rockliffe road badger survey report public copy 16dec11€¦ · quality management job no...

Capita Blackburn Business Centre, CastleWay House, 17 Preston New Road, Blackburn BB2 1AU

Tel 01254 273000 Fax 01254 273559 www.capitasymonds.co.uk

Capita Symonds Ltd

www.capitasymonds.co.uk

Rockliffe Road Housing Scheme, Bacup - Badger

Survey Report - Public Report

December 2011

Quality Management

Job No CS/052552-04 Doc No. 01

Project Rockliffe Road Housing Scheme

Location Rockliffe Road, Bacup

Document

Ref Badger Survey Report

File reference S:\Ecology\Projects\Rockliffe Road Bacup Housing Scheme\E9 - Ecology Reports\CS

Ecology Reports in Progress\Badger Report\Rockliffe Road Badger Survey Report

Public copy 16Dec11.doc

Date December 2011

Prepared by Theresa Stewart Signature (for file)

Checked by

Tabatha Boniface CEnv

MIEEM (Principal

Ecologist)

Signature (for file)

Authorised

by

Lee Conroy (Associate

Director) Signature (for file)

1 Summary

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December 2011

Page 1

Contents

1. Summary 2

2. Introduction 5

2.1 Background 5

2.2 Site description 5

2.3 Legal Status 6

2.4 Policy 6

2.5 Personnel & Quality Assurance 6

3. Methods 7

3.1 Survey Objectives 7

3.2 Desk Based Study 7

3.3 Field Survey 7

4. Survey Limitations 9

5. Site Description 10

6. Results 11

6.1 Desk Based Study 11

6.2 Field Survey 12

7. Evaluation and Interpretation 15

7.1 Setts 15

7.2 Foraging 15

7.3 Conclusions 16

8. Advice and Recommendations 17

8.1 Outline Mitigation Strategy 19

9. References 20

Appendices

Appendix A Badger Sett and Activity Map 1

Appendix B Proposed Site Plans 2

1 Summary

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1. Summary

Capita Symonds Ecologists, Blackburn were commissioned in November 2011 by Barnfield

Construction to undertake a badger Meles meles survey at the Rockliffe Road site in Bacup,

Lancashire. Surveys are being undertaken to be presented along with a full planning

application for a phased housing development on the site. The badger survey was

undertaken on 2nd

December 2011 to locate and determine the status of badger setts and

ascertain the level of badger activity within the proposed development site.

The Rockliffe Road site is located to the north of New Line in Bacup, Rossendale. (Central

grid reference SD 86887 22133). The site is currently undeveloped and was formerly a

quarry. It has since been filled and vegetation has colonised the substrate with a mix of

marshy grassland, neutral grassland, tall ruderal vegetation dominated by rosebay

willowherb across the. The site has a right of way across it at the southern end and is used

frequently for recreation and dog walking.

In England, badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which makes

the following actions illegal to wilfully kill, injure, take, possess or cruelly ill-treat a badger, or

to attempt to do so. This includes:

� Interference with a sett by damaging or destroying it;

� Obstruction of access to, or any entrance of, a badger sett; and

� Disturbance of a badger when it is occupying a sett.

The desktop study revealed a good number of existing records of badger setts to the north,

north west and south east of the Rockliffe Road site although no records of badger setts on

the site were recorded. Surveys in November and December 2011 have found evidence of

badgers on the Rockliffe Road proposed development site and on land to the south of the

proposed development site boundary. In total two setts were identified on the Rockliffe Road

site, one main sett with 9 sett entrances associated with bramble scrub in the south of the

site and a single hole annex sett to the west. Evidence found on site suggests the Rockliffe

Road site is used for foraging by badgers and that they travel further south onto adjacent

land to forage in the wider landscape.

In order for the development to proceed in line with the legislation protecting badgers a

series of recommendations are made in this report that includes the following:

� Where possible, destruction of habitats in which badgers setts are found should be

avoided.

� Protection zones should be set up at least 30m around active setts before any work

starts on site. Protective zones should be demarcated using coloured tape or other

visible marking.

� Regular pre-construction badger surveys should be carried out prior to the start of

site activities and throughout the construction programme.

1 Summary

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December 2011

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� The development should be planned to allow badgers to have undeveloped

corridors of suitable habitat which link setts and feeding areas.

� If a significant proportion of a territory is to be lost to the development, and includes

important feeding areas, provision will need to be made within the scheme to

provide foraging habitat to enable the existing badger population to survive.

