Norwich Western Link

Independent surveys have identified the presence of what is likely to be the largest breeding population of one of the UK’s rarest bat species, the barbastelle. Several old woodlands on and close to the route have been confirmed as “maternity woodlands” and hold breeding colonies which, together, make up a super colony with a population higher than any other recorded in the UK.  
  

The importance of the area nationally for barbastelle bats, which are fully protected under wildlife law, cannot be underestimated. The colonies are highly dependent on the high-quality network of woodland, wetland and river habitats in the surrounding area.   
  

The NWL would destroy some of the breeding woodlands and sever the connectivity between the remainder of the woodland breeding sites, isolating the colonies from each other, as well as placing the bats at risk of collision with the traffic on the NWL as they attempt to move across the landscape for feeding. This risks the long-term complete loss of the super-colony, which could be catastrophic for the future of the species in the UK.  

The proposed development will fragment a wildlife-rich area, damage the River Wensum Site of Special of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and destroy parts of three County Wildlife Sites: River Wensum Pastures; Primrose Grove; and Land adjoining Foxburrow Plantation.  

Old woodlands and ancient trees are a rare and irreplaceable wildlife habitat. Several such woodlands are found adjacent to the proposed route. The River Wensum and River Tud, both affected by the proposed route, are wildlife-rich chalk rivers, one of the rarest habitats in the world, with fewer than 200 found across the globe.  

Norfolk County Council have admitted that the area of impact of the development will extend much further than the width of the carriageways. The land around the road will also become fragmented and degraded for wildlife through noise, lights and pollution. Impacts will include:  

• Noise from the road can affect the communication between birds across the landscape, including linnet, yellowhammer and skylark, all of which are on the red-list of conservation concern. This is very likely to lead to losses in local populations, leaving them more vulnerable in the future.  

• Species including owls, bats and badgers will be at risk of collisions with vehicles.  

• More light penetrating the dark centre of woodland will disturb bats and birds.  

• Wildlife-rich chalk streams are particularly vulnerable to pollution from surface water run-off from the road.