Case Study:

Williams Homes (Bala) Ltd., Trem Y Moelwyn

“The knowledge of the team was invaluable when providing solutions to the challenges we faced, their prompt and thorough input meant that the scheme was built on schedule with all the necessary mitigation included. We work regularly with Enfys on schemes all across North Wales and have excellent service on all occasions; I can’t recommend them highly enough.”

The Challenge:

Williams Homes (Bala) Ltd. needed ecological survey and mitigation support for Trem Y Moelwyn, a development of just over 40 affordable homes in Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, on a small field bordered by housing, a main road, a mature tree line and a dry stone wall. Initial survey work uncovered a live slow worm population protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, alongside Natural Resources Wales (NRW) concerns about bats using the northern tree line, and Japanese knotweed on site, all of which needed resolving before the scheme could go to planning.

Services Provided:

A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) in August 2022, identifying slightly acidic grassland and bracken, a central stream, reptile suitable habitat, and Japanese knotweed.
A reptile survey using over 100 artificial refugia, confirming a slow worm population across the site, followed by a reptile method statement setting out relocation for the planning application.
Working with the local council ecologist to identify a suitable receptor site with no existing population, and coordinating relocation with the client and subcontractors.
Lighting design with the client’s lighting engineers, using positioning, baffles, fences and vegetation to create dark corridors protecting bats using the northern tree line.
Habitat design advice for the finished scheme, including bat and reptile features, and preserving the site’s stream as a wildlife corridor.

The Outcome:

About 80 slow worms were relocated safely to the receptor site over the course of a month in 2023. We then supervised site clearance with a watching brief, confirming no slow worms remained and the translocation had been successful. Japanese knotweed was treated and removed by specialist contractors once the reptile works were complete. The scheme went through planning successfully and was built in 2023 to 2024.