Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)
Ecological Clerk of Works
Acting as an on-site ecology advisor, an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) at Midland Ecology will monitor all construction activities across your development plans. By referring to an accredited ECoW, full legal compliance regarding ecological features such as protected species and habitats will be followed precisely, preventing delays and fines.
An important role in planning, it is an ECoW’s job to ensure works are conducted correctly, from providing independent advice on the avoidance of risk to offering facilities development, and from foreseeing issues to prevent unnecessary setbacks to supplying construction staff with an induction, site-specific training or toolbox talk as necessary.
Effect on Planning Applications
In addition to regulating the standard of acts undertaken on construction sites, the purpose of an ECoW is to remain in line with environmental legislation and meet the criteria of planning conditions and mitigation licence applications.
Your local planning authority and Natural England will likely request the intervention of an ECoW before permitting any applications for planning permission or mitigation class licences, and the same can be true of further forms of planning or environmental regulation.
ECoW Services
A selection of different services are available to support developers, homeowners and project managers in carrying out development works in a way that satisfies local planning authorities and relevant regulators. Midland Ecology caters to such services in the West Midlands region, facilitating design, construction and demolition works to be undertaken correctly and under the guidance of a trusted and qualified professional.
Working on commercial, heritage, private and residential projects among many more, our team has experienced every planning obstacle possible, making us perfectly placed for stepping in to help you with a high standard of advice and support. Ecological Clerk of Works exercises and practices can extend to a wide range of different tasks, including but not limited to:
- Advising on Protection of Ecological Features and Mitigation Measures
- Conducting Staff Training, Toolbox Talks and Site Inductions
- Dealing with Relevant LPAs, Organisations and Regulators
- Executing Translocation for Flora and Fauna
- Inspecting for Protected Species (Pre-Development and Post-Development)
- Keeping Records for Auditing Purposes
- Monitoring Pollution Levels
- Producing Various Key Construction Phase Documents
- Running Health and Safety Management
- Supervising on High-Risk Works, Such As:
- Building Demolition
- Habitat Creation and Management
- Landscape Profiling, Planting and Maintenance
- Topsoil Removal
- Vegetation Clearance
- Watercourse Management
- Taking Part in Site Meetings
- Undertaking Protected Species Handling and Relocation
Other tasks could contribute to your development, and with so many ECoW roles to support planning, we would advise speaking to our team about your circumstances and allowing us to ask the right questions to understand whether our team can help, and if so, how.
Reach Out to Midland Ecology for Support
If you have an ongoing development or one planned for the near future on any construction sites in the West Midlands area, rely on Midland Ecology to cater to your needs. After getting in touch with our team, we will be able to evaluate the most suitable step to take and work out the cost of the ecological services on your site and for your project.
You may need to enhance biodiversity, grow the number of ecological assets, demonstrate that no protected species are present or simply remove any concerns standing between you and a successful application for planning consent. Whatever the situation, we would recommend contacting our team and speaking to one of our helpful members of administration staff, and we can arrange a date for an ECoW to attend your site.