The environmental compliance challenge

The architects were re-developing a special needs facility. Parts of the existing building needed to be demolished to make way for a more modern facility with additional rooms and amenities. However, it was suspected that bats – a European Protected Species – were present on site.

The Habitat and Species Regulations 2010 make it an offence to kill, injure, capture or disturb a bat, or damage their roost. Which meant, to this firm, that gaining planning permission could be a complicated process. Plus, once granted, action would have to be taken to ensure the developments remained legally compliant as developments began.

Therefore, the architects asked enims to manage the environmental compliancy of their project, through the planning process and beyond.

The enims solution

An initial Phase I survey was conducted to assess the environment on site, which determined that bats were indeed present. A Phase II survey was then carried out, which included an in-depth internal roost inspection.

The next step was to create a straightforward mitigation plan, which involved the erection of bat boxes on site. This supported the application for planning permission – which enims secured successfully.

Finally, enims acted to ensure that the firm remained legally compliant after gaining planning permission. To do this, the team obtained a European Protected Species Licence which allowed the intended mitigation works to go ahead.

Result

Development work could proceed in full compliance with the law, following the environmental consultation, assessment and mitigation work executed by enims in partnership with the architects.