SUCCEED WITH YOUR Strategic land PLANNING PERMISSION APPLICATION

Conducting surveys and assessments of strategic sites is a key part of our work at Ecology by Design.

Whether it’s constraints analysis to identify optimal options, ecological impact assessments of land promotions or appraisal of allocated site applications; we can help you.

Some of our services include:

OUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE Strategic land SECTOR

Examples of our previous experience within the strategic land sector includes:

  • Undertaking a suite of ecological surveys and assessments to support a new land promotion site near Wallingford, Oxfordshire;

  • Ecological constraints/opportunities analysis of an existing golf course near Winchester as part of a viability study for land promotion;

  • Ecological appraisal of a promotion site seeking inclusion in a local plan in West Oxfordshire;

  • Critical review of ecological constraints at multiple promotion sites during an Examination in Public (EiP) in the midlands to endorse the advantages of our client’s promotion site;

  • Liaising with landscape architects to design an ecologically-sound scheme at a sensitive strategic site and build biodiversity net gain into a parameters masterplan.


our ecological expertise in the strategic land sector

As industry leaders, we work to the highest professional standards and are fully accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). Our forward-thinking approach takes recent changes in the industry into account such as ensuring compliance with the Environment Bill and the requirement for 10% net gain in biodiversity.

We are expert applicators of various biodiversity metrics. We work with you to demonstrate biodiversity net gain in high-level parameters masterplans. This future proofs your strategic projects and provides a priceless framework for later applications to work from.

It’s one thing promising the world and another delivering it. Our case-by-case consideration of developers’ obligations following allocation means the ecology of schemes you promote will be practicable as well as optimal for you whilst delivering biodiversity benefits. As such, our expert advice will continue to pay you dividends long after the initial project is finished.

How ecology by design can help your strategic land development

Our team of ecologists are spread throughout central and southern England and are supported by a nationwide team of approved sub-consultants; as such, we are able to react quickly to enquiries and provide adequate resources for timely delivery of cost-effective surveys and assessments.

The strategic land sector can be fast paced, reliant on upfront investment and highly competitive. That’s why we understand the value of affordability, discretion and confidentiality.

Key services we provide for strategic land developers

If you are considering purchasing land or progressing with a project within your landholding and are unsure whether any ecological surveys or assessments are going to be required, we offer a scoping service, specifically tailored to strategic land whereby we identify potential for implications of:

  • Ecological showstoppers;

  • Statutory designated sites;

  • Habitats of conservation significance;

  • Protected or priority species.

A constraints plan, compatible with various CAD or GIS packages, can be produced highlighting any features within the site and local landscape we consider may need further surveys or assessments.

The strategic land scoping assessment is a high-level desk-based study using free online resources, our professional judgment and experience; it does not constitute legal advice. The output would not be suitable for submission to inform a planning application but would be a useful starting point for the project team to understand the potential future costs and therefore risks associated with the scheme.

Other sectors we work in

As well as the Strategic Land Sector, our team of ecologists also regularly work alongside clients the following sectors:

If your project requires ecological expertise across several sectors, then we also provide multidisciplinary and planning support.

For a confidential discussion about a strategic land project please speak to our sector lead James Howsam on 01865 893 347.