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
Industry Leading Standard
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.
Not always — often a basic nesting‑bird check is sufficient unless there is high‑value habitat or known presence of protected species. A full breeding bird survey (BBS) is only needed if indicated by habitat or LPA request.
For planning checks and guidance:
Manchester City Council Planning: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/planning
Salford City Council Planning: https://www.salford.gov.uk/planning/
Stockport Council Planning: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/topic/planning
Trafford Council Planning: https://www.trafford.gov.uk/planning
Bolton Council Planning: https://www.bolton.gov.uk/planning
Bury Council Planning: https://www.bury.gov.uk/planning
Rochdale Council Planning: https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/planning
Wigan Council Planning https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Planning
We advise safe working distances and phased works until fledging.
Even urban sites may contain suitable nesting habitat; if any vegetation or structures could be used, it should be checked.
Only if they are identified too late. Early checks prevent seasonal constraints.
