Baker Consultants Ltd

Susan writes: The Matlock Moor wind farm site is interesting to us not only because the site is only a few miles from our office but also because renewable energy is a key business area for Baker Consultants. What the inspectors report reveals serves as a warning to developers who might not see the value of often time-consuming and detailed survey. more

Updated guidance on bird surveys for proposed wind farm sites in England has been long awaited, currently ecologists are using methods set out by Scottish Natural Heritage which often do not suit English conditions. This new guidance however presents us with a new set of problems without providing much in the way of a route map for ecologists, developers or planners. more

This week Natural England released guidance to developers and ecologists describing the survey methods and effort which will be recommended when considering the potential impacts of wind farms on bird populations. Baker Consultants' team of ornithologists has put together a response to this document. If you would like to get involved in the discussion, please feel free to post a comment here or read the full document. more

Natural England Technical Information Note TIN069 - Assessing the effects of onshore wind farms on birds. What will this mean for developers? more