Great Crested Newt Survey

Daytime assessment known as Habitat Suitability Index (HSI)

Consisting of a 10 point system that generates a score, allowing for the likelihood of GCN to be established. If a score of 0.5 or above is calculated, further investigation may be required. The HSI is not a definitive assessment of the pond, recent research suggests that low scores do not mean GCN will not be present, whereas higher scores are more reliable.

Whilst on site and during the optimal survey period, egg searches, refuge searches and pond checks can confirm presence. 

It is now possible to take water samples and have a lab check for GCN DNA. If you need a definitive ‘yes or no’ to whether GCN are present  – please send in a request for a quote for this service – eDNA kits are obtained from a lab and you require one kit per pond/waterbody with courier fees and sampling time. 

Note: with the introduction of District Level Licensing (DLL) this stage is often not needed anymore, but we can still use it if required.  

Consisting of surveyors searching for GCN utilising several standard methods that include funnel trapping (bottles or similar), egg searching, torch searching and refuge searching.  This information allows the species, population and GCN use to be established.

A minimum of four visits must be undertaken between mid-April and mid-May and a further two visits, if GCN are found to be present, before mid-June.

If GCN are found to be present stage 3 Mitigation/European protected species license will be required.

Note: This is only required now when a traditional survey has been undertaken or the DLL does not cover an area e.g. London

This stage is undertaken post grant of planning consent. It usually consists of providing replacement habitat (including ponds if being removed), terrestrial habitat and compensating for the loss of feeding and hibernation areas that is being utilised by GCN.

A license is required when an offence under the habitats directive (The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.) and wildlife and countryside act 1981 (as amended) cannot be avoided e.g. damaging a GCN habitat.

This scheme is now the main route for dealing with GCN in planning, on occasion we may be able to do an Unlicensed Method Statement (when appropriate) and we charge from £429 +VAT for these. 

District level Licensing (DLL) is a scheme set-up by Government to help prevent delays and constraints to projects where great crested newts have been found.

This is now the main way of dealing with great crested newt in the planning system, it is generally quicker and as cost effective as a traditional survey.

The schemes are run by NatureSpace and Natural England and are independent of ecology consultants. The zones are created from surveying, eDNA sampling and modelling.

The Natural England-led Scheme and The NatureSpace Partnership-led Scheme, both have websites and these will detail the coverage and zones in which a site falls. More details can be found at NatureSpace, GOV.UK and Natural England.

The standard great crested newt survey methods and traditional licensing route can be costly and laborious, and with the seasonal constraints, these can span up to two years. The District Level Licensing Scheme can be accessed year-round with no surveys necessary. It is quick, simple and provides a certain outcome for mitigating for great crested newt habitat loss. It can also be cost-effective in some cases.

The focus of these schemes is on mitigating for the loss of great crested newt habitat by financing habitat creation and enhancement elsewhere and is not directly on preventing the harm of individual great crested newts. In some cases, the District Level Licensing Scheme, depending on the zone, can license the development of a site with no mitigation measures for protecting individual great crested newts on site.

In addition, the fees associated with the zones, in some cases, do not appear to reflect the impact caused to great crested newt habitat on smaller-scale developments. For example, under the Nature Space District Licensing Scheme, for a “minor” development – the replacement of a section of hedgerow surrounding an arable field to a native-rich hedgerow – in a Red Zone, carried a primary fee of £5,000 with the secondary fee anywhere up to £50,000.

Natural England, 2021. Natural England Open Data, accessed on 9th February 2021.

Nature Space UK, 2021. Impact Risk Map, accessed on 9th February 2021.