ESS Ecology

High quality ecological impact assessments for developments, including habitat and species surveys for terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecology.

Public Sector - Ecological Consultancy Services

Our primary focus as professional consultants is finding you cost effective solutions that enable you to find the best possible fit between the built and natural environment.  Our proactive ‘upfront’ approach to dealing with ecological issues guarantees we assist you in delivering projects that conform to planning policy and address concerns highlighted by other statutory and key consultees during the consultation process.

Our experienced experts have a thorough understanding of the planning system and can advise you on all aspects of the legislation relevant to nature conservation.  We are always striving to achieve continual improvement in our performance, which guarantees you a service of the highest quality.

We specialise in protected species surveys, assessments, reporting, mitigation and monitoring.  We can provide you with individual protected species survey, habitat survey / habitat management reports to more extensive ecological impact assessment (EcIA) reports.  These can be either as a standalone document for small scale housing projects or as part of a wider Environmental Statement (ES) for large scale infrastructure developments or Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA).

What ESS Ecology can do for you

• Undertake ecological scoping studies for public sector development schemes
• Carry out species-specific surveys and habitat surveys (including terrestrial, freshwater and marine)
• Undertake ecological components of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA)
• Undertake full Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) for species and habitats and produce the resulting ecology chapters, which inform the wider Environmental Statement (ES)
• Produce reports and graphics with GIS using a pre-defined structure and format if required
• Recommend and design mitigation strategies, we can provide ecological clerk of works and on-site supervision staff
• Aid your application for the relevant protected species license(s)
• Provide you with ongoing monitoring studies to measure the effectiveness of the implemented mitigation strategies
• Devise habitat management plans to protect, enhance or compensate
• Examine EcIAs including recommendations for mitigation submitted by others in support of planning applications; and
• Review and produce policies including Biodiversity Action Plans for central and local government departments through consultation with the appropriate bodies.

ESS Ecology can also provide you with a tailor made CPD seminar relating to protected species and the requirements within the planning system.  If you would like more detailed technical information on this or for further details on any of our services please fill out our contact form.