Preliminary Ecological Appraisal

The presence of designated sites and protected or important species and habitats can be a significant constraint - and occasionally a complete block - to new development. Identifying ecological issues early in the development process is important for determining the potential value of a site and for planning a programme of ecological works that will support a planning application.

Baker Shepherd Gillespie has developed an approach to assessing potential ecological constraints that provides a thorough appraisal of the issues likely to arise. This preliminary ecological appraisal can be purely desk based, although we would normally recommend a site walkover survey to inform the desk study.

The appraisal can be undertaken for individual sites or strategic land holdings and will provide an early warning of the ecological issues that would need to be considered. This will enable informed decisions to be taken regarding land valuation and development programmes.