Protected Species Surveys

The UK supports a wide range of protected animal and plant species that are often impacted upon by development proposals. These animal and plant species are afforded protection under EU legislation. While the degree of protection varies, generally, any negative impacts ranging from disturbance to fatality can result in potential criminal prosecution.

The protection that these species are afforded is upheld in part by the role of the Local Planning Authority in requesting ecological assessments in relation to proposed planning applications.

Whilst the majority of protected species surveys can be undertaken relatively quickly they must be completed during optimum annual survey periods which vary across the species groups. As these species specific surveys cannot be conditioned as part of a planning application, there is increased pressure on project delivery if this is not addressed early in the planning stages.

Clear Ecology provides a comprehensive service in relation to protected species surveys. Our ecologists hold a range of protected species licenses and have substantial experience in survey and mitigation techniques.

 

Clear Ecology specialises in the following:

  • Habitat and Vegetation Surveys (including Phase 1, NVC and Invasive Plant Species Surveys)
  • Bat, water vole, otter and dormouse surveys
  • Reptile and Amphibian Survey, including Great Crested Newts
  • Aquatic surveys, including river corridor surveys and white clawed crayfish surveys
  • Breeding and wintering bird surveys
  • Detailed botany surveys
  • Invertebrate surveys

Clear not only undertakes the surveys but works directly with the planning officer, the wildlife conservation officer or the consultee to the planning application on your behalf to ensure that issues are resolved on time, to budget and with ease.

All staff at Clear Ecology can demonstrate a sound ability in botanical identification and we also have more qualified staff that specialise in botany survey to a very high level.

Phase 1 habitat surveys are conducted as a rapid assessment of the ecological value and potential value of a site. Set out by one of the governing bodies of nature conservation, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, in order to give consistency to the habitat mapping taking place across the broad spectrum of conservation disciplines (JNCC, 1990). This process provides an initial assessment of what habitats could be at the site, which in turn allows a preliminary protected species assessment to be made.