Newcastle Student Housing Redevelopment
E3 Ecology delivered a full Ecological Appraisal (EcIA) , including dedicated bat and breeding bird surveys for a major city-centre site.
E3 Ecology.
Newcastle Student Housing Redevelopment
E3 Ecology were instructed in 2023 to undertake an ecological appraisal (EcIA), bat surveys and breeding bird surveys to inform an application for demolition of student accommodation in central Newcastle and the construction of new student accommodation buildings.
Bat surveys recorded low numbers of roosting common pipistrelles within the buildings on site. Bird surveys recorded 37 pairs of 19 species using the survey area, with the species assemblage assessed as valuable in the context of the parish. Invasive plant species were identified on site. The site was considered suitable to support hedgehog.
E3 Ecology worked with the client to come up with suitable mitigation measures. These included retention and enhancement of valuable habitats where practicable and installation of bird nest boxes and bat boxes in the trees on site, as well as creation of habitat piles.
E3 Ecology also created protected and invasive species method statements for works to adhere to, assisting the client with meeting regulations and protecting biodiversity. Furthermore, E3 Ecology obtained a bat mitigation licence from Natural England to allow the demolition works to proceed in a legally compliant way.
Once planning permission was granted, the demolition works proceeded, including works to bat roosts which were supervised by an ecologist, in accordance with the licence requirements, to ensure that bats were not harmed during the works.
New bat roosting opportunities were incorporated into the design of the new student accommodation buildings, as well as bird nesting opportunities following close coordination with the architect and design team.
How Can E3 Ecology Help?
If you think E3 Ecology can help with your development project, EcIA, bird surveys or bat surveys assessments, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.