A major new contract win sees Ellendale Environmental’s Edinburgh-based team build on their success and strong reputation. The ecological consultants are to undertake Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) on the A9 upgrade project assisting Balfour Beatty.
As part of this project, the 9.5km section between Luncarty and the Pass of Birnam will be widened to a dual carriageway, improving journey times, safety and reliability.
Drawing on their substantial experience delivering ECoW services across the UK, Ellendale Environmental is assisting the project team to ensure the project runs smoothly and that all construction activities are delivered in line with relevant wildlife/environmental law.
Award-winning environmental consultants
News of the contract win came as another project that Ellendale has provided ECoW services for – the Almondbank flood protection scheme – was awarded a prestigious Green Apple Award, which recognises environmental best practice.
Representing an investment of around £14.7million, the scheme has seen a series of flood defences created along the River Almond and the East Pow Burn, in order to protect a community that has suffered a number of previous flooding occurrences.
Undertaking protected species surveys and monitoring the project, Ellendale Environmental worked with Balfour Beatty as part of the onsite ecological and environmental management team. Their ecological consultants provided advice and support which enabled the project to progress efficiently and gain international recognition.
These major projects illustrate Ellendale Environmental’s expertise in delivering advice which enables construction projects to continue uninterrupted, whilst ensuring the wildlife and habitats are protected, which protects their clients too.
Andy Gardner, Balfour Beatty Project Manager says: “The Ellendale Environmental team are able to integrate into the site team and understand the engineering works. They support the project through the construction phase and are proactive in finding solutions to enable works around sensitive environmental areas. I have always found them extremely professional, easy to work with and experienced.’’
“They had a passion and deep understanding of ecology and environmental management whilst being able to work pragmatically and deliver for the project and the environment.”
Support with planning proposals
In addition to ECoW services, Ellendale’s expert team offer ecological consultancy services to support planning proposals for projects of all sizes. This often involves a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, where the habitat types on a site are mapped and evidence of protected animal species is recorded.
Appraisals which establish whether further species-specific surveys are required, thereby avoiding an impact on sensitive and/or legally protected species and habitats. Species-specific surveys that Ellendale ecologists regularly undertake include those for bats, great crested newts, birds, badgers and otters.
When undertaking survey work for planning proposals, Ellendale ecologists establish whether protected species are present on a site, identify how the site is used by them and advise clients on how to progress a project with minimal impact and in line with relevant legislation and policy. Where an impact on wildlife is unavoidable, the Ellendale team will suggest mitigating steps to protect the wildlife and habitats – giving planning proposals the best chance of success.
The ecological consultants have built up a robust track record assisting clients in securing and proceeding with their planning proposals. As Stewart Parsons, Founder and Director of Ellendale Environmental explains:
“We are proactive and solution driven in our work, always understanding the constraints our clients are working within and finding a practical way forward for them, helping them to obtain the planning permission they need.”
Keep your project on track
Ellendale Environmental offers specialist ecological surveys and environmental management services for public and private organisations across the residential, utilities, commercial and construction sectors, throughout the UK and further afield.
Clientele includes Savills, McGregor Construction, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, Rio Tinto, WSP, Balfour Beatty and Perth and Kinross Council.
Their portfolio of work encompasses projects of all sizes and they are equally at home working on a small-scale, one-off project, like the conversion of a barn or outbuilding as a major infrastructure project.
“No matter what the size of the scheme, we will give it the same care and attention” explains Stewart. “Each project is the most important project to us.”
Contact Ellendale Environmental for ecological advice that will put your planning proposal or construction project on the right track, call 0131 4682499 or email info@ellendale-environmental.co.uk
