Great Crested Newts (GCN) and their habitats are protected by law. They will use aquatic and terrestrial habitats during the year, including freshwater ponds/ditches for breeding and deciduous woodland, hedgerows and rough grassland outside of the breeding season.
Therefore, if it is ‘reasonably likely’ that your project may impact a suitable terrestrial habitat within 500m of a breeding pond, then surveys must be undertaken to ensure the development can proceed legally.
It is a consideration of the Local Planning Authority (LPA) that appropriate measures have been undertaken during the planning process to consider the impacts on GCN when determining an application.
This survey aims to establish the presence or likely absence of GCN in waterbodies and the population size should individuals be present.
If you, your architect, planning agent or the LPA consider there is a likelihood of GCN being present or there is a nearby waterbody, then a survey must be carried out.
Feel free to contact us for further advice. Our costs for an HSI survey start from £350+VAT, with trapping surveys starting from £1,799+VAT.
This index takes into account a variety of parameters to give the waterbody being surveyed a score which indicates the suitability for GCN.
Usually, any ponds within 500m of the proposed development should be assessed.
This method determines the presence/likely absence and population size of GCN. It consists of bottles being placed around the edge of the waterbody overnight and then re-checked the next morning.
During each visit submerged vegetation is checked for newt eggs to help determine if the waterbody is being used for breeding. Once the first egg is located, no more egg searches are required.
If the water body is suitable, surveyors walk around the pond's perimeter an hour after dusk with a high-powered torch, looking for active newts.
These two additional techniques should be used alongside the above methods or if torching is unsuitable.
Netting involves sweeping the water to catch active individuals, whilst a refuge search involves checking terrestrial resting places for newts.
This survey consists of water samples taken between April 15th and June 30th. The samples are then analysed in a lab to identify if any sequences of GCN DNA are present or absent.
If GCN DNA is identified, further trapping/torching surveys must be conducted to determine the population size.
Once the appropriate survey effort has been completed for your project, a report must be written to support your planning application. The report will detail information about the surveys, background data for the project area, findings from the surveys, what impact the development will have on these findings and recommendations to mitigate these impacts.
If it is found that GCNs are present, then a mitigation licence or district licence will need to be obtained from Natural England to enable the project to proceed legally. This may also be supported by a ‘mitigation strategy’ outlining certain factors to consider during the development and provisions to provide GCN with new habitats and connectivity between suitable habitats.