Bulletin of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Issue 75 | March 2012 Planning Reform and Biodiversity In this issue A Cunning Plan… EcIAs: The Spirit Versus Using BREEAM Assessments or a Plan too Far? the Letter of the Law? to Deliver Benefits for Urban Wildlife Welcome Information In Practice No. 75, March 2012 From your CEO ISSN 1754-4882 Editor Bob Dylan is quoted as once saying “There is nothing so stable as change.” Mr Jason Reeves ([email protected]) Whilst I may argue the semantics over the use of the word ‘stable’ in this Editorial Board context, the point he was making is a good one. Change is permanently around Mr Jonathan Barnes, Mr Matthew Chatfield, us, affecting our work, influencing our behaviour, changing our attitudes and Dr Andrew Cherrill, Mr Dominic Coath, perceptions. We live in a fast-changing world and it often seems that we are in Ms Sally Hayns, Dr William Latimer, a period of constant uncertainty. Sometimes that can be overwhelming but it Mrs Allison Potts, Mr Paul Rooney, can also signify good things and great opportunities. Mr Paul Scott, Miss Katrena Stanhope, The Institute is changing. Some of those changes are very obvious – the new Miss Emma Toovey, Mr Darren Towers look of In Practice for example. The same style of content but a new, fresher and Opinions expressed by contributors more modern look that some of you will like and some of you will not, because to In Practice are those of the authors design is subjective. We would like to hear your feedback regardless. This April and not necessarily supported by the we should have a new website as well, with a similarly fresher look, better Institute. Readers should seek appropriate navigation and more interactive functionality. The intention is professional guidance relevant to their to provide you, the members, with a better service and information resource individual circumstances before following whilst also demonstrating to our external audiences the vibrancy and scope any advice provided herein. of our profession. Information on advertising, including But some important changes are less obvious. Over the past 12 months rates and deadlines, can be found at various member-led working groups have been looking at several strategic www.ieem.net. The Institute does not and operational areas of our work. These include the Institute’s governance accept responsibility for advertising arrangements, how we implement the Disciplinary Process, the criteria for each content or policy of advertisers, nor does membership grade and how we assess those criteria. Important considerations the placement of advertisements within for the future growth and direction of IEEM. Of course, one of the biggest In Practice imply support for companies, changes may well come later this year if our application for a Royal Charter is individuals or their products or services successful and we become the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental advertised herein. Management with all the responsibility and opportunity entails. IEEM Office The operating environment for our profession is also changing quite significantly. 43 Southgate Street, Winchester, Reform of the planning system is a topical issue with the new National Hampshire, SO23 9EH, UK Planning Policy Framework emerging for England, a major review underway of the planning system in Wales, evidence gathering taking place for National T: 01962 868626 Planning Policy Framework 3 in Scotland and a recent new Planning Act for Northern Ireland. Planning reform presents both opportunities and challenges E: [email protected] for biodiversity (hence the theme for our Spring Conference later this month W: www.ieem.net and for this issue of In Practice) and will impact on our work whether it be for an NGO, a local authority, as a private sector consultant, in a statutory agency, In Practice is printed on paper using 100% or in teaching and research. The current review of the implementation of the post consumer de-inked waste. This is European Habitats and Wild Birds Directives in England is another example of manufactured by an ISO14001, EMAS and a potential change to how we do our work. Nordic Swan accredited company. © Institute of Ecology and I believe that it is right and proper that IEEM engages and seeks to influence Environmental Management the operating environment for the profession in order to achieve positive change. We have a wealth of experience and expertise to draw on from members working across all sectors. Our challenge is to find ways of harnessing and utilising your knowledge and ideas to maximise our impact. The opportunities are there if we can only grasp them. Sally Hayns MIEEM Chief Executive Officer, IEEM 2 Contents The Biodiversity Planning A Cunning Plan... or a Plan Toolkit too