Ecological Impact Assessment Guidelines: Process Overview and Lead times
When scoping out any potential development site, it is important to consider any environmental legislation and therefore any ecological impact the site may have. Some habitats and species are protected by law, meaning that developers need to conduct an Ecological Impact Assessment to establish if any wildlife species are present.
This guide will cover:
What is an Ecological Impact Assessment
What to expect from an Ecological Impact Assessment
An Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), is the process through which the potential impacts resulting from a project are identified, quantified, and assessed through appropriate ecology surveys. This assessment can be undertaken for sites or projects of any size or scale.
It is important to understand the difference between the two forms of Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA):
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Non-Environmental Impact Assessment (non-EIA)
Non-EIA projects refer to those which are outside sensitive areas and do not exceed the screening thresholds for EIA as set out in The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. In practice, the non-EIA version forms the vast majority of assessments needed for planning with full EIA only needed by a very small number of applicants.
For simplicity throughout this document Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) refers to non-EIA.
DEFINING ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
Ecological impact refers to the impact a project may have on the ecology of a site and its surroundings. Many projects will have an impact in some way; therefore, it is important to identify this and discern whether they are considered to be positive or negative.
Impacts are defined as “actions resulting in changes to an ecological feature”. When considering ecological impacts, an ecology consultancy considers the habitats, species, and ecosystems which may be affected within the site and the ‘zone of influence’ of the project.
The zone of influence is the area around the site that may be affected by the proposed changes within the site. Impacts could include the removal or alteration of habitat, increased human presence on or around the site, or the introduction of artificial lighting within the site.
Factors affecting ecological impact
The extent and magnitude of the impact
The duration and reversibility of the impact
The timing and the frequency of the impact
HOW IMPORTANT ARE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS?
A key part of an EcIA is outlining how a project will adhere to relevant legislation and planning policy including any measures which should be implemented to enable this. In doing this, consideration is given to the key principles of avoidance, mitigation and compensation, known as the mitigation hierarchy.
An EcIA is important to ensure that everyone involved in the project can understand the potential implications of the proposals in relation to ecology as well as their significance. The EcIA identifies the potential impacts and significant effects which are likely to arise during the project in terms that are clear and easy to understand.
The first part of an EcIA includes a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) of the site and scoping. This enables the identification of the features of ecological interest within the site or within the project's zone of influence, as well as establishing the ecological baseline information for the site.
Ecologists can then identify which ecological features are likely to be impacted by the project and pinpoint if further ecology surveys are be required for protected species or notable habitats in order to fully understand the potential impacts and effects of the project.
Click here to read our Preliminary Ecological Appraisal guide.
As part of an EcIA, ecologists will liaise with the client, local planning authority, and Natural England, where appropriate, to ensure the potential impacts of the proposed project are fully understood and all features of ecological importance which may be impacted are identified.
The assessment process involves the identification of ‘important’ ecological features, the potential impacts of the project, and ‘significant effects’ on important ecological features.
HOW MUCH DO EcIAS COST?
The cost of an EcIA varies depending on the scale of the project and the extent of features of ecological interest within the site or its zone of influence.
Due to the range and scale of ecological features which may be involved, the cost is variable and a bespoke quote is undertaken for each project.
Click here to read our EcIA Cost Guide.
During the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, the ecology surveyor identifies if further ecology surveys are required to establish the presence or absence of certain ecological features, such as protected species, or to fully assess their ecological value. Further ecology surveys may be required to fully assess the importance of ecological features within the site and the potential impacts of the project.
WHY DO DEVELOPERS NEED TO CARRY OUT AN EcIA?
Numerous habitats and species are protected under legislation and planning policy. The purpose of an EcIA is to demonstrate compliance with all laws and planning policies relevant to nature conservation.
IS IT THE SAME AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT?
No. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a separate process that is only required when a project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment. Screening thresholds triggering the need for the impact study are set out in The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (often referred to as the ‘EIA regulations’). These details when an environmental assessment is required.
Projects we typically get involved in that trigger the need for an EIA assessment include:
Industrial estate development projects (exceeding 0.5 hectares (ha));
Quarries;
Urban development projects (> 1ha not including dwellings; >150 dwellings or overall development exceeds 5 ha);
Waste disposal or waste treatment plants;
Motorway service areas (>0.5 ha);
Construction of roads (>1 ha);
Holiday villages and hotel complexes outside urban areas (>0.5 ha) or permanent campsites (>1 ha); and
Installations for hydroelectric energy production (>0.5 megawatts) or wind farms.
An EIA report is presented as an Environmental Statement (ES). This will be produced by a multidisciplinary team and considers a wide range of environmental effects including, for example, water, air and soil pollution, noise, vibration and light, as well as ecology.
