Ecology – A paramount consideration

When you are building a new home there is so much to consider. Forward-thinking and planning for potential ecology issues are critical to prevent delays in achieving planning permission and the build schedule.  

UK Legislation protects the habitats of many species of animals including bats, badgers, breeding birds, water voles, great crested newts, otters, and more and nature dictates when an ecology report can take place.  

When building a new home an in-depth survey is required by the local planning department to ensure your project does not harm wildlife located nearby.

Our RIBA Accredited Chartered Architects work with some of the best in the ‘ecology reporting’ business to make sure you are aware of any constraints that may affect your project early on.  

Together with T4 Ecology, we manage your ecological and environmental reporting requirements in a sophisticated and knowledgeable manner. The prompt identification of any ecological constraints ensures your project is not held up and if necessary, the appropriate mitigation is incorporated into the design process.

This partnership guarantees a clear understanding of Essex and surrounding areas planning requirements for practical ecological solutions to support your development project and help minimise any possible delays or unforeseen circumstances.

A good ecological survey identifies the habitats and/or species that exist within an area at the time of the survey.  Failing to undertake an ecology report for your project could mean you are exposed to legal action, long delays or even cancellation of building work.

Nature dictates when your survey can take place. September – October is the less favourable time to undertake ecology reporting. The optimum period for most surveys depends on the lifecycle and habitat of animal and nature subjects under consideration. Once a survey has taken place, the report is valid for 18 months.

Author: Jessica Parkes

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