ECOLOGY CONSULTANCY
We are the South East's go-to ecology practice for when you need quality technical advice
PJC Consultancy offers a wide variety of ecological services such as preliminary ecological appraisals, and a range of protected species surveys. We also offer ecological impact assessments, and mitigation strategies and management plans.
PJC ecology team comprise a team of friendly and professional consultants, all of which are members of the Chartered Institute of Ecological and Environmental Management, the professional body for ecological consultants, which work to the Institute’s Code of Professional Conduct, British Standard B242020 and best practice guidelines.
The team possess the local knowledge and expertise needed to help you through the planning process to help deliver high quality, pragmatic and cost-effective ecological solutions to a diverse client base, for both small and large public and private sector projects, such as residential and commercial development schemes to major infrastructure development projects.
Protected species (phase 2) surveys
There are several protected species whose presence on a site can have implications for its development. The presence of a protected species can affect a project by creating timing constraints and introducing a requirement for mitigation measures.
It is important to understand the ecology of a site prior to master planning and design. PJC Consultancy holds licenses to survey all the major UK protected species groups. We can advise you on how their presence can affect your site and guide you through the process of surveying, reporting and taking the necessary measures to continue with your project, including how to provide opportunities for habitat creation and enhancement.
Preliminary ecological appraisal
The first stage of an ecological survey is to assess the potential of a site for its ability to support protected species and/or habitats.
This can be provided by a range of site assessments including an initial ecological appraisal, scoping or walkover survey. A more detailed approach would be a Phase 1 habitat survey.
A Phase 1 Habitat Survey is undertaken to provide a basic ecological audit of a site as part of a wider environmental assessment. It provides valuable ecological information useful for site management and environmental planning (including supporting planning applications).
It consists of recording habitats and basic vegetation information for an area, including a list of dominant species per habitat type, highlighting particularly important features and including a basic habitat assessment. A desk study, prior site visit, sets the context for field study by collecting information on protected and Biodiversity Action Plan species and presence of protected areas nearby or on site.
A Phase 1 survey can be extended to include an appraisal of the likelihood of a site to support protected species, leading to specialist protected species surveys.
Ecological impact assessments (ECIA)
Ecological impact assessment (ECIA) is used to predict and evaluate the impact of developments on ecosystems and their components (habitats and species).
An Ecological Impact Assessment provides the information required to ensure that ecological issues are given full and proper consideration in development planning, and informs the developer on any potential ecological liabilities.
PJC Consultancy hold Natural England licenses and are licensed to survey for bats, great crested newts and dormice. We are also very knowledgable with badgers, reptiles and birds too!
Breeam assessments
Breeam (building research establishment’s environmental assessment method) is the world’s leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. The environmental performance of new developments is measured by their ability to attain credits within different categories.
Local Planning Authorities can condition BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes Assessments, with some developments requiring higher credit ratings or the achievement of compulsory levels.
The ‘Land Use and Ecology’ category accounts for 10% of the total credits available within a BREEAM Assessment. With funding frequently tied to a project’s ability to attain a set BREEAM rating, or planning permission only granted if ‘good’ or ‘very good’ is achieved, money spent on ecological surveys and guidance often pays for itself time and again.
BREEAM assessments can be undertaken for various types of site such as industrial sites (Industrial BREEAM), BREEAM for Offices, BREEAM Retail, multi-residential, BREEAM for Schools and Bespoke. PJC Consultancy has experience of working in all areas.
PJC Consultancy provides a professional service incorporating appropriate ecological mitigation and environmental enhancement measures, which can be included within the development design. BREEAM assessments are undertaken by experienced ecologists who are full members of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MIEEM), who assist the developer in maximising credit rating.
Invasive and non-native species surveys
It is an offence under the wildlife and countryside act 1981 to plant or cause invasive species such as Japanese knotweed or giant hogweed to grow in the wild. Even the accidental spread of these invasive species is illegal.
