Protected Species Services from Pinnacle Environment Ltd
Many planning applications are refused or rejected because the potential impact on protected species has not been properly assessed.
Early identification of any protected species using a site will give you the best chance to work towards decreasing the costs associated with planning applications.
Forward thinking will also allow you to increase efficiency through the ability to plan a range of mitigation schemes, satisfying environmental and planning regulations and offering a proactive approach to ecology issues.
Our suite of services for protected species includes:
Bat Surveys
Bats can have an effect on a development site as they roost in trees and buildings. All British bat species are protected under UK and European legislation, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or capture a bat. It is also an offence to disturb or damage roosts, or obstruct access to roosts. They are fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 making them European Protected Species.
As bats often use the same roosts year after year, it is important to note that the roosts are protected whether or not bats are present at the site. Intentional harm to bats can result in prosecution.
We are able to advise on a range of issues should you suspect the potential for bats on a site. Our services include:
• Assessment of habitat, buildings and trees for bat potential
• Internal building inspections for evidence of bats
• Bat activity surveys
• Bat emergence/re-entry surveys
• Bat mitigation for developments
• Detailed assessments and reports to support planning applications
Bat surveys are subject to seasonal restrictions. While bat assessment surveys can be carried out throughout the year, bat activity and emergence/re-entry surveys must be carried out at a time when bats will be most active; the optimum season for this is May – September. Forward planning can ensure that the potential for bats on a site does not create unnecessary delays for a project.
Badger Surveys
Badgers are protected under the Badgers Act 1992, which makes it an offence to wilfully kill, injure or take, or attempt to kill, injure or take, a badger. The law also protects badger habitats, making it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct access to a badger sett.
Pinnacle can advise on a range of issues concerning badgers, including:
• Survey of a site for signs of badgers
• Badger bait marking surveys
• Site investigation and reporting
• Badger mitigation for developments
• Detailed assessments and reports to support planning applications
Badger surveys can be conducted throughout the year, although the optimum conditions for a survey will be when vegetation does not obscure entrances to setts, so the autumn and winter months can be an ideal time to survey a site.
Great Crested Newt Surveys
Great crested newts are fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 making them European Protected Species. This high level of protection means that any development proposed within 500m of suitable aquatic habitat for great crested newts must be assessed for the potential impact that development might have on the species.
We are able to carry out initial surveys to identify the potential for the presence of great crested newts, as well as to advise on a range of management options should their presence be established. Our services include:
• Great crested newt habitat assessment
• Great crested newt presence/absence survey
• Great crested newt mitigation for developments
• Habitat Suitability Index assessments of the potential for great crested newts to be using a particular site
• Detailed assessments and reports to support planning applications
Survey work for great crested newts should be carried out usually from March – June.
Early identification of this species on a site will give the best chance to prepare planning applications to fit in with these surveys.
Barn Owl Surveys
The barn owl is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) (as amended), making it an offence to kill or injure birds, take or destroy their eggs, or damage or destroy their nests. Their inclusion in Schedule 1 of the Act also provides protection against disturbance while nesting or when they have dependent young.
Barn owl surveys will be especially required for developments that involve barn conversions, renovations of older buildings and sites that have outbuildings.
Pinnacle can provide survey support and consultancy including:
• Barn owl inspections and assessments for buildings and trees
• Barn owl mitigation for development
• Detailed assessments and reports to support planning applications
Water Vole Surveys
There has been a rapid decline in water vole numbers in the UK in recent years. They are fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) making it an offence to deliberately capture, injure or kill them or to damage, destroy or obstruct their breeding or resting places.
Our survey and consultancy capabilities include:
• Water vole habitat assessment
• Water vole presence/absence survey
• Water vole mitigation for developments
• Detailed assessments and reports to support planning applications
Reptile Surveys
The adder, common lizard, grass snake and slow worm are protected from killing or injury under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The sand lizard and smooth snake are under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 making them European Protected Species.
Pinnacle can provide the following services in respect of reptiles:
• Reptile habitat assessment
• Reptile presence/ absence survey
• Reptile mitigation for developments
• Detailed assessments and reports to support planning applications
Otter Surveys
The otter is fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 making the otter a European Protected Species. Recent surveys have indicated a resurgence in otter populations across the UK as a result of higher quality river networks that provide a suitable habitat for the species.
We are happy to provide consultancy and survey services in respect of otters as follows:
• Otter habitat assessment
• Otter presence/ absence survey
• Otter mitigation for developments
• Detailed assessments and reports to support planning applications
Otter surveys can be undertaken throughout the year.
European Protected Species Licence Applications
Most management and mitigation works involving protected species require a European Protected Species Licence, the application for which can often be a cumbersome process.
The presence of a protected species on a proposed development site does not necessarily mean that development cannot be carried out. It is important to note however that the design and scheduling of developments will need to take account of the presence (or even the potential presence) of any protected species.
With a co-ordinated ‘joined-up’ approach from the outset, we believe that we can provide you with the right support to minimise potential delays to your project and maximise your chances of success.
For more information on the optimum times for specific ecology surveys, download the Pinnacle Environment Survey Timetable.For more information on any of our ecology services, please email us. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss an ecology issue directly with an ecologist, please contact our office on 0845 463 4404.
