An Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey has been undertaken at the site to establish the habitats on the site and the presence of protected and non-protected species. The Phase 1 survey established that the site provides a suitable habitat for some protected species and further surveys should be undertaken to establish if they are present.

The following further surveys have been undertaken with the findings summarised below. Full reports will be submitted as part of the planning application.

Bats

Bat surveys have been undertaken and concluded that habitats within the site, including woodland, scrub and hedgerows, provide foraging and commuting opportunities with eight bat species/genera recorded during the survey work undertaken in 2018 and 2020.

Although areas of woodland and scrub are likely to be lost as a result of the proposed development, garden provision across the site will continue to provide some foraging and commuting opportunities for the local bat assemblage. These garden habitats, along with the creation of water attenuation features would be expected to increase the overall habitat diversity and increase the edge habitat often used by bats

Great-Crested Newts

Great Crested Newt surveys have been undertaken for ponds both on and off the site.

Recent surveys have returned negative results confirming that Great Crested Newts were not using ponds on or off the site. It is considered that Great Crested Newts are no longer present within 250m of the site and any Great Crested Newt present beyond 250m are considered highly unlikely to utilise the habitats on-site.

Reptiles

The reptile presence/absence survey was carried out at an appropriate time of year and under suitable weather conditions. One juvenile grass snake was recorded onsite on one occasion during the 2018 survey period and existing records for this species exist from 2014. It is therefore concluded that a low population of this species occurs within habitats on and directly adjacent to the site.