Ecological
Surveys and Assessments

What is a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal?

A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, or ‘PEA’, provides a baseline assessment of the site conditions. This includes identifying any important ecological features and the potential for protected species. The assessment will provide recommendations on how to avoid impacts, retain features of ecological elements, and where possible provide the likely impacts of a proposed development. This may include making recommendations for further surveys where further detailed assessment is required.

A PEA is intended to inform the design of a scheme and is useful in the early stages of a project when little or no ecological information is available. It can also be used if plans have been progressed, but the potential ecological impacts need to be clearly understood to ensure the design is compliant with legislation and planning policy.

The PEA includes three principal elements:

1. A desk study to collect information on the distribution of habitats and protected species in the local area, as well as an assessment of aerial footage to assess ecological connectivity and other features that may extend the survey area (such as ponds to assess for great crested newt).
2. A site visit by an ecologist to identify, assess the condition of, and map habitats at the site. The site visit will also use information from the desk study to determine the suitability of the site for protected species or other important ecological features such as statutory wildlife sites.
3. A report will be produced that details the findings of steps 1 and 2 above, and provides an easily digestible indication of the ecological constraints to the project, as well as the opportunities the project provides to enhance biodiversity. The report will also contain information on the requirement for any further surveys or assessments that may be required.

Why do I need a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal?

The Local Planning Authority will often request that a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal is progressed for a project as part of their planning validation criteria, to identify potential ecological constraints and opportunities, and to inform the design of the project.

Protected sites, species, and habitats are a material planning consideration. This means that the Local Planning Authority needs to know what the effect of a project on protected sites, species, and habitats will be before they determine a planning application.

A Preliminary Ecological Assessment is an initial and rapid assessment of a site to identify any potential ecological constraints. It will inform the need for further, more targeted surveys, i.e. badger surveys, bat surveys, etc. if they are required.

If there are no ecological considerations at a site an ecological impact assessment report will be produced which details the findings of the PEA and explains the impacts of the project clearly for the Local Planning Authority and other stakeholders.

If further surveys are required, the Local Planning Authority will usually require these to be completed and an Ecological Impact Assessment report produced before a decision can be made on the planning application.

These appraisals can be carried out throughout the year, though the optimal period to assess vegetation is between March and October depending on the type of habitats present.

Click here to see our ecology survey calendar.