Client: YMD Boon
Site Name: Castle Donington College, Mount Pleasant, Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2LN
Site Type: Mixed-use Commercial Development
Services Provided: Arboricultural Impact Assessment, Arboricultural Method Statement, Biodiversity Enhancement Plan, Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) and Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP)
Elton Ecology were required for multiple services throughout the Castle Donington College development.
The findings within the PEA showed one building and one tree assessed as having a low suitability for roosting bats. While historic bird nests were observed within the woodland, and one building offered a suitable habitat for nesting birds. Finally, the site was suggested to be a suitable habitat for commuting and foraging hedgehogs. With this, Elton Ecology were able to make recommendations to accommodate the development while navigating the ecological constraints.
The recommendations to enhance the site for wildlife consisted of two bird boxes and two bat boxes which would be installed on retained trees, with the bat boxes positioned in the southern area to provide roosting opportunities.
The planning application was approved subject to conditions for a CEMP, AIA, Arboricultural Method Statement and Biodiversity Enhancement Plan being required to support the planning process and detail tree protection measures.
A total of six individual trees and two groups of trees were surveyed for this appraisal. Through the assessment, four trees were categorised as moderate quality, two trees and two groups were categorised as low quality. The Arboricultural Impact Assessment confirmed that no trees require removal to facilitate this proposal. The Local Council had no objections to and found the conclusions acceptable.
Elton Ecology also provided the CEMP for the client to help discharge this condition. Within this, Elton Ecology recommended that a qualified Ecologist was to be appointed as an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW), which enabled the Local Ecology Officer to find the report acceptable and had no objection.
Planning consent was secured as the Local Planning Authority granted planning permission to Castle Donington High School and Community College.
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Elton Ecology are a Registered Practice of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), committing us to industry leading standards of professional practice. We deliver the best outcomes for our clients and reduce risk for planning applications.