� Appropriate habitat management should be incorporated within the scheme to

improve the quality of the remaining areas of grassland, thereby increasing the

abundance of earthworms.

� If any mammal excavations or signs of badgers are found throughout the

development works that are likely to cause damage to setts or disturbance to

badgers should be suspended and the structure checked by a suitably experienced

ecologist for badger activity, prior to work re-commencing. Works should not re-

commence until an appropriate strategy for working has been identified and

implemented.

� Suitable habitat planting should be incorporated within the scheme to compensate

for the loss of foraging habitat on the wider site and to provide additional shelter to

compensate for disturbance that is likely to result from site activities.

Additional planting of fruit-bearing species such as the species listed below across

the site but particularly in or near the badger sett area in the south of the site are

recommended to be planted to supplement their foraging resources.

� Fencing of the area around the badger setts in the south of the site between the

housing development and the southern part of the site to exclude public access

and prevent disturbance to the main badger sett. Fencing must not prevent

badgers from gaining access to their usual foraging grounds.

The scheme design being submitted as a planning application has incorporated a “Badger

Conservation Area” around the existing main sett. The latter stages of the development are

likely to require the closure of the annexe sett. Therefore the following will be incorporated

throughout the development:

� A Badger Conservation Area (Open Area 4) has been included within the design plan

and will remain undeveloped throughout the scheme. (Proposed Draft Site Plan & Street

Scene. Appendix B).

� Badger surveys/monitoring will be carried out throughout all phases of the development

to ascertain whether badgers have established new setts, new territories, where their

foraging areas are located and where any additional badgers adjacent to the site may be

present that could pose development constraints.

� In particularly the annexe sett will be surveyed throughout the scheme to identify if it is in

current use. If the sett is in current use when the development is likely to encroach on

this area, a licence from Natural England will be applied for and in place prior to activities

in this area that could lead to destruction of the sett or disturbance to badgers or their

sett.

1 Summary

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� If the surveys find that badgers or their setts are likely to be impacted upon at any stage

of the development a mitigation strategy (including the application for licences if

necessary) will be devised prior to activities commencing.

2 Introduction

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2. Introduction

2.1 BACKGROUND

This report presents the results of a badger survey undertaken at the Rockliffe Road site in

Bacup, Rossendale Lancashire. The survey was undertaken on 2nd

December 2011 to

ascertain the level of badger activity within the school site and to locate and determine status

of badger setts. Surveys are being undertaken to be presented along with a planning

application for a phased housing development that will cover the entire site indicated by the

red line boundary below.

2.2 SITE DESCRIPTION

The Rockliffe Road site is located to the north of New Line in Bacup, Rossendale. (Central

grid reference SD 86887 22133). The Rockliffe Road site is currently undeveloped and was

formerly a quarry. It has since been filled and vegetation has colonised the substrate with a

mix of marshy grassland, neutral grassland, tall ruderal vegetation dominated by rosebay

willowherb across the site with a large stand of Japanese knotweed that encroaches onto the

site boundary from the land adjacent to the east. Some relict heathland and acid grassland

is also present in discrete locations and within marshy grassland in the north west of the site.

Scrub encroachment is starting to colonise some areas particularly around the edges of the

development boundary. The site has a right of way across it at the southern end and is used

frequently for recreation and dog walking.

2 Introduction

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Page 6

2.3 LEGAL STATUS

In England, badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which makes

the following actions illegal to wilfully kill, injure, take, possess or cruelly ill-treat a badger, or

to attempt to do so. This includes:

� Interference with a sett by damaging or destroying it;

� Obstruction of access to, or any entrance of, a badger sett; and

� Disturbance of a badger when it is occupying a sett.

A badger sett is defined in the legislation as ‘any structure or place which displays signs

indicating current use by a badger’. Natural England take this to include seasonally used

setts and indicates that, as a ‘rule of thumb’, if a sett has been used within the 12 months

prior to a development start time, it could be in use when the development starts and should

therefore be taken into account when planning works (English Nature, 2002).

The legislation recognises the fact that in some cases, development would constitute an

offence and allows licences to be granted for certain purposes permitting work, which would

otherwise be illegal. Natural England is the licensing authority for sett interference (including

obstruction, damage or closure) or disturbance to badgers within setts which result from land

development.

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 places a duty on statutory

authorities to have due regard for biodiversity and nature conservation during the course of

their operations.

