In October, six local planning authorities across Surrey joined with NatureSpace to provide a District Licence Scheme for developers that will deliver both better conservation for great crested newts and a better route for developments to meet legal obligations.

The great crested newt is the largest native newt species in the UK, and its dramatic population decline over the last 50 years is a key concern for local authorities, conservationists and developers. The District Licence Scheme, an alternative option to seasonal surveys and standard licencing, will deliver a network of clean water ponds, and associated wildlife habitats, to ‘reconnect’ the landscape for newts and support lots of other freshwater species. Developers’ fees pay for the creation, restoration and long-term management and monitoring of ponds, and ensure that they benefit newts for years to come.

The six new local planning authorities now offering the scheme to developers are Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Guildford Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Tandridge District Council. Elmbridge Borough Council will be joining the NatureSpace Scheme in the coming weeks.

NatureSpace District Licensing is now running in nearly 50 Councils across the midlands and south of England and covers over 17,300 square kilometres. Since its launch in 2018, the scheme has invested over £4 million in newt conservation, enabling the Newt Conservation Partnership to create over 200 high-quality clean water ponds and more than 600 hectares of wildlife habitat for great crested newts. 70% of the sites monitored in 2022 have had positive great crested newt records since their creation/restoration. Rare plant species have also been recorded in some ponds, including Tassel Stonewort and Lesser Water-plantain, showing some of the wider benefits the ponds are delivering – helping to stem the decline of freshwater wildlife.

In addition to the conservation delivery, a key benefit of the NatureSpace District Licence Scheme is that it provides developers with a year-round ‘one-stop shop’ for their newt licencing needs – when they apply for planning permission, with no need for surveys – which vastly speeds up the planning process..

The District Licence Scheme is accessible to all types of developers, from householders to major infrastructure and commercial development projects and with potential significant infrastructure expansion and strategic development in Surrey in the years ahead, the local planning authorities are ensuring that future development should have a positive impact on newts.

“We are excited to be working with NatureSpace on this scheme which will ensure that great crested newt habitat is increased and enhanced, enabling this protected species to flourish in the borough. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has already met with the Newt Conservation Partnership to identify the location of new ponds in Horton Country Park Local Nature Reserve. We look forward to continuing this vital conservation work across the borough in the coming years. An additional benefit to the scheme will be to assist developers by expediting planning applications in areas that have been assessed by NatureSpace.”

Councillor John Beckett, Chair of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council

“We are thrilled to be working with the Surrey planning authorities and the Surrey Wildlife Trust to implement District Licensing. Our scheme offers a year-round, quick, simple and risk-free solution for developers of all sizes and types to meet their great crested newt obligations.

“The wonderful new ponds are created in optimum locations for newts, away from the pressures of development. Our partners at the Newt Conservation Partnership create, manage and monitor these aquatic and terrestrial habitats long-term, guaranteeing a sustainable future for newts. This is great news for developers, planning authorities and, especially, great crested newts in the county.”

Dr Tom Tew, NatureSpace Partnership CEO

During the planning process development impacts are meticulously accounted for using NatureSpace’s impact risk zone maps and the District Licence impact metrics. Funding raised from developments using the scheme will fund the creation of high-quality habitats across Surrey – at least four high-quality new newt ponds for every one lost – and provide management contracts for these sites for at least 25 years.