Lend Lease Facilities Management

The future of endangered species, the great crested newt, recently discovered on the Worcestershire Royal Hospital estate, has been successfully preserved. Over the years, Lend Lease has been contracted to manage the hospital site. When the hospital was built an associated Sustainable Drainage System, comprising a series of balancing ponds and wetland areas, was created to attenuate and treat surface water runoff from the hospital site’s hard-standing. Surveys undertaken on behalf of Lend Lease, discovered great crested newts had moved into the new water bodies from the adjacent country park and started breeding. This charismatic amphibian must be handled by holders of a Protected Species Licence such as Johns Associates who were employed to manage the project. The discovery of the newts created a conundrum for Lend Lease as the ponds within the drainage system require regular maintenance to clear out accumulations of silt and choking vegetation but this work could harm them. In consultation with Natural England, Johns Associates worked with Lend Lease to develop a solution to enable maintenance to proceed without affecting the newts. Two thirds of the ponds were sensitively cleared-out during the winter, when the newts were in hibernation.  One third of the aquatic vegetation was retained within each pond to ensure newts have suitable breeding habitat available in the spring.

Private Golf and Country Club

Johns Associates has succeeded in demonstrating that proposals to construct a new golf course does not require Environmental Impact Assessment.  A detailed EIA screening report, produced to accompany a request for a formal Screening Opinion, set out a sequential process to demonstrate why EIA was not appropriate.  The report reviewed environmental baseline data, identified initial impact avoidance and reduction measures and showed how the scheme design could be adapted to deliver positive environmental benefits.  Initial design reviews were completed and agreed to embed these measures into the scheme, which was subjected to the EIA screening assessment.  Following a period of consultation and review, formal confirmation that EIA was not needed was received.  As well as saving time and money, this process has enabled the project design to fully deliver wide-ranging environmental, social and economic benefits from an early stage.  Work continues to complete an Environmental Appraisal to accompany a full planning application.

David Glasson Planning Ltd

Johns Associates were commissioned to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of proposed intensive poultry units in Somerset.  The Local Authority had previously determined the development proposals to be Schedule 1 development i.e. requiring a mandatory EIA.  Johns Associates reviewed this screening opinion against the criteria within the EIA Regulations and accompanying Circular and subsequently compiled a strong case that the proposed development did not require formal EIA.  A detailed Screening Report was prepared and submitted which concluded that the proposed development meets the criteria on Schedule 2 of the EIA Regulations and which demonstrated that the new poultry units are not likely to result in significant environmental impacts.  The Local Authority subsequently revised their formal screening opinion to confirm that formal EIA is not required, resulting in considerable savings for the client’s project budget and timescale.

Johns Associates are currently upgrading to the Screening Report to be submitted as an Environmental Appraisal in support of the planning application.

Private Sector Client

Johns Associates was commissioned to undertake a detailed review of a complex planning application for extraction of sand and gravel in south east England.  The review comprised an appraisal of the ecological aspects of the Environmental Statement to assess its adequacy in terms of level of baseline data, assessment methodology and mitigation/ compensation against European, national and local planning policy.  The work included a Habitats Regulations Assessment and also addressed cross-disciplinary issues in depth, including air quality, hydrology, water quality and hydrogeology.  The adequacy of the restoration and after use proposals for nature conservation was also considered.

Rose Bowl Plc

Johns Associates is providing detailed biodiversity support to the on-going £50 Million development of the Hampshire Rose Bowl. Support services include assistance at Planning Committee, preparation of technical documents for planning applications and protected species method statements and licences, training of staff and contractors, consultee liaison, detailed habitat design for semi-natural elements of a new golf course and other landscaped parts of the site, river restoration design for a deculverted watercourse, arboricultural support (method statements, supervision and tree surgery), Ecological Clerk of Works and Ecological Contracting. Johns Associates is also working with the Rose Bowls’ contractors to enable the construction of its golf course.

PJ Brown and Cumnor House School

Johns Associates has completed an initial ecological appraisal of the buildings and estate at Cumnor House School, West Sussex in support of proposals to construct a new cricket pitch and playing field.  The work defined the ecological baseline for the planning application and for a subsequent Ecological Masterplan for the site that sits alongside and enables the existing School Masterplan for Development.  Areas were identified where potential ecological mitigation and enhancement, required to facilitate planning permission, could be implemented.  As a result it was possible to identify a joined-up approach to habitats within the school site in order to maximise their nature conservation value and aimed at providing an important ecological educational resource.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Johns Associates is providing specialist support to RBS to manage the potential implications of a number of buildings supporting bat roosts or other protected species.  This involves detailed survey, analysis of RBS’ proposals for a building and identifying a cost effective method statement for the works, where possible enabling a non-licensable approach saving time and money.  An example is the rapid response to a bank robbery at the Natwest Hatherleigh Branch where the raid had structurally damaged the building and a bat method statement was required within a matter of days to permit emergency repairs to lawfully take place.

Bristol International Airport

Ecological Impact Assessment of a planning application for a vertical helix wind turbine.  The assessment focused on potential effects to bats, taking into account the presence of a Special Area of Conservation associated with bats in the local area.

Biodiversity by Design

Detailed protected species surveys (bats, badger, reptiles, great crested newt, dormouse and ecological Clerk of Works) in support of a large mixed use development site in Hampshire - part of a south east Major Development Area.

Simecology / Wiltshire Council

Ecological Impact Assessment, Environmental Appraisal and Environmental Management Plans as part of planning applications for three new salt depots and a household recycling centre.

Entec UK Ltd

Geomorphological and hydrological support to a long term project managing diffuse pollution and erosion within an Army Training Estate.  The project involved provision of survey and assessment design, installation of remote data logging equipment and making recommendations for erosion/runoff management.

Wessex Water

Survey for great crested newt at numerous ponds, submission of great crested newt development licences and carrying out associated ecological tasks (such as newt capture and exclusion, habitat enhancement, supervision and monitoring) as part of the installation of a replacement water main.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Assessment of flooding and erosion and design of appropriate management solutions as part of a Defra/Environment Agency funded Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative.  This included preparation of a Flood Risk Assessment, topographic surveys, Ecological Impact Assessment, and other environmental supporting statements for the associated planning application.

Landmarc Support Services

Scoping assessment of hydrological, ecological, cultural heritage, landscape, recreation and military training issues associated with the ongoing management and enhancement of a sensitive watercourse in Surrey. A range of management solutions were identified that delivered multifunctional environmental benefits.

Greenspace Environmental

Flood Risk Assessment and Ecological Impact Assessment carried out in support of a planning application for a new 9-hole golf course and to extend an existing 18 hole golf course associated with riverine and heathland SSSIs in Dorset.

GVA Grimley / Homes and Communities Agency

Ecological support (protected species surveys including bats, sand lizard and smooth snake), mitigation design, Ecological Impact Assessment) for a planning application for a proposed residential care village in Dorset.

Go Ape

Ecological Impact Assessment in support of a new Go Ape course at Itchen Valley Country Park.  The project included detailed ecological surveys, desk studies, mitigation design and impact assessment. It also involved representing Go Ape at Planning Committee and the subsequent production of detailed Biodiversity Mitigation and Management Plans.

Centre Parcs

Survey of a building for bats and preparation of a method statement for refurbishment works, ensuring the work complied with legislation.