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Where great crested newts are present on site and their habitat is likely to be affected by the development, appropriate measures will need to be put in place to allow the development to progress. The developer may also need to obtain a licence from the relevant statutory body.

We are experts in all aspects of great crested newt mitigation and licensing and can design and implement a mitigation strategy to ensure that your development complies with the relevant legislation and policy. Contact us for open and honest advice regarding great crested newts and your development.

Great crested newt mitigation includes taking measures to avoid or reduce the impacts of the development on great crested newts. This typically includes taking measures to avoid killing or injuring great crested newts (e.g. by trapping and moving them) and ensuring that their habitat is either retained and protected through the development or that suitable alternate habitat is provided to compensate for any habitat lost.

If all great crested newt habitat can be retained and reasonable avoidance measures can be followed to avoid killing or injuring great crested newts, then it may be possible for the development to progress without the need for licensing. If this is not possible, then a development licence (known as a European Protected Species License or “EPSL”) will need to be gained from the relevant statutory body (e.g. Natural England) once planning permission has been granted. This involves completing a reasoned statement that sets out why the works are required and a method statement that details how the impacts on great crested newts will be minimised. Once the licence is granted, the development can progress providing the measures detailed within the method statement are followed.

Note that in most instances the regulators will require great crested newt surveys to have been undertaken before they will approve or licence the mitigation strategy. See our great crested newt survey page for more information.

Sites that support great crested newts can be developed providing measures are put in place to avoid killing or injuring newts and suitable replacement habitat is provided.