EcIA for Repair Works to a Scheduled Ancient Monument at Cromford Canal SSSI, Derbyshire
Local Authority - 2010 – ongoing
Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) report for repairs to Leawood railway aqueduct (a Scheduled Ancient Monument) on Cromford Canal Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is a nationally important canal habitat site and a county important site for water vole. Works involved temporary canal draining and the creation of access roads along the towpath. We carried out an Extended Phase-1 habitat survey, desk study and further Phase-2 surveys (roosting bat survey, water vole survey and white-clawed crayfish survey). There were potential impacts to notable habitats, a locally notable floral species (small teasel), amphibians, common pipistrelle bat, reptiles and water vole.

We produced an EcIA report (the format for the assessment broadly following the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management guidelines) (with recommendations to protect and conserve this nationally important site and its associated protected and notable species), a Mitigation Method Statement, a European Protected Species (EPS) mitigation licence for common pipistrelle bat, a water vole report and Restoration Plan. The Restoration Plan also provided details for enhancing the site, particularly for water vole.

All our reports were submitted to and approved by Natural England (Derbyshire and Peak District local team and the national Wildlife Licensing Unit). All reports were approved without any need for amendments.

The repair works went ahead in summer 2011. We have subsequently provided on-site supervision and will be carrying out ecological monitoring in 2012 and 2013.

Ecology Chapter Update for a Bioethanol Plant in Immingham, Lincolnshire
Environmental Company - 2010
We updated an Ecology Chapter for an Environmental Statement for a proposed Bioethanol Plant near the Humber Estuary. This involved repeating the Extended Phase-1 habitat survey and desk study and updating the Chapter. Susie Udall (in a previous employment) had assisted in the original production of the Chapter and carried out the initial Extended Phase-1 habitat survey and desk study. The format of the Chapter broadly followed the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) guidelines.

The Ecology Chapter assessed the potential impacts of the proposed works on the ecology of the site and surrounding area, which included assessing impacts to birds associated with the Humber Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area, which supports nationally important numbers of wintering waterfowl and passage waders and a nationally important assemblage of breeding birds of lowland open water and their margins.

EcIA for a Marina Development in Theddingworth, Leicestershire
Chartered Surveyors - 2008
We carried out an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) associated with a proposed marina development. This involved an Extended Phase-1 habitat survey, desk study and EcIA report production. Evidence of badger was recorded at the site, including setts, dung pits and well-used paths.

EcIA for Laying a 12km Water Pipeline on the Nottinghamshire – Derbyshire Border
Water Company - 2006
Susie Udall (at a previous employment) carried out an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) associated with the laying of a Severn Trent Water 12km water pipeline. The route of the pipeline included two county Local Wildlife Sites. This involved an Extended Phase-1 habitat survey, desk study, EcIA report production and further botanical surveys focusing on Derbyshire Red Data Book species.