2.4 POLICY

Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) and its accompanying guidance document “Planning for

Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Guide to Good Practice” ODPM 06/2005 sets

out Government policy on biodiversity and nature conservation and places a duty on

planners to consider impacts on legally protected species as a material consideration when

determining planning applications. PPS9 also promotes sustainable development by

ensuring that developments take account of the role and value of biodiversity and that it is

conserved and enhanced within the development.

Badgers are not listed as Species of Principal Importance under Section 41 of the NERC Act

2006 or the Local BAP, the Lancashire LBAP.

2.5 PERSONNEL & QUALITY ASSURANCE

All ecologists employed by Capita Symonds are members of, or are under application for,

membership of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) and follow

the Institute’s code of professional conduct when undertaking ecological work.

All fieldwork is carried out in accordance with current best practice guidelines. The survey

was undertaken by Tabatha Boniface CEnv MIEEM Principal Ecologist with initial findings

identified by Theresa Stewart, Ecologist during the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey carried

out on 2nd

November 2011.

3 Methods

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3. Methods

3.1 SURVEY OBJECTIVES

The surveys were carried out to fulfil the following objectives:

1. To undertake a desk-based study of the proposed development area in order to

establish whether there were records of badgers or habitats suitable to support

badgers

2. To investigate and examine the Rockliffe Road site for evidence of badger activity and

locate and map badger field signs and setts

3. To assess the impacts of the proposed development on badger populations within the

Rockliffe Road site and recommend mitigation and enhancement proposals that will

ensure, that if adopted, the development will proceed in full compliance with relevant

wildlife and nature conservation legislation.

3.2 DESK BASED STUDY

A desk based study was undertaken in order to support the field survey and to establish

whether there are any existing records of badgers within and around the Rockliffe Road site.

Data searches from the local records centre, Lancashire Environmental Records Centre

(LERN) and the Lancashire Badger Group were consulted for existing records of badgers in

the area.

3.3 FIELD SURVEY

The badger survey was undertaken on 2nd

December 2011. All accessible areas within the

site boundary were surveyed. The survey was conducted in accordance with the

methodologies cited in ‘Surveying Badgers’ (Cresswell, Harris & Jefferies. 1989). All signs of

badger activity such as setts, worn pathways, breaches through boundary fences or hedges,

bedding trails, guard hairs (in spoil or on vegetation/fences), footprints, snuffle holes and

used latrines were searched for and recorded where found.

3 Methods

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3.3.1 BADGER SETT CLASSIFICATION

Badger setts have been broadly categorised into four main types. These classifications are

described in Table 1 and have been taken from Cresswell, Harris & Jefferies (1989).

However, these classifications are not definitive, and have therefore been adapted when

classifying to suit the particular characteristics of the setts identified during the survey.

Sett Type Description

Main Sett These usually, but not always, have many active and inactive

entrances with large spoil heaps. Well-worn pathways indicate large

amount of badger activity.

Annexe Sett These also have many well-used entrances and are linked to the main

sett by worn paths. Usually 50–150m from the main sett. Not always

in use.

Subsidiary Sett These have a variable number of entrances and are not connected to

other setts by obvious paths. Usually at least 50m from a main sett.

Not always in use.

Outlier Setts Usually with 1 or 2 holes and no obvious path. Often only used

sporadically.

Table 1 Classification of Badger Setts

The potential impacts on badgers as a result of land use change are assessed within this

report based on reference to standard texts relating to badger ecology and surveying.

4 Survey Limitations

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4. Survey Limitations

4.1 Field observations were limited to two visits in November and December 2011 which does not

account for badger activity throughout the year.

4.2 Field observations were limited to the Rockliffe Road site within the red line boundary and up

to the boundary with New Line (A6066 road) only and not the surrounding areas. Therefore

the full extent of badger activity and suitable badger habitat in the surrounding areas was not

fully investigated.

4.3 The weather on days prior to and on the day of the December badger survey was very wet

with heavy rainfall and hail. Therefore, evidence of recent badger activity such as hairs,

latrines and bedding could have been washed away.

4.4 The wider site is heavily trampled by walkers and dogs which is likely to obscure signs of

badger activity where these factors occur.

4.5 Grid references were taken to identify key features on site. However, it should be noted that

these were within an accuracy of ±5 m.

5 Site Description

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5. Site Description

The Rockliffe Road site is located in a semi rural location near the centre of Bacup,

Rossendale, Lancashire (central grid reference SD 86887 22133). The site is approximately

3 hectares in size and is currently open, undeveloped land used frequently for recreation and

dog walking.

