Thursday 1 August 2019

Natural England tells AI to make space for sand martins at Rockbeare


It concerned Aggregate Industries' application DCC/4132/2019, "to continue importation of inert soils and subsoil to allow for revised restoration contours at Marshbroadmoor including a revised restoration scheme at Rockbeare Quarry."

According to AI, "Biodiversity matters to us 🌍":


And indeed, through a wildlife focused #restoration scheme, AI might have been "well placed to make a positive contribution to UK #biodiversity" at Marshbroadmoor. Instead, AI planned to remove habitat for nesting sand martins currently resident at the site:
It is not considered safe or feasible to maintain or create a face suitable for nesting Sand Martins as part of the final restoration scheme.
We also note that Sand martins are recorded breeding on site but that post restoration the nest site will be lost. No compensation has been proposed for this loss and we would advise that consideration is given to revising the final site layout to accommodate the nest site or that consideration is given to providing alternative sites.
It won't have gone unnoticed – by AI or other developers – that changes to the NPPF announced last week will in future "require development to deliver 10% net gains for biodiversity".