Important ecological areas in Liverpool
Liverpool is a city with an extensive industrial heritage, yet it also boasts an impressive variety of green areas, habitats, and wildlife. Home to over 500,000 residents, this north west city has undergone extensive urban development, especially in the River Mersey waterfront and Liverpool city centre areas. Despite this, the city retains significant ecological value, thanks to its parks, nature reserves, coastlines, and brownfield sites that provide refuge for diverse species.
Ecologically important areas of Liverpool include Sefton Park, Calderstones Park, and Otterspool Park: urban green spaces supporting birds, bats, and invertebrates. Liverpool Bay and the River Mersey Estuary, designated Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar sites, are internationally recognised for their importance to migratory birds, while Allerton Tower Park and Wavertree Botanic Gardens are notable for mature trees and botanical diversity. Areas of former industrial and brownfield land are now home to pioneering vegetation and important invertebrates. Protected species of concern in the Liverpool area include bat species, great crested newts, badgers, water voles, nesting birds, priority plants and invertebrates.
Relevant Legislation for Ecology Surveys
You may need an ecological survey in Liverpool if your development site contains or is close to green space, water bodies, woodlands, hedgerows, or old buildings, or if the local planning authority identifies a potential ecological constraint in the planning process. Protected species surveys may also be needed if you’re applying to local authorities for planning permission to convert or demolish buildings or you’re developing brownfield land.
Ecology surveys in Liverpool must comply with a range of environmental legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended); the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended); the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 and the Environment Act 2021. Failure to comply with this legislation can lead to prosecution, financial penalties, or planning refusal. Natural England also has established guidelines on how biodiversity must be protected.
Ecology Surveys: the Process
An initial consultation to assess a site is followed by a desk study and site visit when an ecological consultancy conducts a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal to identify habitats and species. This helps determine if further surveys are needed; if so, protected species surveys will be carried out such as bat surveys (preliminary roost assessments and activity surveys which must be carried out by bat surveyors in the summer months), great crested newt surveys, badger surveys, surveys for barn owls and breeding birds, reptile and amphibian surveys, invertebrate surveys, water vole and otter surveys, and Phase 1 Habitat Surveys.
If protected species are found, mitigation measures or compensation are often required and must be carried out according to good practice guidelines. This could include retaining key habitats, creating new habitats nearby, installing bat or bird boxes or timing works to avoid breeding seasons. For some projects, a European Protected Species Mitigation Licence will be required. An ecological consultant will compile the survey findings into a professional report before submission to Liverpool City Council.
Expert ecological services
To support a planning application, several ecology surveys may be needed depending on the proposed development site. We provide ecological consultancy services to a large number of clients, offering expert advice and a full range of ecology services including ecological impact assessments, preliminary ecological appraisals, invasive species surveys and protected species surveys such as badger surveys and preliminary roost assessments for roosting bats.
Request a quote today
With many years experience across Merseyside, the wider North West and mid Wales, our ecological consultancy and its team of qualified, licensed ecologists is experienced in local planning authority requirements and can guide you from the initial ecological survey through to achieving planning permission for your development projects.
If your local planning authority has asked you to provide ecology surveys to clarify the position with your planning application, speak to our team and arrange for a free quote. We simply need further information about your development site over a phone call, by email or a completed quote form on our contact page, and we will send you a quote. If you decide to proceed, confirm this with us and we can arrange a convenient date for an ecological survey on your Liverpool site to support your application for planning permission.