Ein cyf/Our ref: SE/2013/116461/04
Eich cyf/Your ref: DC/2013/00368
Rivers House
St. Mellons Business Park,
Fortran Road, St. Mellons,
Cardiff, CF3 0EY.
Ebost/Email:
[email protected]
Ffôn/Phone: 0300 0653098
Monmouthshire County Council
Planning Section
County Hall
Rhadyr
Usk
Monmouthshire
NP15 1GA
Dyddiad/Date:
14 August 2014
Annwyl Syr/Madam / Dear Sir/Madam
OUTLINE APPLICATION FOR UP TO 370 DWELLINGS AND 6.5 HECTARES OF
EMPLOYMENT (B1 & B8) AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE WITH ALL
MATTERS RESERVED EXCEPT FOR ACCESS AT LAND AT WONASTOW ROAD,
MONMOUTH, MONMOUTHSHIRE
Thank you for your referring the amended plans consultation for the above development,
which we received on 1 August 2014. We also received a copy of the Drainage Strategy,
by FMW Consultancy, dated July 2014, on 5 August 2014.
We acknowledge submission of the following documents:
 Dormouse Addendum – Mitigation Strategy 13 May 2014 by Soltys Brewster, Ref
E1347401/R02.
 Strategic Landscape and Ecology Framework Mitigation Plan, Figure no 1349901Pre-GA-17 Rev F, June 2014
 Strategic Landscape and Ecology Framework Mitigation Plan, Supplementary
Hedge Detail Figure no 1349901-Pre-GA-18 Rev E
 Strategic Landscape and Ecology Framework Mitigation Plan, Supplementary
Hedge Detail Figure no 1349901-Pre-GA-18 Rev B
European Protected Species
In our responses dated 26 June 2013, 4 February and 16 April 2014 we raised concerns
relating to the conservation of dormice, a European Protected Species. The additional
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Croesewir gohebiaeth yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg
Correspondence welcomed in Welsh and English
information supplied by the applicant has revised the previous information on dormice.
These revisions include the nature and planting of green corridors and confirmation that
such corridors will not lie within residential curtilages (or demarcate property boundaries).
This provides us with enough certainty that if full planning permission is granted, there will
be no likely detriment to the favourable conservation status of dormice.
Therefore we have no objection to the outline planning application subject to
appropriate planning conditions and legal agreements being secured to any outline
permission granted. Further details of these requirements are set out below.
Dormice
The submission of the ‘Dormouse Addendum – Mitigation Strategy’ is welcomed, however
there are several aspects which will need to be developed before we could consider
granting a licence and some aspects which will require updating to ensure they are
consistent with the recently submitted plans. We advise this can be secured through a
planning condition as the principle has been established. We therefore advise the
following condition:
Condition1
No development shall take place until a comprehensive dormouse mitigation strategy,
which builds upon the principles set out in the submitted dormouse mitigation strategy
(dated 13 May 2014 by Soltys Brewster, Ref E1347401/R02) is agreed in writing with the
local planning authority. The scheme shall be implemented as agreed.
Reason
To protect dormice habitats and maintain the connectivity of these habitats.
Informative
We advise the applicant that particular attention is given to the details of the phasing and
planting of additional hedgerow habitat and revisions to the text to reflect the planting of
the hedgerow buffer with native thorny hedge as indicated in the recently submitted
drawings. Note that we advise that new planting underpinning the mitigation approach
should be carried out in advance of any site clearance. We would be happy to discuss this
further with yourselves and the applicant
Particular reference to the following drawings should be made in any decision notice:
o Strategic Landscape and Ecology Framework Mitigation Plan, Figure no
1349901-Pre-GA-17 Rev F, June 2014
o Strategic Landscape and Ecology Framework Mitigation Plan,
Supplementary Hedge Detail Figure no 1349901-Pre-GA-18 Rev E
o Strategic Landscape and Ecology Framework Mitigation Plan,
Supplementary Hedge Detail Figure no 1349901-Pre-GA-18 Rev B
Bats
As indicated in previous advice to you, the development will result in the loss of a day roost
for common pipistrelle bats, a European Protected Species. We therefore advise the
following condition is secured:
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Page 2 of 4
Condition 2
No development shall take place until a method statement setting out how bats will be
conserved is agreed in writing with the local planning authority. The scheme shall be
implemented as agreed.
Reasons
To ensure the favourable conservation status of Bats will be maintained.
The applicant should note that the provision of a method statement is not an additional
requirement of them, since one will be required for a European Protected Species licence
application.
Lighting
A lighting scheme will need to be secured through a planning condition to ensure that
lighting during construction, any phasing of development and the operational phase is
consistent with the requirement of wildlife, particularly dormice and bats. We advise the
following condition:
Condition 3
No development shall take place until a lighting scheme is submitted to and agreed in
writing with the local planning authority. The scheme shall include measures to monitor lux
levels and address all phases of the development (including post construction). The
scheme shall include provisions for remedial actions to be secured where problems are
identified through the monitoring. The scheme shall be implemented as agreed.
Reasons
To ensure no detriment from lighting to European Protected Species.
Habitat Management
We advise that the preparation and implementation of a robust habitat management plan is
secured through a Section 106 agreement for the remaining habitats and creation of new
habitats. The habitat management plan should include details of long term management
of hedgerows, wildlife corridors (including new plantings and relevant timings of these) and
other agreed ecological areas. A monitoring scheme should be included in the agreement
to ensure the efficacy of the management plan. If the monitoring scheme indicates that the
management plan is not effective then provision for consequential amendments to the
management of habitats should be agreed. This should be written into any agreement.
Details of financial measures and responsibilities for the management and any
maintenance should also be included.
We welcome further discussions with your Authority on these details.
European Protected Species Licence
We advise that the applicant seeks a European Protected Species licence from Natural
Resources Wales under Regulation 53(2) of the Conservation of Habitats and Species
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Page 3 of 4
Regulations 2010 (as amended) before any works commence on site that may impact
upon dormice or bats. Please note that the granting of planning permission does not
negate the need to obtain a licence.
Surface Water Drainage
We have reviewed the drainage strategy produced by FMW Consultancy dated July 2014.
The strategy concludes that due to ground conditions infiltration measures cannot be
considered as part of the surface water drainage strategy solution for the proposed
development. It proposes a shallow storage basin that will provide attenuation during
extreme rainfall events. We also note the need for a similar storage volume for the
commercial area. We have no further comments based on the volume calculations stated
in the strategy. However, it is important that the strategy is agreed with both your land
drainage department and the Internal Drainage Board and that it informs the detailed
design of the proposed development.
Additional comments
In our letter dated 4 February 2014, reference SE/2013/116461/02, we provided advice to
your Authority on the flood consequences assessment (FCA) produced by URS, dated
September 2013, reference 47067832. Based on the findings of this FCA, we requested
that a condition be attached to any planning permission to ensure that no built
development is located within the areas of Formal Open space and Strategic Open Space
as shown on the concept masterplan, drawing number 500_004 Rev C, dated 15 April
2013, which was included in the aforementioned FCA. We now note the submission of a
revised Illustrative masterplan drawing number 500_004 Rev H, dated 9 January 2014.
We would take this opportunity to highlight that the aforementioned FCA does not contain
the latest masterplan drawing.
We confirm that the advice contained in our letters of 4 February 2014 and 16 April 2014 in
relation to flood risk and wet habitats still applies.
If you have any queries on the above please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yn gywir / Yours faithfully
Mrs Claire McCorkindale
Ymgynghorydd Cynllunio Datblygu/Development Planning Advisor
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
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