Natural England ‘Low Impact Licence’ for The Bull Pen, Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire

The project Development for a change of use from agricultural to residential use with the conversion of a large, redundant ‘Bull Pen’ building into unrestricted residential accommodation.

Our involvement A bat roost and barn owl assessment for submission with the planning application to covert a large agricultural building that housed bull pens for Hereford Cattle. Common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle and brown long-eared bat roosts were recorded in the roof of the property. The roosts were assessed as providing shelter for low numbers of animals on an occasional basis through summer. The roosts were evaluated as being of low conservation importance, but conversion of the building would involve licensable activities for bats when the roof was repaired.

In 2015 Natural England launched a new class licence, which provides a streamlined process to the European Protected Species (EPS) mitigation licence. The ‘low impact class licence’ permits work that has a low impact on certain common/ widespread bat species and roost types, but which still needed to be licensed in order to meet the legal requirements of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. We were able to register the site with Natural England and implement the low impact licence.

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Roger Moscrop

Pure Ecology offer a completely reliable service, combining robust science with expert advice and reliable delivery and reporting. Importantly they also appreciate and respect the safety and sustainability requirements pertaining to our business and to our clients objectives.

Stuart Hedgecott Principal Consultant CH2MHill

Arup have worked with Pure Ecology since the beginning of 2014, and continue to do so because of the excellent service we have received. Anton has consistently provided sound and pragmatic technical ecological services and advice, in particular with regard to specialist bat services. He is highly competent, very organised and excellent at communicating and interpreting the likely significance of his work throughout the process.â€

Arup

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Mr James, Homeowner in Monmouthshire.

Pure Ecology provided a comprehensive service and the report was clear and concise. The ecology assessment was well received by the local authority

Capture Energy for a single wind turbine in Camarthenshire

We use Pure Ecology because the are reliable and consistently deliver a high quality of work. They respond quickly, work well with our development team and have successfully negotiated ecological requirements with the planning authority

Lisa Way Development Surveyor, Monmouthshire Housing Association

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Andrew Carter, Morgan & Horowskyj Architects

Pure Ecology provides a professional and reliable service. Their comprehensive knowledge and understanding of ecological issues within the planning system has been invaluable for the success of several of our schemes.

Joe Burnard, Project Manager for Rea Housing Development