The brief
We worked with our client, a housing developer, to assist them in preparing a site for a phased house-building project. The site in Burgess Hill, Sussex, was a decommissioned quarry that provided clay for a brick and tile works, also on site.
Our client was undertaking substantial remodelling of the quarry. Before this could be done, any ecology issues had to be addressed. The main constraint was the presence of newts and reptiles, which are legally protected from killing and injury, so they had to be moved from site before the development works could begin.
The project was extremely challenging due to the difficult terrain. There were many steep slopes, and the ground was heavy clay, making operating on site difficult.
What we did
- Installed almost 2km of semi-permanent newt and reptile fencing around the perimeter of the site
- Installed approximately 2km of temporary newt and reptile fencing within the site
- Put down pitfall traps and carpet tiles to enable the trapping programme
The outcome
Despite the challenges, we completed the works within time and within budget.
