Ecology and Biodiversity

Pell Frischmann’s Ecology Team has over 20 years of experience in assisting clients with reaching solutions that support both society and nature, across a wide range of sectors and development types. We offer a complete ecology consultancy service, from ecological surveys to impact assessment, mitigation, habitat design and project implementation.

What We Do

We guide our clients through the requirements of all relevant environmental legislation, including the recently introduced Environment Act 2021, and provide expert and timely input on projects, helping secure planning consents and managing the impacts of developments on habitats and species. To achieve the most cost and time-effective results, we are often engaged at the concept design and masterplanning stages of projects as this allows us to identify key constraints and opportunities.

Our Ecology Team delivers focused, evidence-based, and pragmatic solutions which address the complex interface between biodiversity and land-use planning. We effectively integrate and discharge the separate requirements for EIA, Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), European Protected Species (EPS) licence applications, nutrient neutrality and Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessment.

Our Experience

Our national team and network of trusted regional sub-consultants works together on a range of schemes including urban and rural development sites, transport corridors for road and rail, water infrastructure and pipeline projects. At Pell Frischmann we conduct the full range of different ecology surveys, from the initial Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) to Protected Species Surveys whilst applying the latest survey techniques, including GIS mapping, infra-red and thermal video recording, drone mapping, and eDNA testing.

Our in-depth knowledge of the Defra model and options for achieving BNG, both on- and off-site, coupled with strong relationships with local authorities, wildlife trusts and regulators such as Natural England, ensures we can design solutions which are effective and acceptable to all.

Further specialisms follow through to the construction and operational phases of developments, including on-site supervision, translocation of species, the preparation of ecological management plans, and regular site surveys and monitoring.

Working as part of multi-discipline team of environmental and sustainability specialists, together with engineers, technicians, project managers and others within Pell Frischmann, we contribute to the design and realisation of all types of sustainable development. In recent years, developers and asset owners have begun to realise the true value of ‘natural capital’ and the collective need to reverse the decline in wildlife and biodiversity. We can help these clients design-in biodiversity, climate adaptation and other sustainability features to their developments in order to meet these new policy and legal requirements and thereby maximise the chances of a successful planning outcome.

As signatories of both the Civil Engineers and Structural Engineers declarations of a climate and biodiversity emergency, Pell Frischmann is committed to ensuring that the part we play in developing and enhancing the built environment is sympathetic to the natural environment.