On Friday 31st of January 2020 at 11pm, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union.
As with many other parts of the Brexit negotiations, there is much confusion about protected species (like great crested newts) and what this new future holds for developers, planners and ecological consultants.
There has been an update to the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. The Regulations will be amended by The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 [accessed here https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/579/contents/made].
Essentially, this means that the legislative protection for protected species remains the same. The amendments make adjustments to ensure the 2017 Regulations (and some other related legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act) remain workable and that existing protections continue after the UK exits the EU.
This means that great crested newts must be a material consideration in planning applications. Following the new statutory interim guidance from Natural England for Local Planning Authorities using the District Licence Scheme (January 2020) [see previous news item], District Licensing can make dealing with great crested newts on and around your development site much smoother and easier.
Find out more on how the scheme works
Make an enquiry into how your development could use the scheme.
