Manchester City Football Club are developing their Etihad Stadium and the land surrounding it. This includes plans to convert an area of post-industrial habitat into an indoor Futsal Arena. At the Etihad site a specialist domed structure was proposed.

Lloydbore were commissioned to undertake an ecological appraisal of the site to ascertain its value for protected species of wildlife. This was carried out during the winter. It identified potential for ground-nesting birds and recommended further survey work. A summer survey revealed the presence of Little Ringed Plover, a Schedule 1 bird species, for which it is an offence to disturb at the nest.

Further survey and analysis established that, although the birds were present during the summer, they were not breeding. With careful, suitable unobtrusive mitigation the development was able to proceed whilst still retaining habitat for the birds.