Case study

Welborne Garden Village

Dashwood is a 38 hectare woodland in south Hampshire, designated as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) due to its Ancient Woodland habitat. The woodland has been managed for many years by Southwick Estate with public access currently limited to a single footpath. Dashwood has been identified as the first of three areas of Suitable Alternative of Natural Green Space (SANGS) to be delivered for the adjacent Welborne Garden Village - a 2.8km footpath is planned within the wood allowing wider public access.

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Transport Planning
Infrastructure Design
Environmental Assessment

Details

CEMP Requirement for Dashwood

We were instructed by Buckland Development Ltd, the Master Developer of Welborne, to examine the constraints and sensitivities of the site and to provide a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) to facilitate the footpath works required to enable the woodland’s use as a SANGS.

The Challenge

Numerous ecological studies had already been undertaken by Buckland over a number of years throughout Dashwood since it was identified as a potential SANGS. These have noted the presence of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species including badgers, dormice and bats.

In addition, the topsoil of the Ancient Woodland habitat supports various uncommon species including lily of the valley, early purple orchid and greater wood rush. Buckland consulted with Winchester City Council and their statutory consultee, Natural England, who required that any footpath works were accompanied by details of potential pathways of impacts and avoidance and mitigations measures to be implemented during construction.

The Outcome of the CEMP for Dashwood

We worked closely with the Client and their team of ecologists, planners and engineers to collate a CEMP. Whilst identifying the site constraints and the required environmental standards, the CEMP also clarified the planning and control of works necessary to discharge the council’s conditions. It included a No Dig Method Statement for the construction of the footpath, set out the Construction Traffic Management required to protect on-site pedestrians and the training, awareness and competence that will be required from the appointed contractor when works commence.

It is anticipated that with these measures in place, the Client will be better able to manage the challenging balance of allowing wider public access to the woodland in the future whilst protecting the important bio-diveristy and SINC status of Dashwood.