Overview

SBS has partnered with Compliance to offer Environmental Assessment Services to customers.

Why is Environmental Services needed?

Environmental Services such as ecology and flood risk assessments (FRAs) are required for three main reasons:

• To support planning applications under Planning Policy Statement number 9 (PPS9). Planners have a duty of care to promote and enhance biodiversity.

• To support Code for Sustainable Homes assessments.

• To comply with National and European wildlife and habitatable legislation which lies outside of the planning process including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Habitats Directive 1992, the Badgers Act 1972, the Birds Directive 1979 etc.

• If planning has been determined and a demolition order is in place, it is still illegal to disturb a protected species such as bats or their roost even if they are absent from the roost at the time.

How do I comply with Environmental Services?

• UK planning policy and legislation now places a burden of responsibility upon the developer to undertake legislative compliance.

• Most ecological requirements can be discharged through the use of a Suitably Qualified Ecologist (SQE) who is either a full member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MIEEM), a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or through a member of the Society for the Environment (Soc Env).

• Again, for flood risk assessments the assessor must be a suitably qualified engineer or hydrologist.

• The engineer/ecologist will prepare either a “desk top” study and/or will undertake a site inspection in order to prepare a report and calculations detailing their findings/recommendations.

• In some instances there may be no follow up action required but often their recommendations will need to be implemented. These may affect drainage design, finished floor levels, planting, protection of ecological features or other mitigating work.

When are Environmental Services needed?

• Local Planning Authorities will often require ecological or flood risk assessments and protected species surveys as Planners have a duty of “material consideration” with regard to promoting and enhancing biodiversity on all new developments, on amendments or alterations to existing developments and when considering change of land use (this can include increased usage of land).

• In addition to and aside from the planning officers’ duty of material consideration for biodiversity, the legal protection or considerations of European and National wildlife legislation operate under criminal law.

• Site specific FRAs are required as a mandatory element of Code for Sustainable Homes assessments. Ecological assessments are often undertaken to gain the credits required to meet specific target levels.

Benefits

• Compliance provides an integrated approach to Building Control and environmental compliance at a fixed price.

• Minimise risk of project/build delay once can provide guidance on minimising risk of delay through avoiding survey timings issues for ecological constraints. For example, some surveys such as bat maternity emergence work can only be undertaken between May and September as bats disperse to swarming sites in the Autumn prior to settling into their Winter hibernation roosts and are not present.

• Our services are backed up by qualified professional consultants who are only a phone call away.

• If your Environmental Assessment does not meet the required standards we will provide friendly and practical advice to help you comply.