Habitat Surveys for Planning and Development

We are the cheapest Habitat Surveyors in the UK

This page is intended to be an authoritative guide to Habitat Surveys and other, more general forms of Ecological Survey.

ODPM Circular 06/05 and PPS9 – both central government planning policy documents that specifically deal with biodiversity and conservation – both set out clearly that local planning officers must place store on applicants’ attention to the conservation and enhancement of habitats and protected species, when determining a planning application. Naturally, it is difficult to achieve this without making the results of ecological surveys available with your application. In this way, you demonstrate that you have embraced their policy and made protected species a material consideration in your design process. In turn, this ensures that the planning office cannot reject your application on the grounds of insufficient information provided and so must deliberate your application without delay.

When might a phase 1 habitat survey be required?

Do you have habitats for protected species at your site..?

Grass Snake Arbtech

Timely surveys, cost effective reports

As a Habitat Survey is simply a form of biological study, or assessment, which seeks to examine a site of proposed development and, using the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey for reference, so it reports on the various species and habitats which show observable evidence of being present or at risk if further study is not undertaken. For example then, as a result of a habitat survey, our ecologist might recommend a bat survey is undertaken. This could be because they found features suitable for roosting at your site. Alternatively, they may well catalogue many species of plant and animal, though find that since none of them are protected legally by e.g. the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 or Habitats Regulations 2010, that no further ecological survey work is necessary.

Ecological and Habitat Survey Professionals

Of course, there are optimal and sub optimal times for undertaking the survey. For instance, it is easier to identify trees during the summer months. However, a habitat survey can be undertaken any time of the year. Normally the report is presented with a habitat survey map, which graphically illustrates the nature of your site and potential ecological risks for your application. Getting quality advice prior to submitting your application then, is not only crucial in securing a validation from the planning authority, but also in understanding the downstream potential for delays and costs for your design and build, should e.g. bats be found roosting in a property to be demolished, or breeding birds be nesting in trees you seek to remove. Furthermore, habitat and ecological surveys can be used to form the basis of reports for BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes ecology credit assessments.

To get a quote for a habitat or ecological survey now, call 08450 176950 today.