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La Societe Guernesiaise has raised concerns about a lack of expert advice being used in drafting planning applications after some were found to contain references to birds that don't breed in the island anyway.
Pemission was recently given for a housing development in a field formerly designated for agricultural use.
The building company behind the planned development had included detail in the application stating that certain birds had not been seen in the field.
However, La Societe said those birds - Coal and Marsh Tits, Tree Sparrow, Pied Flycatcher and Nuthatch - don't currently breed in the island and are unlikely to do so anytime soon.
Nuthatch and Marsh Tit specifically have never been recorded in Guernsey, so using the lack of those birds in a field in a planning application is irrelevant, the organisation suggested.
La Societe said this "emphasises the need for applicants/developers to seek suitable professional advice regarding the installation of bird and bat boxes in local developments".
Pictured: A nuthatch - a species which La Societe Guernesiaise said has never been recorded in the island.
The organisation said it also "remains concerned over the reclassification of agricultural land to allow new development. However, as the Island Development Plan currently permits the consideration of such applications under certain circumstances, we seek to optimize ecological gains in such cases wherever possible."
Some mitigations that La Societe supports when agriculture fields are lost is the inclusion of bird and bat boxes, providing they are aimed at appropriate species, are of a suitable design and are installed in particular locations.
La Societe also supports the inclusion of soft landscaping in new developments, to encourage the development of more biodiversity.
Similar concerns are expressed over the landscaping, as with the birds, with La Societe saying developments should use suppliers which have "adequate expertise to advise on which plant species are native to the island".
"With this in mind, we wish to advise that La Societe would be able to assist with matters relating to biodiversity, for example to arrange surveys of the existing site and to provide recommendations on how the project could be enhanced in terms of its ecological value by incorporating appropriate native planting and with matters regarding the subsequent maintenance of the site," said the organisation.
The planning application which sparked La Societe's comments was approved last week, paving the way for a new development near the Oberlands entrance to the hospital. It will feature both private dwellings and key worker housing in a mixed development of houses and flats.
Oberlands build gets the go-ahead
La Société says no to PEH field build
La Société looks to the future
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