Invasive species on development sites create legal, programme, and liability risks that sit across multiple parties. Here’s what contractors and developers need to know to manage them properly.
Himalayan balsam is a Schedule 9 invasive species that spreads rapidly on commercial land and riverbanks. Here’s what control involves, why timing matters, and what your responsibilities are as a landowner.
A Phase 1 habitat survey is the starting point for ecological assessment on development sites. Here’s what it involves, when you need one, and why timing it correctly matters for your programme.
Understanding which habitats generate biodiversity units – and which don’t – is essential for designing BNG into a development scheme efficiently. Here’s what counts and why.
Japanese knotweed on a development site creates legal, programme, and financial complications. Here’s what it is, how to identify it correctly, and why early detection matters.
The species mix you plant determines the ecological ceiling of a new hedgerow. Here’s which native species to choose, how to match them to site conditions, and why local provenance matters.
Phase 2 surveys confirm whether protected species are present on a site. Here’s what triggers them, the survey windows that can’t be missed, and what to expect when results come back.
The biodiversity metric is the tool that determines whether a development achieves its 10% BNG requirement. Here’s a plain-English explanation of how it works and what drives the numbers.
Bat surveys are a common requirement on development sites but the seasonal windows are strict. Here’s what the survey process involves, when surveys are needed, and how to keep them off your critical path.
The legal position on Japanese knotweed is widely misunderstood. Here’s what the legislation actually requires of landowners, developers, and contractors – and where the real legal risks lie.
Planting a hedgerow is just the start. Long-term management – from weed control in year one to rotational cutting and hedge laying decades later – determines whether it delivers lasting ecological value.
Most developments use a mix of on-site and off-site BNG delivery. Here’s how to work out the right balance for your scheme – and why getting that decision right at pre-application stage matters.