Ecology Surveys
Ecology Surveys
The combined many years experience across our team make us ideally suited to execute ecological assessments and surveys all over the West Midlands region.
Whatever the planning requirements, ecological issues or potential presence of protected species or invasive plant species on your development site, we can conduct ecological survey work to benefit the aims and continued success of your proposed development project.
Ecology Surveys for Planning
Covering a selection of different inspections, an ecology survey is a category of assessment process designed to uncover existing habitats on a proposed development site before analysing and aligning them alongside the plans of the development proposal to gauge if they are likely to impact or be impacted by it. From there, an ecological consultant can make decisions regarding the presence of natural assets that will allow the planning project to continue.
A wide range of UK wildlife laws prevents harm from coming to valuable plants and rare wildlife, and as property or land development projects are the most common type of activity to alter the condition of the natural environment, ecology surveys are required. In fact, many local planning authorities will insist that ecological surveys are needed as a precaution, even if the designated area has no other evidence of present animal or plant habitat types.
Planning Requiring an Ecological Survey
Different types of ecology assessments are available to deal with a variety of potential ecological constraints. Certain circumstances prompt a developer to need an ecological survey as the first step in the planning process, such as to support planning applications, address habitats and species, or fulfil another duty.
While certain types of proposed development need oversight, certain sites will be under scrutiny too, such as any involved in the conversion of farm buildings or the construction of sustainable homes.
For instance, an ecology survey may be required on developments where:
- The development plans call for it, such as in large-scale projects or regeneration projects
- Invasive or rare plants may be present
- Protected animal species may be present, such as barn owls, great crested newts, hazel dormice, otters, red squirrels and white-clawed crayfish
- Land use change affects pipelines, railways and roads, potentially impacting important habitats
- Legal requirements apply, such as biodiversity net gain (BNG)
- Local authorities insist on it
- Sites are within or near protected sites, such as Local Nature Recovery Sites (LNRSs), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Ramsar sites
- Sites are near protected habitats, such as ecological features listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP)
Many local councils even use a biodiversity checklist to determine planning applications and decide if a site requires professional intervention. Our surveys ensure that you avoid harming local biodiversity, instead conserving biodiversity in line with local authority expectations.
By assessing the important ecological features on your site, we can identify any potential ecological issues that could impact your project timeline.
Objectives of an Ecological Survey
Ecological Surveys for Planning Applications
Laws Surrounding Ecological Surveys
An ecological assessment contributes to sustainable development and ensures that developers make proactive moves to defend protected species and specific habitats situated on the development site.
As highly qualified ecological and environmental consultants, we provide ongoing ecology support to help you navigate the complexities of the planning system, undertaking surveys on a proposed site as a way of meeting a number of goals.
Targets include collecting, reviewing and indexing relevant ecological information, gauging current and predicted ecological value, informing several steps across development proposals, supporting nature conservation, and remaining compliant with existing planning policy.
Both initial and further surveys for ecology are usually carried out to strike a balance between meeting LPA requirements and protecting wildlife.
When it comes to making pivotal decisions, the local planning authority will use the results and outcomes of ecology surveys as a point of reference.
An application for planning permission is no different. While arranging the necessary surveys helps to implement adequate mitigation strategies, meet binding environmental targets, account for particular species, avoid costly delays and save money, further ecology surveys could be the difference between a successful or unsuccessful planning application.
Once a site survey has been conducted, priority habitats have been identified and analysed, and ecological reports have been assembled to dictate future stages, a planning officer should see no reason to deny planning consent.
By evaluating the likely impacts on existing natural habitats, the local authorities can make informed decisions on planning consent.
Threatened species are protected and listed within relevant legislation, making them safe from harm. It also ensures that specific species of plants that are recognised as invasive and non-native are properly controlled, preventing them from spreading.
Acts of UK law that actively manage plants and wildlife include the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Other related acts include the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 and, through BNG, the Environment Act (formerly the Environment Bill).
All our work is grounded in current legislation and broader environmental legislation, aligning your project with the view of national planning policy on valuable habitats and priority species on your site and in the surrounding area.
Types of Ecological Surveys
Our team offers a varied range of ecological assessments, from initial walkovers to phase I and phase II surveys on various protected species surveys.
With a full suite of detailed surveys, we can guide you through every step in the process. An ecological consultant can help to determine presence or likely absence of protected wildlife before undertaking species-specific surveys, such as bat surveys for roosting bats, Environmental DNA (eDNA) testing for great crested newts, and specialist assessments, like invertebrate surveys and wetland bird surveys.
Common ecology survey services we provide include:
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessment
- BREEAM Assessment
- Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)
- Ecological Monitoring Survey
- Ecological Walkover Survey
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Survey
- Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) / Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey
It is worth noting that PEA surveys should be conducted at an early stage to flag any likely ecological constraints. From there, it could be decided to advise on carrying out a phase 1 habitat survey.
Invasive Species Surveys
Protected Species Surveys
- Giant Hogweed Surveys
- Himalayan Balsam Surveys
- Injurious Weed Surveys
- Japanese Knotweed Surveys
- Badger Surveys
- Barn Owl Surveys
- Bat Surveys (Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) and BERS)
- Bird Surveys (Breeding Birds, Nesting Birds and Wintering Birds)
- Dormouse Surveys
- Great Crested Newt Surveys
- Otter Surveys
- Red Squirrel Surveys
- Reptile Surveys
- Water Vole Surveys
Ecology Survey and Report
A thorough inspection of a development site conducted by our ecological consultancy will give you everything needed to progress into future stages of development projects.
