Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)

The presence of an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) is increasingly a condition to many planning consents. Their primary aim is to facilitate development, ensuring that site based construction activities are delivered on time by acting as independent compliance monitors. Working with site personnel EMEC Ecology ensure works comply with relevant planning consent commitments, any ecological constraints placed by the principal contractor and wildlife laws.

EMEC Ecology provides ECoWs with excellent experience of both the construction industry and of current wildlife legislation. Staff hold valid CSCS cards and are familiar with working on construction sites. We undertake:

• Toolbox talks and meetings to relay any relevant ecological information required by those working on site.
• Identification of and advice on construction site constraints, both in the pre-construction and construction phases of works for protected species.
• Watching briefs during the construction phase of a development – these include building demolition works, renovation or watching briefs during initial vegetation clearance.
• Monitoring of habitat creation, translocation or enhancement work for both flora and fauna.
• Overseeing of the implementation of European Protected Species licences.

Examples of recent Ecological Clerk of Works projects undertaken by EMEC Ecology include:

• ECoW in Derby to ensure water vole habitat was not impacted by vegetation clearance.
• Safeguarding of amphibians in Nottinghamshire. The ECoW ensured the removal of over four hundred toads during the early stages of site preparation prior to construction activity.
• Supervision of all aspects of development, as a condition of planning, for a large development in Leicestershire. The ECoW remit included supervision of pond and tree removal to minimise the impact these actions had on wildlife.