Biodiversity 

The site is currently comprised of species-poor grassland (former rough pasture), with emerging bramble in some places.

Bats use the vegetated corridors around the site, with buffer zones and sensitive lighting proposed to ensure bat foraging continues to take place. There is a small population of reptiles present which would be accommodated within enhanced habitat in the ancient woodland buffer zone.

A preliminary Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment has been carried out which indicates that the scheme would achieve greater than 20% net gain in biodiversity, using the Defra calculation metric. This is sufficient to meet the emerging national requirements for net gain and also Medway’s higher 20% target.

This biodiversity net gain would be achieved through the provision of a range of high quality habitats within the Ancient Woodland Buffer zone, and other areas of Public Open Space, which would replace the relatively species-poor grassland which currently dominates the site. There would be numerous Urban trees within the Streetscape of the proposed development. Enhancements (such as bird and bat boxes, reptile habitat features, hedgehog highways and bug hotels) would also be included in the proposals.