Ecology advice for planning and development
Clear, proportionate ecological support for development projects across the Midlands and central England.
We work with planners, architects, developers, landowners and local authorities to identify ecological constraints, manage planning requirements and help projects progress with greater certainty.
Practical ecology support throughout the planning process
Ecological requirements can affect site design, planning timescales and the information needed to support an application. Identifying these requirements early can reduce uncertainty, avoid unnecessary delay and allow ecology to be considered alongside the wider needs of the project.
Croft Ecology provides clear, pragmatic advice from initial site assessment through to planning submission, condition discharge and implementation. Our role is not simply to produce reports, but to help clients understand what is required, why it is required and how best to move the project forward.
Services
Initial ecological assessments, Biodiversity Net Gain work and planning-focused ecological advice to establish site constraints and support well-informed applications.
Typical services include:
Preliminary Ecological Appraisals
Preliminary Roost Assessments
Biodiversity Net Gain assessments
Ecological Impact Assessments
Ecological design and mitigation advice
Input into site feasibility and layout development
Planning Ecology Services
Protected Species & Surveys
Targeted assessment and survey work where habitats, buildings or previous evidence indicate that protected species may be present.
We advise on the surveys genuinely required, appropriate survey timing and the implications for planning, design and mitigation.
Typical services include:
Bat emergence and activity surveys
Great crested newt assessment
Reptile, bird and badger surveys
Otter, water vole and dormouse surveys
Protected species mitigation
Species licensing support
Planning conditions & compliance
Support following planning consent, including ecological management plans, mitigation strategies, licensing and site-based ecological supervision.
We help translate planning requirements into practical measures that can be approved and implemented by the project team.
Typical services include:
Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans
Biodiversity Gain Plans
Construction Environmental Management Plans
Landscape and Ecological Management Plans
Protected species licensing
Ecological supervision and monitoring
Advice proportionate to the project
No two sites are identical, and ecological work should reflect the scale, location and likely impacts of the proposal.
Our team reviews the available information before recommending a scope of work. This helps ensure that surveys and reports are proportionate, defensible and focused on the matters most relevant to the planning authority. Where further work may be required, we explain the likely sequence, seasonal constraints and potential implications as early as possible.
Working alongside your project team.
We regularly work with:
Planning consultants
Architects and design teams
Residential and commercial developers
Landowners and property professionals
Local authorities
Contractors and landscape teams
By working collaboratively with the wider project team, we can help integrate ecological requirements into site design rather than addressing them only after proposals have been fixed.
Why Croft Ecology?
Croft Ecology is an independent, CIEEM Registered Practice supporting hundreds of projects each year across the Midlands and central England.
Our clients value:
Clear and responsive communication
Pragmatic, planning-focused advice
Proportionate scopes of work
Experienced technical oversight
Support from initial assessment through to implementation