The site is bordered to the north east by Rockliffe Road, to the north by residential

properties, to the west by the River Irwell and an industrial estate. A public footpath runs

along the south east boundary of the site and bisects the site to the south beyond which

residential properties, open land and a school are located.

The site is characterised by steep slopes leading down to the River Irwell in the west of the

site. The site comprises a mosaic of habitats including relict heathland, acid grassland,

species-poor unimproved grassland, marshy grassland, tall ruderal vegetation with scattered

scrub and trees across the site.

Figure 1: View across north western side of Rockliffe Road site

Figure 2: View from south to north of Rockliffe Road site

6 Results

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6. Results 6.1 DESK BASED STUDY

Existing Records of Badgers

Information obtained from the local records centre, LERN, comprised the following records of

badger setts within a 2 km radius of the site:

• Badger sett at SD857 232 Reaps Moss proposed windfarm area 1.4 km north west of

the Rockliffe Road site dated 1998, and

• Badger sett at SD8841 2314 Pat Moss and Whitegate Farm fields 1.9 km north east of

the site dated 2000.

Information obtained from Lancashire Badger Group identifies 28 badger setts within a 2 km

radius of the survey site. No existing records exist for badgers setts on the Rockliffe Road

site. The nearest existing record of a badger sett lies 0.51 km north of the Rockliffe Road

site associated with woodland adjacent to Market Street, Bacup. The second nearest record

of a badger sett lies on land off Rochdale Road 0.59 km south east of the Rockliffe Road

site. The badger sett records illustrate that there are several known badger setts around the

Rockliffe Road site particularly to the north west and south east.

Sett ID Public Grid Reference Distance to

Survey Point

422 SD8622 0.51km

618 SD8721 0.59km

610 SD8622 0.63km

620 SD8622 0.70km

439 SD8721 0.71km

596 SD8721 0.81km

440 SD8522 1.12km

385 SD8721 1.13km

595 SD8522 1.21km

619 SD8522 1.23km

475 SD8522 1.46km

477 SD8522 1.49km

392 SD8522 1.50km

173 SD8522 1.51km

391 SD8522 1.53km

419 SD8623 1.55km

176 SD8523 1.56km

474 SD8523 1.58km

6 Results

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Suitable Badger Habitat

A number of habitats suitable for badger foraging and sett construction were identified during

the Extended Phase 1 Habitat survey on and adjacent to the site in the form of grassland,

scrub, particularly bramble scrub and vegetated embankments that lie on a varied

topography.

6.2 FIELD SURVEY

Evidence of badger activity was observed on site in the form of pathways, snuffle holes and

two different sett types. The majority of the sett entrances were found in the steep side of the

slope at the south of the development site (pictured below) at SD 8622.

Figure 3: Slope containing the main sett with 9 entrances

Sett entrances were largely obscured by bramble scrub that covers the majority of this slope.

Three sett entrances at the top of the slope are less well camouflaged and are found

beneath the trees at the top.

A total of 9 sett entrances were identified in this slope at the time of the badger survey.

Badger hair was found in spoil outside one of the sett entrances and grass bedding was

found in spoil outside one of the sett entrances on the top of this slope.

6 Results

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Figure 4: Bedding outside one of the sett entrances

An additional annex sett is located to the west of this slope at SD 8622. The sett entrance

faces west and is largely obscured from view by tall rosebay willowherb vegetation.

The wider site is heavily trampled by walkers and dogs which is likely to have obscured signs

of badger activity across the whole site. However, mammal pathways were identified

between the sett entrances on the slope with the main sett. In addition, pathways were

identified on the wider Rockliffe Road site, outside the development site boundary, but along

the embankment bordering New Line road. There were also pathways running in a south to

north direction from this embankment towards the culverted Trough Sykes stream.

All evidence of badgers is concentrated in the south and south west of the site.

In total 2 badger setts were identified within the site boundary. Table 2 categorises each sett

and provides a brief description.

6 Results

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Summary of badger setts found at Rockliffe Road site:

Sett Status Description and

Evidence

Approximate Location

A Main Sett Nine hole main sett. Most

holes had spoil heaps

outside indicative of

badgers. One hole with a

double entrance at the

base of a tree at the top of

the slope looks the most

worn and most likely to be

in current use. Another

hole on the steep slope

showed signs of more

recent use and badger

hairs were found in the

spoil outside the sett.

The remainder of the holes

appeared not to be in

current use with leaf litter

having settled in the sett

entrances. One hole was

obscured in this way but

also had grass bedding

lying outside.

No latrines were found on

site. Several snuffle holes

were identified as indicated

on the map in Appendix A.

