Here at NatureSpace we work with a number of clients including developers, homeowners, planning agents and ecological consultants.
The following testimonials from some of our clients to showcase their experiences within this innovative scheme.
David Lock Associates was the planning agent for a small residential development in Olney, Milton Keynes. Not long into the project design, a desktop search revealed several great crested newt ponds within 200 metres of the site which was not good news for the project’s timescales.
Under standard licensing, the developer would have had to wait two months for the newt survey season in order to start surveying before even applying for planning permission – and would then be further delayed applying to Natural England for a licence following planning consent.
Luckily, there was another way. On behalf of the developer, David Lock Associates joined our District Licensing Scheme.
The planning agent received a report just six days after applying and their certificate 24 hours later. This enabled their authorisation to work under the Council’s great crested newt District Licence as soon as permission was granted, with no further licensing requirements.
Our District Licensing Scheme gave the developer an alternative approach – no delays, no disproportionate costs and complete certainty ahead of planning permission being granted. What’s more, they contributed to a sustainable, long-term conservation strategy delivering net gain for great crested newts and the wider environment.
David Lock Associates successfully helped their client deal with all their great crested newt requirements throughout the planning process from start to finish.
“Using the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme helped speed up the planning process for us. If we’d have gone down the traditional route, we would have had to wait at least another two months before we could even survey the site for great crested newts. This way, we could get the ball rolling much quicker, and we found the process to provide a lot more certainty for us and for our client.”
