Project Details.

A residential housing project to supply over 300 homes of which approximately 50% were earmarked to be Social Housing.

The dwellings comprised of a mixture of 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 2-5 bedroom houses.

The natural environment had been promoted throughout the project with the existing trees and lakes enhanced to ensure homes have strong frontages overlooking blue or green infrastructure.

Accessible open spaces, cycle and footpath networks and green swathes break up the linear nature of the site, connecting the woodland and lakes to the north with the open countryside and linear park to the south.

The project will achieve biodiversity net gain in relation to habitats and hedgerows, with a net gain increase of 10% for habitat space and a 146% increase for hedgerows. A significant net gain in tree numbers and species diversity will add to the age range of trees in the local area, as well as enhancing the tree cover on the site.

Site Details.

The site covered approximately 38 hectares and was comprised of 12 different habitats including arable, amenity grassland, semi-improved grassland, hedgerows and a small number of waterbodies. Surrounding woodland comprised mainly of Oak, Alder, Ash, Maple and Willow.

5 disused existing buildings were also present.

Responsibilities and Work Undertaken.

Walkover surveys conducted to assess suitability for Bat, Badger, Reptile & Amphibian (including GCN) , Water vole and Dormouse.

Additional PRF surveys conducted on existing buildings and trees and a HSI was conducted for GCN.

Subsequent presence/absence surveys conducted for bats and a suitable strategy put in place for reptile and amphibian translocation.