North Tyneside Council has agreed to the construction of 14 warehouse units but only upon the completion of a butterfly survey.
The applicant originally proposed the construction of 17 units at West Chirton industrial estate south in North Shields, however it was decided this would have too large an impact on the butterfly population in the area. The applicant has since reduced the number of warehouses to 14.
The council’s ecological survey of the area also calls for an open mosaic habitat to support the population of dingy skipper, grayling wall and small heath butterflies. In addition, it is also recommended that three of the warehouse units host “green roofs” to mitigate against distribution for the butterflies.
The biodiversity department also requested a grayling butterfly survey should be conducted before a full planning application is granted. However, it is the opinion of the relevant council officers that it will be unlikely grayling butterflies will be found in significant numbers.
Aidan Dobinson Booth, a planning officer for North Tyneside Council said: “Although it is a brownfield site, what often happens with brownfield sites is they become important from a wildlife point of view because if you leave them long enough, Mother Nature takes over and sorts these things out.”
The applicant is also offering almost £67,000 to the authority to mitigate against issues relating to biodiversity. The council also estimates the combined financial and practical mitigations could result in a net gain for biodiversity on the site of fiver per cent.
As the application originally stood, it was estimated to generate a biodiversity net loss of approximately 71%. A report into the proposal also claimed: “The proposal would result in the creation of jobs during the construction phase and within the industrial units once the development is complete.”
The planning committee voted to grant permission, subject to the butterfly survey and acquisition of the financial contribution, unanimously.
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