Protected Species

Protected Species in the UK

With development projects anywhere in the UK, it is likely that you will cross paths with protected species, and it could be a problem for you because your local planning authority will consider nature when it comes to reviewing your plans and think about granting planning permission.

If there’s no sign of consideration for the natural environment, you could see delays or additional costs in your planning project. Instead of that, you can get expert advice from our team that will see you fall within relevant legislation and encourage smooth planning decisions.

What are Protected Species?

Certain types of protected animals and protected plants are safeguarded because they are important to our environment.

Each species is protected by law, primarily Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

The laws surrounding protected species stem from the habitats directive and define which animals and plants are classed as European protected species.

What Species are Protected Under Environmental Law in the UK?

Environmental law in the UK covers many species, ranging from mammals to mosses. While we have universal protection for all wild birds, the most critical species are those listed as species protected by WCA (Wildlife and Countryside Act) and EPS (European Protected Species) laws.

All species listed as an EPS or within the WCA are of principal importance, seen as priority species due to vulnerable populations.

Protected Species in the UK

Among the species listed below, you will find the most common categories of wildlife:

Amphibians: Great Crested Newts, Natterjack Toads

Aquatic Species: Fish, Otters, White-Clawed Crayfish

Birds: All Wild Birds, including Barn Owls

Mammals: All Bats, Hazel Dormouse, Red Squirrel, Water Vole

Importance of Protecting Endangered Species

Our ecological consultancy believes in the importance of maintaining a healthy natural world, and protecting threatened species helps us to achieve a favourable conservation status throughout the UK.

It is in the public interest to preserve our native species, and developers are now given a biodiversity duty to contribute to this effort in the way they carry out planning projects.

Benefits of Protecting Endangered Species

By protecting ecosystems, we can ensure clean air and water all over the country, contributing to the living conditions of wildlife and humans alike.

Our work generates positive change by creating alternative habitats for displaced wildlife, enhancing habitats that are damaged or no longer suitable, preserving aquatic habitat areas, and supporting the survival of veteran trees

How Can Endangered Species Be Protected?

All of our services are provided by licensed ecologists who follow strict industry standards. Part of this involves bearing in mind the standing advice from statutory bodies and the instructions from active laws.

Below, we’ve created lists of the laws and organisations that work behind the scenes to defend endangered wildlife:

Laws That Protect Endangered Species

• The Badgers Act (Protection of Badgers Act 1992)
• The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
• The Habitats Regulations
• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)

Organisations That Protect Endangered Species

• Natural England
• Natural Resources Wales
• The Local Authority
• The Relevant Statutory Body (e.g. the Environment Agency)

Protected Species Surveys

You could have a plan for your proposed development site, but the absence or likely presence of protected species can cause adverse impacts to your timeline.

The solution to bridging the gap between your planning project and the law is to complete protected species surveys, ensuring compliance before you start the development works.

What is a Protected Species Survey?

Also known as a habitat survey, a protected species survey is a structured inspection of a development site for evidence of a particular type of safeguarded wildlife.

It starts with an initial assessment of the survey area to determine if there is suitable habitat for a protected species before going on to establish the presence or likely absence of them.

A protected species survey could be arranged due to evidence of wildlife, instructions from the local council, past records of a species present or the results of an earlier ecology survey, such as a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA).

Examples of Protected Species Surveys

A wide range of assessments for protected species is available, including:

When are Protected Species Surveys Required?

Your local planning authority will ask for a survey before even thinking about granting planning permission if there is a reasonable likelihood that a protected species is present.

For instance, it could include whenever a development could affect man-made structures like old barns, habitats like ancient woodland or dense vegetation are affected, and water bodies that could support aquatic species.

Other examples of on-site features that could trigger an assessment include:

Surveying Protected Species

From start to finish, our team follows industry standards and best practice guidelines during any and all surveys we conduct.

A lot goes into correctly carrying out a protected species assessment, such as only undertaking them during the correct time of year based on the species, only providing them when surveys are required, creating a suitable mitigation strategy, producing effective compensation measures, and meeting any specific mitigation licence conditions.

In an attempt to simplify the process, we’ve mapped out the steps below, as well as other considerations, such as the importance of a report and the potential need for a development licence:

Protected Species Survey

The core survey process generally follows these steps:

1. Desk Study

Starting with desk-based research to review all existing data and records about the site, focusing specifically on any current or past logs of protected species occupying the area.

2. Field Work

Moving across to a physical inspection of the site, with universal tasks like a habitat suitability assessment, as well as different aims based on the specific type of wildlife, such as a calculation of the habitat suitability index (HSI), for example, in the case of great crested newts.

