Wealden District Council has been awarded the ‘Up and Coming Award’ in the 2022 NatureSpace Annual Awards for its go-getting attitude since entering the District Licensing Scheme.
The council was one of only three award winners from more than 50 participating local planning authorities in England and was recognised for its enthusiastic and adept adoption of the District Licensing Scheme.
Since joining the NatureSpace Scheme in October 2021, Wealden District Council has successfully embedded the scheme into its planning practices and has ensured a smooth roll out across the local authority area. In this time, they have contributed significantly to landscape-scale conservation of great crested newts and wider freshwater biodiversity within the Wealden district.
To date, 11 development projects have been authorised to use Wealden’s District Licence. NatureSpace and The Newt Conservation Partnership have created or restored five ponds and 18.5 hectares of terrestrial habitat for great crested newts as a result of these development impacts. As more developments join the scheme, more habitats will be created.
“I am proud that Wealden Council has won this award. We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, which is home to many protected species. It is important to keep conservation within the area thriving and encourage new growth.”
Cllr. Ann Newton, Wealden District Council’s portfolio holder for planning and development.
The great crested newt population has declined dramatically in the UK over the last 50 years. Despite protection under UK and European wildlife law, numbers are still declining, and habitat loss is their biggest threat.
The District Licence Scheme is designed as a partnership between NatureSpace, The Newt Conservation Partnership and leading NGO’s, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and Freshwater Habitats Trust to ensure that conservation and development can work together to support protection of this species. The scheme, approved by Natural England, speeds up development delivery by providing an alternative route to working under a great crested newt licence, with no need to wait for the short seasonal survey window. Applicants using the scheme, pay monies which are used to fund high-quality aquatic and terrestrial habitat creation for the species within the region.
To mark the award, Ben Rainbow, Wealden’s Biodiversity and Arboricultural Officer and Kim Roll-Baldwin, NatureSpace ‘s Newt Officer for Sussex gathered for a presentation event at the Council’s office.
“Very well done to Wealden District Council who have implemented the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme in their planning practices to protect great crested newts in the UK.
Dr Tom Tew, Chief Executive of NatureSpace.
“Already in the time we have worked with Wealden District Council, we have seen the significant impact of embedding the scheme in their development planning. They are a great team to work with and it is a pleasure to be able to award them for the hard work and commitment they have shown to protecting the environment.”
