Question: What is an Ecological BREEAM Survey?
Answer: An Ecological BREEAM Survey is an ecological assessment carried out by a Suitably Qualified Ecologist (SQE) to support the Land Use and Ecology (LE) credits within a BREEAM assessment. It establishes the ecological value of the site before development, identifies protected and important features, and sets out how the development can protect, enhance and manage biodiversity in accordance with the BREEAM criteria.
The survey and subsequent ecologist’s reports provide the evidence for BREEAM credits LE 01 to LE 05 and can also be used to support the planning application and Biodiversity Net Gain assessment.
Question: What are the BREEAM Land Use and Ecology credits?
Answer: Under BREEAM UK New Construction, the LE category includes:
- LE 01 Site selection: rewarding use of previously developed or contaminated land
- LE 02 Ecological risks and opportunities: determining the ecological baseline and identifying risks and opportunities
- LE 03 Managing impacts on ecology: avoiding and mitigating negative impacts
- LE 04 Ecological change and enhancement: delivering a net gain in ecological value
- LE 05 Long-term ecological management and maintenance: securing a landscape and habitat management plan
Up to around ten credits are available depending on the scheme version, and they contribute significantly to Excellent and Outstanding ratings.
Question: What is a Suitably Qualified Ecologist?
Answer: BREEAM defines a Suitably Qualified Ecologist as someone holding a degree or equivalent in ecology or a related subject, with at least three years’ relevant experience within the last five years, who is a member of a relevant professional body such as CIEEM and is covered by professional indemnity insurance. Only an SQE can produce the ecology reports and confirmations that BREEAM assessors accept as evidence.
Question: When should the BREEAM ecologist be appointed?
Answer: For the full range of LE credits, the SQE must be appointed before the concept design stage (RIBA Stage 2) and must undertake the site survey before any site clearance or works begin. Late appointment can result in the loss of credits, particularly those relating to early identification of risks and opportunities and the calculation of the pre-development ecological value.
Question: What does the BREEAM ecology process involve?
Answer: The process typically includes:
- Pre-development ecological survey and baseline report
- Identification of ecological risks and opportunities for the design team
- Recommendations for protection and mitigation during construction
- Habitat enhancement recommendations and landscape planting review
- Calculation of ecological value change using the BREEAM methodology or biodiversity metric
- Preparation of a landscape and habitat management plan for at least five years
- Post-construction confirmation reports
The ecologist liaises with the BREEAM assessor, landscape architect and contractor throughout.
Question: How does the BREEAM ecology survey relate to Biodiversity Net Gain?
Answer: BREEAM and mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain both require a habitat baseline and demonstration of enhancement, and BREEAM now recognises the Statutory Biodiversity Metric as a method for calculating change in ecological value. A single survey and metric calculation can often satisfy both requirements, provided it is planned with both in mind, reducing cost and duplication.
Question: Why choose Syntegra Group for an Ecological BREEAM Survey?
Answer: Syntegra Group’s Suitably Qualified Ecologists provide BREEAM ecology surveys and reports for new construction, refurbishment and fit-out assessments across the UK. Because we also provide BREEAM assessment, Biodiversity Net Gain, landscape and Urban Greening Factor services in-house, we coordinate the ecology work with the wider assessment and design process efficiently.
We help clients maximise the available LE credits, satisfy planning ecology requirements and deliver genuine biodiversity improvements.