3. Targeted Methods

Using different techniques and approaches depending on the type of wildlife, such as a preliminary roost assessment for bats or barn owls, bottle trapping for newts, collecting water samples for aquatic invertebrates, leaving artificial refugia for reptiles, searching feeding stations for water voles, bait marking surveys for badgers, or installing nest tubes for dormice.

Protected Species Survey Report

Regardless of which species you’re working with, a protected species survey will always finish with the ecological consultant creating a report.

All of the reports that come after an ecology survey are seen as a material consideration in the eyes of the local planning authority. More specifically, alongside general information like the survey process and results, ecology reports include a mitigation plan that outlines the design mitigation for the proposed works.

In simple terms, the purpose of an ecological report is to provide advice and ultimately support planning approval, giving the local authorities everything needed to grant planning consent.

European Protected Species Survey Licence

If the development is highly likely to impact the protected species on or next to the site, you may need a mitigation licence. With it, it will be possible to deal with the endangered species in a safe and compliant way.

Formally known as a European Protected Species Licence (EPSL), a mitigation licence is granted under exceptional circumstances when a planning project is of public interest.

Our team can give you further information on the licence conditions and could recommend district-level licensing as a simpler alternative for species like great crested newts.

Our Protected Species Services

We are passionate about properly balancing your planning goals alongside your duty to protect UK wildlife.

By working with Arbtech, you can have a full range of protected species services. And if it turns out further surveys are needed, we can remain involved in the process and undertake them too.

Under our guidance, you can rightly support protected species, allow your development plans to continue, and get planning permission for your project.

Consultants with Protected Species Licensing

Our team consists of experienced ecologists, all with the experience, knowledge and capability to execute a top-quality protected species survey on your development site, whether it’s for bats, dormice, great crested newts, otters, water voles or another particular species.

Everything we do is based on the strict guidelines of habitat and species regulations and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with all ecological surveys carried out with the same level of quality and consideration.

The ecological consultants at Arbtech can undertake a habitat assessment for protected species, as well as help you with getting protected species mitigation licences if you need them as part of your planning obligations. Not only that, but we can cater to whatever your needs are, whether you need mitigation measures as part of the survey effort additional surveys for a similar habitat.

Assessments Across the Protected Species Calendar

We understand that development projects can be time-consuming, leaving you with a tightrope to walk when it comes to making everything in your schedule work. Unfortunately, however, seasonal restrictions come hand in hand with protected species surveys, and as such, you need to make sure that you plan ahead and book any terrestrial surveys as early as possible.

Protected species survey schedules operate all year round, but depending on the species in question, there could be peak times, optimal time periods or spaces in the year where assessments simply cannot be done. And that isn’t even factoring in the usually unpredictable nature of weather conditions.

For example, the breeding season for bird populations runs from mid-April and May to August, meaning a breeding bird survey can only be conducted during this time. Likewise, bat activity surveys can only take place when bats are active during a similar period in the year.

Cost-Effective Protected Species Solutions

As soon as we start working with a client, we ensure that the development proposal meets all planning requirements efficiently.

The potential impact on threatened species or sites with elements that affect ecological value like veteran trees is always considered a material consideration by the local council. Our qualified ecologists design targeted mitigation measures to help you fulfil your biodiversity duty and protect species of principal importance.

In addition to doing this quickly and effectively, we also guarantee that you aren’t paying more than you need to. The presence of protected species is an issue that a lot of developers and planners will have to deal with, and we always follow the same process when pricing up our services.

Our survey services are estimated using a baseline price, only adding on to it based on the size of the site, the scale of the development, the number of ecological surveyors needed, and the amount of time it will take to complete.

Book a Protected Species with Our Team

Every development proposal we work on is assessed against the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and the input of relevant organisations, such as Natural England or Natural Resources Wales, depending on the site’s location.

It could be that you’re dealing with a bat roost in a tree on your site, wild birds occupying a section of your roof, need help with getting a development licence from Natural England or just want guidance to support GCN licensing. Whatever your problem, speak directly to Arbtech, and we will be able to provide information on what you need to help, execute the services you need, and do everything needed to get planning conditions over the line.

Get in touch today by calling us over the phone, sending an email to our team or filling out the contact form on our website. Give us as much detail about your development as possible, and with that information, we can then go on to create a free quote for you to look over. If you’re happy with it, let us know as soon as possible, and we can work out a suitable time to get one of our ecological consultants to help you.