Planning and Development
Requirements relating to ecology as part of the Planning & Development process have been increasing steadily for the last 15 years. These considerations are driven by a body of legislation, which guides not only Town & Country Planning but also nature conservation, wildlife protection and the broader development process. These legal requirements come from both UK and European wildlife legislation, developed as biodiversity has moved from broad popular support into Parliament.
Quants ecologists have experience of a range of Planning & Development issues. The three main questions asked, are:
Q: When is the best time of year for developers to work on a site in order to avoid ecological issues?
A: There are different ecological considerations at different times of the year. The Quants seasonal survey calendar provides more information about the months in which specific surveys can be undertaken, and when certain surveys may not be possible.
Critical project delays can be avoided with advance planning and consultation with our ecologists during the earliest stages of project developments. We can also undertake a straightforward site check on a proposed site, which will flag up any ecological issues likely to affect planning proposals at the earliest possible stage.
Q: How can I minimise delays arising from ecological issues /risk?
A: Certainty of Schedule Delivery is best achieved by involving your ecologist at the project inception stage and by making sure you obtain a detailed project timeline.
Q: What can I do when protected species such as bats are found on my site?
A: There are many different options in order to work alongside native flora and fauna. At one end of the spectrum, European Protected Species Licences (EPSL) are available through Natural England to allow activities to occur that would otherwise be classed as unlawful. However, this can take some time to arrange – approximately 30 working days for processing at present. At the other end of the spectrum, mitigation by design is available through working with a planning ecologist and therefore potentially avoiding the requirement for EPSL application. This is an area in which Quants is very experienced.
Obviously, many additional questions arise as no two sites ever have identical issues. However, staff at Quants Environmental have the knowledge and experience to minimise the ecological risk and increase your Certainty of Schedule Delivery.
