Ecology Leadership for A47 Dualling Schemes

Between 2016 and 2018, under a prior employer, our team used our ecological expertise for Highways England’s A47 Dualling Schemes in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. These major road improvement projects aimed to enhance transport infrastructure while ensuring environmental compliance and biodiversity conservation.

Scope of Work

Current Ecology Consulting staff was appointed as the ecology technical lead for four major road improvement schemes along the A47. The team was responsible for a wide range of ecological assessments and mitigation planning to support the project’s development and compliance with national infrastructure requirements.

Key Responsibilities & Achievements

• Ecological Surveys - Conducted detailed assessments of various structures for bat presence, including historic churches, bridges, ice houses, and mature trees.
• Protected Species & Habitat Surveys - Planned, scoped, and designed comprehensive surveys to assess and mitigate impacts on protected species and habitats.
• Project & Team Management - Led a team of subcontractors to conduct ecological surveys, ensuring efficiency, adherence to best practices, and project timelines.
• Technical Compliance - Managed and reviewed all technical deliverables to align with transport guidance for nationally significant infrastructure projects.
• Stakeholder Coordination - Worked closely with project stakeholders to integrate ecological considerations into the overall scheme, ensuring regulatory compliance and environmental protection.

Outcome

The ecological work conducted by Ecology Consulting staff played a vital role in supporting the successful planning and development of the A47 Dualling Schemes. By ensuring that protected species and habitats were thoroughly assessed and accounted for, the project met regulatory requirements while minimising environmental impact. The expertise provided helped facilitate sustainable infrastructure development in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.