ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
Whilst the site is free of any statutory landscape or nature conservation designations, we have nevertheless undertaken extensive ecology and habitat surveys to ensure that the ecology and wildlife is fully understood.
The surveys have identified that the majority of wildlife is concentrated in the hedgerows and tree belts that cross the site. The masterplan has therefore been designed to largely retain and enhance these key corridors, protecting them for the wildlife that uses them. Where mitigation is not possible on site, for example for ground nesting birds, alternative habitats will be created to address the impact of the development.
Specific measures include:
A network of green corridors to connect new and existing habitats
The retaining of existing hedgerows and active woodland planting
Preservation of farmland surrounding the site
Extension of woodland planting to link with the borough’s broader woodland network
Biodiversity Net Gain
Beyond preserving the existing biodiversity, these measures will enable the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain of at least 10%.
Sustainable Drainage
Sustainable drainage (SUDS) will be used through the site to manage flood risk, with an extensive network of ditches, swales and attenuation basins to hold water in times of heavy rainfall. These will be designed to accommodate 1 in a 100 year floods plus a 35% allowance for climate change, in line with best practice.
Unlike much of Basingstoke, all the proposed built areas sit outside of the groundwater Source Protection Zones (SPZ). In line with best practise, additional measures will be introduced along the small area of the link road, close to the M3 that does sit within the SPZ.