Our Experience

Over the past 30 years, the DTA brand has been associated with an exceptional public sector client base. DTA Ecology is regularly commissioned by public sector clients including Government Departments, competent authorities and statutory advisers. Some examples of DTA Ecology work are provided below.

Please also see our client testimonials for further information.

2024

July - Exmoor National Park Authority

DTA Ecology are delighted to have been awarded a contract with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology to develop an Air Quality Management Strategy for the Exmoor National Park.

June - Environment Agency

DTA Ecology were commissioned by the Environment Agency to provide advice on options and potential pathways through the Habitats Regulations derogation stages for a sensitive flood defence scheme.

May - Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs

DTA Ecology has been appointed to provide advice to Defra on the development of updated Government guidance on Habitats Regulations Assessment.

April - Scottish Government

DTA Ecology will be providing support and peer review advice to the Scottish Government in the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations to the development of the plan-level HRA for the updated sectoral marine plan for offshore wind energy.

April - NatureScot

DTA Ecology was delighted to deliver an in-person a HRA Masterclass and workshop covering both the in-combination provisions and dealing with the derogations to staff at NatureScot.

March - Welsh Government

DTA Ecology have been commissioned to draft practical planning guidance to support development, particularly the delivery of affordable housing, in Special Areas of Conservation river catchments.

February - Environment Protection Agency (Ireland)

DTA are delighted to be providing advice and support to the Environment Protection Agency in Ireland to inform the development of guidance on the appropriate assessment of ammonia emissions under the Habitats Directive.

February - Natural Resources Wales

DTA Ecology will be delivering a series of HRA Masterclasses to staff within Natural Resources Wales.

January - Scottish Government

DTA Ecology has drafted guidance for the Scottish Government on the Development of Fisheries Assessments Under the Habitat Regulations and Marine Scotland Act 2010

2023

November - Scottish Government

DTA Ecology were commissioned to draft guidance on the Development of Fisheries Assessments Under the Habitat Regulations and Marine Scotland Act 2010.

November - An Bord Pleanála (Ireland)

DTA Ecology are delighted to be part of the framework Marine / Offshore Renewable Energy Consultants advisory contract to provide advice to An Bord Pleanála..

July - Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs

DTA Ecology was commissioned by Defra to provide advice on the development of various policy positions relating to the issuing of licences to release gamebirds within or adjacent to Special Protection Areas.

July - Herefordshire Council

DTA Ecology has been comissionsed to provided advice to the Coucnil on how to move forwards in the determination of planning applications affecting water quality in the Lugg catchment of the River Wye SAC in view of the information presented in the RePhokus report, wider background information, and the roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders and public bodies.

June - The Crown Estate

The Crown Estate approached DTA Ecology to act as a Technical Advisor on the legal requirements of the Habitats Regulations to ensure that the delivery of the Strategic Compensation Plans meets the requirement of the Habitats Regulations 2017 (as amended) and the conditions placed upon The Crown Estate in the Secretary of State confirmation notice of 15 July 2022.

May - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

DTA Ecology were asked to provide advice on key principles and definitions relevant to the development of guidance on the interpretation and application of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations in England. The advice was focussed on decision-making in respect of offshore wind development proposals and the design and delivery of compensatory measures.

March - Natural England

DTA Ecology provided advice to Natural England in respect their advice on proposed land use plans and how it aligns with their advice for HS2.

February - Department of Energy Security and Net Zero

DTA Ecology were commissioned by DESNZ (formerly BEIS) to deliver bespoke training to staff on the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations and, in particular, the derogation provisions.

January - Natural Resources Wales

DTA Ecology were delighted to have been awarded the HRA and Habitats Regulations Training and Advice Framework.

2022

December - Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

DTA Ecology was commissioned to deliver introductory and advanced level training to staff within Defra on the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regualtions.

November - Natural England

DTA Ecology were commissioned by Natural England to provide shadow appropriate assessments of legacy SSSI consents that permit the release of non-native game birds within and adjacent to designated sites. Read more

November - Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Provision of a HRA Masterclass training programme to staff within NIEA. The training involved a hybrid approach with online delivery of material being supplemented by face-to-face workshops.

