West Midlands Countryside Areas
A mixture of rural and urban areas across the West Midlands region display a significant portion of countryside in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire, as well as the developed towns and cities of Bedworth, Nuneaton, Rugby and Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, and Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands County.
Many of the regions in England are formed from a combination of developed and undeveloped land, and it can be difficult for local councils to juggle encouraging developers to stage planning projects alongside preserving the current state of biodiversity. A method of enabling developments to go ahead but with an eye on the environment is through only allowing projects to move forward once the necessary ecology surveys have been undertaken.
An ecological assessment on a development site will allow a trained and capable ecologist to examine the entirety of the plot of land and identify any and all ecological elements present. Based on the nature of their findings, they will then cross-reference the site itself with the developer’s plans to determine any likely obstructions to the project and find methods of mitigating them to allow the development to move ahead as planned without harming local biodiversity. An ecology report will then be created to demonstrate to the local planning authority that a suitable course of action that avoids harm to animal habitats and valuable plants has been developed, easing the decision to grant planning permission.
Registered Protected Species Identified in the West Midlands
Within both Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are protections that oversee the safety of specific animal species located in the UK. Each piece of legislation details the certain protected species of animal that are included in the policies. However, as the presence of wildlife in the area will be determined by the quality of the environment, certain protected species may or may not appear specifically in the West Midlands.
Below, all protected animal species present in the West Midlands region are listed by county:
Herefordshire
- Badgers
- Bats
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
- Otters
Shropshire
- Bats
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
- Natterjack Toads
- Otters
- Red Squirrels
- Sand Lizards
Staffordshire
- Bats
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
- Natterjack Toads
- Otters
Warwickshire
- Bats
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
- Otters
West Midlands County
- Badgers
- Bats
- Great Crested Newts
Worcestershire
- Badgers
- Bats
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
- Otters
- Reptiles
- Water Voles
Assessments on Ecological Features
As every development site is different, the selection of applicable ecological surveys can vary significantly. That said, a first stage Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) / Phase 1 Habitat Survey is often applied to any development projects on undeveloped land or sites with infrastructure that could potentially house animal habitats or invasive plant species.
Ecologists undertake PEA surveys by visiting the site at a date and time that suits the developer or landowner and carrying out a physical inspection of all areas, paying particularly close attention to natural elements such as evidence of wildlife or plant life in the vicinity. Between their findings on the site and details of the development project, the surveyor can work out how ecological components could impact sections of the planning project.
Through utilising a mitigation hierarchy that prioritises retention but will allow the options of relocation or destruction if applicable, the ecologist will find an appropriate step forward that will enable the development to progress despite the presence of valuable natural assets. If further information is needed, they will recommend other ecology surveys taking place. For example, invasive species surveys could include giant hogweed surveys, Himalayan balsam surveys, injurious weed surveys or Japanese knotweed surveys, and protected species surveys could include badger surveys, barn owl surveys, bat surveys, dormouse surveys, great crested newt surveys, otter surveys, reptile surveys or water vole surveys.
After the assessment, the ecological surveyor from the ecological consultancy will put together an extensive ecology survey report that will highlight all information and findings from the survey. Due to the comprehensive nature of the ecology survey report, it is ideal for passing across to the planning department of your local council, with all of the detail needed for the local planning authorities therein to grant planning permission on the site.
Ecology Consultants
In any form of ecology survey, there is an emphasis on both flora and fauna across the site in question. Not only that, but rare forms of plant life and wildlife may be discovered. With that comes a need for ecological surveyors to harness an expansive knowledge of numerous protected species of animal and invasive or rare plants, as well as the necessary experience and qualifications to make informed decisions and conduct various ecology surveys.
Including the West Midlands region and all corresponding counties, our ecological consultants are located all over the UK and are qualified and capable of undertaking thorough ecological surveys. From invasive species surveys to protected species surveys such as an invasive weed survey or a bat survey, and from preliminary ecological appraisals and ecological impact assessments to any other required further surveys, our ecologists are educated to bachelor’s and master’s level and carry the skills to support your planning application.
Receive Your Quote for Ecological Services
Both for assisting you with the ecology surveys you need and providing expert advice on any cost-effective further assessments you may benefit from in the process of meeting the needs of the local authorities and securing planning applications, our helpful team are on hand for guiding you with taking the most suitable next step with your planning project.
Simply fill in our quick quote form or call us directly, and we can offer you a free quote for the necessary ecological assessments guided by the specific details of your site and project. Once you give us the green light, we can organise a date and time for one of the experts from our ecological consultancy to assist you with a site visit, determine future stages in the planning process, conduct your ecology survey, and play a key role in getting planning consent on your site.