Wildlife licensing: comment on new policies for European protected species licences

Natural England invites interested parties to comment on 4 new policies for the way European protected species (EPS) licensing is handled to reduce the risk of harm against them from development in the future.

Natural England is seeking views from:

• local government
• planners and developers
• ecologists
• wildlife charities
• energy companies
• other interested parties

The policies

1. To allow greater flexibility on decisions to exclude or relocate EPS from development sites.
2. To allow greater flexibility on the location of newly created habitats that compensate for habitats that will be lost.
3. To allow EPS to have access to temporary habitats that will be developed at a later date.
4. To allow appropriate and relevant surveys to be carried out where the impacts of development can be confidently predicted.

Read the consultation documents on this page for full details.

Background

European protected species are protected by the Habitats Directive so that it’s an offence to capture, kill, injure or disturb them or their habitat without a licence from Natural England.

The 4 new policies could:

• have a net benefit for EPS by:
  • improving populations overall and not just protecting individual species within development sites
• reduce cost and delay to developers in the way they:
  • carry out surveys
  • exclude wildlife from development sites
  • trap or move wildlife

For enquiries about this consultation email: wildlife.consultation@naturalengland.org.uk

Use the ‘respond online’ link below to give your views.