We are pleased to announce the establishment of a dedicated Ecology Service, marking a major step forward in protecting and enhancing the area’s natural environment. This new service will provide expert ecological guidance, strengthen biodiversity planning, and support the delivery of local Councils’ long‑term environmental commitments.
The Ecology Service has been created in response to growing national and local priorities around nature recovery, Biodiversity Net Gain, and sustainable development. It will ensure that ecological considerations are fully embedded in planning decisions, land management, and strategic policy.
A Comprehensive, Professional Ecology Function
The new service will deliver a full suite of ecological responsibilities, including:
- Reviewing planning applications—from small developments to major schemes requiring Environmental Impact Assessments—to ensure biodiversity, ecology, and nature conservation are properly considered.
- Advising on ecological surveys, method statements, planning conditions, and monitoring requirements, ensuring developments meet statutory and policy standards.
- Providing expert ecological advice to Council teams, developers, partner agencies, landowners, and the public.
- Supporting the delivery of the Council’s biodiversity strategies, nature recovery initiatives, and related environmental policies.
- Maintaining an up‑to‑date understanding of environmental legislation and government policy, ensuring the Council meets all statutory obligations.
- Contributing to strategic planning policy, including the development and review of Biodiversity Net Gain guidance and ecological evidence bases.
- Monitoring Local Sites and Local Nature Reserves, working closely with landowners, Parks & Open Spaces teams, and Local Nature Partnerships to promote effective habitat management.
By establishing this service, Growth Lancashire aims to ensure that ecological expertise is available at every stage of the planning and land‑management process. This will help safeguard wildlife habitats, support nature recovery networks, and ensure that development is sustainable and environmentally responsible.