Development and wildlife

Where there is a reasonable risk of harm to wildlife, developers should commission an ecological survey of the site and its buildings, to identify likely impacts and inform mitigation.  The results from surveys should feed into the design planning of developments. 

Suitable ecological surveys must be undertaken where there is a chance that a development may impact upon wildlife, including protected and priority habitats and species. The Trust will object to a planning application where there are likely to be significant impacts on wildlife but the required surveys have not been done.

The Trust will not recommend specific ecologists but you can get help on selecting someone suitable from the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.

Developments can impact on wildlife and ecological networks in various ways, both during construction and operation of the development.  Impacts may be temporary or permanent.

Negative ecological impacts can be avoided and mitigated through choosing a considerate location and layout, modifying the design of the development, and using landscaping positively to protect and enhance what wildlife and habitat is already there.

A net gain for biodiversity can be delivered through creating wildlife-friendly landscaping, incorporating spaces for wildlife in buildings and within the development, and looking to improve ecological connectivity, for instance. 

Loss or damage of important wildlife habitat

Important wildlife habitats include statutory nature conservation sites, Local Wildlife Sites, priority habitats, or habitat that is important in providing an ecological link. 

Most development is required by law to provide at least 10% biodiversity net gain, measured by a standard metric. The biodiversity assessment primarily applies to non-priority habitats. The biodiversity net gain can be provided either on- or off-site. Our preference is that it should be provided on-site or in close proximity wherever possible, but this does not remove the need to provide suitable mitigation or compensation for impacts on important wildlife habitats.

Indirect impacts on important habitats

This can occur, for example, through pollution, air quality changes, artificial lighting, noise disturbance or increased recreational pressure, especially where new housing is proposed.

Potential risks to protected or priority species

This can occur, for instance, through:

• loss or damage of breeding sites or resting places;
• loss or damage of foraging habitat;
• loss of habitat connectivity;
• injury or killing of individual animals during construction. 

Statutory nature conservation sites include:

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar sites (wetland sites of international significance).

Priority habitats and species means:

NERC Act Section 41 habitats and species of principal conservation importance and local nature recovery strategy priority habitats and species. 

Protected species include:

European Protected Species (including Bats, Otters, Dormice, Great Crested Newts) listed in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and species protected by other legislation (including reptiles, Water Voles, Badgers, nesting birds). Further information is available from the Government website.

Advice on protected species

Natural England has issued advice on protected species, which local planning authorities should consider when making planning decisions. This advice helps case officers to decide whether there is a reasonable likelihood of protected species being present, and provides advice on survey and mitigation requirements.  The standing advice is a useful resource for case officers, for planning applicants when considering a development and also for local people concerned about developments in their area that may affect wildlife.

Environmental records

The Herts Environmental Record Centre (HERC) manages information on habitats, species and sites across Hertfordshire. This information can be made available to developers and others for use in development planning. For more information, visit the HERC website.