Developers can ask their local council for a formal ‘screening opinion’ which will confirm whether their project is an EIA development. Where an EIA is necessary, developers can also ask the council for a ‘scoping opinion’ which specifies the issues that must be included in the assessment as part of the EIA process.
WHEN IS AN EcIA APPROPRIATE?
Non-EIA projects are those which are outside sensitive areas and do not exceed the screening thresholds in the EIA regulations. This includes applications for:
Small-scale residential developments (<150 dwellings and development area <5 ha);
Urban industrial development projects (< 1 ha);
Construction of small roads (<1 ha); and
Permanent campsites (<1 ha).
The remainder of this article is concerned with the process of producing an EcIA. If you require assistance with an EIA development, please contact a member of the Ecology by Design team directly for more information.
Find more information about the EcIA Process below.
SCOPING
The first step in completing an ecological assessment is to complete a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA), incorporating a Phase 1 habitat survey and a desk study. The PEA identifies the habitats present on-site and the potential for any protected species.
VALUE ASSESSMENT
To understand the value of the site additional detailed surveys are often required. These are known as Phase 2 surveys. They can include botanical surveys, as well as surveys for bats, great crested newts, hazel dormice, reptiles, water voles, badgers and breeding birds.
Should further surveys be required then, depending on the time of year, they could start immediately. However, there are strict windows of time during which each survey can be undertaken. We recommend you familiarise yourself with the ecology survey calendar to see when the optimal periods for surveys are.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Once all surveys are complete the likely impacts on protected habitats and species can be assessed. This is informed by the nature of the proposed development, including masterplans, landscape plans, drainage and lighting proposals, among other aspects.
MITIGATION, COMPENSATION AND ENHANCEMENT
Where potential impacts are identified, measures to avoid, mitigate or compensate for those impacts will be recommended. These should be developed in consultation with the client and project team, to ensure they are deliverable under the proposals.
This element of the project often needs to be considered alongside other assessments such as the Land Use and Ecology section of BREEAM or Biodiversity Impact Assessment calculations to demonstrate how the proposals will deliver a net gain for biodiversity.
REPORTING
Once all surveys are complete, the results, interpretation, assessment and mitigation/compensation are presented in a single detailed EcIA report, supported by detailed plans as required. This is suitable for submission to inform the planning application.
LICENSING
Where European protected species are impacted, works will only be able to proceed under licence, usually obtained from Natural England. Any mitigation or compensation measures for impacts on these species ultimately need to be approved by the local planning authority (for planning permission) and the licensing authority (for works to proceed) e.g. Natural England in England.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN THE EcIA PROCESS?
INSTRUCTION
The planner, architect, or individual appoints an ecologist to inform the project.
PHASE 1 SURVEY
A suitably qualified ecologist conducts a site survey (a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal) supported by a desk study to contextualise the survey data.
BASELINE REPORT
A PEA report is submitted to the design team with a quote for any further surveys or assessments required to assess the potential impacts of the proposals and identify any mitigation needed. If no further surveys are required, the PEA is upgraded to an EcIA.
PHASE 2 SURVEYS
If further surveys are required these are undertaken within the relevant survey periods (see ecology survey calendar).
CONSULTATION
The ecologist liaises with the design team to ensure the proposals will be compliant with legislation and planning policy and deliver a net gain for biodiversity. Consultation may also be required with the Local Planning Authority ecologist or statutory consultees earlier in the process to inform the scope of survey work.
EcIA REPORT
An EcIA report is prepared for submission to inform the planning application, presenting:
· The background to the study
· Personnel who conducted the assessment
· Methods of desk study, survey, and assessment
· The results and an interpretation of the findings
· An assessment of potential impacts of the proposals on designated sites, habitats and protected, priority or invasive species; and
· Avoidance, mitigation, compensation, and enhancement measures to be adopted to ensure the proposals protect and enhance the natural environment.
The EcIA report may need to be supported by calculations to present biodiversity losses and gains within the site via a Biodiversity Metric.
Lead time for Ecological Impact Assessments, and therefore ecology surveys, varies on several important factors. This is because some survey types are seasonally constrained, and often ecologists work with unpredictable deadlines, as is the nature of projects and developments. Developers and project managers, therefore, should ideally plan for ecological constraints early on in development. Occasionally, ecological reports or ecological surveys will need to be carried out by law.
This guide runs through the lead time for Ecological Impact Assessments so those who require one can factor in the time they may take, and the processes involved.
By appointing an ecologist as early in the process as possible, letting them know your proposed project timescales and keeping them in the loop as your project progresses, your ecologist can advise on the best approach to minimise the risk of delays and keep costs down.
Ecology By Design has a range of resources on Ecological Impact Assessments, which you can find below:
If we conduct a PEA of a farmyard complex in July and identify evidence of or potential for roosting bats, we can conduct surveys immediately to inform the potential impacts of the proposals.
Outcome: This would mean all surveys could be completed within three months of instruction.
