A clearer way to buy planning ecology
Clear prices. Defined packages. Fewer surprises.
Ecology should be a reliable, well-managed part of your planning project—not an unknown cost. Our published packages show what you are likely to need, what is included and what it will cost, helping you budget confidently and identify ecological risks earlier.
Choose your pricing route
Small & straightforward projects
Usually suitable for our published fixed-price packages.
- Houses, garages and associated outbuildings
- Barn conversions and modest farm building complexes
- Garden plots, replacement dwellings and small residential sites
- Small to moderate commercial or land-based projects
- Clearly defined proposals with limited ecological complexity
Larger & more complex developments
Scoped individually so that the quotation matches the real survey and planning requirements.
- Multiple buildings or several dwellings
- Residential, commercial or mixed-use developments
- Sites with woodland, ponds, watercourses or extensive hedgerows
- Projects requiring EcIA, BNG, protected species work or long-term support
- Phased, changing or technically complex proposals
Site area alone does not always determine complexity. A small site with several buildings, ponds or important habitats may need a bespoke scope, while a larger area of simple habitat may be relatively straightforward. We will confirm the correct route after reviewing your plans.
Which package do I need?
This guide shows the most likely starting point for smaller, straightforward projects. The final recommendation depends on the site, proposals and any advice already received from the local planning authority.
| Your project involves… | Usually recommended | Typical turnaround | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works to buildings only, including most houses, small commercial sites and modest building complexes | Bat Planning Package | 5–15 working days | £595 |
| Building-only works with a tight deadline or changing plans | Bat Planning Package Pro | 1–5 working days | £895 |
| Works to a small area of land only | Ecology Planning Package | 10–20 working days | £1,100 |
| Land-only works with an urgent deadline or evolving plans | Ecology Planning Package Pro | 2–10 working days | £1,500 |
| Works affecting houses, small commercial sites or modest building complexes and surrounding land | Ecology & Bat Survey Package | 10–20 working days | £1,350 |
| Building and land works requiring priority delivery or support with evolving plans | Ecology & Bat Survey Package Pro | 2–10 working days | £1,850 |
| Ecological appraisal plus Biodiversity Net Gain assessment | Ecology & BNG Package | Project dependent | £2,450 |
| Several buildings, several dwellings or a complex site | Bespoke larger-site quotation | Agreed in proposal | Individually priced |
Fixed-price packages for small & straightforward sites
These packages are intended for common planning projects where the likely survey scope can be reasonably predicted. Larger, unusually complex or geographically remote sites may require a bespoke quotation.
Bat Planning Packages
For planning proposals affecting an existing building, including extensions, conversions, roof works, demolition and redevelopment. Both packages include the same core Preliminary Roost Assessment and planning report; Pro provides faster delivery and more flexibility.
| Bat Planning Package | Bat Planning Package Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £595 | £895 |
| Typical turnaround | 5–15 working days | 1–5 working days |
| Preliminary Roost Assessment | Included | Included |
| Planning report | Included | Included |
| Report amendments | One included | Unlimited |
| Scheduling | Standard | Priority |
| Wildlife Opportunity Plan | — | Included |
| Best for | Standard bat survey jobs | Urgent projects or plans likely to change |
A Preliminary Roost Assessment may identify the need for seasonal bat activity surveys. These are not included in the initial package price and are explained in full below.
Ecology Planning Packages
For projects affecting land, habitats or vegetation where a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal is required, such as a garden plot, new dwelling, small commercial project or change of land use.
| Ecology Planning Package | Ecology Planning Package Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,100 | £1,500 |
| Typical turnaround | 10–20 working days | 2–10 working days |
| Preliminary Ecological Appraisal | Included | Included |
| Planning report | Included | Included |
| Report amendments | One included | Unlimited |
| Scheduling | Standard | Priority |
| Wildlife Opportunity Plan | — | Included |
| Best for | Standard land-based projects | Projects with tight planning deadlines |
Ecology & Bat Survey Packages
For projects affecting both an existing building and surrounding land. Combining the PEA and bat survey provides a joined-up assessment of the likely planning ecology requirements.
| Ecology & Bat Survey Package | Ecology & Bat Survey Package Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,350 | £1,850 |
| Preliminary Ecological Appraisal | Included | Included |
| Preliminary Roost Assessment | Included | Included |
| Planning report(s) | Included | Included |
| Report amendments | One included | Unlimited |
| Typical turnaround | 10–20 working days | 2–10 working days |
| Wildlife Opportunity Plan | — | Included |
| Best for | Small building-and-land projects | Urgent building-and-land projects |
Ecology & Biodiversity Net Gain Package
For eligible smaller projects requiring both a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and a Biodiversity Net Gain assessment.
- Preliminary Ecological Appraisal
- UKHab habitat survey
- Biodiversity Net Gain assessment
- Statutory biodiversity metric calculations
- Planning report
- One report amendment
Your Wildlife Opportunity Plan
Planning ecology should reveal opportunities as well as constraints. Pro clients receive a tailored Wildlife Opportunity Plan highlighting practical ways to make the site better for wildlife.
The plan turns the ecologist’s site knowledge into positive, site-specific ideas—even where the planning survey identifies no significant ecological constraint.
Your plan may identify:
- Suitable locations for bat and bird boxes
- Native planting, wildflower and habitat opportunities
- Ways to strengthen hedgerows and wildlife connections
- Simple improvements for hedgehogs, insects and other wildlife
- Lighting or design choices that could benefit wildlife
Recommendations are proportionate to the site and based on features visible during the commissioned survey.
What happens if your plans change?
Planning projects evolve, so our standard packages include one reasonable report amendment. This can cover changes to the design, development proposals or red-line boundary, provided the revised scheme remains within the original survey scope.
A new quotation may be required where changes substantially alter the development, add land or buildings, require another site visit, introduce new ecological impacts, or mean that additional surveys or assessments are needed. Fundamental changes of scope remain separately chargeable.
How much does a bat activity survey cost?
The cost of each visit is mainly determined by the number of surveyors needed to observe all relevant elevations, rooflines and potential bat access points at the same time. The diagrams below show typical coverage and the cost of one survey visit.
Single wall or elevation
Price for one survey visit.
Small square or rectangular building
Price for one survey visit.
Large square or rectangular building
Price for one survey visit.
L-shaped building
Price for one survey visit.
Two separate buildings
Price for one survey visit.
How many visits will be needed?
The Preliminary Roost Assessment classifies a structure as having negligible, low, moderate or high suitability for roosting bats. This informs the usual level of activity survey effort.
| Bat-roost suitability | Typical activity survey requirement |
|---|---|
| Negligible | No activity survey normally required |
| Low | Usually one survey visit |
| Moderate | Usually two survey visits |
| High | Usually three survey visits |
What if bats are found?
Where bats are recorded, enough information is needed to identify the species, roost type and likely number of bats. This will normally mean a minimum of two activity survey visits in total.
The timing or number of visits may change where an important roost, unusual building layout, restricted visibility or another survey constraint is identified.
Possible costs after planning permission
Where a bat roost will be affected, a bat mitigation licence will normally be required before works begin. Typical starting costs are shown below.
Additional mitigation, specialist access equipment, travel, complex licence requirements or multiple supervision visits may increase the final cost. A site-specific quotation will be provided before additional work is undertaken.
Protected species survey costs
Where the initial appraisal identifies a potential protected-species constraint, further seasonal surveys may be required. Typical prices for small, straightforward sites are shown below.
Small sites such as residential gardens or single fields£1,800
Small sites such as residential gardens or single fields£2,500
Prices exclude VAT. Larger sites, multiple habitat parcels, difficult access, extensive survey areas or additional reporting requirements may require a bespoke quotation. Species surveys are seasonally constrained, and we will explain the appropriate timing before work is commissioned.
Pricing for larger & more complex developments
Larger developments rarely require only one survey. The work may include habitat surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain, protected species surveys, Ecological Impact Assessment, mitigation design and support throughout the planning process.
Rather than applying a standard fee that may not reflect the work required, we review the site and proposals and provide a clear, itemised quotation. This allows the scope to be proportionate and helps you understand both immediate costs and likely future stages.
Common elements of a larger-site quotation
- Preliminary Ecological Appraisal
- Preliminary Roost Assessments
- Biodiversity Net Gain assessment
- Protected species surveys
- Ecological Impact Assessment
- Habitat Management & Monitoring Plan
- Construction Ecological Management Plan
- Protected species licensing
- Ecological Clerk of Works
- Planning and design-team support
Project examples
| Example project | Likely starting route | Additional considerations |
|---|---|---|
| House extension affecting the roof | Bat Planning Package | Activity surveys only if suitable bat features are identified |
| Barn conversion with no wider land works | Bat Planning Package | Activity surveys may follow the initial assessment |
| New dwelling on a simple garden plot | Ecology Planning Package | BNG requirements should also be checked |
| Replacement dwelling with demolition and garden works | Ecology & Bat Survey Package | May also require activity surveys and BNG |
| Several new homes or several buildings | Bespoke larger-site quotation | Likely to involve BNG and potentially protected species work |
| Commercial conversion with extensive land clearance | Bespoke larger-site quotation | Scope depends on buildings, habitats and development footprint |
Important questions
Are additional surveys included in the package price?
No. The initial package includes the specified survey and report. If further seasonal surveys, licensing, mitigation plans or specialist reports are required, we will explain why and provide a quotation before proceeding.
Are the fixed prices suitable for every small site?
Not necessarily. A physically small site can still be ecologically complex. We will confirm eligibility after reviewing the location, buildings, habitats and proposals.
What happens if my plans change?
Each package includes one reasonable report amendment within the original scope. Further amendments cost £100 each. If the revised scheme substantially changes the scope or creates a need for additional survey work, we will provide a separate quotation before proceeding.
Do the prices include VAT?
No. All prices published on this page exclude VAT, which will be added at the prevailing rate.