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04 March 2014
If there is a waterbody on your site, or within 500m of the site boundary, you may be required to consider the impacts of your development on great crested newt as part of your planning application.
Ecological surveys are very seasonal, and we understand there is nothing more frustrating than having to put your project on hold whilst waiting for the findings of ecological surveys. Therefore, we are reminding all our clients that we will soon be entering the great crested newt survey season, which runs from March to May.
IF: There is a waterbody on your site or within 500m of the boundary... ECOSA CAN: Carry out a brief desktop study to discuss whether great crested newt are likely to be a consideration in your area.
IF: Great crested newt are likely to be a consideration in your area... ECOSA CAN: Visit your site and carry out a Habitat Suitability Index assessment on any water bodies present to assess whether they are suitable for great crested newt. This can be carried out as part of a wider site assessment to consider potential impacts on all habitats and protected species, known as an extended Phase 1 ecological assessment.
IF: The waterbodies on your site are considered to be suitable for great crested newt... ECOSA CAN: Carry out more detailed Phase 2 surveys to determine presence/probable absence of great crested newt and design a suitable mitigation strategy if great crested newts are present.
Although for some projects great crested newt issues can be ruled out in the early stages, for many projects survey work for great crested newt will need to be undertaken consisting of a number of surveys over an extended period. There is only a small window for these surveys to be carried out and ecological consultancies become very busy during this season. It is advised that these surveys are booked in as early as possible for the 2014 survey season to ensure surveys take place during the appropriate survey window between March and May.
Please visit our survey timetable to review the survey seasons by species, and see those months in which mitigation and other works which may affect them can be conducted. You can also read more about the great crested newt and the associated survey regimen in our Resources section.
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