Far? Andrew Williams, Mike Oxford, PG 7 PG 24 Richard Wilson, Penny Simpson Ann Skinner EcIAs: The Spirit Versus the Letter of the Law? All that Glitters, is it Gold? Katherine Drayson, PG 12 PG 26 Richard Wilson Stewart Thomspon Using BREEAM Assessments Designing a System to Secure to Deliver Benefits for Urban Ecological Sustainability Wildlife PG 2115 PG 2130 Roger Morris David Smith, John Day Exposing, Exploring and Navigating the Built and Backlash Against Bats? Natural Environment Johnny Birks, Lisa Kerslake, Richard PG 20 PG 36 Alister Scott Crompton, Lisa Hundt 02 Editorial 30 - Using BREEAM Assessments to Deliver Benefits for Urban Wildlife 03 Contents and Information David Smith, John Day 04 News in Brief 36 - Backlash Against Bats? Feature Articles Johnny Birks, Lisa Kerslake, 07 - A Cunning Plan... or a Plan too Far? Richard Crompton, Lisa Hundt Richard Wilson, Penny Simpson 40 - Ecology Legal Update 12 - All that Glitters, is it Gold? Penny Simpson Richard Wilson 44 Institute News 15 - Designing a System to Secure 46 Institute Activities Ecological Sustainability 49 New and Prospective Members Roger Morris 50 Internal Articles 20 - Exposing, Exploring and Navigating - Applying for Fellowship the Built and Natural Environment 53 Recent Publications & Journals Divide in Public Policy and Planning Alister Scott 58 Tauro-Scatology 24 - The Biodiversity Planning Toolkit 59 Diary Andrew Williams, Mike Oxford, Ann Skinner 26 - ECIAs: The Spirit Versus the Letter of the Law? Katherine Drayson, Stewart Thompson 3 News in Brief Wales Coast Path to open in 2012 May 2012 is scheduled to see the opening of the 870 miles of the Wales Coast Path. The path will provide a continuous walking route around the whole of Wales – from the outskirts of Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south. It will be as near to the coast as legally and physically practicable, whilst fully taking into account the needs of health and Strangford Lough safety, land management and conservation. Photo by Brian Hopkins Assembly agrees tougher stance on Strangford Lough Environmental internships The Northern Ireland Assembly has supported report published new measures for better protection of Strangford The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) Lough. Measures to protect, monitor and restore has recently published a report on the role of the biogenic reefs were agreed following a debate internships in the environmental sector. Internships sponsored by the Environment Committee. The are becoming a prominent way for graduates to agreement came on the eve of an important EU first gain experience in the environmental sector, meeting to discuss the plight of Strangford Lough either as a means of securing employment or to as there is the potential that infraction action in strengthen applications for other organisations. the form of significant fines for Northern Ireland As internships have not been a common stepping could occur. The Assembly has agreed that, stone between university and employment until following consultation, it will create two additional recent years, there is much uncertainty from sea fisheries exclusion zones, introduce by laws graduates and employers alike regarding what to regulate mooring, anchoring and diving, and graduates should expect and what employers undertake further scientific research to examine should provide. The report uncovers the vital ways of restoring the biogenic reefs. statistics such as the average duration of an internship and how usual it is for internships to be paid or unpaid and whether expenses are covered. The report explores what benefits graduates and www.wildstock.co.uk employers gain from internships and employers’ attitudes towards graduates’ skills. Key findings Badger control pilot locations suggest internships provide valuable experience, in England announced but do not necessarily lead directly to employment. Read the full report at http://www.ies-uk.org.uk/ Following the announcement that two locations resources/papers/graduate_employment_and in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset _internships_report.pdf. have been selected to pilot the Government’s badger control policy, Natural England will now begin working with licence applicants in both New POSTnotes areas to advise on the next steps of the applications process. The Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology has recently published two new Natural England has emphasised its commitment to POSTnotes that may be of interest to members. delivering a licensing service of the highest quality, providing expert help and advice to applicants; The first is on Natural Flood Management www.wildstock.co.uk (no. 396) and the second is on Open Access and ensuring that licences are assessed securely, to Scientific