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Badger Surveys in Nottinghamshire

Badger Surveys in Nottinghamshire

Developing in Nottinghamshire?

Don’t let badgers slow you down, our expert surveys give you compliant reports for smooth planning consent.

Fast, Clear, Planning-Ready Support

Fast response 

Calls answered in 2 rings, emails replied to within the hour.

Free expert advice

Clear guidance before you commit.

Cost-effective

Working in partnership with clients to ensure planning approval first time

Typical 10-day turnaround

Industry Leading Standard

Expert Team

We stay with you from first call through to submission. 

Do you need a badger survey in Nottinghamshire?

Nottinghamshire’s patchwork of hedged farmland, meadows, woodland belts, drainage ditches, and rural plot boundaries provides ideal habitats for badger setts and movement corridors.

A badger survey evaluates a site to determine whether badgers are present and how they may be affected by development. Ecologists look for setts, foraging signs, and movement patterns, sometimes using motion cameras or tracking methods, to understand distribution. The results help ensure that construction or land modifications avoid disturbing badgers and comply with planning regulations.

You may need a badger survey in Nottinghamshire if your project involves:

  • Excavation, trenching, or groundwork near hedgerows or woodland around Nottingham, Mansfield, or Worksop

  • Rural housing plots, barn conversions, or agricultural developments near Retford, Newark, or Eastwood

  • Clearance of scrub, earth banks, or embankments around Sutton-in-Ashfield or Bingham

  • Works along field margins, ditches, or rural trackways in the surrounding countryside

  • A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) highlighting badger activity or habitat potential

A postcode check will confirm the likelihood of a local planning authority (LPA) request.

We conduct badger surveys across Nottinghamshire, covering major towns and nearby villages including Nottingham, Mansfield, Newark, Worksop, Retford, Eastwood, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Bingham, Carlton, and Beeston.

Why planning officers in Nottinghamshire request badger surveys

Nottinghamshire planning authorities require badger survey evidence where setts or suitable habitat are present to ensure development complies with the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and national planning policy. Without early, proportionate surveys, applications are frequently delayed by validation queries, additional planning conditions, or seasonal restrictions, potentially stalling site programmes or even requiring redesign.

Local Case Insight

A small housing development near West Bridgford involved converting a mix of managed grassland and hedgerow-lined field edges into residential plots. Badger surveys identified a main sett along a mature hedgerow bordering the River Trent and several minor outlier setts within the field margins. Foraging signs were observed along the hedgerows and through adjacent gardens. Mitigation included phased vegetation clearance outside sett activity periods, protective fencing around active setts, and retention of green corridors to maintain foraging connectivity. Post-construction monitoring confirmed that badgers continued using existing routes without disturbance.

How badger assessments work

Our specialist ecology team carries out a Badger Survey to identify setts, activity, and potential risk. You receive a clear, LPA-ready report detailing any required mitigation and timing measures, helping your project stay on schedule and compliant.

Key Deliverables for Nottinghamshire projects:

We provide clear, planner-ready evidence and practical steps your team can act on, including:

  • Full badger sett surveys

  • Activity and territory mapping

  • Inspections of hedgerows, earth banks, and woodland edges

  • Practical mitigation options

  • LPA-ready reporting

  • Licensing guidance if required

  • Actionable next steps for design teams and contractors

We provide realistic advice, not unnecessary escalations.

Step 1

Schedule

Send your site details and programme. We confirm the correct level of survey.

Step 2

Fieldwork

Walkovers, sett assess-ments, camera deployment and activity checks.

Step 3

Reporting

Planning-ready reports with impact assessment, mitigation options and timelines for site teams.

Step 4

Integration with other Surveys

Only if needed. PEA, EIA, and Protected Species surveys.

Next Steps

Need a badger survey in Nottinghamshire? Let’s confirm your site’s requirements and keep your project on track. 

FAQ - Badger Surveys in Nottinghamshire

Do I need a badger survey for a development in Nottinghamshire?

You may need a badger survey if your project involves excavation, trenching, or land clearance near hedgerows, woodland, or field margins in Nottinghamshire. This includes housing developments, barn conversions, or infrastructure works in areas such as Nottingham, Mansfield, Worksop, or Newark. Early surveys help identify any badger activity and guide planning compliance.

A badger survey assesses whether badgers are present on or near your site. Ecologists look for setts, foraging signs, and movement patterns, sometimes using motion cameras or footprint tracking. The survey results indicate if mitigation is required and whether a licence from Natural England might be necessary.

Surveys usually take several site visits across a few weeks to accurately map activity patterns and sett locations. Seasonal factors, such as badger breeding or hibernation periods, may also affect timing, so early planning is recommended.

Will a badger survey delay my planning application?

When conducted promptly and with clear reporting, badger surveys rarely cause delays. In Nottinghamshire, thorough survey results and mitigation recommendations allow local planning authorities, such as Nottingham City Council or Mansfield District Council, to validate submissions efficiently.

Mitigation depends on sett locations and badger activity. Common approaches include buffer zones around setts, careful scheduling of earthworks, temporary fencing along runs, and contractor guidance to minimise disturbance. These measures allow development to proceed responsibly without harming badgers.

We conduct badger surveys across Nottinghamshire, including urban fringes and rural areas around Nottingham, Mansfield, Worksop, Newark, Retford, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Bingham, Eastwood, Carlton, and surrounding villages. Our local knowledge ensures surveys are site-specific and aligned with planning requirements.

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