Evesham Leisure Centre
CSa Input: Ecological Appraisal, bat and badger mitigation
Date: 2006-2009
Client: Wychavon District Council
Ecological surveys by CSa revealed the presence of an extensive main badger sett in the centre of a brownfield site scheduled for a Local Authority leisure centre development. CSa prepared a detailed badger mitigation strategy and obtained a licence to close the sett, after the successful creation of a new, artificial badger sett on the edge of the site. The new sett was quickly occupied by badgers and the original setts were gradually closed under the licence to allow site clearance works to commence. Ongoing monitoring of the artifi cial setts indicates that badgers continue to occupy their new home.
Bat surveys also revealed the presence of bat roosting in redundant buildings at the site. CSa conducted survey work and agreed a mitigation strategy with Natural England. A European Protected Species licence was obtained to permit the demolition of the buildings and new roosting opportunities were created within the new development.