The presence of invasive species on a site can be a great concern to a prospective developer due to the potential cost of remediation.
PJC Consultancy will quickly identify whether or not invasive species such as Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed are growing on your site and provide the best advice on how to proceed with development.
Ecological enhancement, management & monitoring
PJC is able to undertake a wide range of habitat management activities that incorporate skills from the arboricultural team, the ecological team and the landscaping team.
Some of the habitat management services we provide include:
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Conservation Management Plans including long term monitoring for protected species
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Habitat creation and habitat enhancement including the assembly of bird and bat boxes and dormouse boxes, construction of hibernacula and habitat piles
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Tree planting, hedgerow establishment and pond creation
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Woodland management, including pollarding and coppicing, ride and glade creation and tree thinning
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Soft felling of trees with high bat potential
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Sensitive vegetation clearance
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Weed control including ragwort
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Invasive non-native plant surveys: Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam
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Invasive plant management and control
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Soil de-compaction
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Protected species fencing including – reptile and newt exclusion fencing, pit fall trapping and fencing, badger gates and fences, deer fencing, tree protection fencing
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Ecological supervision of clearance and tree felling works.
Incorporating both the ecological and arboricultural services into our habitat management helps us to minimise costs and provide a more convenient and effective service.
Reptile & great crested newt exclusion fencing
PJC Consultancy have considerable experience in supplying and installing a vast range of mitigation fencing.
Ecological fencing can be a requirement if land supports specially protected species such as reptiles, great crested newts and water voles. These species need to be removed from a development site and moved into areas which have been specially enhanced and designed to support them.
Additionally PJC Consultancy has experience in ecological fencing for badger protection and exclusion, and tree protection.
Ecological mitigation
PJC Consultancy has considerable experience in developing, managing and providing detailed protected species mitigation strategies.
The mitigation (movement) of wildlife, including reptile and newt migration, on a site which is subject to construction is also known as ‘translocation’
Translocation is a legal requirement to ensure that no harm to individuals and/or populations occurs when undertaking a development.
Most often it is common reptiles and amphibians, including the European protected great crested newts (GCN), that will require moving to a receptor site as part of a mitigation package. If they are present on your site, you must seek expert advice on their protection and potential movement or mitigation in accordance with the mitigation guidelines.
At PJC Consultancy, we have considerable experience in developing, managing and providing detailed wildlife movement and reptile mitigation strategies (including GNC Translocation). Our ecologists hold Natural England licenses for great crested newts, bats, barn owls and dormice, and are experts in working on movement and mitigation projects for these protected species. We can also provide advice on wildlife dispersal and mitigation fencing for reptiles and amphibians as well as badgers and deer.
Preliminary bat roost assessment
A preliminary bat roost assessment (PBRA) is the first step in surveying for bats.
A PBRA can be undertaken at any time of the year and involves a single day time site visit to undertake an external and internal inspection to identify any evidence of bat presence as well as an assessment of the suitability of the site to support roosting bats. This will be carried out by one of our licenced ecologists.
Based on the findings of the PBRA we can ascertain if further bat emergence/re-entry surveys are required.
Biodiversity net gain assessment
Biodiversity net gain is a now mandatory element of the English planning system.
The goal of BNG is to leave development sites more biodiverse than they were pre-development by creating and enhancing habitats. It uses a quantitative metric tool to measure losses and gains in “biodiversity units”.
Our highly experienced team will guide you through the planning process to ensure your development meets legislative requirements for BNG. Please see details of the BNG reports we can provide below:
- BNG Feasibility Report
- BNG Design Stage Report
- BNG Audit Report
About PJC Consultancy
A leading arboricultural & ecological consultancy providing specialist advice throughout the South-East of England.
At PJC, our mission is simple. We want to provide our clients with outstanding solutions to meet their environmental planning and management needs.
We aim to deliver these solutions through the three key principles that are the foundations of PJC; building relationships with our clients, creating a team of highly-qualified and experienced consultants and providing a guaranteed quality service.