Ecology
Understanding how humans interact with the environment is important
Ecology helps us to better understand ecosystems and how our actions are impacting the natural world. Through our work on ecologically lead development projects with conservation charities, we contribute to positive biodiversity and develop sustainable solutions.
Biodiversity net gain
Southern Ecological Solutions (SES) has developed biodiversity net gain (BNG) principles and their implementation with policymakers. That work has sharpened our insights into the industry and established us as industry leaders. Our considerable experience has involved delivering nationally significant projects, including comprehensive services that spanned projects’ life cycles. We ensure that BNG principles are embedded in the project from its inception through to its delivery and post-completion monitoring and ongoing compliance with the Environment Act.
Pre-development, we co-develop high-level feasibility assessments, identifying key opportunities for BNG and mapping out strategies to take the site forward. Following this, we develop tailored biodiversity gain plans to ensure gains are maximised on- and off-site. Our teams’ thorough baseline surveys and habitat condition assessments provide the crucial data needed for biodiversity metric calculations, helping to optimise BNG outcomes. Our in-house GIS team is pivotal in this process: their spatial data insights enhance planning and execution, ensuring that all BNG targets are met efficiently and effectively.
As projects progress, we provide value with habitat management and monitoring plans, ensuring long-term compliance with BNG targets. Our habitat management team works with our GIS and BNG specialists to deliver, monitor and manage the green spaces we create, providing ongoing stewardship and ensuring that the habitats thrive and continue to deliver measurable biodiversity benefits over time.
Our expertise is near limitless: it’s applied to development projects, creating and establishing habitat banks and meeting BNG requirements. We ensure the habitat banks are compliant and can be registered on the Natural England Gain Site Register, supporting long-term biodiversity goals.
Get in touchStrategic land promotion
Since our company’s creation, we have worked on projects with developers promoting strategic land. Our teams have overseen nationally recognised schemes, attaching their passion and skillset to deliver the strategic vision and place making required to deliver the schemes.
Strategic SANG
SES has designed, liaised with local planning authorities/stakeholders and provided technical reports on creating strategic-level suitable alternative natural greenspace (SANG) sites designed to alleviate damage of European designated sites. Our holistic approach, with our ecologists, landscape architects and habitat creation staff, enables the SANG design to be practical and functional and to deliver biodiversity benefits to the local community.
Get in touchProtected species surveys and licensing
Local authorities must protect, preserve and enhance biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC) and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This is to ensure that UK and European protected species (great crested newts, bats, reptiles and badgers) are protected during development and that no adverse impact on their conservation status should arise as a result of a development. Therefore, before a planning authority sanctions planning permission, they must be satisfied that their material considerations concerning biodiversity are met.
SES’s protected species survey and licensing includes, badger, bat, bird, dormouse, great crested newt, invertebrate, otter, reptile, water vole and white clawed crayfish surveys. We provide specialist, bespoke, and pragmatic advice, tailored for each project and its associated constraints and opportunities, thereby delivering mitigation strategies under European Protected Species Mitigation (EPSM) licences, where required.
Get in touchBotanical surveys and the British National Vegetation Classification
The results of a preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) may indicate the need for a detailed botanical survey and/or a British National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey. A botanical and/or NVC survey focuses specifically on plant life. Our ecologists conduct a detailed botanical survey to identify and map plant species across the site and categorise vegetation into specific groups based on their ecological characteristics.
In many cases, a botanical/NVC survey is done alongside other ecological assessments, such as an ecological impact assessment (EcIA), to provide baseline data. This comprehensive approach ensures that all aspects of the site’s biodiversity are understood and accounted for during the planning and development process.
By highlighting key vegetation and mapping plant communities, botanical/NVC surveys help developers make informed decisions that align with environmental regulations and promote sustainable practices.
Get in touchEcological assessments
SES conducts a variety of ecological surveys that are informed by preliminary ecological assessments. Examples include ecological desk studies, ecological scoping surveys and the UK Habitat Classification surveys. Each ecological survey can be done independently or combined to supplement one another. The surveys are regarded as a minimum to support planning applications where natural habitats or features of potential value for protected or notable species are present.
Preliminary ecological assessments advise on the next steps, further survey work and mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures. The information is vital to inform any planning application timeframes and will help in designing an approach to ensure legislative and policy compliance. It also protects nature while delivering a cohesive project design from an early stage.
Ecological impact assessment
An ecological impact assessment (EcIA) is a critical step in assessing, quantifying and evaluating the potential environmental effects of a development project. EcIAs are requested following a PEA and are sought to gain a deeper understanding of how the proposed development could affect protected or notable habitats and species.
Our team has extensive experience in producing EcIAs for a variety of projects. Our EcIAs aim to identify how the development may impact the site and surrounding areas, propose strategies to minimise or mitigate environmental damage and ensure compliance with relevant environmental regulations, enabling developers to achieve their goals regarding protecting biodiversity and maintaining ecological integrity.
