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23 February 2016

The Regeneration of Manchester

Machester ecological servicesThe Manchester city skyline is constantly changing with tower cranes acting like pins on a map, marking the locations of new developments and regeneration projects driven by private sector funding, regional and national financing initiatives.

Over the last 18 months PAA has played a role in many of these developments and has acted as consultant ecologists for over 17 projects in the city centre and the wider Greater Manchester area as the city goes about reinventing itself. Some of the developments have been relatively small while others form part of city-scale projects such as NOMA (Northern Manchester), the redevelopment of the former BBC site off Oxford Road and sites within the Chapel Street Regeneration Area.

As part of the preparation for a planning application submission for these developments our role has been to carry out a habitat assessment of the development site, mapping habitats and recording plant species. This, along with collecting records of species within and around the site, enables us to ecologically characterise and value the area. The assessment also involves looking for evidence of protected species such as badger, otter, great crested newts, birds and bats. In general, city centres are less likely to have valued habitats although brownfield sites can have remarkably high biodiversity.

Black redstartAlthough busy and noisy, Manchester is the home for wildlife. This includes Schedule 1 species (those protected by special penalties at all times) such as rare bird species like the black redstart. This rare breeder and passage winter visitor prefers old industrial sites and city centres and there are records of black redstarts attempting to breed in the Piccadilly Basin. The Manchester Birding Forum has reports of sightings and singing last year in St Anne’s Square, the tower of the Town Hall, on Oxford Road, Lincoln Square and Spinningfields. Other Schedule 1 bird species in residence include the peregrine falcon and a pair nested on the CIS building and successfully raised three chicks last year. They are making a comeback from near extinction in the 1960s and can now be seen flying over many of the UK’s city centres.

The most significant species to be considered in the development process are likely to be birds and bats. All birds are protected when breeding and it is an offence to ‘intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for shelter or protection’ under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). We inspect all buildings, trees and structures for evidence of nesting and their potential to support bat roosts. Avoiding harm to birds may simply involve carrying out demolition and enabling works outside the bird breeding season. If a bat roost is found a license must be sought from Natural England that details a method statement and appropriate mitigation for the loss of the bat roost. This may be the installation of bat boxes or even a dedicated building designed for bats.

Manchester developmentAll developments must have regard for wildlife and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that ‘the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity where possible’ and recognise ‘the wider benefits of ecosystem services’. We have worked with planners, architects and landscape architects offering specialist advice on, landscape planting to maximise the biodiversity gains, green roofs and walls, brown roofs, protecting and encouraging wildlife and all protected species.

The success of Manchester’s regeneration will be judged not only in terms of the economic and social benefits it achieves but also on the quality of the greenspace and public amenity areas between the new buildings. Protecting and encouraging wildlife in the city simply makes it a better place to work and to live.

For more information on PAA’s services relating to urban development, please contact us, or visit one of the relevant pages below: