What do Planners need? - BREEAM Land Use & Ecology Assessments and Code for Sustainable Homes Ecology reports

What are the first 12 most important things for Planners to bear in mind when reading BREEAM Land Use and Ecology Assessments and Code for Sustainable Homes Ecology reports from planning applicants?

1)Firstly, what is the landscape ecology of the site setting, that is, the surrounding area; what is the landscape character? Has the BREEAM ecology report addressed this?
2)Has the BREEAM taken all the characteristics, including geology, soils, hydrology, aspect and past management, plus the impact of the development proposals into account when recommending enhancement measures?
3)Hedges and structural habitats; don't forget these. They are not included in BREEAM and are vital for ecology. Habitat structure is very important.
4)Are there any protected species on site? Are there any protected habitats, such as SSSI's?
5)Is the site in a protected landscape, such as a Conservation Area or an AONB? If so, what implications does this have for the recommended habitat planting?
6)Protection of habitats and species; what protection measures are required and have these been proposed? Will these be practical and will they do what they are supposed to do?
7)Are the enhancement measures creative and imaginative and not just satisfactory or simply ticking boxes?
8)Has the BREEAM assessment taken into account long term habitat development and the linking of green habitats up to and beyond the site?
9)Is the long term management of habitats practical and sufficient for the scale of the development proposed?
10)Has a biodiversity action plan been drawn up when this is required?
11)Will the environment around the new development be improved as a result of the BREEAM or Code for Sustainable Homes Land Use & Ecology recommendations being carried out?
12)What are the long term biodiversity aims for the site and are these compatible with the proposed site use and needs of the end users of the site?
For more information on BREEAM Land Use & Ecology and The Code for Sustainable Homes Ecology reports; contact us on 01892 782200;
or email;
ian@landvision.co.uk or
charmaine@landvision.co.uk
See some past testimonials on our landscape, planning and ecology work.
on our web site; www.landvision.co.uk

Wadhurst Tennis Club Floodlighting Planning Application is successful due to help by Landvision Landscape plans and ecology report.

Wadhurst Tennis Club is successful in obtaining planning permission for floodlights at Wadhurst Tennis Club, Wadhurst Recreation Ground. Landvision helped to obtain this planning permission.

Landvision has recently helped to obtain planning permission for Wadhurst Tennis Club to install floodlights at their courts in Wadhurst Recreation Ground. Despite opposition from some nearby residents, Landvision's detailed planting plan has helped to set out and implement a landscape scheme at Wadhurst Rec Ground. Landvision also undertook a bat survey to support the planning application by Wadhurst Tennis Club. Thanks to this ecological work and to our landscape design plans, the whole community of Wadhurst can now enjoy walking and cycling to play tennis in the winter months and evenings, whereas previously they would have to travel miles to play on other courts.

The planning application was supported by detailed planting, designed and drawn up by our landscape architects which specified the planting of interesting and attractive trees with all year round interest, good autumn colour and blossom in spring. The trees and hedgerows now add species diversity and valuable wildlife interest to the areas around the tennis courts which were previously uninspiring grass banks and a flat area of grass.

The planning application was further supported by a bat survey by Landvision's ecologists which found that the proposed floodlighting would not affect bats. It is likely that further planting of trees and hedging that bats favour will also be undertaken as part of mitigation measures and in order to further enhance the area for wildlife.

The trees planted comprise;

Carpinus betulus Fastigiata- Fastigiate hornbeam- a tree which is well suited to the heavy clay soil and has lovely golden autumn foliage colour.

Other trees specified by Landvision's landscape planting for Wadhurst Tennis club include;

Malus "John Downie" – lovely Spring blossom and edible crab apples, great for bees.
Sorbus aucuparia – mountain ash, an atttractive native tree with feathery foliage and orange/red berries.
Ilex aquifolium – native holly, berries and evergreen cover for wildlife.

The hedging specified comprises;
Eleagnus x ebbingei, Euonymus japonicus, Ligustrum ovalifolium and Ilex aquifolium.

On the advice of Landvision's landscape managers, a regular programme of weed spraying and mulching has discouraged weed growth and assisted the much stronger growth and establishment of existing Fagus sylvatica (beech) hedging, which now reaches 2 metres high from a previous height of 1.2m high. The beech hedging gives all year round interest with bronze foliage retained in winter. The beech hedge has been supplemented by the planting design of additional holly, eleagnus and ligustrum hedges which now soften the court perimeters and add valuable all year round visual interest to the park.


Our landscape architects undertook the setting out of the planting schemes and contract managed the planting and maintenance of trees and hedges which was undertaken by specialist landscape contractors.

As a result of Landvision's landscape planning work, the community of Wadhurst and surrounding villages can now enjoy playing tennis all year round.

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