• 8 tips to save money on ecology
• Protected species
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  • Common dormice
  • Badgers
  • Bats
  • Great crested newt
  • Otters
  • Wintering and breeding birds
  • White clawed crayfish
• Thomson Ecology Site Check
• Habitat Surveys
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Ecology in masterplanning
• Ecological Mitigation Schemes
• Expert witness at Public Inquiries
• BREEAM/ Code for Sustainable Homes
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• Wildlife habitat restoration and creation
• 8 tips to save money on ecology
• Wind farm developments

8 tips to save money on ecology

Below are 8 tips on how to reduce your ecology costs when developing a site. By following this advice you should be able to avoid most of the pitfalls.

1. Choose your site carefully
A site of low ecological value will have far fewer associated ecological costs. The number of surveys required will be less; planning and legal issues fewer; licensing requirements, mitigation and compensation processes probably non-existent; work restrictions and biodiversity impacts minimal.

2. Incorporate ecology at the design stage
Consider ecology early on in the process to reduce ecological impacts and the risk of delays in the planning process. By incorporating existing ecological features mitigation costs can be considerably reduced.

3. Submit all the ecological information to Planning at the right time
Planning Authorities require ecological information at the decision making stage, in accordance with national, regional and local planning policy. Failure to submit ecological information is likely to cause costly delays.
Failure to consider ecological issues and protected species when developing a site could result in a court case and considerable fines- damaging your profits and your reputation.

4. Plan in time for seasonal surveys
A number of ecological surveys can only be carried out a certain times of the year. It is possible that you may require ecological surveys spread over a period of up to 12 months. Go to http://www.thomsonecology.com/page/survey-calendar for survey timings.

5. Manage your site during the pre-development period
Disused sites soon become inhabited by wildlife. To ensure that the ecological status of your land is unchanged, it must be carefully managed. Talk to your ecological consultant on how to maintain your site pre-development.

6. Cost effective ways to enhance your site
As well as protecting the existing ecology on site, National, regional and local planning policy now requires that you also take ecological enhancement measures. Your ecological consultant can advise on suitable enhancements to your site that won’t cost the earth and will help you on get through the planning process.

7. Listen to your ecologist (…it will save you grief later!)
Your ecologist is the expert and is there to find the best ecological solutions both in terms of cost and to comply with wildlife law. Getting their advice early in the project can save you time, money and headaches.
Ignoring expert advice from your ecologist could lead to criminal offences being committed.

8. Read the ecologists' reports
It is important that you know what is required in the way of surveys and mitigation/enhancement. Ignoring method statements, i.e. the legal requirements for protected species associated with Natural England licensing, can lead to committing criminal offences and the associated fines.

We hope that this helps. If you have any queries relating to your projects, then please do not hesitate to contact us: Tel: 01483 466000 or e-mail enquiries@thomsonecology.com