Environmental Statements, we have been employed as part of a multi-disciplinary team to prepare Ecology Chapters for Environmental Statements for recent proposed development sites in Derbyshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Hampshire, Sussex, Norfolk. Our involvement has included undertaking the full range of ecological surveys, negotiation with consultees and design of complex ecological mitigation schemes in respect of habitats and species. Recent examples have included:

A proposed Biomass Generation Plant in East Yorkshire. The ecological input involves a full scope of surveys including breeding birds, vegetation, bats, other mammals and reptiles.

Mitigation Implementation, we have extensive experience of bespoke mitigation design and implementation, obtaining the necessary licenses and planning permissions where required. Our expertise ranges from small scale schemes such as barn conversions to large scale/brownfield site redevelopments where complex mitigation strategies are required. A recent example includes the construction of a purpose built mitigation bat house in Chorley, Lancashire under licence from Natural England. The bat house was required in order to mitigate for the loss of buildings associated with the decommissioning of a former Royal Ordnance Factory site. The scheme has proved to be highly successful and was occupied by bats within just five months of construction. The scheme has received best practice awards from the client, BAE Systems Environmental and community organisations, indicating that well designed mitigation schemes can engage community support and involvement with wildlife.

A further recent example is the translocation of a provisional Lancashire Red Data List plant species at a site in Heysham, Lancashire on behalf of Lancashire County Council. This was required in order to satisfy a planning condition as part of a road construction scheme. Also underway at the site is a habitat creation and enhancement scheme for water vole, also required in order to satisfy a planning condition. This project is an example of a highly tailored mitigation scheme design illustrating best practice and close collaboration with the client.

Wildlife Conservation & Planning, we have undertaken a number of conservation and research related contracts for Local Authorities and Government Agencies. This has included:

Undertaking an NVC survey of 20,000ha of the South Pennine Moors SSSI.

Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), BREEAM.
Extensive experience of undertaking ecological input to CSH and BREEAM assessments for housing and schools. Clients in respect of these schemes include private developers, social housing companies, education establishments and local authorities. A recent example includes undertaking surveys and input to the BREEAM assessment of a complex re-development of the Myserscough College Complex in Lancashire. The buildings on site support a complex network of bat roosts and careful design of mitigation is required to ensure that the scheme does not impact upon the conservation status of bats.