Jetty Non Technical Summary - EDF Hinkley Point

in recognition of the importance and protected status of the nearby marine environment,
a number of good practice and precautionary measures are proposed to provide
additional safeguards. These include the designation of “no-go” areas and associated
buffer zones around all identified sensitive locations; buffer zones around construction
and access sites in foreshore areas; provision of training for the construction workforce;
specific accident and incident response and cleanup procedures; and implementation of
a monitoring programme.
Residual Impacts
8.2.13 No significant impacts are predicted after mitigation.
8.3 Terrestrial Ecology and Ornithology
Existing Environment
8.3.1 The application site has been subject to extensive vegetation survey work, together with
surveys of a wide range of animal species including bats, otter, badger, reptiles,
amphibians, birds and invertebrates. In addition, extensive bird survey work has been
carried out on the coastal area that forms part of the Severn Estuary Special Protection
Area (SPA), which is protected at the European level because of the importance of its
bird populations. This coastal area is also part of the Severn Estuary Special Area of
Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar site, as well as being part of several Sites of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (see Figure 17).
8.3.2 The land in and around the application site comprises open, gently rolling mixed lowland
farmland with hedgerows, small scrubby woodlands and occasional standard trees.
Although much of the area is intensively managed, small areas of species-rich limestone
grassland occur along the cliff edge and the immediate vicinity of the Hinkley Point Power
Station Complex. The northern site boundary lies adjacent to the Bristol Channel from
which it is separated by a low cliff. The application site also includes seven hedgerows,
five of which are species-rich, support at least five woody species, and are ecologically
‘important’ under the Hedgerow Regulations, 1997.
8.3.3 Fifteen species of wetland birds were recorded feeding or roosting in the intertidal area in
the vicinity of the application site, with five of these also being recorded feeding or
roosting in the fields within the site. A total of 18 species of breeding bird have been
recorded on the site.
8.3.4 A minimum of seven bat species have been recorded using the application site and one
small roost is present in a derelict barn. Badgers are present within the application site
and there is potential for otter to make very occasional use of the Hinkley Point C
Drainage Ditch.
Main Predicted Impacts
8.3.5 Drawing upon the results of the surveys and other data gathering, and informed by
consultation with Natural England, the RSPB, Somerset County Council, Somerset
Wildlife Trust and West Somerset Council, the jetty development’s design has been
progressively refined to minimise the adverse impacts on wildlife and, where possible, to
deliver benefits. The changes to the scheme include:
• avoidance of mature woodland and use of existing field accesses to avoid impacts on
hedgerows;
• changes to Hinkley Point C Drainage Ditch being restricted to one culvert extension;
Hinkley Point C Preliminary Works
Non Technical Summary
Temporary Jetty Development 49 November 2010