JFA provide ecological guidance and monitoring for new 21 ha development

JFA will provide ecological in-put on behalf of Taylor Wimpey-Persimmon Homes to Park Farm South East, part of a phased 2,300 unit development outside Ashford, Kent, with 353 plots covering 21 hectares. The ecology team will be assisting in the creation of new wildlife habitats to retain and improve biodiversity on site and will be providing an ecological mitigation strategy (EMS), construction ecological management plan (CEMP), landscape and ecology management plan (LEMP), as well as on-site services and monitoring.  JFA have been proud to be associated with the earlier phases at Park Farm and expect this to be an outstanding development with many potential net gains for biodiversity.

JFA's Principal uses her expertise in Lakeview Inquiry
Jaquelin Clay, Principal of JFA Environmental, is using her inquiry expertise to provide Expert Witness support to Aylesford Heritage Limited in matters related to landscape. This inquiry relates to a housing proposal within a quarry, which is approaching the end of its working life.  The inquiry will evaluate visual impacts on the landscape setting and heritage assets and is programmed for early March. A result is expected in the Spring. 

Defra launched a 10 week consultation in December 2018 on whether new housing and commercial developers should be required to provide a biodiversity net gain.  As part of these proposals developers would have to pay a levy for habitat creation or improvements elsewhere if there are no opportunities on site.  Smaller and brownfield sites may be exempt. This follows on from the new adopted NPPF launched in July 2018 which addressed the need to protect wildlife and halt the level of biodiversity losses from insensitive development.
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BS42020: 2013 Biodiversity – Code of Practice for Planning Development (hereafter referred to as BS 42020) provides a framework for assessing ecological opportunities and constraints and biodiversity gains and losses and enables developers to navigate development planning.

 BS 42020 is a reference guide or tool – rather like a Haynes Car Manual but for ecologists and their approach to biodiversity management and the development planning process.  It was published in August 2013 and accords with CIEEM’s ‘Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment’.  The standard has eight sections on biodiversity and the development planning process and includes a series of annexes which are a useful reference guide for both practitioners and decision makers alike.  It is designed to be dipped into and certain sections apply to different, site specific situations.  The planning process is broken into five key stages (based on the RIBA Plan of Work) from Pre-application through to Post-construction monitoring by an Ecological Clerk of Works and provides a framework for good practice throughout the whole development planning process.
The Standard also provides a guide to ethics, conduct and competence of the professional ecologist and highlights the need for a consistent and proportionate approach - to ensure the level of survey information is appropriate to the level of environmental risk likely with any proposed new development.  

​The best outcome for biodiversity is achieved if ecology is considered from the outset of a proposal. An ‘Ecological Constraints and Opportunities Plan’ (ECOP) can inform the design process and vastly improve the outcome for biodiversity gains.  The Standard outlines a mitigation hierarchy (clause 5.2), which should be incorporated into initial site analysis.  This methodology avoids (or minimises at the very least) ecological impacts and provides opportunities for biodiversity gains to be incorporated into site planning. To this end clause 6.5 in the Standard requires ecologists to monitor and provide a clear statement of biodiversity net loss and gain for stakeholders and decision makers.
If an ecological report is compliant with BS 42020, decision makers can be assured that a proportionate mitigation strategy has been provided and can then set appropriate planning conditions and/or obligations as necessary.  This can save time in the planning process.

Annex D provides a set of model ‘off the peg’ conditions that an applicant or local authority can use to identify mitigation and enhancement actions (including offsetting and financial provision) that will produce biodiversity gains.  The annex also provides guidance to decision makers on protected species licensing (see clause 8.5.3) and on where a condition may be applied (for example a method statement) to avoid the need for such a requirement.
One of the strengths of BS42020 is its adaptability, and its promotion of a consistent integrated approach.  There is an encouragement of innovation particularly in the approach to new study techniques or the collection of data.  It outlines a collaborative approach to the planning development process with an emphasis on a positive outcome for biodiversity rather than how that outcome is achieved.

To have your say on Defra's Biodiversity Net Gain consultation, visit https://consult.defra.gov.uk/land-use/net-gain/consultation/
 
References:
- James Simpson (InPractice, Valuing Ecosystem Services Issue 92 June 2016) BS 42020: 2013 – Cracking the Code.
- Mike Oxford CIEEM Course 29.11.2018 BS 42020: 2013 Biodiversity – Code of Practice for Planning and Development
- British Standards Institution (2013), BS 42020: 2013 Biodiversity – Code of Practice for Planning and Development.  British Standards Institution, London.