Top tips for submitting a planning application

Here are our top tips for considering ecology within your planning application or construction project.

• Make sure you have considered wildlife and habitats at an early stage (pre-application if you require planning permission) - see what wildlife may live on your land.

• Engage an experienced and reputable ecologist to advise on requirements for your site. They will provide advice on what survey work is required.Here is a great guide to what to look for in an ecologist and the Professional Directory can be found here.  More information on ecological surveys including bat surveys and Permitted Development can also be found here

• Be aware of seasonality of surveys – surveys for different species have to be undertaken at different times of year. Many ecological consultancies provide online calendars to show when certain ecological surveys can take place.  Alternatively, call Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and one of our planning officers can help. This can affect the timescale of your planning application and/or your planned works. Please note – all of your surveys should be completed before you submit your application or begin works (if planning not required).

• Be aware that you may need to incorporate space for wildlife in your project or build:
  • Planning authorities have an obligation to consider wildlife and habitats when reviewing planning applications. This is imposed by The Habitat Regulations 2017 and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2018)
  • Certain habitats and species are legally protected under UK and EU law. In some cases, you may need a licence from Natural England if your work will disturb or destroy specially protected habitats or species. Your ecologist would advise you on this.

• Submit an appropriate ecology report. This will be prepared by your ecologist, in line with current best practice https://www.cieem.net/guidelines-for-ecological-report-writing . When DWT review an application that is not supported by suitable ecological information, we request this in our response and this may delay the determination of your application.

• Provide habitat and homes for wildlife within your site
  • There are two main reasons to incorporate habitat within your site. If your works will renovate a building that supports roosting bats for example, you will need to ensure that you include roosting opportunities within the new building. This is called mitigation. However you may also choose to incorporate a bat box, bird box, a pond or tree planting for example, even if your works will not adversely affect wildlife. This will improve the biodiversity of your site and is referred to as enhancement.
  • Mitigation may be required by law depending on the impacts of your planned works, whereas enhancement is often seen as best practice. However, national planning policy now aims for development to result in a net gain for biodiversity (See the National Planning Policy Framework 2018).  The principle of net gain is also referred to in the British Standard for Biodiversity (BS42020: 2013).  A net gain for biodiversity may be provided by something as small as a bat box in a new dwelling or it may require large-scale habitat creation.  This will be dependent on the existing ecological value of your site and how your plans will impact on habitats and species present.  An ecological consultant can provide site specific advice
  • Building with Nature is a website which provides standards and good practice guidance for incorporating nature into your planning and building.
  • We have provided links below to give you some ideas on how to incorporate biodiversity into your build but there are lots of different websites available. We are not recommending the specific companies but providing ideas of what is available.