Newt mitigation for developments within 500 metres of a pond

If your proposed development is within 500 metres of a pond you must take into account great crested newts as a planning consideration.

If newts are present on or around the site, your planning application must include details of any:

• impacts
• mitigation
• compensation
• monitoring activities

that will protect and conserve newt populations.

You may also need to incorporate safeguards, either:

• as part of the construction
• as a condition of granting the planning
• by legal agreement

You will also need a licence to carry out any development works near the newts.

There are 2 main ways to get a newt mitigation licence in the Buckinghamshire area:

• applying directly to Natural England’s site-based mitigation licensing scheme
• applying to NatureSpace’s District Licence Scheme and be authorised by Buckinghamshire Council under our district-wide licence (granted by Natural England)

In some limited cases, you may have the option to use the low impact class licence through a registered consultant.

All routes for application require a preliminary ecological appraisal by a suitably qualified ecologist. You can find a qualified ecologist through CIEEM’s registered practice directory.

In this licensing route, you need to commission your own newt surveys and apply to Natural England for your own newt mitigation licence.

You will need to:

• carry out environmental surveys during the newt survey season (mid-March to mid-June) to confirm the presence and population status of newts
• create mitigation and compensation proposals
• include all surveys and proposals in your planning application

If newts are present, you can then apply to Natural England for a standard site-based licence.

You cannot apply for a site-based licence on a precautionary basis. You must carry out surveys to assess if the newts or their habitat will be affected by development works.

If you do not have a licence and newts are found during construction, all building works must stop until a Natural England licence has been granted.

Buckinghamshire Council holds a district licence for great crested newts from Natural England. This is part of a regional conservation scheme delivered by NatureSpace.

Through this licensing route:

• you do not need to commission surveys because there has already been a wider regional assessment
• there is little or no compensation required on site, as this is done as part of a wider newt conservation plan
• mitigation ahead of development works will only be needed in the highest risk areas for newts

To be authorised under our district-wide licence you need to to:

• apply to enter the NatureSpace district licence scheme
• receive a report and/or certificate from NatureSpace
• include your NatureSpace report and/or certificate in your planning application

We'll authorise your use of our district-wide licence when we grant planning permission (or shortly afterwards).

If you find newts on site, you will not need to stop work because you will be covered under our district licence. The newts can be moved before construction continues.