The environmental compliance challenge

The leading house building firm had a new project in the pipeline, which it was eager to set in motion – a high-value housing development. The challenge was to obtain planning permission to build on a site that was likely to house protected species, and to ensure subsequent development works were legally compliant.

The developers recognised that becoming compliant with European, domestic and local legislation could be a complicated and time consuming process. Thus, the company entered into an environmental partnership with enims, allowing them to take charge of the complex compliancy process.

The enims solution

The planning process began with an initial ecological assessment to determine whether any protected species were present – known as a Phase I Survey.

This identified that badgers were on site. Badgers and their setts are safeguarded by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which makes it illegal to disturb or injure badgers.

enims developed a simple and effective mitigation plan, which would protect the badgers, and therefore facilitated a successful planning application for the organisation.

Following the granting of planning permission, in order for the organisation to remain legally compliant, enims obtained an English Badger Disturbance Licence on their behalf. This gave the firm permission to develop, even though badgers were present.

Result

As a result of the compliancy services which enims delivered, planning permission was obtained quickly and without hassle. All necessary actions were taken to ensure that the development remained legally compliant as construction began.