Meeting documents

To consider the attached report.

Contact Officer: Paul Holton 01296 585947

The Committee received a report which provided information and an update on the changes since the 2015 report. The report highlighted species which were protected, in need of management and at risk of decline, and showed how the council was managing protected species, and how AVDC policy is enabling habitat conservation.

The report set out the key areas of work that the AVDC Ecologist delivered to meet the growth agenda, health and well-being, and community engagement objectives. It set out how the council protected species and habitats through the planning process to ensure no net loss and where possible net gains to biodiversity in accordance with National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The report also discussed how species and habitats are further enhanced and protected through the various partnership projects that exist through the support of the Ecologist.

The Committee heard that since 2015 one Ecologist had been responsible is for providing advice regarding all planning applications that had an impact on ecology. These applications varied between a two storey extension to major developments and infrastructure projects such as HS2. The AVDC Ecologist reviewed nearly 1,000 planning applications every year. The Ecologist also provided guidance on policy to ensure the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan provided protection for nature across the Vale.

Of particular note was the success in the negotiation and design of the Kingsbrook development. The developer, Barratts, was working with Officers and the RSPB towards biodiversity enhancement. Kingsbrook was expected to be a new benchmark for housing development in this respect. The ecological measures at Kingsbrook include:

•           120 hectares wetland nature reserve created managed by the RSBP

•           A substantial visitor centre managed by RSPB servicing the nature reserve

•           A national Black Poplar trail

•           Native trees throughout the development

•           Integrated bat and bird boxes in all appropriate buildings

•           70% of the development will be green space primarily managed for nature

•           conservation

•           A Sand Martin bank

•           Over 50 new ponds

•           Biodiversity Acton Plan priority habitat created throughout

•           Ground breaking Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems designed to be functional and benefit biodiversity

•           Fruit trees in over 50% of the gardens

•           Fencing designed to be permeable to wildlife

•           Wildlife crossings under roads

•           Gardens designed to be wildlife friendly

The Committee was informed that volunteer support played a key role with the AVDC Ecologist, generating 2,800 volunteer days in 2015. These groups carried out practical conservation work, biological surveys, and liaised with landowners and scientific studies. The groups were relatively independent but relied on support and guidance from the Ecologist. The volunteers had also undertaken conservation management through planting wildflower meadows, hedges and trees as well as hedge laying. These benefitted the environment, as well as users and passers-by. In addition, these were services that AVDC would otherwise have to pay for. Recent projects included Riverside Walk and The Coppice.

Members sought further information from the AVDC Ecologist and were informed:-

(i)         the number of bird boxes in Kingsbrook could be increased but depends on cost.  The number of Swift boxes had increased from 600 to 800, at a cost of £15 per new box.  The intention was to provide even more boxes and bring the unit cost down. Additionally, it was planned to push developments of over ten houses to include bird boxes.

(ii)        developments were being approved based on their reduced impact on wildlife. In each development, AVDC tried to create wildlife corridors to allow species to move and encourage diversity. Kingsbrook would be the largest European Black Poplar woodland.

(iii)       the planting of fruit trees in over 50% of the gardens and the use of permeable fences had been confirmed by Barratts which had led to the RSPB endorsing the development.  The fruit trees formed part of the Landscape Master Plan and were covered by the condition granted for this planning application.  As such, the trees needed to be retained for at least 5 years and any trees removed during this period would need to be replaced.  Each new household moving into the properties would be provided with a Welcome Pack with information from the Developer and the RSPB explaining the ecological aspect of the gardens.  It was hoped that by getting residents to ‘buy-in’ to the idea then they would keep and maintain these features.

(iv)       from an AVDC Commercial perspective, it was understood how marketable our activity was and it was the intention to work with Communication and Marketing to do this. The AVDC Peregrine Falcon Project was currently being viewed worldwide. AVDC had a commercial nursery to supply Black Poplar trees to developers and Limecart were looking to supply permeable fences and bird boxes.

(v)       work was still being undertaken regarding ecological mitigating circumstances for HS2. The HS2 route would run through Bernwood Forest which was the habitat for Europe’s rarest mammal, the Bechstein bat. The male and female species lived in separate parts of the forest and the HS2 line would cut them off. The bats did not fly over open land so there was the danger of the population dropping and/or moving location (as seen in Germany). There were 600 planning applications expected in future relating to HS2.

Members also commented on how well put together the report was, commended its contents and the work carried out and look forward to future updates.

RESOLVED –

(1)          That the Ecologist be thanked for attending the meeting and briefing Members on the ecology and biodiversity work being done by the council.

(2)          The contents of the report and the achievements to support biodiversity and planning and benefits to the Vale be noted.