Frequently Asked Questions

You may be required to undertake an ecology survey if there is a risk that your development may present harm to protected species and their habitats.

In most instances a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal will be necessary where there is a change to land use.  A Preliminary Roost Assessment is required if the development involves demolition, re-roofing, extensions that tie into existing roof structures, loft conversions or developments requiring the removal of trees.  Your local planning authority or your architect should be able to advise you.

Where only one site visit is required, we aim to complete your site visit and report within 15 working days from instruction.

Where multiple visits are required, you should receive your report within 10 working days following the final survey visit. Please note, some species need multiple survey visits spread over a certain period of time. Please refer to our survey calendar for more information on survey seasons.

If Biological Records Data (BRD) is required, this can delay the final version of your report depending on your local records centre. We will request a probable timescale when obtaining your quote, and will advise you immediately of any likely delays.

Turnaround times for survey visits and reports are likely to be longer during the peak season (May – September). We will advise a timescale upon quotation.

For Ecological Clerk of Works/EPSML Site Supervision we require a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice.

The cost of a survey is determined by the location and size of the site to be surveyed, and the number of buildings, trees, ponds and watercourses to be inspected. Our fee includes the desk study, site visit and the production of a report, with all associated costs (e.g. mileage, expenses) included. The individual species/survey pages on our website provide guide prices. Click here for a more detailed quote.

We will advise you if your project requires Biological Records Data (BRD) from the local records centre.  Sometimes, depending on the survey findings, this may be decided after the site visit, to determine whether further surveys may be required.   We will contact your local biological records centre, who will charge their own fee, to obtain a quote on your behalf.

Please note: Should the survey quoted identify the need for further survey work, we will provide you with an additional quotation for that.

Our standard payment terms are 7 days in advance of the first survey visit. Our preferred payment method is BACS and our bank details will be included on your invoice. A £25 admin fee applies to payments made by card or cheque.

Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and Preliminary Roost Assessments can be conducted at any time of year. Protected species surveys are generally conducted when the species are active. This varies from species to species. View our survey calendar, or visit the webpage for the individual species/survey you require.

We will send you a new project form requesting the following information:

• Contact details for the agent, client and invoice.
• The full site address, including postcode.
• Full site plan (current condition in PDF format) including the red line boundary and layout of any existing buildings on site.
• Your development proposals (in PDF format).
• A copy of any ecological surveys previously carried out on site.
• Any documents/comments from planning relating to ecology requests/requirements.
• Any health & safety concerns we need to be aware of, e.g. overgrown site, steep banks, unsafe building etc.
• Access will be arranged at a convenient time, please advise any constraints.
  (N.B. it is not necessary for you to be present during the survey as long as there is open access to the site and any buildings. Please ensure any alarm/lock codes are sent to us in advance).

It is not necessary for you to be present during the survey as long as there is open access to the site and its buildings. Please ensure any alarm/lock codes/keys are sent to us in advance.

Please give us as much notice as possible as our calendar can get booked quite far in advance. We will always look for as early a date as possible to reschedule your survey to, however during peak season, this could result in a substantial delay. If less than 24 hours notice is given, a fee may be payable.

Should our ecologist(s) be unable to attend a survey at short notice, due to unforeseen weather or staff sickness, we will endeavour to notify you in advance and the survey will be re-scheduled and completed on the earliest date available.

If protected species are found to be present, further surveys may be required to inform a licence application to Natural England. Whilst further surveys may add additional costs and time delays to your project, there’s no need to panic as we’ve never had a project fail to complete due to ecology. We will advise you throughout the process and work with you to find practical solutions to progress your project to a positive outcome.

There are several species in the UK, which are protected by law. These include bats, badgers, barn owls, dormice, great crested newts, otters, reptiles, water voles, and white-clawed crayfish. If you carry out work that causes damage to protected species or their habitats without a licence you will be breaking the law. This can result in a substantial fine, significant delays and legal costs, and (in extreme cases) a prison sentence.

We work closely with our clients, offering them all the advice they need to ensure that their project complies with all ecological legal obligations.

Most ecology reports are considered valid by Local Planning Authorities for a period of 2 years from when the survey was completed. Some specialist areas, such as Protected Species Licensing and Biodiversity Net Gain Calculations have different timeframes. Request a formal quotation for more details.

All of our staff are qualified and experienced ecologists. In order to carry out specialist surveys, such as for bats, great crested newts and other protected species, our surveyors hold survey licences from Natural England. All staff carrying out industry-specific work hold the relevant qualifications, e.g. CSCS or PTS cards. Our industry body, whose code of conduct we follow and who we are accountable to, is the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.