Brownfield sites can become important wildlife
habitats, often providing an important home for protected species
such as grass snakes (Natrix natrix)Mott MacDonald
offers a complete multi-disciplinary approach for terrestrial
ecology assessments and management of ecological resources. And our
team employs a range of survey techniques, best suited to
individual needs of our clients.
Our approach to undertaking the technical work for ecological
assessments follows national guidelines and standards, notably the
Institute of Ecology and Environnmental Management (IEEM)
Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessments in the UK, the
Department of Transport Analysis Guidance (WebTAG) on Biodiversity
Impact Assessment and Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Guidance
on Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation.
Our specialist skills include:
- Surveying urban and previously developed sites (brownfield
sites)
- Understanding development needs and issues
- Delivering ecological solutions to reduce the impact of
engineering projects
- Delivering best practice to complex projects
- Habitat assessments and species translocations
- Knowledge and experience of regulatory requirements
- Project management (from inception through to construction,
operation and decommissioning)
Recent projects include:
- Stoner Hill Ecological Impact Assessment - Rapid
assessments on the ecological impact of construction work on a road
following a land slip, following IEEM guidelines. Project included
a Test of Likely Significance, stakeholder consultation and
ecological surveys. Our work on the project for Hampshire County
Council, won an environment
award at the ICE (South) Construction Awards 2007›
- Rutland Habitat Creation - Freshwater lagoon habitat
creation for wildfowl species at Rutland Reservoir. The project
involved protected species surveys and translocations, stakeholder
consultations and identification of design constraints.
- Charing Embankment - Ecological assessments to allow
embankment stabilisation work. The site contained dormice,
protected under European legislation, and as result a series of
mitigations and compensation are being put in place to minimise
disturbance.
- Water Pipeline EIA - Ecological assessments as part of
an Environmental Impact Assessment into a proposed 45 km water
pipeline.
