Dryburn Valley LNCS

Nature Conservation Value and Conservation Status

198.           The Dryburn Valley LNCS lies under the footprint of the Proposed Development where a proposed cable bridge crosses the Skateraw Dean near the landfall, as shown on Volume 2, Figure 7.3 The features that this site is designated for include woodland listed within the Native Woodland Survey Scotland (NWSS), AWI woodland, and grassland. Notable species are ancient woodland flora. The site extends over an area of approximately 115 ha (or 1,150,000 m2), of which 1,650 m2 lies under the footprint of the Proposed Development (or 0.14 % of the total area).

199.           The habitat present within the footprint of the Proposed Development is mixed plantation woodland, with sycamore, Scots pine, silver birch, beech, elder and ash recorded in the stand. This habitat type is not considered to be a designated feature of the LNCS.

Construction phase

Impact

200.           Impacts on the woodland habitat will include a direct and permanent loss to the cable bridge crossing over the Skateraw Dean as well as temporary disturbance of vegetation adjacent to works areas.

Magnitude of Impact

201.           As shown on Figure A7.4 and Figure A2 a cable bridge crossing is proposed across Skateraw Dean. The footprint of the temporary and permanent works area for the cable bridge within the Dryburn Valley LNCS is approximately 25 m long, with an area of approximately 1,650 m2. The route will use an existing culvert which will be widened from 18 m to 30 m to accommodate the cables. This will require felling works either side of the existing culvert. Assuming this could affect a zone of up to 15 m on either side of the footprint of works, up to 2,600 m2 of the LNCS may be susceptible to temporary disturbance which represents 0.23% of the total area of the LNCS. The permanent footprint of the cable bridge crossing is 350 m2 which represents 0.03% of the total area of the LNCS.  

202.           The impact is predicted to be of local spatial extent, short-term duration, intermittent and medium reversibility. It is predicted that the impact will affect the receptor directly. The magnitude is therefore considered to be low.

Sensitivity of the Receptor

203.           The Dryburn Valley LNCS is deemed to be of medium vulnerability, medium recoverability and local value. The sensitivity of the receptors is therefore, considered to be low.

Significance of the Effect

204.           Given the above consideration of sensitivity and magnitude, the effect significance is considered to be negligible to minor adverse and not significant under the EIA Regulations.

Secondary Mitigation and Residual Effect

205.           No secondary mitigation is considered necessary because the likely effect in the absence of secondary mitigation is not significant in EIA terms.