Case Studies

A recent article by the RSPB highlights how carefully planned and well-managed solar farms can deliver meaningful benefits for wildlife – demonstrating that renewable energy and biodiversity need not be in conflict. With the right approach, solar farms can become species-rich, structurally varied habitats that support birds, pollinators and small mammals, often outperforming surrounding intensive […]

Avian Ecology has recently been supporting SSE Transmission by preparing the Ornithological Impact Assessment for their proposed new 400kv OHL connection between Beauly, in the Scottish Highlands and Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.  Spanning approximately 186km in length, the proposed OHL route traverses a variety of habitats including lowland river valleys, expansive commercial forestry plantation, stretches of

Avian Ecology is acting as the ecological and ornithological consultant in respect of the Helios Renewable Energy Project solar farm. This Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) will have an expected energy generating capacity of 190MW, sufficient to power 47,500 homes. The project is located in North Yorkshire and extends over approximately 476 hectares of predominantly

Avian Ecology has been providing ecological services in support of the proposed Frodsham Solar proposal, a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), since 2022. The Development Consent order (DCO) application for the project was submitted in May 2025, and after review has now been accepted by the Planning inspectorate (PINS) for examination. The proposed solar farm

Avian Ecology provided ecological services in support of a planning application to convert a barn into living accommodation. The barn was known to be used by bats and a European Protected Species (EPS) derogation licence would be needed before any work could go ahead. We completed a series of surveys to establish what species were

Working directly with the developer and their agent on this large solar development, we have provided a range of services from project conception through to the discharge of planning conditions. This has involved stakeholder discussions, a Habitat Management Plan (HMP), and inputs into a Tree Protection Plan and Environmental Enhancements Plan. We have provided Ecological

One of the UK’s largest solar farm developers commissioned us to complete ecological appraisals on six separate solar developments in Northern Ireland, ranging from 5-26MW. Each required a succinct and robust ecological appraisal (PEA) report, which was informed by targeted field surveys and a comprehensive desk study. These enabled a rapid progression into planning for

We undertook an ecological appraisal for a single 102m to blade tip wind turbine development, located within the Fens Natural Area, mid-way between The Ouse and Nene Washes Special Protection Areas. Whilst not located within or immediately adjacent to any European designated site, but with records of qualifying bird species and protected mammals within the

We completed two Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs) on behalf of Lancaster City Council in 2014; for a wind energy development and for a retail park. Both projects are located immediately adjacent to the Morecambe Bay Special Protection Area (SPA), so the Council is obliged to undertake a HRA to ensure there are no effects on

We provided a Suitably Qualified Ecologist (SQE) to help achieve the allocation of BREEAM Ecology Credits for a large industrial development on a former brownfield site. This included consultations with the local planning authority, advising on mitigation measures landscape planting and ongoing site management, including selecting a variety of native species appropriate to the location