SD 8622

B Annexe Sett One hole sett. Relatively

fresh spoil heap evident

outside hole although

grass beginning to colonise

spoil and no evidence of

recent use such as guard

hairs present.

SD 8622

7 Evaluation and Interpretation

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7. Evaluation and Interpretation

7.1 SETTS

The desk study has revealed existing records of badger setts associated with woodland to

the north of the Rockliffe Road site and a good number of records of badger setts in fields to

the north west of the Rockliffe Road site and to the east and south east on open land

between residential housing. It would appear that badgers are well recorded in this part of

Bacup.

Two setts were observed on site during field survey; one main sett with nine sett entrances

and one, one holed, annexe sett. The majority of the sett entrances did not display recent

use by badgers (although this could be due to the time of year and lack of badger activity

during December); however badger hair was found at one sett entrance and the sett

entrances on the top of the slope appeared to have been more recently used.

The tree and scrub covered embankments on the Rockliffe Road site and adjacent to it

provide ideal opportunities for badgers to excavate.

From the evidence observed during the field surveys in November and December it is

evident that at least one social group of badgers are resident within the Rockliffe Road site

boundary. The setts at the Rockliffe Road site could be linked to populations off site or form

a discrete population that rely solely on the proposed development site. Ongoing monitoring

will assist in identifying the nature of the population on the Rockliffe Road site and its

relationship to other setts in the surrounding area.

7.2 FORAGING

Snuffle holes and signs of pathways in the south of the proposed development site and

outside the proposed development boundary to the south indicate that badgers are using

both sites for foraging and are likely to be travelling further south to forage.

During the December survey there was a general lack of latrines, dung pits and fresh

excavated spoil observed. This is likely to be due to the December period being the least

active time of year for badgers when they are generally less active, conserving energy over

the winter months when they may not forage as regularly, thereby leaving fewer signs of

activity.

It could also indicate that this badger population is linked to those off site as dung pits are

often used as territory markers between distinct badger territories and the lack of this

evidence could demonstrate that this is an outlier sett from a population off site. However,

there were some signs of recent activity during the November habitat survey and the

December badger survey to indicate that badgers are likely to be currently using the setts on

site to some degree. It will be necessary for ongoing monitoring of the setts to be carried out

throughout the development to ascertain levels of activity and size of the resident badger

population so that working methods and mitigation can be appropriately designed.

7 Evaluation and Interpretation

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7.3 CONCLUSIONS

It is considered that the Rockliffe Road site is of high importance to at least one social group

of badgers. It is also likely that there is some relationship between the badgers on the

Rockliffe Road site and those found outside the site boundaries in the surrounding

landscape.

Therefore, with regard to badger conservation, it is considered that the site is an integral

resource to badger populations in the area and has moderate value for badgers. Therefore it

is recommended that the south eastern corner of the site be excluded from development

works and activities that could disturb badgers or their setts.

It is also considered that the grassland and scrub within the proposed development site

boundary and that off site to the south of the proposed development boundary, forms part of

a foraging resource for local badger populations. It will therefore be necessary to ensure

sufficient habitats are retained or recreated to support the badger population found on site.

8 Advice and Recommendations

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8. Advice and Recommendations

It is advised that badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which

makes it illegal to kill, injure or take badgers or to interfere with a badger sett. Interference

with a sett includes blocking tunnels, obstructing access to sett entrances, damaging the sett

in any way or disturbing a badger when it is occupying a badger sett.

Without mitigation the development of the whole Rockliffe Road site is likely to affect

badgers and their setts through the following impacts:

� Disturbance as a result of ground works, construction activity and post-construction

use.

� Damage to or loss of habitats where the setts are currently found, and

� Loss of foraging areas.

Work that may disturb badgers whilst occupying a sett is illegal without a licence and

schemes must be designed in such a way as to avoid impacts to badger setts wherever

possible. Where there is suitable justification and an impact to badgers or their setts cannot

be resolved by alternative means, licences can be granted by Natural England.

As a matter of good practice and in order to minimise impacts on badger populations, the

following recommendations should be followed:

� Where possible, destruction of habitats in which badgers setts are found should be

avoided.

� Protection zones should be set up at least 30m around active setts before any work

starts on site. Protective zones should be demarcated using coloured tape or other

visible marking.

� Regular pre-construction badger surveys to determine the status of the setts within

the Rockliffe Road site and locate any new badger excavations should be carried

out prior to the start of site activities and throughout the construction programme.

