The A303 Sparkford to Ilchester Dualling Development Consent Order 2021

Ecology, Priority and Protected species

10.—(1) No part of the authorised development may be undertaken unless the ecological effects are supervised by an appropriately qualified person appointed by the undertaker, which person may be the Ecological Clerk of Works.

(2) In the event that any protected or priority species which were not previously identified in the environmental statement or nesting birds are found at any time when carrying out the authorised development the undertaker must cease construction works near their location and report it immediately to the Ecological Clerk of Works.

(3) The undertaker must prepare a written scheme for the protection and mitigation measures for any protected species that were not previously identified in the environmental statement or nesting birds found when carrying out the authorised development. Where nesting birds are identified works should cease within the evidenced zone of likely disturbance of the nest for that species until birds have fledged and the nest is no longer in use. Specific mitigation measures for Schedule 1 birds recorded within the proposed development site, comprising barn owl and hobby, must be set out in the LEMP. The LEMP will state that appropriate buffer zones for any other nesting bird species found during construction works will be determined by the Ecological Clerk of Works, dependent on the nesting bird species and nature of works in proximity to the nest.

(4) The undertaker must implement the written scheme prepared under sub-paragraph (3) immediately and construction in the area specified in the written scheme must not recommence until any necessary licences are obtained to enable mitigation measures to be implemented.