The Condition of the Environment in the North West Region
Primarily formed from countryside areas, the majority of North West England is rural. For instance, towns across Lancashire such as Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley and Preston are within countryside areas, and Cumbria is actively perceived as a rural area, particularly due to the Lake District. Elsewhere, Cheshire has an almost perfectly even split of rural and agricultural areas, and Greater Manchester and Merseyside are the only counties in the region that are considered urban.
Due to the high number of green areas across the North West, the presence of protected species and plants can act as an obstacle during development projects, especially if the plot of land in question is undeveloped. Fortunately, however, ecology surveys performed by licensed ecologists can ensure that all ecological issues on the development site are identified and mitigated, enabling the property or land development to progress and strengthening the application for planning permission on the site.
Protected Species Within North West Counties
In specific UK legislation such as Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the protected species in the UK are listed. However, as the presence of protected species will vary based on location, you may be interested to learn which species are in the North West.
Below, you will find every protected species in North West England separated by county:
Cheshire
- Badgers
- Barn Owls
- Bats
- Great Crested Newts
- Otters
- Water Voles
Cumbria
- Barn Owls
- Bats
- Great Crested Newts
- Geese
- Hen Harrier
- Natterjack Toad
- Otters
- Red Squirrels
- Swans
- Water Voles
Greater Manchester
- Badgers
- Barn Owls
- Bats
- Great Crested Newts
- Kingfishers
- Little Ringed Plovers
- Peregrine Falcons
- Water Voles
Lancashire
- Badgers
- Bats
- Brown Hares
- Dormice
- Otters
- Pine Martens
- Polecats
- Red Squirrels
- Seals
- Water Voles
Merseyside
- Barn Owls
- Bats
- Ferrers
- Frogs
- Great Crested Newts
- Kingfishers
- Toads
- Water Voles
Ecological Survey Services
A qualified ecology consultant can undertake various ecology surveys to suit a number of different purposes. At a baseline level, a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) / Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey is an all-encompassing first-stage assessment that enables an ecological consultant to review a site, identify plants and animal species present, establish the potential ecological impact and whether the development would affect them and, if so, what should be done to mitigate these problems.
Over the course of the field surveys, a qualified ecologist will inspect the entire site and pay particular attention to any evidence of the full range of valuable plants or protected species that may be present. With consideration to environmental management and nature conservation, the findings from the PEA will then be detailed at length in an ecology survey report along with effective next steps that will act as solutions to any and all ecological issues discovered on the development site.
Depending on the outcome of the assessment, the ecology report may reveal that further surveys are needed. For instance, the discovery of certain animal species may prompt the need for protected species surveys such as badger surveys, barn owl surveys, bat surveys, dormouse surveys, great crested newt surveys, otter surveys, reptile surveys or water vole surveys. Likewise, if specific valuable or potentially invasive species of plant were found, the corresponding ecology surveys would be needed, such as giant hogweed surveys, Himalayan balsam surveys, injurious weed surveys or Japanese knotweed surveys.
Licensed Ecological Surveyors
As ecology surveys can appear in many different forms to suit an array of requirements, it is vitally important that you choose an ecological surveyor that can not only advise on the most suitable assessments but also carry them out. Our ecological consultants hold advanced experience in undertaking numerous ecology surveys including PEA surveys, protected species surveys and invasive species surveys.
In addition to being fully qualified and licensed, our planning consultants make informed decisions and recommendations based on observations during the survey work undertaken to aid the development project. Alongside proficiency to support planning applications to the local authorities, our team can also help with applications for protected species licences to Natural England if one is required, offer advice on achieving biodiversity net gain (BNG), and conduct further surveys, such as an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), a national vegetation classification assessment, and BREEAM assessments.
With so many qualified ecologists based around the UK, our ecological consultancy can offer impactful ecological surveys for North West ecology, as well as the rest of England and sections of Scotland and Wales. Using the accompanying report from the completed ecological services and following the outlined next steps will then work to appease your local planning authority and support your endeavour for a successful planning application.
Booking an Ecology Survey
Whether you are fully aware of the ecology surveys you need or want expert advice from us, our friendly team is happy to help guide you in the process. Simply get in touch and we can talk you through the best options based on your proposed development projects. Call us using the number at the top of this page, fill out our quote form or visit our contact page, and we will speak to you about the necessary ecological surveys you will need.
Due to ecological services consisting of a wide range of possible surveys and assessments, our ecological consultancy provides any number of inspections to support planning applications. From a preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) to establish the presence of valuable animals and plants, to protected species surveys such as bat surveys to retrieve further information on the ecological elements, and even biodiversity net gain assessments to remain in line with legislation and generate sufficient habitat creation, each of our ecological consultants has disciplines in a vast array of applicable areas.
Using the specifications of your site and project, we can issue you with a free quote, and if you choose to proceed, we can book a site visit from one of our ecologists at the next available opportunity, providing it fits within the certain times that specific assessments can be carried out. You will receive your completed ecology report shortly after the survey, and it can be submitted to the planning department of your local council to progress your project and find success in your application for planning consent.