What is the lifespan of an ecological survey report?

In an ideal world, ecology surveys would be undertaken and submitted alongside a planning application in a timely fashion, but for a variety of reasons, this frequently doesn’t happen; in some cases, several years can pass between the completion of surveys and reporting, and the submission of a planning application. This time lag often gives rise to uncertainty with regard to whether the original surveys and assessments are still valid.

When it comes to ecology, baseline conditions can alter in a relatively short time frame: species may colonise a site anew; changes in management may lead to alterations in terms of habitat composition; and, off-site changes in habitats and species distribution within the zone of influence may affect the recorded baseline of a site. If these changes are deemed to be significant, they may have a bearing on the original assessment of impacts and effects in relation to a proposed scheme.

Planning authorities require robust information to accompany an application in order to make a decision. In some instances, individual planning departments have drawn up guidance on the longevity of ecology surveys and reports, but in the main, clarity has been lacking in this regard. The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) has recently issued an advice note to address the issue [1], which is summarised below.

Lifespan of ecological surveys and reports

Although individual circumstances can make it difficult to be too prescriptive regarding the lifespan of surveys and reports, CIEEM have advised that those that are less than twelve months old, usually remain valid.

Those that are between twelve months and eighteen months old are also, in the main, considered likely to be valid, unless there has been a significant change in circumstance on site or within the zone of influence.

Surveys and reports that are between eighteen months and three years old, may still be valid in certain circumstances. In order to determine their validity, CIEEM advise that an ecologist should be commissioned to undertake a walkover re-survey of the site, to compare the current status with that found in the original survey(s). Following on from this, the ecologist will be able to advise on the best way forward. Where significant changes to the baseline conditions are identified, it may be necessary to undertake some or all of the surveys again, in addition to the desk study. There is also the possibility that surveys for ‘new’ species may be needed.

Where ecology surveys and reports are over three years old CIEEM have advised that in the main, these would be considered to be out of date and it is likely that all of the surveys and associated assessment, would need to be updated. As with reports that are between twelve months and three years old, it would be necessary to engage the services of an ecologist to undertake an initial re-assessment of current conditions, in the first instance.

If you have a query on the validity of an existing ecology survey and report, our experienced ecologists are here to help.

Note:

[1] CIEEM, 2019. Advice Note on the Lifespan of Ecological Reports and Surveys.

Article written by Kate Priestman