"Planning Services"

Protected Species and Habitat Surveys

Ecology Surveys

Information from protected species and habitat surveys can be a material consideration for planning applications and will provide crucial information to support detailed licence applications for bats, great crested newts, badgers and other key species.

Our team of experienced ecologists undertake a comprehensive suite of ecology surveys across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

We provide pragmatic advice and design survey plans that are tailored to each site and type of development, including housing and commercial projects, waste and mineral extraction sites and a wide range of energy and infrastructure schemes.

Identifying protected species early in a project design can avoid costly delays later down the line. The majority of ecology surveys are seasonally constrained therefore considering ecology at the earliest opportunity is recommended (Please see our survey calendar for more information). Our team will quickly identify potential constraints and advise on the requirement for surveys to ensure legal and policy requirements are met, whilst designing survey effort appropriate to the potential impacts of a project.

Protected Species Survey and Habitat Survey Capability

We are resourced (and licensed where necessary) to carry out the full range of ecology surveys, including the following:

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey
National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Phase 2
Protected and rare plants
Bats
Breeding and Wintering Bird Surveys including specialist surveys for species listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (e.g. barn owl, red kite), Vantage Point Surveys, Nocturnal Surveys and Gull Roost Surveys
Great Crested Newts
Otter
Water Vole
Red Squirrel
Badger
Pine Marten
Hazel (common) Dormouse
Wildcat
Amphibians including Great Crested Newt and Natterjack Toad
Freshwater (white-clawed) Crayfish
Reptiles including smooth snake, sand lizard, common lizard, grass snake and adder
Invertebrates (freshwater and terrestrial)

For information and advice on what surveys may best meet your needs, contact Stacey or Andrew.

Useful Links:

Avian Ecology's Survey Calendar

Find our helpful survey calendar here to plan your survey requirements

Avian Ecology Survey Calendar

European Protected Species

Where European Protected Species (EPS) such as bats or great crested newts are present, a developer is required to identify any potential effects on such species. Where a development may result in impacts, a mitigation licence may be required.Avian Ecology’s capability includes the completion of surveys suitable to inform and support European Protected Species Mitigation Licences (EPSM) and we have prepared and held licences and implemented mitigation for developments across the UK.