The Ecology Co-op. Environmental consultants
Southern and South East England
by Paul Whitby
The long awaited Environment Act 2021 is now part of our legislation. It has been a somewhat protracted journey for the Environment Bill to make its way through the House of Commons and the House of Lords to finally be given Royal Assent and become an Act of Parliament on 9 November 2021. What does […]
by Paul Whitby
Bats are one of the species most frequently associated with ecology and development projects and for those who are involved with development schemes on a regular basis, bat surveys during the spring and summer months are often a standard requirement in order to provide baseline information to inform assessments and development proposals. However, knowledge of […]
by Paul Whitby
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) refers to the process of assessment that is undertaken, to determine whether a proposed plan or project is likely to significantly affect the integrity and designated interest features of a ‘habitats site’[1]; the information from the assessment is then used by the competent authority to decide whether to undertake, permit or […]
by Paul Whitby
Developed by BRE (Building Research Establishment), BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is used as a means to assess the environmental and sustainability credentials of master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It covers new construction, in-use schemes and refurbishment. BREEAM technical standards are internationally recognised and considered to be a robust means by which to deliver […]
by Paul Whitby
Bats are a frequent consideration when it comes to development projects and ecology. One of the main recommendations when bats are a consideration is the design and inclusion of a sensitive lighting scheme into a project. But what does this mean, how can it be achieved and why is it so important? Let’s begin […]
by Paul Whitby
Biodiversity Net Gain is a term that is becoming ingrained in the development process, particularly as it is set to become mandatory as part of the up and coming Environment Bill. However, the related concept of Environmental Net Gain is perhaps less well known, but is also entering the terminology of development projects in tandem. […]
by Paul Whitby
The focus of this month’s post is badger surveys in relation to development. Badger surveys are often required as part of the planning process and as with all things ecological, it’s best to undertake initial scoping surveys for this species early on in the planning and design of a development scheme. Badger ecology Badgers […]
by Paul Whitby
In last month’s post, we took a closer look at Landscape and Ecological Management Plans (LEMPs) in association with development projects. Following on from this, we focus on Construction Management Plans and the role of an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW). What is a Construction Management Plan? As the name suggests, a Construction Management […]
by Paul Whitby
In today’s post we’re going to look at the ‘mitigation hierarchy’, which is an integral part of an ecological assessment, particularly when it comes to the planning process for developments. As we have touched upon in previous articles, the first stage in addressing ecology in relation to a proposed development is to undertake a […]
by Paul Whitby
If you are involved in a development project where ecological protection, mitigation or enhancement has been prescribed, there is a good chance that you will require a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) to be produced. In this post we take a closer look at under what circumstances you would typically need to commision […]