Ecology Services In Hampshire

Ecology Services

We are a leading ecology consultancy practice with extensive years of experience in providing specialist advice and services to clients in both private and commercial sectors. Our experts have a particular focus on complex schemes and the challenges of development on designated sites. Working extensively across a broad range of applications, we offer expert and professional advice, guidance and services to enable your developments to meet current planning and legislative requirements.

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Our Ecology Services

BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN (BNG)

We advise and support developers and planners in relation to Biodiversity Net Gain (or BNG). To ensure all schemes are compliant, we encourage our clients to consider BNG early in the project process. It is important that we can demonstrate that the hierarchy of avoiding / mitigation/compensation has been followed. We work closely with lead consultants, engineers and landscape architects including other stakeholders to achieve the best habitat improvements on each scheme based on its own individual merits.

PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL APPRAISALS

Preliminary Ecological Appraisals are utilised in the early stages of the planning and development process to gather information on the likely impact of development projects. The appraisal is primarily an evaluation of ecological features present on the site. This is supported by an assessment of notable species or habitats and the identification of potential constraints. The results are summarised with recommendations for appropriate mitigation.

ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

Our team is experienced in the coordination and management of Ecological Impact Assessments (EIAs) undertaken to identify, quantify and evaluate the potential effects of proposed developments on habitats, species and ecosystems. Working closely with our clients on their projects, our experienced ecologists seek to find the balance between the delivery of development and the capacity of the surrounding environment.

HABITAT AND BOTANICAL SURVEYS

Our experienced ecologists have extensive knowledge and an understanding of surveying techniques covering various UK habitats:

Phase 1 Habitat Survey (can also include an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey)

A standard field survey is used to provide an overview of semi-natural vegetation and other wildlife to provide a record of the current condition of a site and to provide an initial assessment of the potential for conservation. The extended survey follows the same principles as above but with additional techniques designed to provide further information on the habitat, such as its suitability for protected species.
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Phase 2 Habitat Survey/National Vegetation Classification (NVC)

Phase 2 Habitat Surveys offer a more in-depth assessment of vegetation present on a site. The NVC system is recognised as the industry standard developed for nature conservation agencies and provides a comprehensive classification of plant types in the United Kingdom.
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Hedgerows Surveys

A survey to assess the structure and biodiversity of hedgerows, and whether they should be classed as ‘important’ under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997.

Architect wearing site safety gear and holding plans surveying a new building plot

Protected Species

We maintain current Natural England survey (and mitigation) licenses for European Protected Species (EPS) including badgers, bats, dormice and great crested newts. We also hold Bat Mitigation Class Licenses, Great Crested Newt Low Impact Class Licenses and Badger Class Licenses.

Our philosophy

We tell you what you can do;

We show how you can meet your objectives whilst giving proper regard to planning policy and wildlife legislation.

We are a client-focused business working professionally, and proactively with a personal approach as the core of our company values. Our clients are the most important thing to us so we try to build strong relationships. We have built our business on honesty and integrity, ensuring that client relationships last for many years. We actively seek opportunities for both clients and ecology.

Supporting Our Clients

ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT

Our particular expertise is obtaining planning permission for our clients. We recognise that no two developments are ever the same and our tailored approach to projects ensures our clients receive a personal, professional, and efficient service every time. Local planning authorities have legal obligations to take nature conservation into account when determining planning applications. This includes assessing the potential for protected species (such as bats and reptiles) as well as possible impacts on nearby sites designated for nature conservation on an international (SAC, SPA, etc), national (SSSI) or local scale (e.g. SINC). In addition to undertaking smaller schemes, we also provide ecological input for EIAs and for the master planning of large projects.

BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN & NUTRIENT NEUTRALITY

Biodiversity Checklists and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations are designed to assist applicants in providing the relevant biodiversity information with their planning application.

They include those for Nutrient Neutrality (nitrates) and European Site Avoidance & Mitigation Checklists for those applications in the Solent catchment area. In the South Downs National Park, an Ecosystem Services Statement (ESS) may need to be completed.
As part of 1APP, the National Application Form, the submission of a biodiversity survey and report should be listed in your local planning application requirements. However, if you haven’t been forewarned, it is still a requirement for validation. Applicants are strongly advised to use the relevant Local Planning Authority checklist in order to adhere to the minimum standards expected to enable registration of their application.

All Local Authorities have a legal duty to consider the conservation of biodiversity when determining a planning application. Government planning policies for biodiversity are set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Planning applications that may affect protected species or important habitats require the submission of survey and assessment information to show how the proposed development can be adapted to prevent harm.

If a proposed development could have impacts on biodiversity, and the submission of further information is indicated by the response to this checklist, supporting information must be submitted with your application. As the Biodiversity Checklist states, if any of the information submitted proves to be inadequate, the application is likely to be refused. We can help you avoid these difficult situations by completing checklists on your behalf at highly competitive rates.

ECOLOGY CLERK OF WORKS

An Ecological Clerk-of-Works (ECoW) may be required to carry out various tasks from an ecological watching brief to species translocations or overseeing the implementation of planning conditions and licenses. This may happen on development projects of any size where there is a likelihood of disturbance to sensitive species or habitats. We can provide on-site ecological guidance to aid development projects. We can provide one or more suitably experienced and qualified ecologists to give valuable input throughout the construction phase. Our ecologists will guide and advise on how to avoid or minimise impacts through the supervision of ecological mitigation and compensation schemes. We also have specific experience in relation to protected species such as reptiles, bats, badger and great crested newt. We can provide ecological toolbox talks, inductions and site training to ensure that ecological constraints are clearly understood by your site staff. We are familiar with working on construction sites and health and safety is also covered as our ECoW staff hold up-to-date CSCS cards and comply with strict HSE regulations in addition to any site rules.

Some of the typical duties we undertake are below:

Watching brief as part of reptile or newt translocations
Destructive searches of buildings e.g. as part of bat EPS licensing
Protected species capture and relocation (including newts and reptiles)
Vegetation clearance to avoid nesting birds
Habitat creation and management
Practical advice on mitigation to minimise the impact of works
Advice and support in licensed European Protected Species projects
Ecological auditing of conditions and licences.

Non-compliance with legislation, planning conditions or EPS licenses can result in long delays, heavy fines and even custodial sentences. An ECoW brings added value to a project, not just by avoiding delays and fines but by improving the reputation of developers and their projects through good publicity. We are able to undertake ECoW duties at short notice for long-term and short-term projects.

SURVEY SCHEDULES

BATS

BADGERS

Surveys for Badgers can be undertaken year-round.

GREAT CRESTED NEWTS

The survey season for Great Crested Newts runs from mid-March to mid-June. Traditional presence/absence and population size class surveys using torches and bottle traps may be undertaken during this time, with half of the survey effort required in the key period from mid-April to mid-May. Surveys for environmental DNA (eDNA), a more cost-effective approach to establishing presence/absence, are possible from mid-April to late June. Note that if presence is established by this method, in most cases Natural England will still require a full population size class assessment to support a license application.

DORMICE

Get In Touch

EMAIL

Info@henkirst.co.uk

LOCATION

Sentinel House, Ancells Business Park, Harvest Crescent, Fleet, Hampshire, England, GU51 2UZ

PHONE

07557 126450