Rosalie Callway, Project Officer at The Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning,
explains why they developed the Wildlife Assessment Check and how it can help self-buildersW
hat is the Wildlife
Assessment
Check?
Whether a development
site is in a rural or
urban area, it’s vital
that wildlife and habitats are considered as
a part of the project to avoid habitat loss,
fragmentation and the damaging impact of
daily human activity on nature.
Development sites can put pressure on different
habitats, which can threaten vulnerable species
that are classified as ‘protected’ and ‘priority’
species. ‘Protected’ species are protected
by law, as outlined by Natural England,
and include: mammals such as bats, hazel
dormice, water voles; birds such as the Hen
Harrier and Dartford Warbler; amphibians
such as Natter Jack toads; and molluscs and
invertebrates such as the Roman snail and
the High Brown Fritillary Butterf ly; as well
as many plants like the Corn Marigold. There
are also 1,150 ‘Priority’ species in the UK that
are threatened and require conservation. This
threat from development is why the Partnership
for Biodiversity in Planning has created the
‘Wildlife Assessment Check’ tool. The online
tool is free and identifies whether there are
any protected or priority wildlife species in the
proposed location of a project.Who is it for?
Householders and smaller developers may be
unaware that local authorities have a statutory
requirement to consider the ecological impact
of developments and to promote improvements
to biodiversity. This can result in delays and
additional knock-on costs for projects, such
as when unforeseen ecological surveys have to
be carried out during particular seasons. So,
if you’re a homeowner with a desire for a new
kitchen extension, or a developer working on
a small-scale project, the Wildlife AssessmentCheck tool can help cut delays and costs by
assessing your site early on.How does it work?
It’s a free online tool that’s easy to use and allows
you to check if you need expert ecological advice
before submitting your planning application.
You simply answer some quick questions about
the site, the location, and type of works involved.
Once you’ve completed the questions, which
takes around 5 minutes, the website will tell
you whether your project is likely to require
professional ecological advice. It will also
outline the potential protected and priority
wildlife species that need to be considered.
There are guidance notes for each species
with information about legislation, mitigation
requirements, survey timing, and ideas to
improve habitats. The tool also provides a report
that you can download and give to a consultant
ecologist to help indicate whether they need to
undertake ecological surveys, which they cansubmit as a part of the planning application.Why is it important?
One in ten UK species are now threatened with
extinction. Since the 1970’s, many UK wildlife
species have been in decline, with over 1,200
species extinct or threatened with extinction
(State of nature report, 2016). New development
projects have a wide-ranging impact on our
wildlife, when natural habitats are changed or
damaged. Sensitive landscape design can help
threatened species like hedgehogs and swallows
to recover.
Considering local ecology early can help avoid
unplanned delays, unexpected costs, and prevent
the need to reassess potential ecological impacts
during a planning application. It can also start
the process of thinking how you might improve
the site habitats and biodiversity as a part of
the project.http://www.biodiversityinplanning.orgBIODIVERSITY
IN PLANNING
Footings & Foundatioins Phase 1