Wild Frontier Ecology acts as “Suitably Qualified Ecologist” as defined by Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM guidance. Our extensive experience of using CSH and BREEAM guidance allows us to effectively undertake assessments on housing, school, hospital, retail and office developments throughout the East of England and London. We advise ecological mitigation and enhancement options appropriate for each development, which improve the ecology of the site and gain credits under the CSH and BREEAM accreditations.
We provide expert advice on the ‘Land Use and Ecology’ section of BREEAM and the ‘Ecology’ section of the Code for Sustainable Homes, both of which have scope for flexibility and innovation. It is stipulated in BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes guidance that Suitably Qualified Ecologists should assess a site before clearance works begin, as this allows us to provide more accurate assessments. If you would like to discuss a BREEAM or Code project please contact us now.
- Suitably Qualified Ecologist
- BREEAM and CSH format reporting
- Botanical assessment of the site
- Landscape and Habitat Management Plans
- Identification of any potential protected species issues
Project Examples
Green Roof
Two BREEAM assessments of a market renovation project in central London, which was split between two buildings. The project comprised retention of the Victorian facades and construction of a new glass and metal structure inside the retained, older walls. The new buildings were designed to accommodate three types of green roof over three levels, one of which is used by a restaurant. We were able to discount the potential for protected species issues at the site. We advised a range of measures aimed at protecting and enhancing the ecological features on the site, including provision of a species list for green roof planting. We then wrote a Landscape and Habitat Management Plan ensuring the sustainable long term management of the green roofs. The project achieved the maximum 9 Land Use and Ecology credits.
Code for Sustainable Homes
In 2014 Wild Frontier Ecology completed Code for Sustainable Homes assessments for six sites in Kelvedon, Essex, as part of an affordable housing redevelopment plan. The sites were existing houses and flats with large gardens and communal green-landscaped areas, all of which were to be demolished and redeveloped. Wild Frontier Ecology liaised with the local housing authority to organise access to the numerous private gardens for the botanical survey. CSH assessments were subsequently completed for each of the six sites. As the plans involved a reduction in the amount of green-space, the redevelopments achieved between one and three out of the nine available credits. In addition to the limited space for ecological enhancement, there were multiple existing features of ecological value such as trees and hedgerows on the sites, which also restricted the number of CSH credits that could be achieved.
Wild Frontier Ecology also supplied arboricultural assessments for all six sites.