Guide
Phase 1 habitat survey cost: published UK prices and what you get
Updated
A phase 1 habitat survey costs from £275 to £700 in the prices UK ecology consultancies publish for the survey and report, a median of £399.50 across 12 firms, read in October 2026. Most firms sell it as the field survey inside a preliminary ecological appraisal.
What the survey maps
An ecologist walks the site and maps each habitat, notes features that could support protected species such as roosting places, ponds and hedgerows, and records any signs of those species. Extended to include that protected species check, it forms the main part of a preliminary ecological appraisal.
What it costs
| Consultancy | Published price |
|---|---|
| Ecology Service | surveys from £275 + VAT |
| Devon and Cornwall Ecology | from £360 plus records |
| LHB Ecology | from £400 |
| Elton Ecology | from £450 |
| Chase Ecology | from £498 |
| Arbtech | from £599 |
| Smart Ecology | from £649 |
| JCA (York) | around £700 |
Sources: Ecology Service, Devon and Cornwall Ecology, LHB Ecology, Elton Ecology, Chase Ecology, Arbtech, Smart Ecology and JCA. Across the 12 consultancies that publish a PEA price, the median is £399.50 and the range £275 to £700 (every row, with its source).
When it leads to more surveys
Where a habitat survey finds that a protected species may be affected, the planning authority follows Natural England's standing advice on the further surveys it needs (GOV.UK, protected species and development). Bats and great crested newts have their own survey guidance (bats, great crested newts), and the species are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
Published figures are what each ecology consultancy advertises on its own page, read through our fetch box on the date shown. A 'from' price is the firm's floor, not the price of your survey.