Development Services

Within JBA there is a wealth of expertise and experience

JBDS is a 'one-stop shop' for resolving development issues that need care, attention and monitoring.

Adoption of Public Open Spaces.

Since its establishment in April 2004, JBDS has provided assistance to numerous developers enabling the adoption of public open space, play areas, amenity spaces, tree belts and liaising directly with the client's customers regarding these issues.

Our work with adoption of open space lead us to conclude that there must be a better and more cost effective way of ensuring the sustainable on-going maintenance of open spaces, which currently fails all parties.

This conclusion prompted the establishment of OASIS - and private management company - operated within JBDS Ltd - but with a difference.

Play Area Adoption: Redesign Can be a Cheaper Route.

The legislative and safety requirements in respect of playgrounds and play equipment are constantly changing. Recent policy changes (published by DCSF and Play England) are for once to your advantage.

To make the most of these changes you need someone who understands your obligations as well as opportunities to save money.

By redesigning a LEAP to the new guidance (incorporating natural play) could save you £40,000 and create a better more innovative and inclusive play area. More can be saved on adoption costs too.

Re-design need not delay things either. JBA can re-design the play area in double quick time and JBA usually find LPAs prefer these schemes now and approve them quickly because they are cheaper to maintain.

JBDS will advise on quality contractors to ensure a fast and satisfactory result at cost effective rates.

Within JBA there is a wealth of expertise and experience available including:

• • All types of adoption and planning
    agreements
• • Technical advice
• • Obtaining quotations
• • Negotiating with contractors
• • Provision of approved lists of contractors
• • Site inspections and monitoring work
• • Project management
• • Liaison with local authority staff
• • Providing client status reports



Flexible Fee Arrangements:

• • An hourly rate arrangement with an agreed ceiling figure
• • An agreed percentage fee based on the value of the work
• • A fixed fee
• • A retainer arrangement

The biggest threat is from Japanese Knotweed which has spread the length and breadth of the country and is highly destructive 'red book' weed. However, there is a lot of unnecessary scare about this weed: It is a lot cheaper to eradicate than many people say it is and those same people charge far too much for eradicating it.

It does have the potential to push through tarmac and can invade the inside of houses. In fact Japanese knotweed grows up to 2cm per day. It reproduces rapidly by using underground roots called rhizomes which sprout at regular intervals as the plant grows. The rhizome system may extend from a parent plant up to 7m and to a depth of 2m.

JBDS have the answer for though: a low cost rapid-response eradication service: Often 90% can be killed with the first application, although mature stands (knotweed up to 8ft in height) will require mechanical clearance first with the treatment applied to the re-growth. We can provide similar treatments for Giant Hogweed and Ragwort.

Horsetail (sometimes known as Mare's tail), a native and annual weed in this country, is less vigorous than Japanese Knotweed though it possesses comparable destructive properties. Historically it has been found mainly in waste areas, fallow fields and hedgerows. Over the last 15 years it has emerged as a problem in no-till fields and more recently a problem in some tilled fields.

Poison Hemlock is a biennial native to Europe and thrives alongside roads, railtracks, irrigation ditches, stream banks and at the edge of fields. The weed can cause respiratory problems if ingested by humans or animals and should not be touched. Its likeness to cow parsley has caused many to ingest the weed by mistake.

Ragwort is native and widespread throughout the UK on a number of soil types and climatic conditions. It is mainly found on wasteland, development land, roadside verges, amenity land, woodland and poorly maintained grazing pasture. Even when dead, it is toxic to livestock.

Giant Hogweed is an invasive, non-native plant, now widespread throughout the British Isles especially along riverbanks. This species possesses both environmentally damaging properties as well as risks to human health.

Eradication Service

• Inspect - Sites, gardens, POS
• Advise - Solutions Method Statement timing
• Liaise - Authorities, Contractors, Environment Agency
• Quote - Treatment and different disposal eradication options
• Monitor - Progress timetable
• Report - Completion Progress