October - Natural England

DTA Ecology were commissioned by Natural England to provide an overarching analysis of all international nature conservation obligations to which the UK is currently subject, and to consider the interplay between the key international nature obligations and the Habitat Regulations as they currently stand. A key objective was to highlight what form the obligations take and what aspects may be missing from existing domestic species and sites protection if key elements of the Habitat Regulations were lost. Read more

September - Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

DTA Ecology were commissioned by Defra to provide detailed advice on the scope of compensatory measures under the Habitats Regulations and the concept of additionality as applicable to the marine environment.

June - Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs

DTA Ecology provided responses to a series of questions relating to the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations to offshore wind proposals. A key aim of the project being to review how HRA’s are undertaken by the offshore wind industry to speed up consenting whilst maintaining environmental protection.

April - Environment Agency

DTA Ecology have been asked to provide advice to the Environment Agency on their plans to develop a new ‘systems approach’ to managing the natural environment as part of the Humber Estuary H2100+ strategy.

March - Planning Inspectorate

DTA Ecology were awarded a contract to deliver training to the Planning Inspectorate on dealing with air quality under the Habitats Regulations.

February - Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs

DTA Ecology were commissioned by Defra to provide high level advice through responding to an extensive series of questions relating to the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations in England and the scope for potential regulatory reform.

January - Welsh Government

DTA Ecology are delighted to have been awarded a contract by the Welsh Government to deliver a HRA training programme across Wales providing refresher training as well as more detailed training on dealing with phosphates in rivers. The training is aimed at staff within local planning authorities, Natural Resources Wales and Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.

2021

October - Natural England

DTA Ecology were asked to develop and deliver bespoke training for:

Natural England legal team on the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations
Natural England marine staff on the application of the Habitats Regulations in the marine environment.

October - Scottish Government

DTA Ecology provide advice to the Scottish Government on the strategic delivery of compensatory measures under the Habitats Regulations.

September - Joint Nature Conservation Committee

DTA Ecology were delighted to be included in the JNCC Business Associates Framework to support nature conservation (2021-2025)

August - Scottish Government

DTA Ecology have been commissioned to draft guidance and associated policy for the Scottish Government relating to the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations in respect of decision-making for offshore wind farms.

March - Northern Ireland Environment Agency

DTA Ecology is commissioned by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (an executive agency within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland) to provide cross cutting advice on the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations, with a particular emphasis on application within the agricultural sector in view of associated ammonia emissions.

January - Crown Estate

DTA Ecology have been commissioned by the Crown Estate to provide advice on the Round 4 leasing plan level HRA Read more

January - BEIS

DTA Ecology are delighted to have been awarded a contract from BEIS to deliver a series of HRA Masterclasses to staff.

2020

October - Marine Scotland

Working in partnership with CEH, DTA Ecology have drafted a framework to evaluate proposed ornithological compenstaory measures for use by staff within Marine Scotland and the Scottish Government.

September - Crown Estate and Renewables UK

DTA Ecology was commissioned to chair a HRA Derogations workshop run by the Crown Estate and Renewables UK

March - Environment Agency

Environment Agency - a peer review of a complex flood defence scheme HRA.

January - City of London Corporation

City of London Corporation - to advise and undertake a HRA in respect of management works within Epping Forest SAC.

2019

September - Natural England

DTA Ecology has been appointed by Natural England to provide support for air quality advice in respect of the Epping Forest Local Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment.

August - Pembrokeshire National Park Authority

Pembrokeshire National Park Authority - to provide support in respect of their management plan HRA.

June - Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire District Council

Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire District Council - to advise on Burnham Beeches SAC and the approach to the assessment of air quality impacts under the Habitats Regulations.

May - Natural England

Natural England - following the decision of the High Court in the Wealden case, a DTA Ecology led consortium was commissioned to produce a decision making framework for the assessment of air pollution effects on habitats.

April - Shared Environmental Services (Northern Ireland)

Shared Environmental Services (Northern Ireland) - to undertake a peer review of local approaches to plan based HRA

March - North West Leicestershire District Council

North West Leicestershire District Council - to advise on the scope of a third 'window' for the current River Mease SAC Developer Contribution Scheme to address potetial effects of proposed development on wtare quality.

February - Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Resource Efficiency Division of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency - to provide peer review services and advice in drafting guidance for their Review of Consents work.

January - Monmouthshire County Council

Monmouthshire County Council - provision of advice to the Council on the application of the derogation provisions under the Habitats Regulations to proposed emergency works

2018

November - Environment Agency

Environment Agency - provision of advice on the delivery of compensatory measures under the Habitats Regulations

November - Marine Management Organisation

Marine Management Organisation - the development and drafting of guidance on the application of the derogation provisions for internal staff use.

September - City and County of Swansea Council

City and County of Swansea Council - To provide a shadiw HRA of the Local Development Plan

June - North Wessex Downs AONB

North Wessex Downs AONB - to provide a shadow HRA of the AONB Management Plan

March - Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Northern Ireland Environment Agency - peer review and advice in respect of approaches to HRA across permitting teams

February - Nottingham City Council

Nottingham City Council - To draft a shadow HRA to inform the assessment of the Local Plan Part 2 (submission version).

2017

November - Natural England

Natural England - DTA Ecology were commissioned to undertake a peer review of the proposed approach by Natural England to the HRA of long term management plans for European sites.

April - Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales - DTA Ecology were commissioned to provide advice to NRW on the design of compensatory measures under the derogation provisions as set out in Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive

March - Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) - Natural Environment Division

DTA Ecology developed and delivered training to NED staff within DAERA.

February - Marine Management Organisation

DTA Ecology delieverd a series of training sessions to staff within the MMO on the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations.

2016

December - Department of Environment and Rural Affairs

DTA Ecology were commisioned to develop and deliver training to staff within the DAERA pollution unit.

November - Natural Resources Wales and Natural England

Joint commission - DTA Ecology were commissioned to provide joint advice to Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Tidal Lagoon Power regarding the approach to the derogation provisions under the Habitats Regulations as relevant to Tidal Lagoon Proposals.

October - Natural England

Natural England - Following a flurry of activity in the UK Courts over recent years, DTA Ecology were commissioned to undertake a peer review of emerging internal guidance on the assessment of air pollution effects in combination with other plans and projects.

2015

November - Natural England

Natural England - DTA Ecology was asked to provided a webinar to Natural England staff following publication of three reports which Caroline led on the drafting for Natural England. Read more

October - Natural England

Natural England - DTA Ecology were commissioned to undertake a review of the internal templates used by Natural England staff in their role as a competent authority under the Habitats Regulations in their own right. The review involved provision of advice in terms of consistency with current case law, principles and policy. The work also included recommendations as to areas for improvement.

Experience in the provision of Habitats Regulations Assessment Training

DTA Ecology has fast established an excellent reputation in the delivery of training on the interpretation and application of the Habitats Regulations and the underpinning Nature Directives. Caroline first delivered training in a more informal internal capacity during her time at the Environment Agency and subsequently within Natural England. Caroline further refined her training approach and style in the delivery of training in a professional capacity whilst training alongside David Tyldesley during her time at DTA. Since establishing DTA Ecology, Caroline has trained over a thousand delegates and has also attended the 'Train the Trainer' course run by CIEEM to further refine her skills and keep up to date with current thinking. Caroline currently delivers a series of HRA Masterclasses in partnership with DTA Publications.

Caroline has delivered bespoke training to staff within:

• Department for Energy and Climate Change
• Environment Agency
• Joint Nature Conservation Committee
• Natural England
• Natural Resources Wales
• Marine Management Organisation
• Welsh Government
• Marine Scotland
• The Crown Estate
• Department of Agricultures, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland)
• The Planning Inspectorate
• and a range of local planning authorities and consultancies

Our work is recognised as being influential in our professional spheres and in setting standards of good practice.

DTA News:

Dr Caroline Chapman is delighted to have been listed in the ENDS Report 2023 Power List of the 100 environmental professionals in the UK who have made the greatest impact over the past two years.One nomination said: “Caroline goes about her work quietly but is a giant in the sector.”

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