ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY & ORNITHOLOGY

CAPABILITY STATEMENT

ABOUT US Atmos Consulting is an environmental consultancy.

Our diverse and experienced team provides expert

technical, ecological and planning support to

utilities, developers, industry, communities and the

public sector throughout the entire project life-cycle,

from feasibility to implementation.

We are recognised for the quality of our work, our

pro-activity and the valuable support we provide to

clients.

OUR SERVICE AREAS:

Renewable energy

Sustainable Development

Biodiversity

Property and Construction

Marine and Coastal

Water resources

Environmental Management

OUR SPECIALISMS:

Environmental Impact Assessment

Town Planning

Ecology and Ornithology

GIS mapping and analysis

Noise and Acoustics

Hydrology

Project Management

OUR ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY & ORNITHOLOGY SERVICES OVERVIEW

We offer specialist high-level environmental

consultancy, support and advice to a broad client

base, including energy companies, wind farm

developers, utility companies and property

developers. Our projects include: biomass, carbon

capture and storage technology power stations; on

and off-shore wind farm developments and post-

construction monitoring; residential, industrial and

mixed-use developments; BREEAM assessments and

technical support to developers.

Operating across the UK, our team has an in-depth

knowledge of relevant planning controls and

regulation/legislation, as well as third party

stakeholder concerns.

We have the professional and technical skills and

expertise to balance development proposals and

wildlife interests in order to develop a mutually

beneficial and pragmatic outcome. Being part of a

multidisciplinary consultancy enables us to integrate

ecological considerations more effectively into the

overall design process.

SERVICES

Ornithology

We have a team of in-house Ornithologists, backed up by

our GIS and ISO 9001 accredited procedures. We have

been involved in undertaking pre-construction

ornithological assessments and post construction

monitoring on over 30 wind farm developments across the

UK including Millennium, Ben Aketil, Earlsburn, Nigg,

Dunbeath, Boyndie and Cushnie. The scale of projects

varies from single community turbines in the Western

Isles to 66MW schemes such as Dunbeath wind farm.

Many of the schemes on which we have worked are

located in areas of high ornithological sensitivity requiring

an Appropriate Assessment as part of the EIA process. We

are experienced in a wide variety of ornithological survey

methods as required for wind farm developments such as

vantage point and breeding bird surveys.

We routinely undertake collision risk modelling and further

analyse flightline data for spatial usage and activity

patterns. To date, we have prepared in excess of 30

Ornithological chapters for onshore wind farms.

Atmos Consulting has been involved, on a

confidential basis, in three off-shore feasibility and site

search studies on behalf of major European utilities

companies, and has identified the general Zone 6

area as being one of high potential for Round 3

developments prior to the announcement of the

zones by the Crown Estate.

Habitat Assessment and Management

Our team provides clients with a variety of bespoke

surveys, including:

Extended Phase 1 and National Vegetation Classification Phase 2 habitat surveys

Vascular plant and bryophyte surveys

Non-native species survey, such as Japanese knotweed

Tree surveys, in accordance with the British Standard for Trees, in relation to Construction BS:5387 2005,

Surveys for aquatic species, such as great crested newts and water voles

Peat depth surveys

Biological and chemical water quality analysis using a combination of hand held multi-parameter probes and fixed remote telemetry probes

Freshwater, marine and terrestrial invertebrate surveys and monitoring

Fisheries habitat assessment and fish surveys

River Corridor and accredited River Habitat Surveys

We have consulted on a number of Biodiversity Audits,

often on Brownfield sites or old mineral excavations.

These audits form the basis for habitat management

plans or local, site specific Biodiversity Action Plans.

Protected Species

A large amount of our work involves protected

species, as they are often material in planning terms.

This ranges from surveys, analysis and assessments to

licensing and mitigation. Examples include: bats,

reptiles and amphibians, water voles and otters,

dormice, red squirrels, badgers, breeding and

wintering birds and freshwater invertebrates, such as

the freshwater pearl mussel and white-clawed

crayfish.

Renewable Energy

Our involvement in a wide range of renewable energy projects

presents the opportunity for skills enhancement in very specific and

technical areas. We are experienced in carrying out vantage point

and flightline surveys for birds in relation to wind farms, and

analysing the data for collision risk modelling. We have a team of

marine biologists who are experienced in the ecological issues

surrounding off-shore energy generation.

