Case Studies

Our team is built according to our client's needs; we draw on a wide range of expertise to build a suitable team, but always maintaining a single point of contact within HalpinRobbins. This point of contact will usually be one of our founders or senior staff:

Stawley Wood Farm

HalpinRobbins undertook a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) and bat survey at Stawley Wood Farm, Somerset in support of a planning application to convert three cottages and barns into a self-catering holiday accommodation complex; including games room, swimming pool, terrace and tennis court.

The initial site assessment was undertaken in accordance Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal focusing on plant communities, habitats and United Kingdom and European protected and invasive species.

The buildings were found to contain a number of potential bat roosting points and showed signs of use by bats. Due to these findings are more detailed bat survey was undertaken to establish the significance of the bat presence to the project and any potential requirements for project mitigation that might be required.

The bat survey revealed that four species of bat were using the area for foraging and commuting and one building was being used by Lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) as a night-time resting place.

To esnure that the Lesser horseshoe roost was not lost or disturbed the development plans were modified slightly with minor modification of the building works, times and construction techniques.

The proposal was successful at planning and did not require a Natural England Licence.