedecologist.
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ReferencesJNCC(2007)HandbookforPhase1HabitatSurvey–ATechniqueforEnvironmentalAudit.EnglandFieldUnit,NatureConservancyCouncil.ReprintedbyJointNatureConservationCommittee,Peterborough.Multi‐AgencyGeographicInformationfortheCountryside(2009)[Online]http://www.magic.defra.gov.uk/[AccessedMarch2011].NationalBiodiversityNetworkGateway(2009)NBNGateway[Online]BCTBatConservationTrustGoodPracticeGuidelines,2ndEdition2012
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Appendix1Plans
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Appendix2Photographs
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Photograph1.TheSquare,Beeston.Relativelymodernstyleshoppingprecinctprobablyconstructedduringthe1960s‐1970s.
Photograph2. Shoppingprecinct.
Photograph3.Viewofresidentialapartmentsabovetheshops
Photograph4.Retailunits
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Photograph1. Serviceyardentrance.
Photograph2. AllthebuildingsintheSquarehaveflatfeltorconcreteroofs‐notrenderedsuitableforusebybats.
Photograph3. PartofTheSquarecomplexincludesthislargerbuildingattachedtothewestsideofTheSquare.
Photograph4. Viewovertheflatroofsofthebuildings.