What should be done in the early stages of planning a development?
Wildlife should be considered at the start of every development plan.
Leaving surveys until a later stage increases the risk that plans for the development will have to be redesigned or halted if protected species are found.
Even sites which don’t appear to be wildlife rich, such as brownfield sites, have the potential to house several protected species.
Conducting a wildlife survey of the proposed development site is the proper starting point; this aids decision makers and helps avoid delays in the planning process when submitted with a planning application.
Abricon will conduct an initial desk study, and a follow on wildlife survey if required, ensuring you are able to provide for ecological issues in your planning application.
Has your development been refused planning permission on ecological grounds?
Planning permission can be denied on one or more of the following wildlife related reasons:
- No initial wildlife survey of the site was conducted.
- Part of your site is designated as important for wildlife.
- Species that are protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (see below) may exist on the site.
Abricon are able to conduct surveys for all protected species listed below:
*European protected species (Habitat Regulations, 1994) – Development licence required
Has your development been approved subject to certain planning obligations or certain conditions?
It is important to ensure that you are aware of any planning conditions or legal agreements that may have been set when granting your development licence.
These may include requirements concerning the mitigation strategy such as site surveys, monitoring, translocations or fence erection.
If, as part of an approved development project, it is planned to capture, disturb, uproot and/or relocate or damage the habitat of a species protected under the Habitat Regulations 1994, a development licence must be obtained. Mitigation strategies drafted by a licensed ecologist need to be submitted and approved by the Statutory Nature Conservation Organisation (SNCO) in order to be granted a development licence.
Abricon’s licensed ecologists will assist you with mitigation plans for your development licence applications.
What you do if you find a protected species on site once work has commenced?
Stop!
Otherwise you are breaching the law. Contact Abricon for free initial advice on what to do next.
When should ecological surveys be carried out?
Ecological survey timings are dependent on the species or habitat being surveyed. Most species and habitats have an optimum period for surveying; but initial surveys can be offered all year around to give an indication of what exists on site.
Contact Abricon for free initial advice on these and other environmental issues.
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