What ACD Environmental does

ACD Environmental is a UK-based multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy founded in 1985 by Stephen Dale. The firm delivers four integrated core service lines — arboriculture, archaeology and heritage, ecology and biodiversity, and landscape architecture — supporting development projects from initial site survey through planning support to construction-phase monitoring. Its technical specialisations include BS5837:2012 compliant tree surveys, CAVAT amenity tree valuation, Natural England Biodiversity Metric calculations for Biodiversity Net Gain compliance under the Environment Act, GLVIA3 landscape visual impact assessments, SANG design for SPA/SAC mitigation, and protected species surveys covering bats, great crested newts, reptiles, dormice, badgers, otters, and water voles.

The consultancy operates from three UK offices — Malmesbury (Wiltshire) as headquarters, Godalming (Surrey) as South-East office, and an Eastleigh ecology team — delivering services to property developers, housebuilders, agricultural and rural landowners, commercial developers, and public sector organisations primarily across England. Revenue is generated through project-based professional consultancy fees, with pricing determined per-project by scope and complexity rather than standardised tiers. Customer acquisition relies on direct enterprise engagement, referrals, blog content marketing, LinkedIn presence, and industry event participation.

The business model is built on human-expert delivery of regulated planning-stage environmental services rather than technology platforms, software products, or APIs. Notable named clients include CALA Homes Chiltern (120-unit residential project in Aylesbury), Miller Homes (Platinum Jubilee Country Park at Minerva Heights, Chichester), and Howarth Homes on behalf of Paradigm Housing (Enfield project). The firm is privately held, founder-led under Managing Director John Constable and Chairman Stephen Dale, with no disclosed external investors, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no recorded M&A or funding activity.

Name

ACD Environmental

Legal name

ACD Environmental Ltd

Website

https://acdenvironmental.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACD Environmental is a UK-based multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy founded in 1985, offering arboriculture, archaeology, ecology, and landscape architecture services to property developers, housebuilders, landowners, and public sector clients across England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Malmesbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Consultancy Services: ACD Environmental generates revenue through professional consultancy services across arboriculture, archaeology and heritage, ecology, and landscape architecture. Services include surveys, impact assessments, planning support documents, design services, and site monitoring during construction. Revenue is project-based, typically tied to planning applications and development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ACD Environmental is a UK-based multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy practice founded in 1985 that delivers arboricultural, archaeology and heritage, ecological, and landscape architecture design and consultancy services. Its work spans tree surveys, protected species surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain calculations, archaeological assessments, landscape masterplanning, and construction-phase site monitoring to support development projects and planning applications across England.

Product overview

ACD Environmental is a multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy founded in 1985, offering four integrated core service lines: Arboriculture Services, Archaeology and Heritage Services, Ecology and Biodiversity Services, and Landscape Architecture Services. These services are delivered through collaborative multi-disciplinary teams that work together on development projects. The company also provides specialized offerings including Biodiversity Net Gain calculations, SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace) design, and construction-phase site inspections. Services operate across multiple UK locations from offices in Malmesbury (Head Office) and Godalming (South-East Office), serving residential, commercial, and infrastructure development clients throughout England.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arboriculture Services Tree surveys, tree protection plans, arboricultural impact assessments, and method statements conducted in accordance with BS5837:2012 standards, including veteran tree identification, CAVAT assessments, and arboricultural monitoring during construction. Provided to developers, planning authorities, and landowners for planning application support.
• Archaeology and Heritage Services Archaeological and heritage surveys and assessments, including recording of historical features, WW2 pillbox documentation, and heritage impact assessments for development sites. Provided to property developers and public sector clients seeking planning compliance.
• Ecology and Biodiversity Services Comprehensive ecological surveys including protected species surveys (bats, reptiles, great crested newts, otters, water voles, badgers, dormice), habitat surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain calculations, Ecological Impact Assessments, and European Protected Species monitoring for development projects.
• Landscape Architecture Services Landscape masterplanning, detailed hard and soft landscape proposals, Landscape Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA) following GLVIA3 guidelines, play area design, open space design, and landscape management plans, including SANG design and Urban Greening Factor calculations.
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Services Calculation and implementation of the statutory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain requirement using Natural England's Biodiversity Metric, including habitat metric calculations, biodiversity impact calculator reports, and habitat management and monitoring for development sites.
• SANG Design Services Design and delivery of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs) following Natural England guidelines to mitigate recreational pressure on protected sites such as SPAs and SACs, including circular footpath design and capacity calculations.
• Site Inspections and Clerk of Works Construction-phase monitoring, contract administration, employer agent services, and Clerk of Works functions for landscape, ecology, and arboricultural works during development projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10% Biodiversity Net Gain achievement for development sites under Environment Act requirements
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kompan UKminorOthersACD Environmental selected Kompan UK as their supplier for play equipment on the CALA Homes Chiltern project. Kompan UK's Greenline range offers eco-friendly and sustainable materials including 100% recycled post-consumer materials and parts made from 75% post-consumer ocean waste for play structures.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WSP: Global professional services firm with a major UK environmental consulting practice covering ecology, landscape, EIA, and planning support. Overlaps with ACD in planning-application services but at substantially larger scale and broader portfolio.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with a sizable UK environment practice covering ecology, landscape architecture, environmental impact assessment, and planning. Competes for the same enterprise developer clients on larger schemes.
• Jacobs: Global professional services firm delivering environmental consulting, ecology, and planning support across UK infrastructure and development projects. Overlaps at the high end of the planning/EIA market where ACD also competes.
• RSK Group: Large UK-based environmental, engineering, and technical services group with broad environmental consulting, ecology, and landscape offerings. Acquiror of multiple smaller consultancies; represents both a peer and a likely roll-up acquirer of ACD-style firms.

Direct peers

• Aspect Ecology: UK ecological consultancy providing habitat surveys, protected species licensing, and Biodiversity Net Gain services. Direct overlap in BNG, ecology, and planning-support offerings for residential and commercial developers.
• Greengage Environmental: UK environmental consultancy delivering ecological, arboricultural, and landscape consultancy for planning applications. Comparable scale, service mix, and developer-client orientation.
• Thomson Ecology: UK ecology consultancy serving housebuilders, infrastructure providers, and public sector clients with survey, mitigation, and monitoring services. Comparable in customer segments and service portfolio scope.
• Tyler Grange: UK multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy offering ecology, arboriculture, and landscape architecture services to developers and planning authorities. Closely comparable in service mix, customer base, and project-based delivery model.
• CSA Environmental: UK multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy providing ecology, arboriculture, landscape, and heritage services. Strong overlap with ACD's four-discipline integrated model and developer customer base.
• Ecology Solutions: UK ecological consultancy delivering protected species surveys, BNG assessments, and habitat management for development clients. Comparable focus on ecology-led planning support with similar customer profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acd-environmental
• Xx.com/acdenv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 ACD Environmental