Biodiversity

The scheme will create new and improved areas for wildlife (including fish), as follows:

  • Lowering of parts of the floodplain at Fisherton Recreation ground to create a new channel and the creation of wetland habitat including wet woodland.
  • Removal of barriers (e.g. Swimming Pool Gate) in the River Avon and Summerlock Stream to improve passage for eels and migration for fish.
  • Widened River Avon corridor through The Maltings and Central car park area with a multi- stage channel incorporating a variety of depths, dimensions and gradients, to maximise the diversity of wetland wildlife.

These new and improved habitats will be in keeping with the surroundings, and have been carefully designed to improve habitat connectivity and biodiversity. Although we have designed the scheme to avoid impacting on wildlife wherever possible, the scheme is likely to result in some temporary loss during construction.

Changes will affect protected species including nesting birds, bats that use the trees along the river corridor for foraging and roosting, water voles that have burrows in the banks of the River Avon and otters, which are known to use the scheme area. We have therefore included measures to avoid or minimise risks to them. Prior to construction of the widened river corridor in The Maltings and Central Car Park area, it will be necessary for us to trap water voles in the River Avon, and relocate them to another suitable wetland habitat site.

Upon completion of the scheme, the creation of new and improved wetland and woodland habitat will provide improved foraging opportunities for water voles, otters, bats and birds, as well as benefitting many other species. Overall we will create an increase in biodiversity and habitat.

We will use good practice procedures for working near water to prevent pollution that could affect wildlife or their habitats.

We have assessed the impacts of the scheme on wildlife through an Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA). These impacts and their management or mitigation are recorded in a statutory Environmental Statement as part of the planning application. We have also produced a Habitat Regulations Assessment to specifically assess the impacts of the scheme on the River Avon Special Area of Conservation, an internationally designated site for nature conservation.



The scheme will create new and improved areas for wildlife (including fish), as follows:

  • Lowering of parts of the floodplain at Fisherton Recreation ground to create a new channel and the creation of wetland habitat including wet woodland.
  • Removal of barriers (e.g. Swimming Pool Gate) in the River Avon and Summerlock Stream to improve passage for eels and migration for fish.
  • Widened River Avon corridor through The Maltings and Central car park area with a multi- stage channel incorporating a variety of depths, dimensions and gradients, to maximise the diversity of wetland wildlife.

These new and improved habitats will be in keeping with the surroundings, and have been carefully designed to improve habitat connectivity and biodiversity. Although we have designed the scheme to avoid impacting on wildlife wherever possible, the scheme is likely to result in some temporary loss during construction.

Changes will affect protected species including nesting birds, bats that use the trees along the river corridor for foraging and roosting, water voles that have burrows in the banks of the River Avon and otters, which are known to use the scheme area. We have therefore included measures to avoid or minimise risks to them. Prior to construction of the widened river corridor in The Maltings and Central Car Park area, it will be necessary for us to trap water voles in the River Avon, and relocate them to another suitable wetland habitat site.

Upon completion of the scheme, the creation of new and improved wetland and woodland habitat will provide improved foraging opportunities for water voles, otters, bats and birds, as well as benefitting many other species. Overall we will create an increase in biodiversity and habitat.

We will use good practice procedures for working near water to prevent pollution that could affect wildlife or their habitats.

We have assessed the impacts of the scheme on wildlife through an Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA). These impacts and their management or mitigation are recorded in a statutory Environmental Statement as part of the planning application. We have also produced a Habitat Regulations Assessment to specifically assess the impacts of the scheme on the River Avon Special Area of Conservation, an internationally designated site for nature conservation.



Page last updated: 25 Mar 2021, 01:56 PM