Ecological constraints are frequently a key consideration in projects, with the potential to adversely affect budget, programme and delivery; sometimes significantly due to the seasonal nature of surveys and mitigation required in line with current legislation.

Our Environment and Planning team with their strengthened ecological expertise are able to work with you, providing pragmatic solution-driven advice through the development of your projects. Therefore, ensuring that ecological constraints are identified as early as possible in the programme and pragmatic advice is provided to de-risk projects.

By fully understanding our client’s goals and their approach to risk, we can offer a range of services throughout all stages of the project. Specific ecology services provided by Dalcour Maclaren include:

  • High-level ecology screening
  • Extended Phase 1 Habitat surveys
  • Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA)
  • Protected Species surveys
  • Protected Species method statements
  • Ecological Clerk of Works
  • Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA)
  • Ecology Chapters of Environmental Statements
  • Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA)
  • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Assents
  • Ecological Constraints and Opportunities mapping
  • Habitat and Species Management Plans
  • Protected Species licensing advice
  • Biodiversity Net Gain (including requirements in devolved countries particularly England and Wales) including use of the DEFRA metric and Ecosystem Resilience Assessments
  • Ecosystems Services Assessments and Natural Capital
  • BREAAM (ecology support)
  • Advise on and input into Landscape Plans and Schedules
  • Input into Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMP) and Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS)

As the end of the year is fast approaching, preparing for any projects you may have programmed is important. Winter is a good time to undertake an initial ecology site visit and desktop study and determine further ecology surveys or assessments that may be required.

The Dalcour Maclaren survey calendar details the range of surveys that may need to be considered, and their seasonality.

To find out what we can do for you, contact [email protected]

Get in touch

Allison Pritchard

Director