Environmental Statement volume 4 - Chiltern Evergreen3

Chiltern Line, Oxford April 2009Great Crested Newt HSI Assessment1.0 IntroductionBackground1.1 Keystone Environmental Ltd was instructed by ERM to carry out Great Crested Newt HabitatSuitability Index (HSI) assessments of a number of waterbodies within 0.5 kilometre radius ofthe Chiltern Railway Line, between Oxford and Bicester (grid reference SP 504 062 - SP596227). The site is subject to a proposed second track on this one track route.1.2 The HSI Assessment is used to assess whether a waterbody warrants detailed surveys toestablish presence or absence of newts and aids in the assessment of impacts and thedesign of mitigation measures. This information is also required if an application to obtain aGreat Crested Newt European Protected Species (EPS) Licence to permit the proposeddevelopment is required .Site Characteristics1.3 The site is 20 kilometres of rail line between Oxford and Bicester, in a rural setting for thecentral section , but with an urban influence within Oxford and Bicester at either end of theroute.1.4 The site is surrounded by agricultural fields for the majority of its length, characterised bylarge fields divided by mature hedgerows, which are often associated with ditches. The landis generally flat to the north of Oxford as it passes through Otmore, the River Ray floodplain.1.5 The rail line is bordered mainly by scrub and trees, with a number of ponds both on theNetwork Rail estate land and within the agricultural land surrounding it. This provides verygood habitat for Great Crested Newts.Keystone Environmental