What is an ecological impact assessment?
An Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) is the process through which the potential impacts resulting from a project are identified, quantified and assessed. This assessment can be undertaken for sites or projects of any size or scale.
What is an ecological impact assessment report?
Preparing a report for submission to the planning authority is the last step in the EcIA process.
The report sets out the results of all Phase 1 and Phase 2 ecology surveys undertaken and assesses potential impacts on designated sites and all protected and notable habitats and species.
The report also sets out the avoidance, mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures to be adopted to ensure the proposals protect and enhance the natural environment.
EcIA Timeline for Developers: Important Dates to Know in 2022
The first step in an EcIA is to undertake a Phase 1 survey of the site, in addition to a desk study of the surrounding area. The results are usually presented in a preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA).
The Phase 1 survey and desk study can be undertaken at any time of year and will identify whether any Phase 2 habitat or protected species surveys are needed to complete the EcIA and inform the planning application.
A few Phase 2 surveys can be completed at any time, including preliminary roost assessments for bats, and surveys for badgers and otters. However, others are confined to very specific windows of time throughout the year. With this in mind, some important dates for 2022 are set out below, including when certain key surveys can start and the deadlines for completing them.
February
This is the last opportunity to clear vegetation or demolish buildings outside the bird nesting season, which runs from March to September. Works can still be undertaken in this period but will need to be preceded by a nesting bird check and are more likely to be disrupted by breeding birds.
Last chance:
To clear vegetation outside of bird nesting season
March
If you are impacting large areas of farmland, wetland or woodland you will likely need breeding bird surveys. These involve at least three visits at dawn by an experienced ecologist between March and June. The visits should be at least a month apart so getting started early is advisable.
Aquatic great crested newt surveys may be needed if potential impacts could arise on waterbodies or supporting terrestrial habitat. At least four surveys are required between mid-March and mid-June, with half-completed in the tight window from mid-April to mid-May. Six surveys are needed if Great Crested Newts are present.
April
If the goal is simply to identify the presence or likely absence of great crested newts, the most straightforward survey method is to collect a water sample and send it for eDNA analysis between mid-April and the end of June.
If a project could impact rough grassland, scrub or woodland then reptile surveys may be needed. These can be undertaken between March and October but surveys in April, May and September are likely to yield the best results, as reliably detecting reptiles during the hotter months is trickier.
Impacts on bat foraging and commuting habitat are assessed using bat activity surveys. These are needed on almost all large sites and many smaller ones. The surveys can be undertaken between April and October and the number needed will depend on the suitability of the site. This will either be two surveys a month (high suitability), one a month (moderate suitability), or one each in spring, summer and autumn (poor suitability).
Potential impacts on woodland or hedgerows could trigger the need for dormice surveys, which can be undertaken between April and November. The number of surveys needed is determined by a points system. Surveys in May, August and September score the highest.
Ditches, streams, rivers and ponds can all potentially trigger the need for water vole surveys. As a rule, two surveys are required in different parts of the year. One survey should be undertaken between mid-April and June, with another between July and September.
Last chance:
To start breeding bird surveys
May
Where a building or tree has the potential to support bat roosts, emergence and re-entry surveys are needed to establish whether any are present, and in what numbers. These must be completed between May and August/September. The timing and number needed will depend on their suitability, with a maximum of three for the most suitable environments.
Sites with the potential to be important for invertebrates may also need targeted invertebrate surveys. Terrestrial invertebrates can be surveyed between May and September, while for freshwater invertebrates the main windows are mid-March to April and September to mid-October (flowing waters) and June to August (standing waters).
If there is the potential to impact any woodland, then detailed botanical surveys may be required. These are best undertaken in April and May.
Last chance:
To start GCN aquatic surveys
To complete a spring bat activity survey
June
Grassland varies from improved fields with only a handful of species to critically important meadows, calcareous and acid grassland. Where valuable grassland is present, detailed botanical surveys may be needed. The exact timing varies, but June is often a key month.
July
Last chance:
To complete eDNA analysis
To complete the first water vole survey
To start dormice surveys that complete in 2021
August
Last chance:
To start bat roost surveys on buildings or trees
To complete a summer bat activity survey
To complete freshwater invertebrate surveys (standing water)
September
Last chance:
To start reptile surveys
To complete the second water vole survey
To complete terrestrial invertebrate surveys
October
The UK receives many visiting birds over winter. These are mainly based in wetland, farmland and grassland near the coast. If any of these habitats are impacted by a project, then targeted wintering bird surveys may be needed between mid-October and mid-March. The exact timing and methodology vary.
Last chance:
To complete an autumn bat activity survey
To complete freshwater invertebrate surveys (flowing water)
November
Last chance:
To start any wintering bird surveys
December
Bats use several different roosts throughout the year, including hibernation roosts over winter. Surveys can be undertaken to identify hibernation roosts between December and March.
Biodiversity Net Gain and the Environment Act of 2021
Planning policy encourages developers and land managers to leave biodiversity in a better state than it was before, known as delivering ‘net gain’.
A biodiversity impact assessment can be incorporated as part of the EcIA to help demonstrate and quantify how a project will achieve a net gain.
The Environment Act includes a requirement that developments deliver 10% net gain. The bill was passed in Autumn 2021, with developers needing to be aware of this key percentage that will become law in late 2023.
More information on what this entails is available here. You can also read more in our biodiversity banking guide, which provides detailed information on this new legislation.
Many local planning authorities (LPAs) are already adopting net gain requirements. It is best to establish the requirements and undertake initial assessments at the start of the planning process.
Get a quote for an ecology survey today or explore our ecology services to learn how we can help you. For more information and helpful ecological resources, read more on our blog.