Coordination of a planning application for a new boat dyke at the Norfolk Heritage Fleet base at Hunters Yard, on Womack Water in the Norfolk Broads. The site lies immediately adjacent to Ludham and Potter Heigham Marshes SSSI, part of the Broadland Special Protection Area and The Broads Special Area of Conservation.
Ecological Impact Assessment was undertaken, including protected species survey for bird, reptile, bat, otter, water vole and vegetation surveys. A scheme was developed in conjunction with engineers to allow development of the dyke, to create replacement reedbed, and to ensure no net loss of reed bed or habitat used by water vole and to create replacement reedbed habitat within the wide soke dyke so as to result in no net loss of reedbed habitat. The retained reedbed area will be brought into regular management to increase its biodiversity value.
