This page is for any landowners that may be impacted by the development of LionLink and offers information about engaging with the project and upcoming surveys.
Landowners
Before we can submit our application for development consent, we need to understand who has a legal interest in the land in and around the areas being considered as part of the proposals for LionLink.
Under the Planning Act 2008, we are required to identify persons with an interest in land for the purposes of consultation and notification, this process is known as ‘diligent inquiry’. We have appointed the land referencing firm, TerraQuest to assist with diligent inquiry by identifying those land interests and contacting individuals to confirm their interest in the land.
We have also appointed the land agency firm, Fisher German, to assist in liaising with landowners and occupiers to arrange access for surveys to be carried out along the route.
As a landowner, you are entitled to appoint a suitably qualified representative to act on your behalf where we are seeking rights to carry out works on your property. An agent/surveyor will advise you on the process and your rights, and will handle any compensation claims on your behalf. We will reimburse you for professional fees reasonably incurred in respect of all claims and advice on legal agreements in connection with associated land rights.
If you believe your land or property may be affected but have not been contacted by us, please email [email protected]
Surveys
All key stakeholders, such as the local planning authorities and environmental bodies (such as Natural England) have been fully informed of our planned works.
To understand more about the local environment, and to inform the environmental impact assessment, we need to carry out surveys. Surveys may take place on land within our draft order limits (the land that would be required to build and operate LionLink), on some adjoining land, and in areas that have been identified through consultation feedback as potentially sensitive.
Ongoing surveys
Below is a list of our ongoing and upcoming surveys. If for any reason a survey cannot take place on the scheduled date, such as poor weather conditions, we will endeavour to reschedule the survey in a timely manner. Access to land plots is agreed before any surveys may take place.
| Date | Survey | Location | Description |
January 2024 – ongoing
| Winter Photography
| Route-wide
| Surveyors take photographs from pre-determined viewpoints to assess the effect of seasonal vegetation.
|
April 2024 – ongoing
| Water Vole Surveys
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will record water vole field signs and log them. This will also include a bankside and in-channel search, which may involve the use of waders and/or a boat based survey.
|
July 2024 – ongoing
| Reptile Surveys
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will record and map sightings of reptiles. A detailed reptile survey will also be completed, which includes leaving artificial refugia throughout suitable habitat parcels. Seven visits will be conducted by the surveyors to determine the presence / absence of reptiles.
|
August 2024 – ongoing
| Ground Investigation Works
| Route-wide
| Ground investigations are essential to assess the ground and baseline geo environmental conditions. They help understand the soil, rocks, and groundwater below the surface, determine risks, and support design.
|
September 2024 – ongoing
| Archaeological Evaluation (trial trenching)
| Route-wide
| An intrusive survey methodology used to identify the presence, nature and condition of archaeological remains. Trial trenches are opened using a tracked excavator to carefully remove layers of soil until the archaeological layer is identified. Features are then hand excavated by qualified archaeologists, recorded and sampled, prior to full reinstatement of the trenched area.
|
September 2024 – ongoing
| Noise Surveys
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will install unattended noise monitoring equipment at specific locations. The equipment will be left for a period of up to two weeks. Attended monitoring will also take place during the daytime.
|
November 2024 – ongoing
| Geophysical Surveys
| Route-wide
| Surveyors use non-intrusive methods to assess any potential features beneath the subsoil, such as buried archaeological remains.
|
November 2024 – ongoing
| Wintering Birds Survey
| Route-wide
| Winter bird surveys monitor activity and numbers of birds using key habitats, particularly, where there are habitats within the study area are likely to be functionally linked to designated sites.
|
Previous surveys
| Date | Survey | Location | Description |
March to September 2024
| Breeding Bird Surveys
| Route-wide
| Surveyors assess breeding bird activity and distribution across the survey area.
|
April to July 2024
| Hedgerow Surveys
| Route-wide
| Survey undertaken to establish character and condition of hedgerows in the area.
|
April to August 2024
| Bat Transect Surveys
| Route-wide
| Surveyors record the activity of bats from sunset until two hours post sunset, using Bat detectors and torches.
|
April to August 2024
| Bat Static Survey
| Route-wide
| Surveyors record bat movements using detectors to help identify the species and whether they are feeding.
|
May to July 2024
| Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA)
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will conduct a rapid assessment of the ecological features present, or potentially present, within a site and its surrounding area.
|
May to August 2024
| Bat Surveys Trees (emergence / return)
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will inspect trees for any physical evidence of bat activity. Where a structure is determined to have hibernation potential for bats, it will be subject to detailed internal inspection by a licenced surveyor. This survey is repeated to maximise the likelihood of encountering any hibernating bats. A static bat detector may be left in place to determine if bats are utilising the structure to hibernate. Night time surveys will also take place where surveyors will assess bat activity with infrared cameras and a bat detector.
|
May to September 2024
| Terrestrial Invertebrate Surveys
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will record and map suitable habitat features. Detailed invertebrate surveys will then take place based on these findings.
|
May to September 2024
| Aquatic Inverterbrate Surveys
| Route-wide
| Specialist survey to determine the value of aquatic invertebrate groups associated with priority habitats at the Southwold landfall site.
|
July to August 2024
| Advanced Bat Survey
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will record bat activity using radio-tracking surveys.
|
October 2024
| Badger Surveys
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will record badger field signs and log. This will also include mapping any inaccessible habitats to inform a precautionary approach for mitigation.
|
October 2024
| Public Rights of Way Surveys (traffic and transport)
| Route-wide
| Surveyors will conduct public right of way surveys during the daytime only and will be positioned at strategic locations. The survey will include counting and categorising users of the network.
|
Get in touch
Call our Freephone information line:
0800 083 1787
Write to us at:
Freepost NGV LionLink
Or email us via the button below: