PREFERRED
PARTNERS
- BUILDING THE RIGHT TEAM FOR YOUR PROJECT
Arboriculture
What Are Arboricultural Services?
Arboricultural services are primarily concerned with the management of trees and shrubs on your property. To keep your plants healthy and your home safe. Arboriculturalists (also known as ‘tree surveyors’) are brought in to assess the health and spread of these woody features. There are a couple of reasons as to why you would bring in arboricultural services, such as:
- If you want to build an extension or other development close to any trees,
you’ll need to provide your local authority with a Tree Survey and Arboricultural Impact Assessment during the planning process. - As a homeowner, you are expected to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of any trees present on your site. Depending on the trees present, this may involve needing regular tree risk assessments.
- If you’re worried a nearby tree might be causing damage to your home (or could cause damage in the future), you can bring in a surveyor to ensure this harm is lmited and doesn’t impact the property’s value.
- All trees in conservation areas are protected so even basic pruning may require permission. Some trees are also covered by tree preservation orders to protect the trees and ensure they are looked after by the landowner.
What Is An Arboricultural Report?
When an arboricultural surveyor visits your property, they’ll kick-start the process by examining each tree and assessing its various features. The report will then list the following information on the trees assessed:
- How many trees present
- Tree significåance
- Botanical names
- Rough life expectancy
- Height
- Diameter
- Canopy spread
- Overall health and condition
- Age class
If you plan on developing the land near any trees, your surveyor will create a constraints plan for you to understand how your project may be affected and will be noted by your local authority.
It is best practice to have a topographical survey carried out prior to the tree survey to ensure accuracy. Some arboriculturalists may not carry out the work without a topographical survey.
Tree Surveys are required where there are trees on site that may be affected by your development. They are also required where off site trees will be affected by the proposal so even if you do not have trees on your land you may still require a survey to be carried out and submitted with your application.
If you’ve never commissioned an arboricultural survey before, it’s recommended you reach out to a professional tree surveyor, who’ll be able to advise on the rate their services will be required. Remember, you have a duty of care to maintain all trees on your property, ensuring they don’t pose a health risk to the public or nearby structures.
Biodiversity Solutions
Developers need to achieve a 10% BNG through the creation or enhancement of habitats to be evidenced via a biodiversity gain plan, which can be submitted to the local planning authority after the planning application has been approved. The assessment needs to be carried out by a professional ecologist, according to the guidance and in line with any Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), and the biodiversity improvements are then recorded in the publicly available biodiversity gain site register. The approach taken to biodiversity protection is referred to as the mitigation hierarchy.
Measuring biodiversity
For the purposes of BNG, biodiversity value is measured in standardised biodiversity units. A habitat will contain several biodiversity units, depending on things like its:
- Size
- Quality
- Location
- Type
Biodiversity units can be lost through development or generated through work to create and enhance habitats.
Measuring biodiversity value
When considering biodiversity value, you should consult an expert (see Nature Impact). They will:
- Measure the biodiversity value of your existing habitat
- Advise on suitable habitat creation or enhancement for the land
Who BNG rules affect
You need to know about the new rules if you’re a:
- Developer of major developments
- Developer of small sites
- Developer of nationally significant infrastructure projects from late November 2025
- Land manager wanting to sell in the BNG market
- Local planning authority (LPA)
Exempt developments: Some developments are exempt from BNG requirements.
Ways to achieve BNG: on-site units, off-site units and statutory biodiversity credits
Through site selection and layout, developers should avoid or reduce any negative impact on biodiversity. They must deliver at least 10% BNG, as measured by the statutory biodiversity metric.
There are 3 ways a developer can achieve BNG:
- They can create biodiversity on-site (within the red line boundary of a development site).
- If developers cannot achieve all of their BNG on-site, they can deliver through a mixture of on-site and off-site. Developers can either make off-site biodiversity gains on their own land outside the development site, or buy off-site biodiversity units on the market.*
- If developers cannot achieve on-site or off-site BNG, they must buy statutory biodiversity credits from the government. This should be a last resort. The government will use the revenue to invest in habitat creation in England.
