Costain has won gold for the A465 HoV2 Improvement Scheme in the Civil Engineering Environmental category of the International Green World Awards 2017, hosted by The Green Organisation, an international, independent, non-profit, non-political, environment group, dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.
A significant part of this was because of bat mitigation work, designed and overseen by Richard Green Ecology. The scheme passes through the Usk Bat Sites Special Area of Conservation, designated, in part, for Lesser Horseshoe Bat. Mitigation measures include provision of a new bat house and five new underground roosts, as well as improvements to an existing maternity roost. Under-road crossings are being retained and additional crossings provided. Approximately 23 ha of woodland foraging habitat is being provided. Construction works are undertaken sensitively, under NRW bat licence and following an environmental permitting system. This includes ecological (bat) clerk of works and watching briefs undertaken by Richard Green Ecology.
Monitoring survey results to date show that there has been no decline in bat numbers using maternity and hibernation roosts in the area, with an overall increase in numbers over the last five years. Bats are also using retained and modified under-road crossings whilst the road is being built.
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