Solutions for the real world Ecological Consultancy Services
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND
Professional Ecological Advice URS has a long history of providing objective and specialist advice on a variety of ecological matters. With over seventy ecological consultants in the UK, our skills cover the full range of ecological disciplines, encompassing freshwater, marine and terrestrial habitats and species.
Driven by an extensive policy and legislative framework and with increasing awareness of the role of biodiversity in natural capital and ecosystem services, it is an essential aspect of business planning and sustainability at strategic and project levels. URS offers a fully integrated approach to ecological assessment that provides clients with a comprehensive suite of services that span the life of a project from pre-acquisition to operation. Our clients are assured a dedicated service offering independent advice and project support from a team with a proven track record of securing proposals where ecological features appear to create significant barriers. URS operates to the highest standards, providing balanced and innovative solutions to deliver programmes and projects on time and to budget.
SERVICES •• Due diligence, ecological risk and liabilities •• Ecological impact assessment •• Ecological Management Plans •• Code for sustainable homes, BREEAM & DREAM •• Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) •• Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments •• Ecological clerk of works •• Protected species surveys, management and licensing •• Biodiversity off-setting •• Ecosystem services
Our team of ecological consultants are members of the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and include Chartered Ecologists and Chartered Environmentalists. Our clients are assured of a high level of competency and quality of service.
•• Invasive and non-native species •• Ecological monitoring programmes •• Habitat management and restoration •• Expert witness •• Training
THE SERVICE IS EXCELLENT Low Level Waste Repository Ltd
•• Research and policy development •• Stakeholder relations management
SECTORS URS draws on global resources and applies local ecological expertise, supporting the operational and strategic goals of clients across a range of markets.
INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL Robust management of ecological risks and liabilities through due-diligence, planning and permitting, site operation, decommissioning and restoration for mining, manufacturing, commercial and residential property development.
POWER Pragmatic ecological solutions supporting development of nuclear, thermal and renewable (wind, solar, tidal, biomass) power generation, transmission and distribution projects.
SELECTED EXPERIENCE High Speed Two (HS2) URS developed ecological methods and standards to assess ecological impacts, Water Framework Directive compliance, and climate change adaptation. URS devised a bespoke approach to calculating biodiversity losses and gains, identifying offset requirements to deliver greater value and better conservation outcomes, in consultation with Natural England and Defra.
Natural Resources Wales lake surveys URS accredited macrophyte experts developed a bespoke approach to surveys of atypical lake conditions and surveyed ten lakes in Wales to successfully support the NRW review of status and comply with Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) requirements.
Renewable and Alternative Energy
GOVERNMENT AND AGENCIES Expert technical support to international agencies, national and local government bodies in policy development, regulation & development control, conservation, land & property development, and technical research.
INFRASTRUCTURE Integrated and efficient biodiversity design, management, mitigation and enhancement across the full life-cycle of infrastructure projects including rail, highways, ports and harbours, airports, and utilities.
OIL & GAS Comprehensive ecological expertise covering terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments in conventional and unconventional oil and gas. Ecological assessment management and design for exploration, production, transport, processing and decommissioning phases.
URS supports the planning, development and construction of renewable and alternative energy projects across the UK, Ireland and internationally, including biomass, energy from waste, over 50 wind-farms, tidal power and solar generation. Our experience includes Swansea Bay and Mersey estuary tidal power schemes and one of Europe’s largest solar PV farms.
Thames Tideway Tunnel Project and habitat complexities required URS to develop a bespoke approach and obtain approval from the Environment Agency to balance ecological losses (offsets) and gains in fisheries and aquatic habitats for Thames Water’s £1.6 billion 16km sewer tunnel.
Gabon free trade zone URS produced a high quality assessment and offset strategy to international standards, enabling development of a new free trade zone and deep water port in West Africa, whilst avoiding harm to terrestrial, coastal and marine environments, including humpback whale.
York Street Interchange, Belfast URS was commissioned by the Roads Service to provide a full suite of environmental assessment including terrestrial & aquatic ecology for the busiest junction in Northern Ireland. The scheme is registered with CEEQUAL for a Whole Project Award.
THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR ALL THEIR GOOD WORK TO DATE Thames Water
CONTACT England and Wales Ryan Mellor Technical Director, Ecology Tel: +44 (0)115 907 7018 ryan.mellor@urs.com
Ireland Dr Paul Lynas Senior Ecologist Tel: +44 (0)2890 706502 paul.lynas@urs.com
Scotland Keith Ross Principal Ecologist Tel: +44 (0)131 7185162 keith.ross@urs.com
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies worldwide. We offer a full range of programme management; planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; information technology; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; and decommissioning and closure services for federal, oil and gas, infrastructure, power and industrial projects. Š 2014 URS Corporation
URS CORPORATION 6 – 8 Greencoat Place London SW1P 1PL United Kingdom www.urs.com
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