• Professional ecological expertise is desirable at an early stage within the development process: Biodiversity is a key urban design principle.
• Surveys and scoping studies may be valuable even when considering purchase of development land in order to identify ecological constraints, some of which may have unavoidable implications for the timing of development operations and environmental assessment.
• Ecological surveys, particularly for protected species, are required prior to determination. Surveys for particular biological groups are seasonal and thus there can be considerable delays to obtaining consents unless biodiversity has been considered early in the development process. In certain cases, lack of information and incorrect considerations and process can allow legal challenges to planning consents.
• Ecological information should not be limited merely to survey for presence/absence but also include assessment of the impact of development on the biodiversity interest. Details of mitigation and compensation measures should be proposed along with method statements for delivery mechanisms, including monitoring and review of their efficacy. Ecological surveys and impact assessments should be compliant with Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) guidelines.
• In their design statements, an applicants’ Urban Designers and Landscape Architects should demonstrate how professional ecological advice has influenced design decisions.
• Timing of site clearance and demolition should be planned to avoid disturbance to breeding birds and migratory birds (protected by law) and other protected species such as bats.
• Post-construction considerations should be included in the design statement to account for minimisation of visual disturbance to migratory birds e.g. screening of waterside access.
Southampton City Council
