We provide invertebrate assessments across London, covering Hackney, Croydon, Richmond, Greenwich, Walthamstow, Kingston, and surrounding areas.
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Looking for expert invertebrate surveys and habitat assessments in London?
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
London’s urban landscape—including parks, canals, ponds, brownfield sites, and river corridors—supports a surprisingly rich variety of invertebrate species.
Surveys determine species presence, diversity, and conservation importance, helping ensure planning compliance.
You may need an invertebrate survey in London if your project involves:
Loss of urban meadow or parkland habitats in Hackney
Impact on brownfield sites, railway embankments, or mosaic habitats in Croydon
Drainage alterations, pond works, or canal disturbance in Richmond
Activities near ponds, streams, or wetland margins in Greenwich
Removal of woodland, scrub, or hedgerows in Walthamstow
Sites flagged in a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) as having potential for notable invertebrates in Kingston
A simple postcode check can help confirm what your local planning authority typically requires.
We provide invertebrate assessments across London, covering Hackney, Croydon, Richmond, Greenwich, Walthamstow, Kingston, and surrounding areas.
In London, 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 London 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 London? Let’s confirm your site’s requirements and keep your project on track.Â
Yes. London sites can support important invertebrates, even in dense urban areas. Railway land, canals, parks, rooftops, brownfield plots, cemeteries, river corridors, scrub, old walls, mature trees and flower rich verges can all provide valuable habitat. An invertebrate survey may be required where development could affect these features.
Invertebrates are important because they support pollination, food chains, soil health and wider urban biodiversity. Planning authorities may request survey evidence where a site has ecological value or forms part of a wider green corridor, helping ensure development protects and enhances biodiversity where possible.
Yes. Brownfield land can be extremely valuable for invertebrates, particularly where it contains bare ground, rubble, flowering plants, scrub and warm south facing areas. These varied conditions can support bees, beetles, butterflies, moths and other species that may be relevant to planning.Â
Yes. Well designed green roofs can support a range of pollinators and other invertebrates, particularly where they include varied planting, bare substrate, deadwood, nectar rich species and different vegetation heights. For some London developments, rooftop habitat may form part of biodiversity enhancement or Biodiversity Net Gain proposals.
An ecologist will assess the habitats present and select survey methods suited to the site. This may include direct observation, sweep netting, vegetation beating, hand searching, aerial netting, pitfall trapping and habitat condition assessment. The methods used depend on the habitats, season and likely species groups.
Most invertebrate surveys are completed between April and September when insects are active. Some species are only detectable in short seasonal windows, so early instruction is important. Booking the survey early helps avoid missed survey periods and reduces the risk of planning delays.
Yes. Survey findings can help identify existing ecological value and practical enhancement opportunities. In London, this may include improving brownfield mosaics, creating wildflower areas, designing green roofs, enhancing river corridors, retaining mature trees or introducing habitat features that support pollinators and other invertebrates.
Survey requirements depend on the borough handling the planning application. The Greater London Authority provides strategic planning guidance at https://www.london.gov.uk, while individual London boroughs may request ecological surveys where development could affect important habitats, protected species or Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation.
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 or urban greening requirements.
ProHort provides professional invertebrate surveys across London for residential, commercial, infrastructure and brownfield redevelopment projects. Our ecologists produce clear, planning focused reports that help clients identify ecological constraints, satisfy borough planning requirements and keep applications moving efficiently.