An inevitable outcome of all ecology surveys is that they result in an ecological report. Two typical examples, a PEA report or EcIA report can be used as proof that an assessment was carried out and that necessary changes are in place to support the environment. We conduct various site surveys, but in most cases, a PEA is the starting point when it comes to evaluating ecological features.
Although the actions in each category of an ecology assessment may be different depending on the type of survey, ecological services generally follow the same process.
Starting with an ecological desk study, the ecology consultant handling the assessment will be able to recover any baseline information about the site.
An in-person initial survey can then take place, allowing the qualified ecologist to conduct a thorough investigation for all possible existing habitat types.
Based on the specific planning project, the ecologist can see any overlap between ecological assets and the development plans, going on to provide advice and recommend other assessments.
Using a mitigation hierarchy in priority order, ecological mitigation and compensation measures will be utilised to progress the development without infringing on old or new habitats.
After all further stages are completed, the ecological surveyor can create an ecology report. All relevant information and survey data will be compiled into the ecology survey report, with the report writing process factoring in suitable mitigation strategies based on the results of the assessment. A mitigation plan will aim to retain existing habitats. That said, even the last resort option of destroying habitats will lead to new habitats being created as compensation.
The developer can then use it to demonstrate to the planning officer that the project team has made positive steps to guarantee the continued safety of present protected species and ecological value, enabling them to realistically obtain planning permission from the local authority.
Ecology Surveys in the West Midlands
Ecological Survey Experts
Ecological Survey Season
Ecological Survey Cost
Of all the available ecological consultancies, ours specifically targets the West Midlands area and neighbouring sections of the East Midlands and other nearby regions.
Our team is formed of trained ecologists, all with an advanced knowledge of natural features and a focused understanding of the local area, local council and likely requirements.
We are able to conduct field surveys, monitor for biodiversity losses, advise clients, provide cost-effective solutions, help with mitigation licence applications, and so much more.
For instance, if other ecology surveys were needed, such as BREEAM assessments, vantage point surveys, vegetation surveys or a protected species survey to investigate badger setts, injurious weeds, roosting sites or other features, we can help.
Due to the behaviours and habits of notable species of animals and plants, survey seasons for habitat surveys to support protected species can vary significantly, ranging across the summer months, winter months and everything in between.
On the other hand, initial ecological surveys to gauge the potential effects of planning projects on species within the site boundary such as ecological impact assessments (EcIAs) and preliminary ecological appraisals (PEAs) aren’t seasonally constrained and are available throughout the year.
Seasonal constraints do, however, apply to further survey work of any species found or suspected during prior site visits. The additional survey work would need to be undertaken at certain times to accurately record crucial ecological data.
Check out survey seasons using our calendar.
The overall costs for ecology services will vary depending on several important factors, including the nature of the proposed project, the size of the certain area where a field study is needed, the structural warranty, and the type of assessment. Other specific details that can add to the ecology survey cost, however, may include the number of required ecology consultants, the price of enhancement measures, and additional surveys needed as a result of the findings.
While it is necessary for our ecological consultancy to take a full range of environmental factors into consideration – suitable habitat, current ecological conditions and further information about the site – we strive to provide competitive prices and only charge what we need to.
That said, we recommend booking as early as possible to reserve a site visit in optimal periods.
Experts in Ecological Impact on Various Habitats or Species
Our ecological surveyors ensure that all of the work we do is conducted under best practice guidelines, helped by our years of experience and ties to the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Natural England.
From historic buildings and rural communities to urban areas and suitable habitat (i.e. cave-like spaces for bats and fresh-water bodies for water voles), whatever the potential constraints on your site, our ecology consultancy has seen it all.
The ecological consultants within our ranks frequently collaborate with planners, developers, design teams and landscape architects. Our approach sets an emphasis on good communication, transparency with helpful information, and getting all services provided quickly and effectively.
We insist on showing the same level of quality in the many forms of ecological advice we provide. Between the common survey techniques performed for a preliminary ecological appraisal or ecological impact assessment and acting as an ecological clerk of works (ECoW), and between conducting protected species surveys such as a bat survey or great crested newt survey and carrying out a botanical survey or habitat suitability index assessment, you are guaranteed the same high standard of service.
With our experience, we can assist with creating an environmental statement to identify the significant effects of nationally significant infrastructure projects and organise land management or marine management to protect particularly special areas like wildlife sites.
For anything we don’t provide, like arboricultural assessments and tree surveys for complex tree structures, get in touch with us anyway, and we can recommend a trusted partner company.
Ecology Surveys Near Me
Rather than covering the entirety of the country from the North East to the South West, our proven record for providing expert advice on the potential impact of new developments on ecological features remains solely in the West Midlands area, from Birmingham to Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent to Wolverhampton, and Telford to Stratford-upon-Avon.
The best time to get in touch would be pre-development, as we will be able to act as an essential part of the development process, helping to reduce risk, identify potential impacts, provide information and formulate mitigation measures such as new habitat creation at the first stage.
With most ecology surveys valid for three years, you might think you’ve got time to waste. In reality, however, you can never start too early, especially as further work may need to be completed at different times of the year.
Speak to Our Team for a Free Quote
Go ahead and reach out to Midland Ecology by completing a quote form on our site, calling us or emailing us.
Once the booking form with all the information about your site and project has been returned to us, we will give you a free quote.
If you are happy with it, you can then ask us common questions about the survey process and choose a suitable time for an appropriately qualified ecology surveyor with extensive experience to attend your site and review signs of European protected species.
We can then help you with getting the green light in securing planning applications from the planning department of your local council, even if further action is needed to meet a specific planning condition.