Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA)
What is a PEA?
You may be asked by your planning authority to assess the ecological or biodiversity value of your site. The first stage of this process will usually involve a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA). A PEA is made up of three main elements – a desk study, a habitat survey and a written assessment.
A PEA is likely to be requested to identify specific ecological issues in and around the development site, such as:​
The likely presence of protected species
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The likely presence of invasive non-native species (INNS)
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Any other ecological constraints
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Any further ecological surveys and/or assessments that are likely to be required as part of the planning application process
What to Expect from a PEA?
A PEA survey will assess the ecological value of a site and reveal any ecological considerations that need to be taken into account, both on-site and for the surrounding area. If any constraints to your project are identified, mitigation works can be designed by Pioneer Environment to allow the development to proceed where possible.
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A desk study is usually the first part of the PEA process. This includes biological records data, which is obtained from the local records centre. The results from this research will identify protected or important habitats and plant and animal species within the local area of the site being surveyed, past and present.
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In addition to desk research, we will carry out an on-site inspection to assess the habitats present and their potential to support protected species, and record any evidence of protected species found. Best practice is always to undertake your PEA survey as early in the development process as possible and optimally in spring or summer. If the potential for protected or Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) species exists on the site, further surveys may be required. Depending on the species, these surveys may have to be delayed until their optimal survey season.
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Take a look at our survey calendar for more information.
Depending on the scope of your project, the PEA may also include a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) feasibility assessment. The PEA may also support a more detailed Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA).
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For more information on what to expect for a PEA, download our fact sheet.
Pioneers Approach
We pride ourselves in working closely with our clients and tailor our approach to suit your needs. We work hard to produce thorough but easy to read reports.
Every Preliminary Ecological Assessment report we produce will include the following elements:
Thorough list of ecological constraints including:
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Protected species present
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Potential to support protected species
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Invasive non-native species present
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Full description and detailed map of on-site habitats
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Full species list
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​Ecological mitigation recommendations (if applicable at this stage)
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Recommendations for ecological enhancement
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Recommendations for any further surveys
Make sure you’re fully informed about the ecological impact your development is going to have to local flora, fauna and wildlife.
Your next steps depend on the findings of your PEA. If there is enough evidence to suggest protected species or other ecological constraints are present, further surveys will be required. These surveys will inform an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) report, see our FAQ section for more information on EcIAs.
In some scenarios, additional surveys will not be needed to allow an EcIA to be undertaken; this is particularly the case for sites where it is unlikely that protected or priority habitats or species are present, or where they are unlikely to be affected by the project.
Confused? Don’t worry, just get in touch with one of our experts today to chat about your needs!