Ecology surveys for planning applications
Before you seek planning permission for many potential new land developments or building work at a residential property, for example an extension or rebuild, various site surveys must be done.
This includes an ecological survey.
Ecological surveys are seasonally constrained and can often only be done at certain times of year.
The presence or absence of protected species, and the extent to which they could be affected by the proposed development, needs to be established before planning permission is granted.
An ecological survey assesses a proposed development to establish any environmental impact it may have.
Protected species are a material planning consideration.
If the information from an ecology survey is not supplied in a planning application, the application is likely to be refused because the planning authority will be unable to address all material considerations in making a decision.
Planning conditions will not be used to secure ecological surveys after planning permission has been granted save for a few, very limited exceptional circumstances.
Assessing the likely ecological impacts of a development is often complex so employing a suitably qualified ecological consultant is usually cost effective and valuable.
Engagement with an ecologist at the earliest opportunity is recommended, the tail end of the survey season is often very busy.
Appropriately qualified ecological consultants can be found by looking on the Chartered Institute Ecological and Environmental Management (CIEEM) website.
Pre-application discussion with the Local Planning Authority will ensure all issues are considered before an application is submitted and help prevent delays.
Natural England also offers a Discretionary Advice Service for prospective developers.
Ecology survey timetable
There are different times throughout the year for different species, such as bats, reptiles, and birds.
You can download the ecology survey table (PDF, 158 KB) or view the optimal times below.
Habitats
Phase 1 habitat survey
The optimal times to conduct a phase 1 habitat survey are:
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- up to mid-October
Bats
Summer roost activity survey
The optimal times to conduct a summer roost activity survey are:
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
Hibernation roost survey
The optimal times to conduct a hibernation roost survey are:
- January
- February
- December
Swarming survey
The optimal times to conduct a swarming survey are:
- mid-August
- September
- October
Badger
Activity survey
The optimal times to conduct an activity survey are:
- January
- February
- March
- April
- September
- October
- November
- December
Bait marking survey
The optimal times to conduct a bait marking survey are:
- February
- March
- April
Birds
Breeding bird survey
The optimal times to conduct a breeding bird survey are:
- mid-March
- April
- May
- June
- mid-July
Wintering birds survey
The optimal times to conduct a wintering birds survey are:
- January
- February
- November
- December
Dormice
Breeding survey (nest tubes)
The optimal times to conduct breeding survey (nest tubes) are:
- May
- August
- September
Great crested newts
Breeding pond surveys
The optimal times to conduct a breeding pond survey are:
- mid-March
- April
- May
- mid-June
Reptiles
Population survey
The optimal times to conduct a population survey are:
- April
- May
- September
Water vole
Activity survey
The optimal times to conduct an activity survey are:
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
Otter
Activity survey
The optimal times to conduct an activity survey are:
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
White clawed crayfish
Activity survey
The optimal times to conduct an activity survey are:
- April
- July
- August
- September
- October
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