South East England Ecological Value
Integrating undeveloped rural areas with a multitude of towns and villages, the South East region boasts a vast collection of countryside locations across the nine counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Built-up areas within these counties with a population above 100,000 for more than two decades include Southampton, Portsmouth, Reading, Brighton and Hove, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Slough, High Wycombe and Worthing.
An estimated 80% of the South East region is considered rural, and with such a high percentage of rural areas over urban areas, the local authorities are met with the challenge of allowing planning projects to go ahead without harming the environment as a result. Protecting biodiversity value, ecological features and the environment as a whole is possible, however, with the insights of an ecologist through an ecology survey on the site.
In an ecology survey, a licensed ecologist will visit the site to undertake a physical inspection of all natural features present. The ecological consultant will then speak directly to the developer to grasp an understanding of the proposed development project, using it as an opportunity to gauge potential damages to the ecological standard of the site.
Once any unavoidable obstructions to the development site have been identified, the ecological surveyor will work out effective methods to mitigate, and both the results of the assessment and the ecologist’s mitigation measures will be detailed in an ecology report, eliminating any issues involving the natural world and bolstering the planning application submitted to the local council.
Protected Species Located Throughout the South East
Parts of UK legislation that outline protections over certain animal species include Schedule 2 of Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. While all European protected species are listed, the presence of animals in any location is determined by the climate, and whether or not suitable habitats are available.
Focusing on the South East specifically, protected species in the region by county are named below:
Berkshire
- Adders
- Bats
- Lapwings
- Otters
- Water Voles
Buckinghamshire
- Adders
- Badgers
- Bats
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
- Otters
- Water Voles
East Sussex
- Badgers
- Bats
- Brown Hares
- Dormice
- Reptiles
- Water Voles
Hampshire
- Bats
- Brown Hares
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
Isle of Wight
- Badgers
- Bats
- Red Squirrels
- Water Voles
- White-Tailed Eagles
Kent
- Bats
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
Oxfordshire
- Badgers
- Bats
- Dormice
- Great Crested Newts
- Otters
- Water Voles
Surrey
- Bats
- Dormice
- Natterjack Toads
- Otters
- Reptiles
West Sussex
- Badgers
- Bats
- Brown Hares
- Dormice
- Reptiles
- Water Voles
Surveying Ecological and Environmental Features
From the shortlist of ecological surveys, a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) / Phase 1 Habitat Survey is commonly the first step and initial survey in the process. On a predetermined date, an ecological consultant will visit a development site to conduct a preliminary ecological appraisal, paying particular attention to protected species of animal and valuable or invasive species of plant. After inspecting all areas, natural assets on the site will be noted, and the ecological surveyor will then work out whether or not they will conflict with the development plans of the project.
A mitigation hierarchy will be used to decide on the best course of action for any ecological factors that could cause problems to the development proposals. The ecologist will always see retaining valuable natural assets as the most preferable outcome, but if this isn’t possible, they will choose to relocate them elsewhere or, as a last resort, destroy them and compensate for losses to biodiversity inside or outside of the development site.
In some cases, it may be necessary to carry out further ecology surveys as a method of gaining more information about the presence of ecological elements on the site. Examples of invasive species surveys include giant hogweed surveys, Himalayan balsam surveys, injurious weed surveys or Japanese knotweed surveys, and examples of further protected species surveys include badger surveys, barn owl surveys, bat surveys (bat scoping surveys and bat activity surveys), dormouse surveys, great crested newt surveys, otter surveys, reptile surveys, water vole surveys, and ecology services for roosting and breeding birds.
Immediately after the ecology survey, the ecologist will create an ecology survey report with all of the necessary information included, such as details about the assessment, next steps for present natural features, and suggestions for any further surveys required on the site. The completed ecology report can then be handed to the planning officer of the local authority, and as it will feature all of the required information to pass applications for planning permission, it should satisfy their strict planning requirements and allow the project to move forwards.
Ecological Consultants and Surveyors
All ecological surveys and assessments require a comprehensive understanding of flora and fauna, particularly as it could prompt the need for further surveys to gather more information on protected species and invasive plant species present on the site. Due to this, the ecological consultants in our ranks hold sufficient knowledge of ecology and corresponding subject areas. Likewise, our ecological surveyors possess bachelor’s and master’s degrees in relevant topics and a wealth of experience conducting an ecological survey for numerous purposes, industries and clients.
As well as the academic qualifications and personal skills, our ecologists are based all over the UK – including the South East region and the counties therein – giving all clients an opportunity to book an ecology survey with one of our insightful professional experts. With an immense level of expertise in ecology, our ecological surveyors are capable of conducting a broad range of ecology surveys such as a habitat survey, preliminary ecological appraisal or ecological impact assessment (EcIA), for example, all with the prestige to give your local planning authority all they need to grant planning consent on your site.
Operating all year round, we can lead on any service relating to nature conservation, including bat survey services, ranging from a bat scoping survey to any number of bat emergence and re-entry surveys (BERS) as required. If you need to meet the requirements of biodiversity net gain (BNG), we can evaluate your site using additional assessments with a view to integrating new habitats and rare plants to increase the biodiversity value, and if you need a European protected species licence after finding barn owls or other protected species, we can assist on the application put forward to Natural England.
Request a No-Obligation Quote
If you want expert advice with deciding on the most suitable ecology survey for your site and project, or if you know what type of ecological assessment you need and simply want to book, speak to our team, and they will be able to process your needs to determine the right step forward. Our ecological consultancy has been providing further survey work to support natural conservation for building and land development for more than a decade, and due to that, we can work closely with developers, operate within the planning process and arrange a site visit at the optimal time.
Fill in a quick quote form or call us directly and give us details of your site and project, and our friendly team can provide you with a free quote based on your unique specifications. Providing you are happy to move forwards, we can then decide on a suitable date to visit your site at certain times that work for your development process and the active season of other protected species involved in the site survey, undertake the necessary ecology survey, and help you with gaining a planning condition from the local planning authority.