ECOLOGY/TREES
The school’s application would result in a transformation of the site from being mostly grass to being mostly artificial surface/concrete/building. By rough calculation the change is from four-fifths grass to about one third grass.
The site is used by many birds who feed on grassland. These include thrushes, redwing, fieldfare, starlings and blackbirds. They mostly use the land when the school is not in use.
The school proposes an enlargement of the areas that are built on and have hard surfacing. There are also two artificial pitches (MUGA) which we understand are permeable but do not provide any habitat. The result is a site dominated by artificial surfaces.
We submit that such a significant loss of scarce grassland habitat is contrary to planning policy.
The line of trees at the south of the site forms a corridor of habitat assisted by the enclosing of the ground by fencing. Were the application to proceed, that habitat and any others at the perimeter should be protected. Further, the school should be obliged to replace any trees lost over time with suitable native species and to fill in existing gaps to preserve habitat and enhance screening.
The school’s application would result in a transformation of the site from being mostly grass to being mostly artificial surface/concrete/building. By rough calculation the change is from four-fifths grass to about one third grass.
The site is used by many birds who feed on grassland. These include thrushes, redwing, fieldfare, starlings and blackbirds. They mostly use the land when the school is not in use.
The school proposes an enlargement of the areas that are built on and have hard surfacing. There are also two artificial pitches (MUGA) which we understand are permeable but do not provide any habitat. The result is a site dominated by artificial surfaces.
We submit that such a significant loss of scarce grassland habitat is contrary to planning policy.
The line of trees at the south of the site forms a corridor of habitat assisted by the enclosing of the ground by fencing. Were the application to proceed, that habitat and any others at the perimeter should be protected. Further, the school should be obliged to replace any trees lost over time with suitable native species and to fill in existing gaps to preserve habitat and enhance screening.