Corylus was instructed by a client who had purchased a solar farm with an undeliverable biodiversity enhancement strategy. Corylus was instructed to review the requirements of the strategy and to create a new strategy on land within the ownership of the client.  

The solar farm was adjacent to an area with one of the largest Great Crested Newt populations in North Wales. Corylus designed a new strategy, with the input of an ecologist, that took into account the site constraints and the practicalities of construction works within an installed and operational solar farm. The mitigation strategy included two new clay lined ponds, the desilting of an existing pond, the provision of hibernaculum and new tree and scrub planting. The new strategy was secured through a successful Section 73 planning application.

Post approval, Corylus provided assistance to the client with the co-ordination of the protected species license and the construction and landscaping works required to deliver the strategy.