Previous Events

Annual Conference - 3rd March 2022

Thank you for your booking to attend AECoW’s annual conference. The event is hybrid, so physical attendance is at the Private Dining Rooms, Lancaster University, with registration between 09.00 – 09.30. The programme, and further information, for the event is here https://aecow.org/events/autumn-conference-3-march-2022/.

If you have booked remote attendance, then the link to watch the conference is here : https://aecow.org/2022-remote-access

If you have booked to attend the drinks reception, we will confirm that approximately 1 week prior to the event and ask you to re-confirm your attendance then.

We look forward to seeing / hearing you on 3rd March.

Kind regards
AECoW Management Committee

Harm Reduction - Management of Peat on Construction Sites

The importance of peatlands for biodiversity and ecosystem services is increasingly being recognised throughout the development process, but it is still not uncommon to encounter construction projects on, or near, peatland.

Being an ECoW on behalf of the Environment Agency

The EA is leading the way nationally with their requirement to have, and commitment to fund, 3rd party ECoW on all their major projects, and on complex sensitive smaller ones, but what does delivering ECoW services under the Client Support Framework involve? What types of project do we cover, what do we do and what do we find…..

Tree Protection during Construction

This webinar will explore the requirements and management of trees at various stages of project life cycle and how they can be actively considered as part of design, construction, and reinstatement. The webinar will discuss with specific case studies on what to consider to limit impact on trees through construction.

Hosted by Daniel Arnold, who works as for ESD, a joint venture between Galliford Try and MWH Treatment on the Scottish Water framework. Daniel has worked as an Environmental Clerk of Works and advisor for over 10 years in a range of sectors across Scotland.

Construction Phase Mitigation and the Role of an Environmental Clerk of Works. One year on.

AECoW invites construction phase environmental professionals of all disciplines to discuss the challenges of implementing construction phase mitigation outlined in supporting information. During the webinar we shall explore the following questions: is the mitigation outlined in supporting information deployed during the construction phase?; who is designing and or implementing the mitigation?; how do we know projects are not having a significant impact on the receiving environment?.

Through this process we will look to identify current practice, good or bad, and how consistency in role specification can achieve improved construction phase environmental performance.

ECoWs: A Planning Authority's Perspective

A planner’s personal experience of planning applications, and consents, which involve ECoWs. This will include a progress from the Heads of Planning Scotland (HoPS) Working Group, which was established in 2020 to share wider knowledge of ECoWs in the planning system.

Hosted by James Wright, Advanced Planner – Minerals and Waste, South Lanarkshire Council. James is also on the HoPS Committee and Development Sub-committee. James has over 15 years’ experience in local authority planning working within Development Management and Development Plans.

Currently responsible for managing all minerals, waste and energy planning applications in South Lanarkshire.

Benefits & Challenges: The Role of an Environmental Specialist in Construction Projects

An overview of the positive impact that an environmental specialist can bring to construction projects and a flavour of the challenges faced along the way. Hosted by Jayne Walker (Regional Environmental Manager) and Lianne Taylor (Head of Environment), Graham Construction.

Introduction to the Environmental Clerks of Works

This 1 day online course is provided by AECoW Management Committee members and is aimed at new, or aspiring ECoWs, with limited experience, or more experienced ECoWs who want to go back to basics.
Admission: Fee: Members: £75; Non-members £125.

Environmental Challenges of Construction on a Brownfield Site

Hosted by Jane Hornsby, Environmental Advisor, LLWR Ltd. A brownfield site in Cumbria, which has a long industrial history, now needs to construct an engineered cap over a disposal area of a low level waste repository (LLWR) development, as part of its EPR permit. The challenges include, planning conditions, contaminated land, ecology (next to SSSI), historical legacies and sensitive local residents.

Construction Projects & Wetlands

Hosted by Cameron MacIver, Cameron Ecology. Cameron will provide an overview of the main issues associated with the design and construction of projects located within the vicinity of wetlands and GWDTEs. He will specifically look at the protection and restoration of wetlands, and GWDTEs, based on his extensive experience across the UK.

Cameron has been working in, and around, wetlands, peatlands and upland habitats for over twenty years. Around fifteen years ago he started to realise there was a gap between what ecologists write in ecological impact assessments and what actually happens in the real world when projects are constructed. Trying to reduce this gap by making assessment work more realistic and improving awareness and practice on-site are the aspects of his work that he enjoys most. Cameron is a chartered ecologist, who sits on AECoW’s Management Committee and he is also on the Advisory Panel of CIEEM.

An Overview: Surface Water Management in the Construction Sector

Hosted by James Baylis from Siltbuster. An overview of surface water management in the construction sector and an introduction to Siltbuster Ltd.

Marine Mammals and Mitigation

Hosted by Niru Dorrian of the Marine Mammals Observer Association. The webinar will aim to cover: • An introduction to marine mammals • Sources of marine anthropogenic noise • Marine mammal mitigation & regulatory requirements (UK/Global intro) • Roles – MMO/PAM/Environmental Advisor • Industry standards, training requirements, & reporting • Case studies (if time) • Q&A