Developers can combine all 3 options, but must follow the steps in order. This order of steps is called the biodiversity gain hierarchy.
Example: A developer cuts down some trees on the site. They must make up for this impact on the habitat, as well as delivering 10% BNG. They must do a survey of habitat before development and use the statutory biodiversity metric to explore options. This tells them how to make up for the loss of the trees and what more they need to do to achieve 10% BNG. If they cannot achieve the 10% BNG by creating and enhancing on-site habitats, they must buy off-site units. If that is not enough to achieve BNG, they must buy statutory biodiversity credits.
* The Spatial Risk Multiplier (SRM), a mechanism designed to encourage biodiversity offsetting local to the development site where ecological harm is set to occur, will affect the cost of the BNG units.
Chartered Surveyors
One key aspect of their role is property valuation. Chartered surveyors assess the value of properties for a variety of purposes, including sales, purchases, mortgages, and taxation. Using their expertise and knowledge of market trends, they provide accurate and impartial valuations that help clients make informed decisions.
In addition to valuation, chartered surveyors are involved in property management. They assist property owners, landlords, and tenants in managing their assets effectively. This involves tasks such as lease negotiations, rent reviews, maintenance planning, and compliance with regulations. By maximizing the value and performance of properties, they help clients achieve their financial and operational objectives.
Chartered surveyors also play a key role in construction projects. They provide project management and quantity surveying services, overseeing all aspects of the project from planning to completion. This includes cost estimation, procurement, contract administration, and risk management. By ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to high-quality standards, they help clients achieve their construction goals efficiently.
Overall, chartered surveyors are essential professionals who bring expertise and professionalism to the real estate and construction industries, helping clients navigate complex challenges and achieve successful outcomes.
Daylight & Sunlight
Daylight & Sunlight
Local planning authorities can require evidence to support a planning application or certificate of lawful development to demonstrate that new developments both provide adequate natural light for future occupants without negatively impacting neighbouring properties. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) guidelines help determine whether a proposed development meets the recommended standards for daylight and sunlight. Daylight and sunlight considerations for neighbouring properties typically apply to main windows in habitable rooms of residential buildings. However, they can also extend to non-residential properties with a specific requirement for natural light.
Rights of Light
Rights of light however are a civil matter and can be enforced even after planning permission has been granted. Unlike daylight and sunlight in planning, a right of light can be acquired for any type of room in residential or non-residential properties where the window has existed for over 20 years (subject to any restrictions of title deeds).
Even if a property is less than 20 years old, rights of light risks cannot be automatically ruled out. If a previous building on the site had windows in a similar location, the right can transfer from an old aperture to a new one.
If a neighbouring property suffers a right of light injury, the affected party may seek an injunction or financial compensation as a resolution for the loss of light.
Our expert consultants provide comprehensive daylight, sunlight, and rights of light assessments, helping developers, architects, and homeowners navigate planning requirements and legal right of light considerations.
Drone Specialists
Completed project photography
You want to showcase your property and own the rights to your own images? Hiring the service of a professional photographer can help you showcase your project. They have an expert eye and will work with you to deliver the best lifestyle, full room and exterior images for the purpose required.
Hard to reach: Aerial property inspections and larger drones with special permissions
Skip the scaffolding! Drone roof surveys will provide you with sharp HDR pictures and 4K or 6K videos of your property. Our industry-leading image resolution and aerial camera optics capture visuals that are crisp down to millimetres and perfectly-exposed from the brightest tiles to the darkest gutters. With minimal disruption to your property’s everyday use, we’ll quickly and safely identify structural issues with roofs, chimneys, walls, gutters, parapets, and gables.
Easy to analyse: Specialist surveying software and mapping
Aerial property inspection app Scopito sends the visuals we capture to our in-house surveyor in real-time, so as our pilots fly, SSS HQ gets to work on processing, annotating, and delivering geo-tagged surveys. We can cross-reference our shots with existing map data, invite your surveyors to make their own highlights, and, where necessary, provide a full 3D model of your premises. When you book us for multiple inspections, you’ll also be able to compare older surveys to recent ones!
Hard to fly: Camera pole roof surveys and tiny drones
The absolute quickest and lowest-cost option for pseudo-aerial surveys: tiny drones or telescopic pole-mounted cameras! While this grounded approach to roof inspections isn’t quite as in-depth as taking the drone route, the results more than suffice for professional reports and recommendations. We recommend pole cameras for dense urban spaces where conditions aren’t ideal for safe flights, or for projects which call for a faster turnaround than average — they need fewer permissions and can often be booked and completed on the same day.
Ecology
Early identification of any ecological constraints ensures that development proposals are not delayed, and appropriate mitigation or compensation is incorporated into the design phase. *
Undertaking ecological surveys will ensure that:
- The developer or applicant are aware of any ecological constraints at an early stage.
- The development can be designed to minimise impacts on biodiversity.
- Any legally protected species (European or British) or notable species (listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the Local Biodiversity Action Plan, Red listed, locally rare or listed on Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006) will be identified so that the development can avoid or minimise impacts on them.
- The design of mitigation and enhancement measures will be appropriate to the site and surrounding area.
- The local planning authority can consider all the relevant material considerations whilst determining an application.
Most development proposals require consideration of the impacts of the proposed works on the biodiversity within the site, or close to it.
A preliminary ecological appraisal, typically an Extended Phase I Habitat Survey (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2010; Institute of Environmental Assessment 1995) may be required which will identify the habitats and the potential for the site to support protected species or notable species.
The findings of the Extended Phase I Habitat Survey will inform the requirements (if any) for further surveys (see below). The findings of any ecological surveys will typically need to be submitted to the local planning authority in advance of a planning application to ensure that the appropriate information is available to determine an application.
*Please refer to our Species Survey Calendar
Energy
In the built environment, the term ‘energy’ is typically used in the context of generating heat, powering equipment, creating products and materials, transportation, and so on. Sources of energy tend to be categorised as either renewable or non-renewable.
The main types of renewable energy sources include:
- Solar thermal energy: The conversion of solar radiation to thermal energy in order to heat a working fluid.
- Geothermal energy: The natural heat energy stored in the earth.
- Wind energy: Energy generated by the wind.
- Biomass: A generic term referring to organic materials that can be used as fuels.
- Hydropower: The generation of electricity from flowing water power.
The main types of non-renewable energy include:
- Petroleum products: Formed from dead plants and animals. E.g. petrol, diesel, kerosene.
- Hydrocarbon gas liquids: Such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
- Natural gas: Distributed through pipes from point of origin to point of use, e.g. mains gas.
- Coal: A combustible material mined from the ground.
- Nuclear energy: Released during nuclear fission or fusion in a power plant.
According to the Technology Strategy Board, in the UK, the built environment accounts for 45% of total carbon emissions (27% from domestic buildings and 18% from non-domestic), and 73% of domestic emissions arise from space heating and the provision of hot water. The EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings was adopted in 2002. It was intended to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, reduce carbon emissions and reduce the impact of climate change.
Energy performance certificates (EPCs), set out the energy efficiency rating of buildings. They are required when buildings are built, sold or rented if they have a roof and walls and use energy to condition an indoor climate. Buildings are rated from A to G on EPCs, with A representing a very efficient building and G a very inefficient building.
Flood Risk & Drainage
Planning and flood risk
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out policies to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding. This includes requiring new development to be flood resilient and resistant where appropriate. The NPPF defines tests that local planning authorities are expected to abide by to protect people and property. If the tests cannot be met, new development should not be permitted.
The steps are:
- Assessment of flood risk: A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment is undertaken by the local planning authority and informs local flood risk. In any areas that are at a high risk of flooding or for development on sites of over 1 hectare, site-specific flood risk assessments are required to accompany planning applications.
- Avoid flood risk: Local planning authorities will aim to avoid site-selection in areas of high flood risk. Development is targeted where the risk of flooding is lowest.
- Manage and mitigate flood risk: If development is needed on land at risk of flooding and no alternative options exist, it is necessary for the development to be flood resilient and resistant for the development’s lifetime.
Flood and water management act 2010
The Flood and Water Management Act was introduced on 8 April 2010 to implement Sir Michael Pitt’s recommendations following the widespread flooding of 2007 when more than 55,000 homes and businesses were flooded (see Pitt Review).
The Act requires better management of flood risk, it creates safeguards against rises in surface water drainage charges and protects water supplies for consumers. It gives a new responsibility to the Environment Agency for developing a National Flood and Coastal Risk Management Strategy, and gives a new responsibility to local authorities, as Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs), to co-ordinate flood risk management in their area.
Heritage
Highways
They work on a range of projects, from urban transit systems and highways to pedestrian pathways and cycling infrastructure. Their tasks include conducting feasibility studies, impact assessments, and cost-benefit analyses, ensuring projects are economically viable and environmentally sustainable.
These consultants collaborate with government agencies, urban planners, and engineers to design comprehensive transport plans that integrate with existing infrastructure and align with community needs and policy objectives. Their expertise helps in creating transport solutions that promote accessibility, reduce congestion, and support sustainable urban growth.
Landscape
Landscape architecture is rooted in an understanding of how the environment works and what makes each place unique. It is a blend of science and art, vision and thought. It is a creative profession skilled in strategic planning, delivery and management. Landscape architects bring knowledge of natural sciences, environmental law and planning policy. They lead teams, engage stakeholders and manage conflicting demands. And they create delight with beautiful designs, protecting and enhancing our most cherished landscapes and townscapes.
The role of a landscape designers can be varied and wide-ranging and can include:
- Meeting with clients to discuss landscape requirements.
- Undertaking site surveys to determine the potential of the site to meet the client’s expectations.
- Preparing and presenting design plans and working drawings using computer-aided design (CAD) packages or similar.
- Completing the landscape and visual sections of planning applications or Environmental Impact Assessments.
- Working closely with other professionals on projects.
- Providing evidence in public enquiries.
Landscape architects are often the first port of call when assessing new development in National Landscapes (formerly AONB) or where you are proposing a new one-off dwelling to meet the test of proposing a new house design of exceptional quality where designs have to be truly outstanding, reflecting the highest standards of architecture and significantly enhancing its immediate setting, and be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area.
Noise
They may also be described as acousticians or acoustic engineers. The duties undertaken by acoustic consultants might include:
- Offering advice to architects and other designers.
- Noise assessments of existing buildings.
- Compliance testing.
- Vibration monitoring.
- Construction site surveys.
- Assessing industrial sites.
- Assessing noise levels and noise nuisance and providing noise mitigation advice.
- Assessing problem spaces and equipment and proposing mitigation strategies.
- Assessing intelligibility and reverberation time.
- Carrying out acoustic analysis and design using specialist modelling software.
- Assessing how changes in design affect sound levels and quality.
- Technical report writing.
- Preparing proposals.
- Liaising with clients, project managers, designers and contractors.
- Designing and working on specialist facilities and equipment such as recording studio and broadcast equipment.
- Developing acoustic environments for specialist spaces such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, teaching spaces, arenas and so on.
- Assessing the impact of developments such as airports and roads.
- Assessing environmental noise and carrying out noise surveys.
- Expert witness services.
Acoustic consultants tend to be practical people and creative problem solvers. They require a broad knowledge of the subject, legislation and standards and will generally hold a relevant degree-level qualification and a diploma or postgraduate qualification in acoustics, such as the IOA diploma. They can become members of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA). Consultancy practices and businesses can join the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC). Like many other careers, a budding acoustic consultant usually starts out through a work experience role. They can choose to specialise in specific areas of acoustics, such as audio and hi-fi design, auditorium and concert hall design, broadcasting and telecommunications, teaching spaces, laboratory design and so on.
Photo & Video Production
Completed project photography
You want to showcase your property and own the rights to your own images? Hiring the service of a professional photographer can help you showcase your project. They have an expert eye and will work with you to deliver the best lifestyle, full room and exterior images for the purpose required.
