What type of great crested newt survey do I need?
The type of great crested newt survey you’ll need depends on your project. For example, a large highways scheme will need a different, and far more extensive great crested newt survey than a small residential development.
UES are experienced in all the industry standard great crested newt surveys, including:
- Impact Assessment /Habitat Suitability Index (HSI)
- Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey
- Presence / Absence and Population Size Class Assessment
- District Level Licensing
At the very least, you are likely to need a GCN impact assessment. For this type of great crested newt survey we carry out an impact assessments (also called scoping surveys) that can be undertaken at any time of the year, identifying ponds with 250m or 500m of site (depending on the size of your development). We then assess each pond against the habitat suitability index (HSI), which provides an indication as to whether a waterbody is likely to support great crested newts.
We can use Natural England’s rapid risk assessment tool to demonstrate the risk a development poses to GCN and whether addition great crested newt surveys or licensing work may be necessary. For many sites, a GCN scoping survey and impact assessment will be enough for you to secure planning permission.
However, if the site does have the potential to support GCN, further, more detailed great crested newt surveys in the form of presence / absence surveys may be needed. These are carried out by our licensed GCN ecologists within the required survey period of mid-March to mid-June. It is worth noting that two of the four surveys that form the presence / absence survey must be completed during the optimal breeding period of mid-April to mid-May.
You can also determine presence or absence of GCN by simply taking a sample of the water and sending it off for environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, which is significantly cheaper than completing the field surveys. We can collect eDNA samples from mid-April until the end of June. For more information about other types of great crested newt surveys including GCN presence / absence surveys and GCN eDNA surveys please click here
District Level Licensing
Natural England have begun rolling out the new licensing system of District Level Licensing (DLL) in order to reduce costs, delays, and uncertainty for developers, whilst focusing conservation efforts to maximise their benefit. Click here to find out more. In some situations a GCN District Level Licensing (DLL) can negate the need for a great crested newt survey.
Why do I need a great crested newt survey?
Great crested newts are a European protected species. The animals, their eggs, breeding sites and resting places are all protected by law. Although they occur in England, Scotland and Wales, and are relatively common in certain areas of the UK.
Are all newts protected?
All amphibians and reptiles found naturally in the UK are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), however, great crested newts and natterjack toads are specifically given a higher level of protection as they are both European protected species. If your development will likely impact GCN, your local planning authority will request a great crested newt survey prior to determining a planning application.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) protects smooth newts, palmate newts, common frogs and common toads against intentional killing and injuring or selling, but these are not European protected species, and therefore have less protection than GCN.
Are we the right GCN surveyors for you?
Our ecologists are highly qualified and are licensed to undertake great crested newt surveys. We’re legally allowed to disturb and handle GCN when we’re surveying them.
A great crested newt survey should only be carried out by licensed GCN surveyors who have been assessed by Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, or Scottish Natural Heritage.
For more information on the legal protection of great crested newts, please click the below link: