The Position of an Ecological Impact Assessment in Developments
From a small extension to a large housing estate, any proposed development has the potential to impact the local environment. Even if it’s unintentional, your plans could involve disturbing wildlife, removing trees and affecting watercourses.
The local planning authorities have a statutory duty to protect nature, and before they can approve your planning application, they first need to understand all of the potential issues. For them to do this correctly, they will need a report to identify all risks to wildlife and how you plan to manage them, which will only be possible after an ecological impact assessment (EcIA).
What is an Ecological Impact Assessment?
An ecological impact assessment (EcIA) is a formal process that identifies, quantifies and evaluates the potential impact of a development project on habitats, species and ecosystems.
It starts as a comprehensive ecological assessment designed to understand the current ecological value of a site, before the results and recommended next steps are detailed within a final ecological report.
With it, developers can ensure that their planning project complies with wildlife law and local planning policies, supporting the natural environment and strengthening their application for planning permission in the process.
Connection to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
It’s easy to confuse an ecological impact assessment (EcIA) with an environmental impact assessment (EIA), especially considering how similar the names for the two surveys are.
The simplest way to recognise the difference between the two is by thinking of an EIA as being broad and an EcIA as being specialised. More specifically, an environmental impact assessment looks at all potential impacts like noise, traffic, air quality and human health, whereas an ecological impact assessment looks exclusively at the ecological component of that process.
If a planning project is large enough to need a full EIA, the EcIA report becomes the ‘Ecology & Biodiversity’ chapter within the final environmental statement. As for smaller development sites that don’t need a full EIA, a standalone EcIA is often still needed to address specific ecological issues.
The Goals in an Ecological Impact Assessment
The main goals of an ecological impact assessment include:
- Assessing the potential significant effects of the project, both positive and negative
- Collating clear information for the local council to determine planning applications lawfully
- Ensuring the planning project supports biodiversity net gain (BNG) objectives
- Identifying all important ecological features and important habitats on or near the site
- Producing practical mitigation measures to protect wildlife and habitats
What is the Importance of an Ecological Impact Assessment?
Instead of just being a box-ticking exercise, an EcIA is vital for nature conservation and key to balancing development with the needs of the natural world, ensuring that development projects are both legally compliant and environmentally responsible.
By identifying risks to protected species (such as bats, breeding birds and great crested newts) or protected habitats early in the planning process, it will be possible to create design measures to avoid costly delays, legal penalties and damage to reputation.
When is an Ecological Impact Assessment Required?
It is likely that you would need an EcIA if your planning project could affect:
- A site of ecological interest, such as a designated site like a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
- A site of international importance
- Areas known to contain priority habitats or protected species
- Any site where a preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) has identified potential impacts that require a more detailed investigation
Overview of Ecological Impact Assessment Methodology
Based on a clear and industry-standard approach, an EcIA follows a structured methodology rooted in law and scientific best practice. It ensures that the survey data collected is robust, repeatable and fit for purpose.
For more information on the background of ecological impact assessments and the survey process, check out the section below:
Decision to Introduce Ecological Impact Assessments
Originally, the need for formal ecological assessments grew from a wider understanding that developments could cause irreversible harm to wildlife.
Environmental impact assessments were formalised in the 1980s, but it took longer for the same to happen for the practice of assessing ecological impacts.
Over time, the need for more of an emphasis on ecological factors became more pressing until the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) (back when it was known as the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM)) published the official Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in 2006.
References to EcIAs Within UK Legislation
Although there isn’t exactly an ‘EcIA Act’ in UK law, the requirement for an assessment is embedded within broader relevant legislation.
For instance, duties are placed on developers and planners to protect and enhance biodiversity in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Ecological Impact Assessment Guidelines
To guarantee the same level of quality and consistency across the board, all ecological impact assessment reports follow professional guidelines, such as those from the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
Instructions include applying the mitigation hierarchy for prioritising avoiding impacts first, then moving on to mitigating them, and only as an absolute last resort, using compensation measures for any unavoidable losses.
Ecological Impact Assessment Process
Supporting your development from start to finish, the process for completing an ecological impact assessment needs to be methodical.
It begins with establishing the baseline ecological conditions and finishes with an actionable report ready to partner with your planning submission.
Steps in an Ecological Impact Assessment
Every planning project is unique, but the EcIA process usually consists of the following steps:
1. Scoping and Baseline Study
Starting with a desk study to gather existing data from local record centres and other sources.
The first step is often combined with an extended phase 1 habitat survey / preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) to map the site, identify habitats and determine what further ecology surveys may be needed.
2. Detailed Field Studies
Conducting targeted ecological surveys based on the circumstances of the site, with the survey work often including protected species surveys for bats, dormice, newts or other wildlife depending on the initial findings.
Additional surveys may be required at specific times of the year, but at this point, the ecological consultant will be able to work out the best plan of action.
3. Impact Assessment
Analysing data from the development site to assess the potential impacts of the planning project.
Effects and influences on off-site features are also taken into consideration, such as the possible impact on nearby watercourses and woodlands.
4. Mitigation and Enhancement
Designing practical mitigation strategies and enhancement measures to deliver a positive outcome for wildlife, and displaying them within EcIA reports.
Methods of enhancing the state of the environment include planting native-species hedgerows and trees, sowing wildlife meadows, creating new wildlife ponds and wetland scrapes, installing bat boxes and bird boxes, building log piles, constructing hedgehog highways, and restoring existing natural features.
Ecology Impact Assessment for Planning Projects
Navigating the planning system can be complicated, but fortunately, we are here to make it as simple as possible. A high-quality ecological impact assessment can be the component you need to unlock your planning permission smoothly and without delay.
The team at Arbtech produces reports and delivers solutions, providing expert pragmatic advice that developers and planners need to move projects forward. We ensure that all ecological constraints are identified and managed professionally, enabling your local planning authority to grant your planning application without hesitation.
Price for Ecological Impact Assessments
As every project is different, we refuse to offer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ price, simply because we don’t think it would be fair. Instead, the final cost for an EcIA depends on the location, size and complexity of the site, as well as the scale of the development plans.
Once you’ve reached out to us and given us as much information as you can about your development, we can provide you with a fixed and all-inclusive quote based on your plans, site and needs. By taking this approach, we can make sure that you know exactly what to expect without any unexpected fees or unwanted surprises.
Consultants in Charge of Ecological Impact Assessments
If you ask anyone at Arbtech what our greatest asset is, the answer would always be our team. Whoever you’re given to carry out an ecological impact assessment on your site, you will be given an ecology consultant who is fully qualified, experienced and licensed to help in a quick and effective way.
Every single one of our ecology consultancy staff has the necessary survey licences from Natural England, Natural Resources Wales or another relevant statutory body. The professional ecologist will also follow the latest guidance from CIEEM and other corresponding organisations.
The ecological consultants in our team have a comprehensive understanding of the planning system inside and out, giving them everything they need to know when it comes to guaranteeing that your local authority is satisfied and prepared to grant planning consent.
Contact Our Team for Help with an EcIA
If you know you need an ecological impact assessment report to satisfy your local planning authorities and get a planning application over the line for your proposed development, Arbtech can help. Alternatively, you might not be sure if you need an EcIA or one of the other ecological surveys available, such as an environmental impact assessment (EIA) or a preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA).
Whatever your situation, contact our team, and we can work out the best solution to get your project moving forward. Our team can then undertake the survey work you need, support nature conservation on your site, retrieve survey data, measure ecological value and initiate mitigation measures to counterbalance potential impacts caused by the development.
Any time further ecology surveys may be required to address potential issues, it would always be advisable to speak to us directly. You can do this by completing a quote form on our website, emailing us or calling us. Give us all the information you can about your site and project, and with everything we need, our administration team can create a free quote for you to consider.
