Ecological information to inform planning applications

The Local Planning Authority will decide whether a planning application is approved. As independent and expert advisors, our role is to: 

• Review the ecological information
• Advise on whether this information is accurate and can be relied upon to determine the application and support the Local Planning Authority in meeting its obligations
• Recommend planning conditions to ensure biodiversity is appropriately considered.

When reviewing ecological information to inform planning applications we: 

• Review all information submitted to inform the planning application (e.g. Design and Access Statement, Application Form, comments from other consultees etc).
• Compare ecological reports to good practice guidance and comment on whether these comply with guidance
• Review the survey timing and frequency along with surveyor experience to ensure these are suitable to inform the Ecological Impact Assessment and comply with good practice guidance.
• Assess limitations which might reduce the reliability of the data to inform conclusions.
• Compare the conclusions of the report to the project proposals, checking for consistency in:
  • Reported impacts
  • Red line boundaries across different reports
  • Proportionality of mitigation measures 

Ecological Information submitted to inform a planning application must: 

• Be undertaken by a reputable professional (e.g. Member of CIEEM Members’ Directory | CIEEM have the relevant survey licences where applicable/evidence their experience)
• Be undertaken in line with good practice
• Acknowledge limitations and detail how these have been addressed such that the results can be relied upon to determine the application
• Valid Advice note on the Lifespan of Ecological Reports and Surveys | CIEEM

Impacts must be assessed against: 

• Correct development footprint (all redline boundaries MUST align)
• Arboricultural Impact Assessments
• Landscaping plans

Maps must be: 

• Clearly labelled, with all Compartment IDs aligning with the ecology report AND biodiversity net gain assessment (where relevant) and Target Notes defined in the report
• In colour and at an appropriate scale for someone to review against the report conclusions.

Reports must:   

• Be written, reviewed and/or approved by an ecologist with appropriate experience
• Be supported by useful photographs to evidence the conclusions
• Be informed by surveys undertaken with no residual limitations and follow good practice - where deviations have occurred these must be fully justified and evidence of reliability provided.
• Assess the impact of all the proposals on the ecological receptors
• Include mitigation that considers seasonal constraints across all relevant species and ensure these are not contradictory
• Evidence how the mitigation hierarchy has been applied, including details of meetings held between the ecologists and design team to reach submitted designs
• Detail why ecological receptors have been scoped out, and evidence how barriers (e.g. roads) prevent species from moving across the landscape.

Biodiversity net gain assessments must: 

• Be undertaken by a reputable professional
• Complete all sections of the metric, including Compartment IDs and ensure maps clearly present these.
• Be accompanied by the condition assessment forms.
• Ensure watercourse assessments follow good practice guidance and have been undertaken by an accredited assessor.

Recommended further surveys must: 

• Be based on the evidence gathered during the desk study and surveys, noting an absence of a species from a desk study does not preclude the species being present in the survey area.  Likewise if a species is not present during a habitat survey, this does not mean the species is likely to be absent.  Where  suitable habitat is recorded and will be adversely impacted by the proposals, presence/likely absence surveys should be undertaken to inform the Ecological Impact Assessment.