Ecological Assessment

Developers and landowners whatever the size of their operation, should ensure that a professional survey is undertaken. It is as important in planning as it is for Countryside Stewardship.

The timing of any surveying and assessment is strongly seasonal and without careful management can have significant impact on the timeframe for securing planning consent. For example Bat surveys can be time critical and could delay projects by months or even years if not managed early on in the planning process.

Obtaining the right ecological assessments forms a key part of the project management of the planning process and our planners are able to advise when and where such assessments are likely to be required.

We work with a variety of ecological consultants to bring in tailored expertise and solutions for ecological advice, surveys and assessments bespoke to each project including:

• Preliminary ecological appraisals
• Extended Phase 1 ecological surveys
• Targeted species surveys
• Biodiversity Impact Assessment Calculations (BIAC)

Biodiversity Net Gain

DEFRA report “Biodiversity offsets are conservation activities that are designed to give biodiversity benefits to compensate for losses – ensuring that when a development damages nature (and this damage cannot be avoided or mitigated) new nature sites will be created. Where appropriate, biodiversity offsetting is an option available to developers to fulfil their obligations under the planning system’s mitigation hierarchy.” BIODIVERSITY Net Gain (BNG) is now a planning requirement – read more.

Using Natural England’s approved metric The Biodiversity Metric 3.0  our team of Chartered Surveyors and IEMA qualified planning consultants can deliver client focused BNG solutions to developers.

Please contact a member of our team to discuss how we can help you.

Offices in Battle, Haywards Heath, Pulborough and Tunbridge Wells.