Comment

Representation ID: 2198

Received: 28/09/2021

Respondent: Norfolk County Council - Senior Ecologist

Rating: Green no major ecological constraints identified from desk-top search. Surveys, and biodiversity enhancement in accordance with policy required.
Site comprises a former plant nursery site including grassland, buildings, and glasshouses. MAGIC identifies the presence of priority habitat along the southern boundary (traditional orchard), but this will need to be verified. Hedges are priority habitat so losses should be minimised (use existing access), and as a last resort compensated for. Site within green habitat zones for great crested newts, and in SSSI IRZ but residential development does not trigger consultation with Natural England. Applications for planning consent should be accompanied by a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal/Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) which, together with the mitigation hierarchy, should inform the design. Consideration should be given to delivering Biodiversity Net Gain.