We provide bird surveys across Greater Manchester, covering key areas including Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Wigan.
Do I need a bird survey for my development in Greater Manchester?
If your planning application could affect birds or their habitats, a professional survey is essential — we provide fully compliant reports to secure your consent.
Calls answered in 2 rings, emails replied to within the hour.
Clear guidance before you commit.
Working in partnership with clients to ensure planning approval first time
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We stay with you from first call through to submission.
Greater Manchester’s landscape, from urban green spaces and canal corridors to parks, woodland patches and post-industrial land, supports a wide range of nesting and breeding birds.
A bird survey is a check of an area to see what birds live there or visit. Experts watch, listen, and record birds over time to understand which species are present and if they could be affected by a development. The results help make sure building or land changes don’t harm wildlife and meet planning rules
Planning teams in Greater Manchester often require bird evidence when vegetation or structures may be impacted.
You may need a bird survey if your project involves:
removal of hedgerows or trees in Trafford and Salford
vegetation management between March–August around Manchester city centre and Stockport
work on barns, older structures, or bridges that may host nesting birds across Bolton and Bury
restoration or conversion of historic buildings near Wigan and Rochdale
brownfield and industrial site redevelopment or solar schemes surrounding Oldham and Tameside
A quick postcode check confirms whether your LPA expects bird evidence.
We provide bird surveys across Greater Manchester, covering key areas including Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Wigan.
Our specialist ecology team carries out a Bird Survey to assess nesting activity and confirm any risks. You receive a clear, LPA-ready report outlining practical mitigation and timing measures, helping your project remain compliant and progress without delay.
We provide a clear, proportionate, practical approach which includes:
Nesting bird checks in vegetation & buildings
Breeding bird surveys (BBS) where necessary
Barn owl site assessments
Practical timing and mitigation measures
Concise reporting in line with LPA standards
Guidance for phased vegetation clearance
Clear next steps for contractors and design teams
We help you plan works, in Greater Manchester, safely around the breeding season.
Send your site details and programme. We confirm the correct level of survey.
Walkovers, habitat assessments, observations and activity checks.
Planning-ready reports with impact assessment, mitigation options and timelines for site teams.
Only if needed. PEA, EIA, and Protected Species surveys
Need a bird survey in Greater Manchester? Let’s confirm your site’s requirements and keep your project on track.
They can be, especially where proposals affect buildings, trees, scrub, parks, canals, rivers, railway corridors or established landscaping. Greater Manchester contains many urban and semi urban habitats that can support nesting birds, so ecological checks may be required before planning approval or site works.
Potentially. Birds can nest on ledges, roof spaces, derelict structures, bridges and commercial buildings. Where redevelopment, demolition or refurbishment could disturb nesting birds, a survey helps identify constraints before works begin.
Yes. Brownfield sites across Greater Manchester can support nesting birds where rough grassland, scrub, open ground or disused structures have developed over time. A survey helps determine whether breeding birds are present and whether mitigation is needed.
They may be. The region’s canals, rivers and waterside vegetation provide nesting and foraging habitat for many bird species. Developments close to these areas may require ecological assessment to understand potential impacts.
The survey report will explain which species were recorded and whether the proposed works could affect them. If needed, ProHort will recommend practical measures such as timing works outside the nesting season, protecting active nests or adding habitat enhancements.
Yes. Providing a bird survey report with your planning application can help show that ecological matters have been properly assessed. This can reduce the risk of the Local Planning Authority requesting further information after submission.
Yes. ProHort prepares bird survey reports using recognised ecological methods for submission to planning authorities across Greater Manchester. Local planning information is available through Manchester City Council here:
https://www.manchester.gov.uk/planning
They can do. Flat roofs, parapets, plant areas and roof voids may be used by nesting birds, particularly on commercial and industrial buildings. A survey can identify whether works need to be timed or managed to avoid legal risk.
Breeding bird surveys are generally most relevant between March and July, but an initial ecological assessment can be completed at other times of year. This helps identify whether a seasonal survey will be needed before planning determination or construction.
ProHort provides professional bird surveys across Greater Manchester for developers, architects, homeowners, commercial property owners and planning consultants. Our ecologists deliver clear, planning ready reports with practical recommendations that help projects progress while protecting nesting birds and meeting planning requirements.
