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Great crested newts are a European protected species. District Licence Schemes have been introduced as an alternative approach to Natural England's mitigation licensing for planning applications to develop sites which could affect great crested newts.
District Licensing Schemes aim to increase the number of great crested newts by providing new or better habitats in targeted areas to benefit their wider population.
It’s a simpler, quicker process than mitigation licensing because planning applications do not need to include:
surveys of great crested newts
plans to carry out mitigation work to move newts to safety
District Licensing Schemes include:
maps to show where great crested newts are likely to live and the most important areas to conserve
target areas for new or restored ponds to compensate for loss of habitat for great crested newts
a strategy which includes an impact assessment of the effects of development at a local authority level or larger scale
a developer contributions scheme to fund compensatory habitat
A Great Crested Newt District Licence was first granted by Natural England to Staffordshire County Council on 21 October 2021 ('the Scheme') for planning applications to the County Council to develop sites which could affect great crested newts.
NSP Staffs District Licence WML-OR148-3 covering letter (74 KB)
Organisational Licence Staffordshire WML-OR148-3 (740 KB)
The NatureSpace Partnership ('NSP') act as our delivery partner to operate the Scheme.
The NSP website provides information about:
How the Scheme operates from the point of view of a developer, consultant, planner at a local planning authority and a planning agent
The process
The risk zones in Staffordshire (by participating district)
Frequently Asked Questions
How to contact the NSP
Developers - Frequently Asked Questions (5 MB)
An Introduction to District Licensing (PowerPoint slides produced to explain the Scheme to Staffordshire planners and councillors) (3 MB)
Planners - when to consult your Newt Officer (623 KB)
The NatureSpace Great Crested Newt Best Practice Principles (March 2021) (222 KB)
The NatureSpace Great Crested Newt Mitigation Principles (November 2021) (391 KB)
The NatureSpace Great Crested Newt - Authorised Development Reporting Form (2022) (222 KB)
Guidance for local planning authorities
Guidance for developers and ecologists
Where the Scheme operates
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