Ecological consultancy works with Barton Willmore to enable development of new Ufton Court educational facility that brings children closer to history and nature.
Berkshire, 25th September 2017 – EPR, a planning-focused ecological survey and design consultancy has worked with planning and design company, Barton Willmore, to secure planning permission for a unique Viking Longhouse project to be developed for local children’s charity, Ufton Court.
Designed by Barton Willmore to historical specifications, the Viking Longhouse will be a narrow, timber construction located in the beautiful grounds of Ufton Court, Berkshire. The new building will enhance opportunities for children to learn in tandem about history and the natural environment.
In order to guide the project through planning, Barton Willmore, called on EPR to complete an ecological appraisal, demonstrating not only that the building can be constructed with minimal impacts on surrounding wildlife, but also that its educational function promises long-term nature conservation benefits. Both consultancies worked on a pro-bono basis for the charity, which runs development programmes for children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Now that the development has been approved, it will provide further opportunities to improve the educational and personal development experience for the children who visit Ufton Court on residential or day programmes, and create an even more enriching experience by immersing them in history and the natural environment.
The site at Ufton Court has special conservation significance because it is bordered by Ancient Woodland. This meant that EPR had to ensure the proposal complied with relevant conservation legislation for protected areas and habitats and local planning policy, and that its development would not cause loss or degradation of the Ancient Woodland.
EPR’s appraisal showed that the Viking Longhouse would not cause any negative environmental impacts and would ultimately create long-term benefits to society through nature conservation and education.
These findings were in line with EPR’s belief that outdoor and environmental education for young people plays an essential role in encouraging better future stewardship of the natural environment, and, by extension, encouraging future generations to value and take care of habitats like Ancient Woodland.
Ben Kite, Managing Director at EPR, said: “Promotion of outdoor education for young people, and particularly amongst disadvantaged children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to engage with the natural environment, is an immensely powerful tool in nature conservation.”
“EPR was delighted to work with Barton Willmore to support Ufton Court with the necessary ecological survey requirements and bring this project through planning. The Viking Longhouse is set to significantly enhance the experiences of the children who visit and its development will create invaluable long-term benefits for education and nature.”
Robin Shepherd, Partner Barton Willmore, commented: “Having worked together on a number of successful and sustainable projects in the local area, EPR was Barton Willmore’s first choice of consultancy to help bring this project to fruition. It is a pleasure for us to support Ufton Court in its work to enrich children’s lives, and see how the Viking Longhouse project will bring wide-ranging benefits to ecology and local communities.”
