We provide invertebrate assessments across Lancashire, covering Lancaster, Blackpool, Preston, Burnley, Clitheroe, Morecambe, and surrounding areas.
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Looking for expert invertebrate surveys and habitat assessments in Lancashire?
We provide targeted surveys for priority species and habitats, ensuring our reports enable you to achieve planning permission.
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.Â
Lancashire’s landscape—including peat bogs, lowland pastures, woodlands, river valleys, and former industrial sites—supports a wide variety of invertebrate species.
An invertebrate survey assesses species presence and conservation importance, informing planning and regulatory compliance.
You may need an invertebrate survey in Lancashire if your project involves:
Loss of wet grassland or peat bogs in Lancaster
Impact on brownfield sites, former mining areas, or mosaic habitats in Blackpool
Drainage alterations, ditch works, or wetland disturbance in Preston
Activities near ponds, streams, or wetland margins in Burnley
Removal of woodland, scrub, or hedgerows in Clitheroe
Sites flagged in a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) as having potential for notable invertebrates in Morecambe
A simple postcode check can help confirm what your local planning authority typically requires.
We provide invertebrate assessments across Lancashire, covering Lancaster, Blackpool, Preston, Burnley, Clitheroe, Morecambe, and surrounding areas.
In Lancashire, planning authorities may require invertebrate survey evidence where suitable habitat is present to ensure development complies with the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and national planning policy. Without early, proportionate survey work, planning applications can be delayed due to validation queries, additional conditions, or seasonal restrictions linked to key invertebrate activity periods. These delays can disrupt project programmes and may result in avoidable redesign, highlighting the importance of early, targeted invertebrate assessments.
Our specialist ecology team carries out an invertebrate surveys to assess species presence, habitat use, and any potential risks. You receive a clear, LPA-ready report outlining practical mitigation and timing recommendations, helping your project remain compliant with wildlife legislation and progress
A clear, proportionate, planning-ready approach in Lancashire which includes:Â
We focus on what your project genuinely needs — not over-inflated survey demands.
Send your site details and programme. We confirm the correct level of survey.
Walkovers or multi-visit surveys depending on your sites potential.
Planning-ready reports with impact assessment, mitigation options and timelines for site teams.
Only if needed. PEA, EIA, and Protected Species surveysÂ
Need an Invertebrate Survey in Lancashire? Let’s confirm your site’s requirements and keep your project on track.Â
Yes. An invertebrate survey may be required where a site contains habitats that could support notable insects or other important invertebrates. In Lancashire, this may include coastal habitats, wetlands, peatland edges, species rich grassland, woodland, river corridors, brownfield land, mature hedgerows and old trees.
Invertebrates are important for pollination, soil health, nutrient cycling and supporting wider wildlife populations. Where a development could affect valuable habitat, planning officers may need survey evidence to understand the ecological impact and confirm whether mitigation or enhancement measures are required.
Habitats with higher invertebrate potential include marshland, ponds, wet ditches, sand dunes, grassland, woodland rides, scrub, old industrial land, riverbanks, canal corridors, mature trees and hedgerows. The need for a survey depends on habitat quality, location and the likely ecological sensitivity of the site.
No. Urban and previously developed sites can also support important invertebrates, especially where land has been left unmanaged or contains bare ground, rubble, flowering vegetation, scrub and varied microhabitats. Brownfield sites in Lancashire can sometimes provide valuable habitat for uncommon insect communities.
An ecologist will assess the habitats present and use suitable survey techniques to record invertebrates. This may include direct observation, sweep netting, beating vegetation, hand searching, pitfall trapping, aerial netting and habitat condition assessment, depending on the site and the species groups most likely to occur.
Most invertebrate surveys are carried out between April and September when insects are active. The best survey window depends on the habitats present and the species likely to be recorded. Some sites may require more than one visit to capture seasonal variation and provide reliable planning evidence.
Yes. Completing the survey early can reduce the risk of additional ecological information being requested after submission. It allows potential constraints to be identified, mitigation to be designed and Biodiversity Net Gain measures to be considered before the application reaches determination.
Survey requirements depend on the Local Planning Authority responsible for the application. Lancashire County Council provides planning and environmental information at https://www.lancashire.gov.uk. District, borough and unitary authorities across Lancashire may also request ecological surveys where development could affect important habitats or species.
The report will set out the survey methods, habitats assessed, species recorded, ecological value of the site and recommendations for planning. Where needed, it may include mitigation, habitat retention, enhancement measures, management advice and information to support Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.
ProHort provides professional invertebrate surveys across Lancashire for residential, commercial, infrastructure and land development projects. Our ecologists produce clear, planning focused reports that help clients understand ecological constraints, meet Local Planning Authority requirements and progress applications with confidence.
