Good news for newts, developers and local planning authorities
By Stephanie Bird-Halton, Director – National Delivery at Natural England and Dr Jennifer Crees, Senior Evaluation Officer, at NatureSpace Partnership
Great crested newts have declined by over 40% since the turn of the 20th century, a result of the loss of around two thirds of ponds in our landscapes. This loss has led to great crested newts being protected, with environmental regulations put in place to support their long-term future. To enable developers to more efficiently and effectively meet these regulations and to facilitate nature recovery across entire landscapes, strategic licensing for great crested newts was launched.
Now, we have our first five‑year evaluations of strategic licensing for great crested newts, which show that the approach is supporting nature recovery, giving developers greater certainty and helping local planning authorities (LPAs) progress planning applications more quickly.
The evaluations cover April 2020 to March 2025 and include findings from Natural England’s District Level Licensing (DLL) scheme and NatureSpace Partnership’s District Licensing (DL) scheme. General information about the schemes – Natural England’s DLL and NatureSpace Partnership’s DL.
Strategic licensing for great crested newts provides an alternative to the traditional site‑by‑site approach. Instead of surveying and protecting newts on site, developers can offset the evidence-based predicted harm of their development by funding the creation of new ponds in places where newts are most likely to thrive, and maintaining and monitoring these for 25 years.
Both schemes aim to:
- create more high‑quality habitat and support thriving newt populations
- provide a more efficient and cost-effective licensing system for developers
- provide a more efficient and effective licensing system for LPAs
So far, the schemes have licensed over 2,045 developments, supporting the delivery of over 70,000 new homes. For every pond lost to development that was used by newts, developers pay for four new ponds to be created in in carefully selected ecologically suitable locations, improving both habitat availability and likelihood of colonisation.
New high‑quality habitat for newts
By March 2026 more than 4,800 new ponds had been created through the schemes. The evaluation showed:
- High pond quality: over 75% of ponds surveyed in 2024 were assessed as high quality for great crested newts.
- Newts using the ponds: over 37% of ponds have been used by great crested newts at least once in the last five years, rising to as high as 69% for mature, established ponds.
- A clear net increase: The schemes have delivered a net increase of over 1,000 ponds across licensed developments.
These results are exciting and extremely encouraging given most of the ponds created through the schemes are still relatively young. Extensive monitoring funded by the schemes shows that pond use increases as ponds mature. It takes time for the vegetation, required by newts to lay their eggs on, to establish in the pond and for the newts to naturally migrate across the landscape to find the new ponds. In most areas, ponds delivered through the schemes are already seeing higher rates of newt presence than existing ponds in the surrounding landscape, and we only expect these results to improve with time.
Click here for the Newt Conservation Partnership’s latest monitoring report for NatureSpace’s District and Organisational Licensing Schemes.
A NatureSpace Partnership Compensation pond, © Gary Beckett
More certainty and time efficiency for developers
Strategic licensing has quickly become the preferred approach for many developers. Despite a very small minority of planning applications having any potential impact on great crested newts, DLL/DL provide a streamlined licensing solution when developers need it. Almost all (more than 95%) of developers surveyed in a feedback questionnaire have said they’d use the schemes again. The survey also shows developers value:
- Quicker licence turnaround times, with no seasonal survey restrictions and no need to provide on‑site mitigation, helping projects start sooner.
- Greater certainty of securing a licence, reducing risks and delays post planning.
- Clear and predictable costs, with many developers reporting that DLL/DL costs are the same as, or lower than, standard mitigation licensing.
Local planning authorities are seeing increased efficiencies and support
LPAs reported via feedback surveys that strategic licensing is helping to speed up planning decisions. Respondents said DLL/DL reduces administration and supports smoother progress through the planning system, enabling developers to get on site quicker.
Both schemes provide strategic mapping tools, including “risk zones” showing where newts are most likely to be found, that LPAs can use to assess development impact risk and for their own strategic planning. Nearly half of LPA respondents are already using these tools to inform policies, including local plans, site allocations and Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
Under the NatureSpace DL model, LPAs confirmed the additional support provided to facilitate the organisational licence is invaluable. As a result, 85% of LPA respondents said they feel confident advising planning applicants on strategic licensing.
One LPA partner stated “The integration of planning and licensing makes it so much easier to quickly but properly account for impacts, and the scheme contributes to local nature recovery targets. The specialist support for LPAs ensures we can deliver licences without delays”.
Local planning authority colleagues visiting a NatureSpace compensation pond
A successful approach for nature, development and planning
These five‑year evaluations demonstrate that strategic licensing is delivering measurable benefits for nature, developers and planning authorities alike. Thousands of new, high‑quality ponds are helping great crested newts recover across the landscape, while developers and LPAs are experiencing faster decisions, clearer processes and stronger support.
As Tom Tew, CEO, NatureSpace Partnership reflects, “this first in‑depth evaluation demonstrates the extent to which this approach is working on all fronts. We are excited by the ecological outcomes and delighted by how the scheme is used by and supports Local Planning Authorities and developers. There are also lessons to learn, which we are using to improve how we deliver our mission of Nature Recovery. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Natural England delivering outcome-focused, ecologically robust, well-regulated licensing approaches that deliver for wildlife locally”.
Marian Spain, CEO, Natural England underscores the importance of the model, saying, “the success of this approach reflects the strength of our partnership working and shows how well‑designed, evidence‑based strategic solutions can support both nature recovery and responsible development.”
Together their reflections highlight how strategic licensing is proving that development and nature recovery can genuinely go hand in hand.
Our full report, and a shorter summary report are available to download below, and you can find Natural England’s here.
A NatureSpace Partnership Compensation pond