Get in touchHabitats Regulations assessment
Certain development projects located within the zone of influence of a European designated site require a Habitat Regulations assessment (HRA) at the project level (sometimes referred to as a shadow or project-level HRA).
The HRA process is conducted in four stages to ensure that there are no direct or indirect impacts on the site integrity (qualifying habitats or species) arising from a proposed development on a designated or proposed protected site.
Our team specialises in guiding projects through the HRA process, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and the protection of vital natural habitats.
To test whether a plan or project either alone or in combination with other plans and projects will have a likely significant effect (LSE) on a protected sites designated feature. An LSE is one that could adversely impact on a European site’s integrity, i.e., it would undermine the conservation objectives for the site. It is typically determined by considering the extent, complexity, probability, duration, frequency and reversibility of the effect.
To determine whether, in view of a protected site’s conservation objectives, the plan, either alone or in combination with other projects and plans, would have an adverse effect, or even a risk of this, on the integrity of the site with respect to the site structure, function and conservation objectives. If adverse impacts are anticipated, potential mitigation measures to alleviate impacts should be proposed and assessed.
When a plan contains an adverse impact, or risk of this, on the integrity of an international site even with mitigation in place, there should be an examination of alternatives such as alternative locations or designs of development to avoid or reduce any potential for an adverse effect on the integrity of the site.
Final stage assessment where there are no alternative solutions feasible that would be less damaging or would avoid damage, and adverse impacts remain, resulting in derogation. Only where there are “imperative reasons of overriding public interest” (IROPI), compensatory measures may be agreed and provided to offset adverse impacts and so maintain the overall coherence of the site or integrity of the European site network.
Mitigation design and implementation
SES ecologists have vast experience in planning and implementing a variety of mitigation projects and work closely with the wider design team to deliver strategies that align with the goals of the project. SES ecologists work in a cost-effective, pragmatic fashion. Using our ecological survey data, we advise on tailoring project work to avoid a Natural England mitigation licence and, therefore, offset any unnecessary delays. However, if potential work cannot be avoided, a licence is applied for where required, to permit work such as badger sett exclusion and artificial sett construction. SES’s ecologists have years of experience in designing and implementing mitigation strategies to minimise the impact on protected species and development.
Get in touchBuilding Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology assessment
The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) assessment is a recognised method for ensuring that new developments adhere to best practice guidelines for sustainable infrastructure. It evaluates a project’s impact on the environment and its potential to enhance ecological value.
The process begins with an ecological survey, in which the value of the site is measured before and after development. By analysing the impact of the project on the land and its existing features, our ecologists will develop strategies to protect biodiversity, improve ecological value and minimise environmental impacts. By following BREEAM recommendations, developers can create infrastructure that is not only ecologically and environmentally responsible but also economically and socially beneficial.
Get in touchExpert witness services
Our experienced expert witnesses support wide-ranging technical disciplines, including ecology, arboriculture and landscape. With a proven track record, we have provided expert witness services for residential and commercial developments, as well as large-scale infrastructure projects. We understand the importance of clear, accurate and credible evidence in legal and planning matters.
- Written proofs of evidence: detailed and professional documentation to support your case
- Rebuttals: strong and concise responses to opposing evidence or claims
- Oral evidence: skilled presentation of evidence in hearings, inquiries and tribunals, including cross-examinations
Our team combines in-depth technical knowledge with years of practical experience to deliver reliable and impartial advice. We work closely with clients to provide customised solutions that address the unique challenges of each project. Our goal is to help you navigate the process confidently, ensuring that all ecological, arboriculture and landscape considerations are effectively represented.
Get in touchGIS mapping
Our geographic information systems (GIS) team uses open-source platforms, including QGIS, alongside industry-standard software, such as ArcGIS, to organise and analyse data collected in the field. With expertise in spatial data management and mapping technologies, we provide accurate, reliable and detailed geographic data that supports a variety of technical assessments and decision-making processes.
We understand the critical role of precise data in environmental and land-use planning. To ensure the highest quality outcomes, we use a combination of mapping templates and custom solutions, including specialised tools such as UKHabs mapping, to
- organise and manage complex field data, thereby ensuring data are stored accessibly and structurally for easy retrieval and analysis
- create accurate and visually clear maps, highlighting relevant geographical features and ecological data with precision
- provide technical insights and present data in clear, digestible formats for wide-ranging assessments, including ecological surveys.
Whether you are working on environmental surveys, land-use planning, infrastructure projects or other technical assessments, our GIS services offer invaluable support. We ensure that the data we collect and present meet the specific requirements of your project, helping you make informed, data-driven decisions.
Get in touchSustainable, pragmatic, and client-focused solutions
Discover how we can help you to evaluate your activities to see how they impact on the environment.
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