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BOC Immingham Dissolved Acetylene Project Environmental Statement: Vol. 2 Main Text
17.32 Policy E2: Estuary Related Land of the Adopted Local Plan restricts the use of land subject to this
designation, which includes the Application Site. The policy also emphasises the need for
development within the estuarine area to deliver no adverse effects on the Humber Flats and
Marshes, Pyewipe and Cleethorpes Coast SSSI, SPA and Ramsar site (as it was then titled now it
is known as the Humber Estuary SSSI, SPA, SAC and Ramsar site). The provisions of Policy E2
are supported by Policy NH1: Sites of International and National Nature Conservation Importance,
which delivers a presumption against development that would result in adverse effects (either
directly or indirectly) on the conservation value of a designated or potential SSSI, a Ramsar site, a
SPA or a SAC. It states that if adverse effects are predicted, the development will only be
considered if the need outweighs the special interest of the site. It is also worth noting that the
HRA that has been prepared to support the forthcoming LDF indicates that the development of
new employment land is viewed as a source of risk for the Humber Estuary SSSI, SPA SAC and
Ramsar site and that there remains ‘concern that there will be conflicts between the promotion of
the expansion of employment land and the integrity of the Natura 2000 and Ramsar site.’
17.33 The requirement for development proposals to be mindful of potential effects on biodiversity is
applicable to species and habitats across North East Lincolnshire. A series of policies includes
reference for the need to build mitigation into proposals as part of the design process and
incorporate mechanisms for enforcement (Policy NH2: Sites of Local Nature Conservation
Importance and Value; Policy NH3: Protected Species and emerging LDF Policy DM9:
Safeguarding and Enhancing the Natural and Built Environment). In addition, the forthcoming LDF
includes policies that seek to safeguard and enhance the quality of the natural and built
environment in a more general sense (Policy DM9: Safeguarding and Enhancing the Natural and
Built Environment; Policy DM10: Adapting to Climate Change; Policy SO5: Built and Natural
Environment; and Policy SP2: Sustainable Development Principles).
Conformity of Proposed Development
17.34 The specialist assessment of potential ecological impacts arising from the Project is reported in
Chapter 10 of this ES, supported by the preparation of a HRA Stage 2 AA Report 7 (see Appendix
10A). The work undertaken indicates that the key designated features of relevance to this Project
are the Humber Estuary SPA, SAC and Ramsar Site, all of which are underpinned by the Humber
Estuary SSSI designation.
17.35 Data have been sourced from records to identify the baseline characteristics of the Application
Site, which have been explored further through the completion of an Extended Phase 1 Habitat
Survey by suitably qualified ecologists in April 2011 (see Chapter 10 for full details). In summary,
no protected SPA bird species were noted on the site; Middle Drain supports water voles; and
although habitat suitable for great created newts was identified initially, by the time of survey the
water bodies had dried up, rendering them unsuitable for the species and further surveys were
aborted.
17.36 No habitats of importance to nature conservation are to be lost as a result of proposed works. The
development area consists primarily of arable land with a negligible value to nature conservation.
The land take will be minimal with site compounds constructed within the redline boundary; with
only one additional access route constructed off South Marsh Road.
17.37 The ecological assessment concludes that there will be no adverse effects on the qualifying
interest features of the Humber Estuary SPA, SAC and Ramsar Site, or on other habitats or
notable species (see Chapter 10 for full details).
17.38 Although significant negative impacts as a result of construction activities are not predicted a
COMP has been proposed (which would be part of the CEMP) to enable the determination of
whether working practices on site require amending to reduce the number of disturbance events
(if applicable) and thus minimise negative impacts.
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