Hard to reach: Aerial property inspections and larger drones with special permissions
Skip the scaffolding! Drone roof surveys will provide you with sharp HDR pictures and 4K or 6K videos of your property. Our industry-leading image resolution and aerial camera optics capture visuals that are crisp down to millimetres and perfectly-exposed from the brightest tiles to the darkest gutters. With minimal disruption to your property’s everyday use, we’ll quickly and safely identify structural issues with roofs, chimneys, walls, gutters, parapets, and gables.
Easy to analyse: Specialist surveying software and mapping
Aerial property inspection app Scopito sends the visuals we capture to our in-house surveyor in real-time, so as our pilots fly, SSS HQ gets to work on processing, annotating, and delivering geo-tagged surveys. We can cross-reference our shots with existing map data, invite your surveyors to make their own highlights, and, where necessary, provide a full 3D model of your premises. When you book us for multiple inspections, you’ll also be able to compare older surveys to recent ones!
Hard to fly: Camera pole roof surveys and tiny drones
The absolute quickest and lowest-cost option for pseudo-aerial surveys: tiny drones or telescopic pole-mounted cameras! While this grounded approach to roof inspections isn’t quite as in-depth as taking the drone route, the results more than suffice for professional reports and recommendations. We recommend pole cameras for dense urban spaces where conditions aren’t ideal for safe flights, or for projects which call for a faster turnaround than average — they need fewer permissions and can often be booked and completed on the same day.
Structural & Civil Engineers
Structural failure can be devastating. It is important therefore to select an individual or company that has a good track record and experience in structurally similar projects. Suitably qualified professionals will generally be Chartered or Incorporated Engineers who are members of the Institution of Civil Engineers and/or the Institution of Structural Engineers. Members of such institutes will generally be required to maintain their professional competence through an ongoing programme of continued professional development (CPD), to hold professional indemnity insurance and to comply with a code of practice.
It is good practice to employ a structural engineer based on their capability, competence and quality rather than simply by the lowest fee. A good design that explores a wide variety of options to find the best solution can save significant costs over the life of a building.
Civil engineers design, construct, maintain and improve the physical environment, including bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, canals, dams, buildings, flood and coastal defences, airports and other large structures. The term ‘civil’ engineer was originally coined to distinguish it from military engineering. Civil Engineering is one of the oldest forms of engineering with many ancient structures including Egyptian Pyramids attracting the appreciation of public since ages.
Civil engineering is a broad profession that encompasses a range of subjects that can be developed as specialisms, such as Structures, Transportation, Environmental, Maritime, Geotechnical, Hydraulic, Sanitary and Water.
Whilst some of these specialisms may be considered sub-disciplines of civil engineering, subjects such as structural engineering (which focuses on the design, assessment and inspection of structures to ensure that they are efficient and stable) may now be considered engineering disciplines in their own right.
Topographical Surveys
As well as professionals, such as architects, civil engineers, and planners, using topographic surveys to make informed decisions on design and project management, topographic surveys are also used as legal documents to define the boundaries of a property.
Depending on the requirements of a project, the surveyed elements will vary. Typical elements include the following:
- Area boundary lines
- Buildings & structures
- Features adjacent to the site
- Trees, bushes & vegetation positions
- Ground heights, contours & surfaces
Topographic surveys are highly beneficial for a number of projects, with one of the main benefits being that they aid with planning and decision making. A topographic survey provides accurate land measurements and gives a clear indication of the arrangements of an existing site, which can be used to make decisions on the planning of new buildings, re-positioning of existing boundaries, and the design of drainage systems.
Another benefit of topographic surveys is that they can save a significant amount of project time and reduce the risk of costly errors occurring, as all decision making throughout the project has been informed by accurate data from the topographic survey.
The duration of a topo survey is dependent on the size and complexity of the proposed site and project. After the site has been surveyed, it typically takes a few days for findings to be drawn up.
Contractor
General contractor, prime contractor or main contractor: These are often appointed under a traditional contract to construct a development for which the design is complete.
Civil Engineering Procedure, 7th edition, published by the Institution of Civil Engineers defines a ‘general contractor’ as ‘…a contractor who undertakes the whole of the construction of a project, but usually in turn sub-letting parts of his work to specialist or trades contractors and others as sub-contractors’.
