The site has a number of significant ecological features including 3 designated Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) of country importance, a potential LWS, species rich hedgerows and ancient woodland. These are all shown on the Landscape Assessment.
The Developer Site Proposal would destroy both the grassland LWSs and therefore we strongly object to this proposal. LWSs are of county importance and form key components of our ecological network.
The SMBC Illustrative Emerging Concept Masterplan retains the LWSs and more of the hedgerows within the site. We are therefore more supportive of this concept plan. However, it is unclear what the buffer will be between the development parcel and the ancient woodland; as per guidance from the Woodland Trust we recommend that for a development of this scale a minimum of 50m of semi-natural space if provided to buffer the ancient woodland and protect it from harm. In some cases up to 150m buffers have been recommended subject to further information. We therefore recommend that the SMBC concept plan is amended to clearly show a woodland buffer of at least 50m.