FAQs

Ecological survey work undertaken includes:

• Desk study including biological records obtained from Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service (SBIS) and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Environmental Records Centre (CPERC);
• Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey;
• Breckland arable flora survey;
• Bat inspection survey of trees and buildings;
• Bat dusk/dawn surveys on a single building;
• Bat activity surveys;
• Badger survey;
• Reptile survey;
• Breeding bird surveys; and
• Targeted Stone Curlew survey.

The SALP policy requires the masterplan to be subject to a project level Habitats Regulations Assessment which considers if the proposals would result in ‘any likely significant effect’ on internationally important features of European nature conservation sites either alone, or in combination with other projects. This has been prepared and is on the consultation website. It could not rule out likely effects arising from recreational pressure on Breckland SPA and therefore an appropriate assessment has been undertaken. This outlines a number of mitigation measures to ensure Breckland SPA is protected, including the provision of a range of public, green spaces that will offer ‘Suitable Accessible Natural Green Space (SANG)’ to encourage people to use these areas for recreation rather than the Breckland SPA or adjacent farmland.

All trees will be retained where possible and existing tree belts will be enhanced.  Some tree thinning and removal will be required to accommodate the spine road. The two individual lines of pines running north to south through the site, and the line of trees running along the western and southern boundary of the site are protected by tree preservation orders (TPOs) and will be retained.