HOUSING THREAT TO NORFOLK HABITAT LONG FAVOURED BY BREEDING STONE CURLEWS

Stone curlews at risk as housing project gets planning go-ahead
 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

THE prospects for a stone curlew population in The Brecklands in Norfolk have taken a turn for the worse after the green light was given for a new housing estate on an ecological “buffer zone” near a site where they breed.

There are fears that some of these iconic heathland birds might now vacate the area, which is near Thetford, because of their known aversion to buildings.

They will also be disturbed during construction of the 177 houses and afterwards by the likelihood of dogs being walked on or near sites where they nest.

Back in April last year, the planning application submitted by Flintshire-based Tesni Properties Ltd was refused by Breckland District Council.

The authority stated: “A significant part of the application site falls within the 1,500 metre buffer zone established to safeguard an area that supports or is capable of supporting stone curlews.”

But Tesni lodged an appeal which was conducted by independent inspector Phillip Ware who found in favour of the developer despite data indicating the development site’s proximity to an area which is reckoned to be home to between 142 and 202 stone curlew pairs - between  55 per cent and  76 per cent of this species’ British breeding population.

The inspector acknowledged that “these are very significant proportions”, but he further noted that, “within a 1,500-metre radius of the appeal site itself, there had been only four breeding pairs over a period in excess of 30 years.”

In his findings, he stated:”I do not consider that there would be any reduction in the breeding population in the buffer zone as there has not been such a population for many years.”

He further observed that there had already been development in the vicinity which did not appear to have affected breeding numbers.

Evidence for the district council was heard from the consultancy Footprint Ecology who are experts on stone curlews and other heathland species

The RSPB is understood to have been opposed to the application, but its absence from the hearing - along with that of both Natural England and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust -   may have weakened the position of the council to the detriment of the stone curlews.

The controversy was raised at last Saturday’s AGM of the RSPB where a society member expressed anguish  at how the planning process had failed to safeguard a precious habitat for a scarce species.

She went on to warn that a precedent had been set which could further undermine the status of “buffer zones” in protecting species known to be at risk.

It is not known when work will start on the housing development, but there is also a worry that other heathland birds such as nightjars and woodlarks could also be jeopardised by the project.