However, if an on-site pond with suitability for great crested newts (GCN) was also identified in July, we would not be able to undertake surveys until the following spring. We could conduct a habitat suitability index (HSI) assessment and a rapid risk assessment to confirm the likelihood of committing an offence under the proposals.
Outcome: There may be a delay in the planning application. However, in some parts of the country GCN surveys can be forgone in favour of the District Licencing approach.
Once all surveys are complete, the results, interpretation, assessment, and mitigation/compensation are presented in a single detailed report, supported by detailed plans as required. It normally takes around two weeks to turn around an EcIA report, although this only takes around two days of reporting, mapping and quality control time therefore can be fast-tracked where required.
ECOLOGICAL DATA AND EcIAS
Ecology data is not valid indefinitely, so if you have a project with a large lead-in time. While it’s a good idea to commission the Phase 1 survey early on, it may be worth holding off on any further surveys until closer to the application date, so the data remains valid. Your ecologist can advise on the best approach.
For example:
1) Farm complex for conversion within 6 months
If the Preliminary Roost Assessment of the buildings in July (Year 1) confirmed high suitability for roosting bats, the three surveys would be completed between July and September (Year 1).
2) Farm complex for conversion within 12 months
If the Preliminary Roost Assessment of the buildings in July (Year 1) confirmed high suitability for roosting bats, two surveys would be conducted between July and September in Year 1 but the third would be conducted in May (Year 2). This would ensure the data remained valid for longer and would allow a bat licence to be applied for in Year 2.
For many survey types, ecological data is considered valid for planning purposes for up to two years. For the majority of species licences, survey data must be obtained during the most recent survey season.
DOES HABITAT TYPE IMPACT THE EcIA LEAD TIME?
A Phase 1 habitat survey can be undertaken at any time of year. However, if any detailed botanical surveys are required these usually need to be undertaken between April and September.
The optimal time does vary somewhat between habitats. For example, it can be beneficial to survey woodland towards the beginning of that period, in April/May, when looking for ancient woodland indicators. When surveying meadows it is vital to ensure the survey is completed before any hay is cut (typically undertaken from the end of June onwards).
WHERE DOES A BIODIVERSITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT FIT IN?
Developers are increasingly being asked to demonstrate how projects achieve biodiversity net gain clearly, transparently, and quantitatively using a biodiversity metric. The process of completing a metric is known as a ‘biodiversity impact assessment’.
A biodiversity impact assessment is concerned solely with impacts on habitats as a result of the projects. The requirements for this assessment vary between authorities. Some require a straightforward net gain, while others require a net gain of at least 10%. More detail is provided here.
Where projects deliver a relatively small area of public open space it can be difficult to achieve the required net gain on-site. If a project falls short, then additional measures will be required off-site, on additional land under the landowner’s control. If this is not possible, then in some instances it is possible to pay a commuted sum to a local planning authority or private broker to offset the loss.
This can be a convoluted process and can result in delays if only considered late in the planning process. We recommend establishing whether net gain will be required as early as possible. Where required, an ecologist can provide preliminary advice on how to achieve net gain following the PEA.
Ultimately, all mitigation, compensation, and enhancement measures specified in an EcIA will need to work both for protected species and net gain, and it is more efficient to consider these requirements alongside one another.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
In our experience, ecological costs can mount if a project fails to set out on the right foot. Over the years we have identified the following tips for getting the cheapest and best service out of your ecologist:
Appoint them as early in the process as possible.
Send through plans and/or a description of your proposals upon enquiry.
Let them know what stage of the planning process you are at.
Inform them of any historical surveys conducted at the site.
Set out your proposed project timescales.
Integrate them within the design team.
Keep them in the loop as plans change e.g., if you decide to delay the application, so they can ensure no redundant survey work is undertaken.
Within the EcIA, ecologists will also look for opportunities to incorporate wildlife enhancements in the project design plans. Depending on the scope and scale of the project, these can vary from enhancements such as bat and bird boxes to habitat creation such as wildflower grassland or native hedge planting. To find the most appropriate option, consultation with our clients is key to ensure that the enhancements are appropriate and feasible. A biodiversity impact assessment can be incorporated as part of the EcIA to help demonstrate and quantify how the project will achieve a net gain in biodiversity in line with planning policy.
The effects on ecological features which result from the project are also considered alongside other projects within the local area which may be underway, or due to take place, for cumulative effects to ensure that the combined effects of all projects will not result in a significant adverse effect on any important ecological features.
The EcIA also considers the likely outcome in terms of ecology should the proposed project not go ahead. This provides those considering the assessment with a clear comparison and evaluation of the potential outcomes for the site.
The EcIA report may need to be supported by calculations to present biodiversity losses and gains within the site via a Biodiversity Metric.
For more information on EcIAs as well as a range of ecology resources, learn more about our EcIA services to enquire.