REC is a consultancy, specialising in environmental services, inspection, regulatory and risk management.

There are 18 species of bat in the UK. All of them eat insects and each species targets specific insect types and hunts them in its own particular way. All bats have very large appetites as flying is energy intensive. A common pipistrelle for example can eat over 3,000 small insects in a one night. […]

Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were widely used in construction prior to their ban in 1999. Many developers and contractors are aware of risks from asbestos in buildings, however asbestos in soils is becoming a prevalent matter for consideration. It is often difficult (and sometimes not possible) to ensure that all asbestos is removed before demolition, and […]

REC was recently commissioned to undertake a Breeding Bird Survey on an area of arable farmland where a population of greenfinch had been sighted. The survey was part of an application to extend an herb and spices wholesale facility. Greenfinch populations are under significant pressure through a combination of a parasite-borne disease commonly known as […]

  As with many other cities across the globe, London is struggling with air pollution. This has led it to follow the lead of other cities and develop and implement measures to tackle this pollution. The first fruit of this new approach has been to charge high-polluting vehicles a daily fee to enter a set […]

As the Ecology survey season is now in full swing, REC’s ecologists are very busy out on site conducting surveys on a number of proposed developments. This is a picture of our ecologist Sarah conducting a habitat assessment as part of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) to support planning for a proposed residential development near […]

  Hello Matt – tell us about a typical day in Air Quality at REC. As an Air Quality team, we do a lot of work for property developers, other promoters and planners so a mixture of computer modelling and reporting on atmospheric emissions from things like road traffic, local power generation units and industrial […]

  The draft London Plan published in August last year has followed a growing trend amongst authorities in considering and preserving their geo-diversity. Geodiversity can often be overlooked; however, it is being referred to with increasing frequency in nature conservation and planning policy, and now within the London Plan. What is geodiversity and why is […]

With so many potential applications of asbestos, it’s not easy to identify whether or not asbestos is present in a building or other product. The most effective way to stay safe is to have the material tested by an in-house asbestos sample laboratory with staff skilled at working to HSE Guidance Notes and accredited by […]