A ‘Green’ bridge is designed to be wider than necessary for its primary purpose – generally to carry a road over the railway – with the extra capacity planted up to provide a crossing point for wildlife. One example is planned for Sheephouse Wood, the habitat of rare Bechstein’s Bats.
While there are 16 green bridges planned, none of these lie within the Chilterns AONB. Such bridges were requested at the select committee stage (by the Conservation Board & others – see p18 of document). Unfortunately the inadequate ecological surveys conducted for the Environmental Statement did not show the extent to which the line would impact the wildlife in the AONB, so making it difficult to argue the case for Green bridges at that time.
However, the Code of Construction Practice does anticipate the subsequent discovery of protected species –
9.1.4 Ecological management measures will include the following, as appropriate:
- procedures to be adopted in the event of unanticipated discovery or disturbance of protected species or important habitats;
and information paper E2 (Ecological Impacts) states that
5.2 The nominated undertaker will ensure compliance with the relevant statutory provisions in respect of the protection of areas of nature conservation interest and of protected species…
This includes demonstration by the Promoter that there is sufficient mitigation/ compensation through the creation of new habitats and/or provision of special measures such as underpasses or green bridges to maintain the populations of the relevant species.
Together, these appear to indicate that a Green Bridge, or similar mitigation, is required to comply with the conditions imposed by the HS2 act.
HS2 Select committee, Oct 2015 :
