Protected Species Scoping Survey
A Protected Species Scoping Survey is an initial ecological appraisal of a site identifying the presence of protected species, usually to accompany a planning application. This enables the developer to understand any potential problems and plan for them financially and temporally. In an ideal world a scoping survey should be undertaken before land purchase or at a very early stage of development.
A Protected Species Scoping Survey by The Wildlife Survey Unit would identify the presence or potential presence of the following:
- Species protected as 'European Protected Species' under Schedule 2 of the Habitats Regulations
- Nesting birds protected under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
- Bird species protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
- Species protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
- Badgers protected under the Protection of Badgers Act
The protected species scoping survey would include a map detailing location and habitats of protected species.
A desk study of protected species records from the local biological records centre would provide historic records for the site and environs.
Recommendations would be made to ensure legal compliance, mitigation would be suggested if needed, also details of further surveys required would be given as well as biodiversity enhancement measures to comply with Planning Policy Statement 9.
