What Aspect Ecology does

Aspect Ecology is a UK-based ecological consultancy established in January 2006 and headquartered in Banbury, Oxfordshire, with regional offices in Southampton, Cardiff, Manchester and Edinburgh and additional coverage in Ireland. The firm employs over 50 permanent staff supplemented by a seasonal field team of approximately 25 ecologists and provides a complete ecological planning service spanning pre-purchase due diligence, Phase 1 and protected species surveys (bats, great crested newts, dormice, reptiles, badgers, otters, water voles and nesting birds), Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, Natural England protected species licensing, expert evidence at planning appeals, and post-planning implementation including mitigation and monitoring.

The firm operates as the terrestrial ecology division of APEM Group, alongside sister companies Aspect Landscape Planning and Aspect Arboriculture, allowing clients to procure an integrated ecology-landscape-arboriculture bundle. Aspect Ecology's technical base is anchored in regulated survey methodologies rather than in software or AI systems; notable proprietary contributions include a footprint-tunnel technique for dormouse surveys that was endorsed in industry guidance in September 2025 and the validated use of infra-red cameras to detect emerging bats at dusk. The firm and its parent hold professional affiliations including CIEEM, IEMA and SSIP Worksafe Consultant status.

Aspect Ecology serves a horizontal mix of clients spanning national, regional and local property developers and strategic land promoters (including St George, Barratt David Wilson Homes, Barratt Redrow and Gleeson Land), national retailers, renewable energy suppliers, utility and mineral extraction operators, rail and highway agencies, airport operators, local authorities (e.g., St Helens Council) and non-profits (Royal Horticultural Society). The go-to-market is sales-led professional services: consultancy fees are quoted per engagement based on project scope, site complexity and survey requirements, with revenue driven by project throughput rather than recurring subscriptions. Aspect Ecology joined APEM Group in October 2023 and, following APEM's integration into Applus+ in February 2026, now operates within APEM's newly formed Environmental Services Division.

Name

Aspect Ecology

Legal name

Aspect Ecology

Website

https://aspect-ecology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aspect Ecology is a UK-based ecological consultancy providing ecological surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, protected species licensing and expert planning evidence. It serves property developers, strategic land promoters, infrastructure operators, renewable energy firms and government bodies across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecological Consultancy Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

akta.pro primary industry

Terrestrial Ecology & Habitat Surveys (EUAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cumulative Effects, Alternatives Analysis & Mitigation Planning (EUAHAAAE), Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream) (EUAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Ecological consultancy services
• Protected species surveys
• Biodiversity net gain
• Habitats regulations assessments
• Environmental impact assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Banbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ecological Consultancy Services: Professional consultancy fees for ecological planning services including surveys, assessments, reports, expert witness testimony at appeals, protected species licensing, and post-planning ecological implementation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Aspect Ecology is an ecological consultancy providing a complete ecological planning service for development projects, from pre-purchase due diligence through surveys, assessments and planning/EIA support to post-planning mitigation, protected species licensing and monitoring. Core deliverables include Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, protected species surveys and licensing, and expert witness evidence at planning appeals.

