The Northumberland County Council (A1 – South East Northumberland Link Road (Morpeth Northern Bypass)) Development Consent Order 2015

Protected species and nature conservation post construction

25.—(1) The authorised development must not commence until an Operational Ecological Management Plan (“OEMP”) has been submitted to and approved by the relevant planning authority. The OEMP must include a description of all the mitigation and enhancement measures to be provided for wildlife species and habitats protected by law as described by the environmental statement. The approved details must include:

(a) the provision of appropriate alternative bat roosts and mitigation as described by the environmental statement and enforced by licences issued by Natural England;

(b) details of a mammal tunnel constructed beneath the new bypass near Pegswood Moor, as described by the environmental statement;

(c) details of appropriately designed mammal ledges through new crossing structures of How Burn and Cotting Burn;

(d) details of an artificial otter holt at a suitable location close to How Burn;

(e) the provision of suitable barn owl boxes;

(f) details of fencing to be erected around the new development to prevent deer, badger and otters crossing the carriageway;

(g) details of proposed habitat enhancement; and

(h) a programme for monitoring and management of mitigation and enhancement measures for a period of 3 years after the first date of opening of the authorised development.

(2) The OEMP must be based on a record of checking surveys for protected species (including bats, red squirrel, reptiles, barn owl, water vole, otter, and badgers) which is not more than 2 years old at the time when the details of the mitigation and enhancement measures are submitted to the relevant planning authority.

(3) Measures identified in the approved OEMP must be implemented as described in the approved OEMP.