As the development at the Rockliffe Road site is to be phased surveys will be

necessary throughout the project to ascertain if badgers are establishing new setts

on or adjacent to the site that could be impacted upon by construction activities or if

badgers are no longer using setts on site.

It may be necessary to carry out bait-marking survey which is a widely used

technique for determining the territorial configuration of social groups of badgers.

Bait laced with indigestible plastic pellets is fed to badger social groups, and the

markers are identified in subsequent defecations. Feeding a unique colour and/or

shape of pellet to each social group allows the origin of droppings to be assigned.

This method is particularly suited to badgers because they mark their territorial

boundaries with communal latrines.


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The rationale behind this method of further survey for this development would be to

determine if the badger social group located within the site would be able to extend

into further foraging habitats which are not currently used by another badger social

group, following the loss of foraging resources within the Rockliffe Road site.

� Badgers use well-established paths to travel between setts and feeding areas in

their territory. The development should be planned to allow badgers to have

undeveloped corridors of suitable habitat which link setts and feeding areas.

� If a significant proportion of a territory is to be lost to the development, and includes

important feeding areas, provision will need to be made within the scheme to

provide foraging habitat to enable the existing badger population to survive.

� Appropriate habitat management should be incorporated within the scheme to

improve the quality of the remaining areas of grassland, thereby increasing the

abundance of earthworms.

� If any mammal excavations are found during routine badger surveys or during any

site works, works that are likely to cause damage to setts or disturbance to badgers

should be suspended and the structure checked by a suitably experienced

ecologist for badger activity, prior to work re-commencing. Works should not re-

commence until an appropriate strategy for working has been identified and

implemented.

� Suitable habitat planting should be incorporated within the scheme to compensate

for the loss of foraging habitat on the wider site and to provide additional shelter to

compensate for disturbance that is likely to result from site activities.

Additional planting of fruit-bearing species such as the species listed below across

the site but particularly in or near the badger sett area in the south of the site are

recommended to be planted to supplement their foraging resources.

� Bramble Rubus fruticosus � Elder Sambucus nigra � Oak Quercus petraea or Quercus robur � Bird cherry Prunus padus � Guelder rose Viburnum opulus � Hazel Corylus avellana � Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna � Dog rose Rosa canina

� Fencing of the area around the badger setts in the south of the site between the

housing development and the southern part of the site to exclude public access

and prevent disturbance to the main badger sett. Fencing must not prevent

badgers from gaining access to their usual foraging grounds.


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8.1 OUTLINE MITIGATION STRATEGY

In order to address likely impacts of the housing development on the badger setts on site the

following has been incorporated in the present scheme design:

• A Badger Conservation Area (Open Area 4) has been included within the design plan

and will remain undeveloped throughout the scheme. (Proposed Draft Site Plan & Street

Scene. Appendix B).

• This has been allocated to retain the main sett (A) in the south of the site and to

conserve foraging habitat around the sett and links to the wider landscape south, south

west and south east of the Rockliffe Road housing scheme site.

• The current scheme layout will necessitate the closure of the annex sett (B) in the later

stages of the development. This sett will be surveyed throughout the scheme to identify

if it is in current use. If the findings of the surveys identify that the sett is in use, a licence

from Natural England will be applied for and in place prior to activities in this area that

could lead to destruction of the sett or disturbance to badgers or their sett.

• Badger surveys will be carried out throughout all phases of the development to ascertain

whether badgers have established new setts, new territories, where their foraging areas

are located and where any additional badgers adjacent to the site may be present that

could pose development constraints.

• If the surveys find that badgers or their setts are likely to be impacted upon at any stage

of the development a mitigation strategy (including the application for licences if

necessary) will be devised prior to activities commencing.

9 References

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9. References

� Cresswell, P. Harris, S. & Jefferies, D. J. (1989) Surveying Badgers

� Highways Agency (2001) Design Manual for Roads and Bridges; Volume 10 Section 4 Part 2

� Natural England (2002) Badgers and Development – a guide to Best Practice and Licensing.

Version 12/11

� Natural England (2009) Guidance on ‘Current Use’ in the definition of a Badger Sett June

2009

� ODPM (2005) Planning Policy Statement 9 Biological and Geological Conservation.

Appendix A Badger Sett and Activity Map

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Page Appendix A1


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Page Appendix A1


See Confidential Records

Appendix B Proposed Site Plans

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December 2011

Page Appendix B2



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December 2011

Page Appendix B1

rockliffe road badger survey report public copy 16dec11€¦ · quality management job no...

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