Planning and Development

We are experienced in all aspects of ecological

planning and development, from initial project

conception to construction and consequent

monitoring, including:

Scoping and feasibility:

We can carry out desk and field-based surveys to identify any

potential issues and constraints for development sites and

highlight options to overcome these.

Ecological and Hydrological Impact Assessments:

Our team is experienced in carrying out assessments for inclusion in

Environmental Statements to accompany Planning Applications.

We can also offer legal and planning advice, and respond to

planning conditions and Section 106 agreements.

Mitigation and licensing:

We offer a wealth of experience in devising and

implementing specialist mitigation schemes to protect or

compensate for habitat loss as a result of development

projects in line with best practice. Our services include: long-

term monitoring schemes, species translocation, habitat

creation and Ecological Clerk of Works. We endeavour to

provide a comprehensive approach which ensures species

protection in the context of development size and remit.

Public Inquiry:

We have provided a number of expert witness services at

Public Inquiries on behalf of clients. To date our involvement

has been to provide information as independent experts

which is testament to our thorough approach.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROJECT DELIVERY By working as part of an integrated team, we use our

skills and understanding of often complex and

interrelated environmental, technical and regulatory

issues to determine the best solution for your project.

We structure a bespoke team of specialists around

your requirements and the opportunities of your

project.

We can lead your project from conception to

detailed design and implementation.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US

Whatever stage you are at with your project, we will

support you by:

Identifying opportunities and constraints

Progressing and guiding the planning and design process

Continually reviewing decision making to maximise benefits and minimise costs

Leading on technical and regulatory issues

Managing and ensuring environmental standards

Engaging local communities

Creating sustainable solutions which are flexible for now and the future

Communicating ideas, results and progress in understandable and usable formats

ACCESS TO THE BEST TEAM You can choose a fully project managed

consultancy package including all technical, project

management, planning and consultations; and

stakeholder engagement. Alternatively, you can

select any individual consultancy element from our

multiple service offerings to seamlessly feed into your

project.

Whichever you choose, you always get our best

team and our best advice.

OVERVIEW OF ATMOS SERVICE AREAS

Ecological Survey and Assessment

Ornithological survey and assessment

Protected species and habitat surveys

Estuarine ecology

Aquatic ecology survey and assessment

Ecological site appraisal

Botanical survey and analysis

Invasive non-native species appraisal

Input to green roof design

Hydrological Assessment and Design

Hydrological Assessment and Analysis

Flood Risk and Mitigation

Runoff control and drainage management

River and Watercourse Hydraulics

SUDS

Water quality surveys and assessment

Geo-Environmental Risk Assessment

Pre Purchase Due Diligence

Phase 1 contaminated land risk assessment

Phase 2 contaminated land risk assessment

Site Activities Review

Pollution control

Remediation and Validation

Noise Assessment and Monitoring

Noise monitoring and analysis

Noise modelling and prediction

Compliance with PPC and IPPC conditions

Environmental noise management

Specification of noise abatement

BREEAM assessment

Noise Assessment and Analysis

Ecological assessment

Landscape and Visual Impact

Photomontage production

Visual Impact Assessment

Regulatory liaison

GIS and Graphic Production

Data management and analyses

Visualisation

Planning and Consent

We support clients, from consultation with the

relevant agencies and face-to-face meetings with

local planners, to the presentation of the case for the

development at planning committee.

Services offered, include:

Masterplanning

Multidisciplinary Project Delivery

Planning assessment

Site investigation and remediation

Constraints and abnormals assessment

Compliance with environmental legislation and policy

Appeals

Services offered, include:

Due Diligence

Expert witness

Atmos Consulting Ltd

Rosebery House

9 Haymarket Terrace

Edinburgh

EH12 5EZ

t. 0131 346 9100

Moray House

16-18 Bank Street

Inverness

IV1 1QY

t. 01463 724 500

Linden House, Unit 4

Mold Business Park

Wrexham Road, Mold

CH7 1XP

t. 01352 744 512

Keystone Innovation Centre

Croxton Road

Thetford,

Norfolk

IP24 1JD

t. 01842 768 350

Durham Dales Centre

Castle Gardens

Stanhope

Co. Durham

DL13 2FJ

t. 01388 528 884

www.atmosconsulting.com