Product overview

Aspect Ecology is a multi-disciplinary ecological consultancy providing expert consultancy services across ecology, landscape planning, and arboriculture. The company offers a unified portfolio of services from pre-purchase site acquisition through planning and appeals to post-planning implementation. Core services include Aspect Ecology (ecological surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, protected species licensing) complemented by Aspect Landscape Planning and Aspect Arboriculture. All three services can be engaged jointly or separately, providing clients with comprehensive environmental consultancy support for development projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ecological Survey Services Comprehensive ecological surveys including protected species surveys (bats, reptiles, great crested newts, dormice, badgers, otters, water voles, nesting birds), Phase 1 / UK Habitat Classification surveys, and Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) services for development projects.
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessment Assessment services to measure and demonstrate biodiversity net gain outcomes for development projects, ensuring compliance with the mandatory BNG requirements introduced from February 2024.
• Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs) Assessment services to evaluate potential impacts on European designated sites (SACs, SPAs, Ramsars) and ensure compliance with the Habitats Regulations for development and infrastructure projects.
• Protected Species Licensing Expert assistance with obtaining and implementing Natural England licences for protected species mitigation and translocation, including great crested newts, bats and rare species such as the Fiery Clearwing moth.
• Planning and EIA Support Preparation of ecological input to Environmental Impact Assessments and presentation of expert evidence at planning appeals and public inquiries on behalf of developer clients.
• Aspect Landscape Planning Complementary sister-company landscape architecture services that integrate with Aspect Ecology's ecological consultancy to provide combined landscape and ecology design solutions for development projects.
• Aspect Arboriculture Complementary sister-company arboricultural services providing tree surveys, impact assessments and arboricultural expertise to support development projects alongside Aspect Ecology's ecological input.

Quantifiable outcome

• 225 Dormouse surveys completed in 2025 deploying 2,700 tubes (97% increase on previous year)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• APEM GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Aspect Ecology joined APEM Group in October 2023. APEM Group is a global environmental consultancy. Aspect operates as part of APEM Group with complementary sister companies Aspect Landscape Planning and Aspect Arboriculture.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wardell Armstrong: Wardell Armstrong is a UK-based environmental and engineering consultancy offering ecology, planning, and land management services to developers and infrastructure clients. Directly comparable to Aspect Ecology across ecological surveys, EIA input, and protected species licensing for UK development projects.
• Tyler Grange: Tyler Grange is a UK ecological consultancy providing protected species surveys, BNG assessments, and ecological clerk of works services to housebuilders and developers. Tightly comparable to Aspect in service mix, customer base, and geographic focus on South-East England.
• FPCR Environment & Design: FPCR is a multi-disciplinary UK practice combining ecology, landscape, and arboriculture services for development projects, closely mirroring Aspect's three-leg offer (Ecology, Landscape Planning, Arboriculture). Direct peer for integrated environmental consultancy on housebuilder and strategic land schemes.
• LUC (Land Use Consultants): LUC is a UK environmental planning, landscape, and ecology consultancy serving developers, infrastructure, and public-sector clients. Highly comparable to Aspect on EIA input, HRA support, and landscape/ecology integration for development planning.
• Greengage Environmental: Greengage is a UK ecological consultancy providing protected species surveys, ecological impact assessment, and BNG services to housebuilders and promoters. Direct peer competing with Aspect for the same South-East and national housebuilder workloads.

Broad incumbents

• RSK Group: RSK is a large acquisitive UK environmental consultancy offering ecology alongside geosciences, engineering, and environmental services. A broad incumbent competing for the same developer and infrastructure ecology mandates as Aspect, with substantial geographic and service-line scale advantages.
• Mott MacDonald: Mott MacDonald's Environment & Sustainability practice provides EIA, ecology, and environmental consultancy to major UK infrastructure, energy, and development clients. A broad incumbent that Aspect encounters on large, multidisciplinary schemes where scale and balance-sheet matter.
• Jacobs: Jacobs provides environmental services (EIA, ecology, planning) globally to infrastructure, transport, and water clients. A broad incumbent competing with Aspect on large UK infrastructure and rail/highways ecology mandates where Jacobs' scale wins framework positions.
• WSP: WSP is a global professional services firm with a sizeable UK environmental consultancy covering ecology, EIA, and planning for development and infrastructure. Broad incumbent that Aspect competes with on major mixed-use and transport schemes.

Others

• CSA Ocean Sciences: CSA Ocean Sciences is an environmental consultancy that joined APEM Group in June 2026, making it a sister-company peer rather than a competitor. It supplies marine ecological and coastal services that complement Aspect's terrestrial offering inside the unified APEM/Applus+ environmental services division.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10410496/admin

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aspect Ecology