
Before starting a commercial or residential development, it is imperative that you take the necessary steps to ensure that the plans are legal and safe. Ecology consultancy is unquestionably one of the most significant features for gaining the necessary permissions and avoiding problems down the line.
Greenlight can provide full ecology and environmental ecology consultancy services for projects of varying sizes. But what is ecology consultancy and what exactly does an ecology surveyor do? Here’s all you need to know.
What is Ecology Consultancy?
Ecology consultancy is a survey in which a qualified ecology surveyor will run a complete assessment to determine whether your planned project could impact local wildlife. This will cover an extensive range of animal species and plant species, including those that are legally protected.
The ecology assessment is a full survey and report that sets out to achieve several goals, such as;
- Determine whether any habitats or species will be impacted by the on-site plans.
- Identify if any habitats or species will be impacted by the off-site activities.
- Advise you on any relevant litigation licences or compensation requirements.
- Complete all construction support & ecology method statements.
- Inform you on how to make a provision for a biodiversity net gain.
Ultimately, ecology consultancy services will ensure that local wildlife has been taken into account ahead of any development work.
What Are the Benefits of an Ecology Survey?
After finding the answers to ‘what is ecology consultancy?’, you may be wondering why it’s needed. For starters, ecology matters can surface in any part of the country and for projects where you would be excused for thinking that there isn’t an issue. When accompanied by the legal requirements per Natural England, you simply cannot afford to ignore this matter.
However, hiring the services of an ecology surveyor isn’t simply a box-ticking exercise. It can deliver a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to;
- In addition to meeting all requirements in relation to ecology and biodiversity, it will cover flood risk management. Identifying any issues could save you from nightmare situations later on in the project development.
- Identifying potential planning constraints can save you money by spotting the need for a plan B before any excavation or construction work commences. You can also earn environmental sustainability credits.
- An ecology surveyor can run full impact assessments that include Ecological Impact Assessments (“EcIA”) and Environmental Impact Assessments (“EIA”) to provide clear answers and help you understand the legal and financial obligations.
- Ecology consultancy teams can cover special protection areas (SPAs), special areas of conservation (SACs) and sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) for a truly comprehensive service.
- Gain peace of mind so that you can act with full confidence throughout the subsequent development issues. In turn, this can help you avoid delays caused by seeking answers later on.
Ecology surveys are useful because they cover both UK and European law. They should be used for all major extensions, as well as new developments of both commercial and residential buildings.
If you need ecology consultancy services, get in touch with the expert team who will be happy to help.