Protected Species

Protected Species in the UK

On any development scheme in the UK, you are likely to 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, we would recommend getting expert advice from our team, which will see you fall within relevant legislation and put you on the right path towards smooth planning decisions.

Protected Species: A Definition

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

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

Laws and definitions surrounding the animals and plants that are European protected species stem from the habitats directive.

Species Protected Under Environmental Law in the UK

Many species, ranging from mammals to mosses, are covered by UK environmental law.

Wild birds have universal protection. Other important species are listed in the Wildlife and Countryside Act (WCA) and protected under European Protected Species (EPS) laws.

All species listed as an EPS or within the WCA are of primary importance; their vulnerable numbers making them priority species.

Protected Species

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

Mammals including bats, water vole, hazel dormouse, red squirrel.

Wild birds.

Invertebrates including white-clawed crayfish and the stag beetle.

Reptiles and amphibians including great crested newts, adders and Natterjack toads.

Marine species such as common sturgeon, basking sharks, vendace.

Plants, lichens and fungi such as Fen Orchid Lady’s Slipper, bluebell.

You can also check out our protected species list page for a more comprehensive list.

Importance of Protecting Endangered Species

Our ecological consultancy believes in the importance of conserving nature and we work to protect threatened species throughout the UK.

It is in the public interest to preserve our native species, and developers are legally obligated to contribute to this effort in the way they carry out planning projects.

Protecting Endangered Species Creates Benefits

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

Our work helps the environment by establishing new habitats for wildlife affected by development, habitat enhancement schemes on areas damaged or no longer suitable, water habitat conservation and support schemes for veteran trees.

How Can Endangered Species Be Protected?

All of our services are provided by ecologists who are licensed and 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 outlined the laws and organisations that work behind the scenes to defend endangered wildlife:

Laws That Protect Endangered Species

These include The Badgers Act (Protection of Badgers Act 1992); Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017; Habitats Regulations; Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Protection for Endangered Species comes from Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), The Local Authority, The Relevant Statutory Body.

Protected Species Surveys

You might already 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.

A Protected Species Survey Explained

The protected species survey inspects a development site for evidence of a particular type of safeguarded wildlife. Also known as a habitat survey, 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.

The reasons for needing a protected species survey include wildlife presence, local authority instructions, past records of a species being present or the results of a previous survey.

Protected Species Survey Examples

Protected wildlife species surveys can be carried out for badgers, barn owls, bats, birds, dormice, invertebrates, newts, otters, red squirrels, reptiles, water voles and white clawed crayfish.

Protected Species Survey Triggers

Your local planning authority will ask for a survey before even thinking about granting planning permission when there is a considered chance of a protected species being present.

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

Other examples of features that could trigger a site assessment include:

Protected Species: the Surveying Process

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

A lot goes into correctly carrying out a protected species assessment, such as only undertaking them at the right time 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:

Desk Study Work

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

Field Survey

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

Targeted Methods

Using different techniques and approaches depending on the type of wildlife, such as a preliminary roost assessment for bats, bottle trapping methods for newts, collecting water samples for aquatic invertebrates, leaving man-made refuges for reptiles, searching feeding stations for voles, installing nesting facilities for dormice, or holding bait marking badger surveys.

Reports for Protected Species

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 plan of mitigation that outlines the design mitigation for the proposed works.

In simple terms, an ecological report aims to provide advice that ultimately enables planning approval, giving the local authorities everything needed to grant planning consent.

Survey Licence for European Protected Species

Mitigation licences are needed when a development is highly likely to affect the protected species on or next to the site. With it, you can deal with the endangered species in a safe and compliant way.

A European Protected Species Licence (EPSL) is the formal name for a mitigation licence 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 licensing at district level as a simpler alternative for species like 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 access 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 reliable protected species survey on your development site, whether it’s for bats, dormice, great crested newts, otters, water voles or another particular species.

Our work adheres to the strict guidelines in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017: all our ecological surveys are 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 to fulfil planning requirements. Not only that, but we can cater to whatever your needs are, whether you need mitigation measures as part of the survey effort or 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 are always seen as 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 Survey 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, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot or the NIEA, depending on the site’s location.

It could be that you’re dealing with a bat roost in a tree on your site, addressing 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.