Ecological reports needed for all planning applications
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Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:17 |
CGO Ecology has noticed a recent increase in the number of requests for ecological assessments of smallscale developments in the Borough of Poole, Dorset. It seems that the local planning authority has been requesting ecological reports with all planning applications, however small. Whether a loft extension, or a rebuild with increased footprint, the Council is clearly taking the potential impacts on wildlife seriously. Planning consents often come with ecological conditions added by the local authority during their desk-based appraisal, but it seems they are now expecting more input from the applicant early on. During 2010, we have frequently been contacted by people told by the planning authority that they require an ecological report as part of their application.
Typically the enquirers are owner-occupiers or very smallscale housing developers. Projects that involve altering an existing property, or rebuilding with the same or larger footprint, may attract interest from the planning authority if there is a significant chance of affecting protected wildlife. In the Poole area of Dorset, wildlife affected typically includes bats in roofs or trees, or reptiles in gardens - particularly overgrown gardens. This is particularly true for gardens adjoining large areas of open ground such as heathland, but reptiles are surprisingly-widespread in the Poole area, and can live as self-contained populations numbering tens or hundreds in large gardens.
The problem for smallscale developers, especially individuals with little experience of wildlife regulations, is that they are often unaware of the legal requirements and the seasonal restrictions on completing ecological assessments. Whilst planning authorities endeavour to highlight any conditions attached to planning consents, developers typically overlook them until it is too late. At the very least, a development is likely to be held up if the requisite ecological surveys have not been carried out; and at worst, a breach of planning consent can result in legal action.
The timetable of works can be drastically affected by the need for ecological reports. A survey can take two weeks or more, and a mitigation exercise (e.g. a capture and translocation programme) can take months. Reptiles and amphibians are only active and detectable between March to October, and they hibernate throughout the winter months. If you discover you need a reptile report in December, you would have to wait until March before the survey can begin. This can provide a big headache for developers. The only sure way to be ahead of the game is to read all planning conditions carefully, and to incorporate ecological assessments very early in the project development stages, and certainly before any procurement begins.
CGO Ecology specialises in reptile and amphibian surveys, advice and mitigation. Protected reptile species are found in many private gardens in the Poole area, and it is wise to carefully meet any planning obligations relating to them. We can carry out amphibian and reptile assessments at very short notice for £100 plus VAT, including a short report to the planning authority. If appropriate, we will recommend and quote for a full survey; and if necessary, a mitigation exercise to rescue the wildlife and remove the liability. |
New DARN Facebook group and website
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Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:33 |
Dorset Amphibian and Reptile Network (DARN) now has a Facebook group. Join the group and add any herp-related news or suggestions, or contact us to be added to the DARN email circulation list. DARN will also have a website soon, thanks to funding from Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK (ARG UK) and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC). It should be up and running within a few weeks. The website will have an online recording function (with data passed on to ARC and DERC in due course). In the meantime, continue to use the Facebook group to post your herp photos, comments, suggestions, news and other items.
DARN's purpose is to promote the appreciation and conservation of native amphibians and reptiles in the county of Dorset. Operating as an informal email network, DARN serves as a means of communication between volunteers, professionals and the general public. Dorset has 12 of the UK’s 13 native amphibian and reptile species, and a handful of non-native species. Its internationally-important heathlands are famous as national strongholds for the rare reptiles, sand lizard and smooth snake, and southwest England’s only populations of our second-rarest amphibian, the natterjack toad. With such an important wildlife heritage in Dorset, several wildlife NGOs have their headquarters in the county, including ARC. Together with the various statutory bodies and local authorities, this means Dorset has many wildlife professionals.
DARN aims to form a link between all these people, and to nurture an appreciation among the general public for our herpetofaunal friends.
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Southwest England Regional ARG Conference 2010
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Thursday, 19 August 2010 00:38 |
Make a date in your diaries for this excellent conference: Saturday 27th November 2010 at Draycott Memorial Hall, Latches Lane, Draycott, Somerset, BS27 3UE (www.draycottmemorialhall.org.uk, ST474514).
A meeting of Amphibian and Reptile Groups in Southwest England is long overdue, but thanks to RAGS (Reptile and Amphibian Group for Somerset) we don't have to wait much longer. The eclectic speaker programme will offer a rare chance to hear about recent herpetological and conservation research, and a good opportunity to network with other volunteers and professionals.
Speaker programme: Jan Clemons (ARG creation and maintenance – How to get the most from your network), Freya Smith (Chytridiomycosis in the UK), Jon Cranfield (Tales from the dark side: Aspects of reptile & amphibian ecology discovered through the practises utilised in mitigation projects), Kevin Palmer (Preliminary study to determine spring adder assemblages on the Quantock Hills AONB, Somerset: Implications for habitat management), Chris Davis (Sand lizard captive breeding and reintroduction programme. Why, how and results), Helen Fearnley (Dorset Amphibian and Reptile Network and Footprint Ecology), What do count data really reveal about the true size of sand lizard populations?), Dorothy Wright (Great crested newt conservation status), Chris Gleed-Owen (Towards a standardised approach for commercial reptile surveys and capture exercises), Tobias Uller (What can we learn from introduced species? Insights from UK Wall lizards).
Conference places cost £18 per person if you are self-funded, or £40 if funded by your employer or other third party. Price includes lunch and refreshments. Delegates MUST book and pay in advance by sending a cheque payable to 'Reptile and Amphibian Group for Somerset' to Pete Goldie, Mulberry, Brook St, North Newton, Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 0BL.
Send the following information: Title, full name, affiliation, ARG if any, postal address, telephone, email, dietary/other requirements. Receipts will be issued at the conference. Payments will be non-refundable after 31 October 2010. A social gathering is likely to take place the evening before (Friday). Watch out for flyers. |
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