Local planning authorities insist on a full ecological impact assessment before they will validate a planning application. But time can be an issue – so it is important to start the process as quickly as possible. Preliminary Ecological Appraisal This is the first stage of the ecological assessment process, and nearly every site needs this…
Our team of ecologists are often asked how to best avoid the costs and delays associated with the seasonality of ecology surveys.
With January now behind us, thoughts can now turn to spring, and the variety of ecology surveys that can begin taking place, including breeding bird surveys.
agb Environmental is an environmental consultancy specialising in multi-service, multi-site development projects. We provide comprehensive environmental site assessment and coordinated constraints management.
agb Environmental has the specialist teams to help survey for and mitigate the impacts of any developments to near water vole habitat. Should you have any projects where water voles may be a constraint, or where you may require any further ecology or protected species surveys, please get in touch.
We have developed an hour long CPD seminar to offer some insight into the process of engaging, managing and understanding ecology surveys.
With the majority of protected species surveys completed, the question turns to what our team of ecologists will be doing in winter. Will all development has to wait until the new season? Several UK species hibernate, migrate or reduce their activity during the cold weather over the winter months. This applies to bats, dormice, reptiles and…
New water vole mitigation guidelines for development and construction projects were published in April 2016. Our Ecologists at agb Environmental have provided a useful overview of these guidelines and the key changes and recommendations. The water vole is one of the UK’s fastest declining wild mammals. It is listed as a species of principal importance for…
With September fast approaching, we are rapidly moving through the closing months and weeks of various ecological survey seasons. With that in mind, we’re urging clients to consider accelerating project surveys in order to meet the survey deadlines.
agb Environmental is pleased to announce that Cassie Todd and Claire Browne will be joining the ecology team in August 2016.
Getting a tree survey is just the first step of what can sometimes be a lengthy process, particularly if there are complications, or if things go wrong. You’ve found the arboriculturist to provide the survey, but now you need a contractor, and maybe an ecologist and landscaper too.
agb Environmental provided ecological advice to the Natural Trust in their award winning Wimpole Hall Gothic Tower restoration project.
After a flurry of frantic bat, great crested newt, reptile, dormice and water vole surveys throughout the 2015 ecology survey season, we have been asked (on more than one occasion) what our ecologists do during the Winter months.
The deadline to start a dormouse survey for a 2015 finish is fast approaching! Secure your development by arranging a dormouse survey and contacting agb Environmental before it’s too late.
agb Environmental ecologists are now fully trained and licensed to use this brand new survey technique, which can determine whether great crested newts (GCN) are present or likely to be absent from ponds – using just a water sample!
When planning new developments there are many different rules and regulations for you to abide by, including ones that may not be so well known to you or necessarily at the top of your priorities. However, they are crucial for your plans to achieve planning permission and to provide the information that the LPA need…
As it’s already March, it is important for anyone who is purchasing land, or applying for planning permission, to find out if they need a Great Crested Newt (GCN) survey as soon as possible to avoid lengthy delays as a result of a strict narrow survey season.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) recently published their response to the consultation on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) thresholds, with new regulations likely to be set early in 2015.
Avoid delay on your development by scheduling ecology surveys when required. For further information please contact our in-house ecology team.
agb Environmental reminds developers that GCN surveys are still required, after NE announces a step forward in the detection and protection process.