subject: Phase 1 Habitat Survey For Planning A Development [print this page] Looking after the world we live in is a responsibility which we should all shoulder. It is important that ecosystems are protected and wildlife be preserved for the future. This is why when any new building developments are proposed, planning authorities must take into account the needs of the wildlife which may be present on the development site.
Local planning offices must, by law, consider the impact on wildlife and biodiversity that any new buildings may have. If there are any protected species or habitats which may be used by protected species on a development site, then this will need to be investigated thoroughly before planning permission can be given.
Phase 1 Habitat Survey
In order to determine whether or not your site may have protected species in the vicinity, you will need to have an ecological survey carried out and the most basic survey which should initially be carried out to determine this is the Phase 1 Habitat Survey.
This survey will look for any signs of protected species on your land and will map the areas in which they might be found so that any planning applications can be amended to accommodate them. By submitting a Phase 1 Habitat Survey with the rest of your planning application, you will be showing the planning authorities that you have put some serious thought and effort into the wildlife and environment around you and this may help to put you in their favour. You will not be able to have your application rejected due to a lack of information in regards to the environment either, so you will get a much quicker decision than you would otherwise expect.
Quick and Cost Effective
A Phase 1 Habitat Survey is a quick and cost effective way of determining whether or not there are protected species living on your land. If you fail to do so, your project could be help up in the planning stages for a significant amount of time and if you go ahead and manage to disturb protected species and habitats you should be fined or even imprisoned, so having one of the surveys carried out is really a good idea all round.
