Protected Species

Many animal and plant species are protected under Schedules 5 or 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, or Annex II to the EU Habitats Directive. The penalties for reckless or deliberate interference with these species are severe and are often held to apply to the decision-makers in development companies. Even quite ordinary urban sites often support Slow-worms, Great Crested Newts, or bats. These need to be surveyed for, and, if necessary, provided with new habitats.

EPR is able to advise on the complexities of the law to ensure clients receive precise information regarding its implications. We can survey cost-effectively habitat potentially occupied by protected fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals and provide advice on whether further work is needed.

At EPR our specialist team of ecologists collectively hold Natural England survey licences for all the major protected species (badgers, bats, dormice, great crested newts, sand lizard, smooth snake). We have an excellent track record in successfully obtaining the necessary development licences for European protected species from Natural England, and implementing the necessary mitigation.

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