It defines ‘main contractor’ in the same way but with the qualification that this is distinct from a managing contractor or construction manager.
Construction manager: The construction manager manages trade contractors, but the trade contracts themselves are placed with the client. This generally requires an experienced client. A construction manager is generally appointed early in the design process so that their experience can be used to improve the buildability and packaging of proposals as they develop.
A construction manager may also programme construction to begin before the design is completed. This requires careful planning of information release so that the construction process is not delayed by lack of production information.
Management contractor: This is like the role of the construction manager but the trade contracts (or works contracts) are placed with the management contractor rather than with the client.
Design and build contractor: Responsible for the completion of the design as well as construction.
Prime contractors: The client enters a long-term multi-project relationship with a contractor in which competition is introduced at the sub-contract level. Prime contracting is generally appropriate for large clients and projects.
Our trusted Preferred Partners have a vital role in the planning and design process.
1
PREPARATION AND BRIEFING
We work closely with all of our clients to shape a clear design brief from the outset of each project. The site constraints often dictate the level of specialist external advice required to support a planning application. Obtaining topographical surveys, seeking highways, heritage, noise, arboricultural and ecological advice at an early stage is fundamental to ensuring the best chance of obtaining planning permission and ensuring the project can be built successfully from the outset.
Preferred Partners or input from other external consultants are not always necessary on every application, however it is becoming more important to front load applications to ensure sufficient information is provided for the Local Planning Authority as well as reducing the number of pre-commencement conditions that slow down the process after permission has been granted.
Involves:
Liaising with Preferred Partners or external consultants at an early stage.
Results in:
Obtaining necessary fee proposals from identified Preferred Partners.
2
Concept Design
The Concept Design covers the outline proposals for the project leading to a pre application submission to the Local Planning Authority where required. While projects vary, this stage ensures that the Design brief has been met before moving on to the Spatial Coordination stage. Additional reports may not be required at this stage to validate a pre-application submission, however where there are significant constraints or the high probability that one of the Local Planning Authorities internal consultees will need to comment then providing the necessary information at an early stage can secure a more positive response from the Local Planning Authority at this stage.
Involves:
Liaising with Preferred Partners or external consultants and addressing planning policy and site constraints with the necessary information.
Results in:
Client approval and/or Pre-Application submission (Usually requires a meeting with and written response from the Local Planning Authority).
3
Spatial Coordination
Using feedback from the client and/or pre application process the Spatial Coordination can be finalised. We work closely with our Preferred Partners and/or external consultants to ensure that the site constraints and relevant planning policies have been addressed in order to progress with an application. This often involves Arboricultural reports to identify tree constraints and protection plans, Highways reports to ensure pedestrian and vehicular safety and Ecology walkovers to ensure that wildlife and protected species are not harmed by the proposal. Other reports that are becoming mandatory are Energy Statements and Community Infrastructure Levy forms setting out any necessary contributions triggered by the proposal.
Architectural Visualisation is used for all types of application and can make all the difference when conveying the impact of a proposal on the character of the area. Some Local Planning Authorities will request Architectural Visualisations to use at Planning Committee to provide additional detail for members of the public or elected members to provide additional detail.
Involves:
Liaising with Preferred Partners to ensure that the Planning Submission covers all of the constraints identified at the outset or following pre application feedback from the Local Planning Authority.
Results in:
Planning application submission; monitoring application through to decision. Liaising with Preferred Partners and/or external consultants to ensure that internal consultee comments are responded too where necessary.
4
Technical Design
Following receipt of the planning approval there may be the need to discharge conditions as well as handling the detailed technical design before construction can commence. Our services include Building Regulations drawings and submissions, detailed drawings and specifications, tendering and contract administration. Our Preferred Partners and/or external consultants will provide specialist reports to aid the discharge or conditions and provide technical information such as Structural Calculations for Buildings Regulations as well as advice from Quantity Surveyors on costings to enable us to go out to tender on building projects.
Involves:
Assessing planning conditions; Co-ordinating external consultants; Building Regulations drawings; detailed drawings & specifications
Results in:
Releasing pre commencement conditions; Building Regulations plans approval; Contract administration; Hand over