St Mary Redcliffe Project 450 RIBA 2 Stage End Report

oost is defined as any structure or place which is used for shelter or protection, irrespective of
whether or not bats are resident.
4.10 Should a bat roost be present then a Natural England European Protected Species (EPS) Licence
to fell the tree will be required.
Bat Mitigation Strategy
4.11 Given the urban location of the Site and the type of the PRFs, it is anticipated, that should a bat
roost be present within T5, it is likely to be of a common and widespread species that utilises
urban areas, such as common pipistrelle or soprano pipistrelle, as opposed to the UKs rarer bats.
The mitigation and compensation for common and widespread species (such as common
pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle) is well understood, well-practiced and considered generally
deliverable.
4.12 The presence of a bat roost within T5 has not been confirmed. However, within the Site there
exists opportunity to compensate for the removal of tree T5. The proposals would allow for bat
tubes or lifted/raised weatherboarding to be installed on the eastern or south-west facing aspect
of the proposed studio building that is to be constructed on the eastern boundary of the southern
garden. In this area, the mature trees provide sufficient shelter from both weather conditions and
visitor disturbance, whilst also providing clear flight paths for entrance/exit. Alternatively, bat
boxes could be installed within mature trees within the Site, which would provide a similar
function as the PRFs that are present on T5.
4.13 The exact details of the bat mitigation and compensation would be determined by the results of
the further surveys and if a bat roost is present then mitigation and compensation would be
secured by a European Protected Species licence.
nest (distance to be decided at the ecologist's discretion). This buffer must remain intact until is
has been confirmed that that the young have fledged, and the nest is no longer in use.
4.17 The tree housing the current bird boxes is not scheduled for removal or disturbance. New tree
planting is proposed within the Site which will provide additional nesting opportunities within the
Site in the long term. In addition, wildflower meadow is proposed which will support a greater
abundance and more diverse invertebrate assemblage, thereby increasing food provision for
birds.
Enhancements
4.18 A number of additional measures are proposed within the scheme, which will further enhance the
ecological value of the Site:
• Planting of scattered trees in the southern garden, creating a woodland feel, providing areas of
shading;
• Wildflower meadow planted in the eastern side of the southern garden; and
• A wildflower seed mix also used to create a green roof on the studio building proposed to be built
in the south garden.
• Extra bird boxes installed on additional, suitable trees within the southern part of the Site.
4.19 These enhancement measures, along with the mitigation and compensation measures outlined
above would significantly increase the ecological value of the Site.
4.14 Based on the above premise, if a bat roost is present within T5, then bat mitigation and
compensation can be delivered within the Site and would be secured by EPS licence. Therefore,
the further survey work, outlined in 4.8, could be conditioned via a Grampian (precommencement)
planning condition as part of any planning application granted for the Site,
without jeopardizing the favourable conservation status of any bat species using T5 as a bat roost
(if determined as present by the conditioned surveys). This is reasoned in line with guidelines put
forward by the British Standards Institute (BSI) 5 and CIEEM 6 .
Birds
4.15 The proposals have the potential to harm nesting birds via the removal of scattered shrubs and
one lime (T5). Disturbance of works could also have an effect on nesting birds, works are
proposed within 5m of two nesting bird boxes found on the large horse chestnut tree (T2), which
are suitable for both finches, and sparrows and tits.
4.16 In order to mitigate for this any of the vegetation to be removed and any construction works
occurring within the southern are of the Site should be carried out outside the nesting bird season
(from March-August inclusive). Should it be necessary to remove conduct work during the bird
nesting season, the area must be checked in advance for the presence of bird's nests by a
suitably competent person. If there is no evidence of breeding birds, the works can, starting no
later than 48 hours after inspection, be carried out. If active nests are identified, any of the
vegetation clearance must cease and an appropriate buffer zone must be established around the
5 BSI (2013). Biodiversity – code of practice for planning and development, BS 42020:2013. British Standards Institution, Bristol.
Section 9.24c. Page 36.
6 CIEEM (2017). Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal. 2
nd
Edition. Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental
Management, Winchester. Box 4 – Point C. Page 11.
Ecological Impact Assessment for St.Marys Church, Redcliffe 19 September 2019
Ecological Impact Assessment for St.Marys Church, Redcliffe 20 September 2019