Previous news
2011
(3rd October) Natural England has launched the first of several Class Survey Licences - so licensees will no longer need to apply for a personal survey licence each year. There are two levels, GCN Level 1 (WML-CL08): (219kb)
for all survey methods except pitfall trapping and GCN Level 2, (WML-CL09): (171kb) for all survey methods including pitfall trapping. Current great crested newt licensees will be automatically transferred across to the Class Survey Licence system once licence returns are received. We strongly encourage licensees and new applicants to read our Frequently Asked Questions: (188kb) which explain why we are introducing these Class Survey Licences and how the process works.
(1st July) Natural England have updated their guidance Handy hints on obtaining a bat mitigation licence at first submission: (150kb), this also outlines the ten most common reasons for Further Information Request responses.
(11th June) Natural England have released new guidance handy hints on obtaining a dormouse mitigation licence at first submission (WLMG35): (128kb), this also outlines the most common reasons for a Further Information Request responses. A series of FAQs are currently under review and should be released shortly to assist with common queries with regard to common dormouse and licensing. If you would like to submit a question for inclusion please contact Debby Smith.
(28th March) Please be aware that there will be some changes to how all licensing, including European Protected Species mitigation licensing, is delivered after 1st April 2011. There may be some unavoidable disruption during the transition period, however, we will endeavour to continue delivering the high standards our customers expect. Further details are available in Advance Warning: Potential Disruption to European Protected Species Mitigation Licensing in April 2011: (113kb).
(10th March) Great crested newt mitigation licence method statement templatenew version published March 2011: (689kb)
. Some regular applicants pointed out a minor formatting error in version November 2010 in section D5.1, drop down menu options did not change colour in accordance with the impacts selected. This never affected the content of these cells, but has now been rectified. The new version is now available for use. In addition to the small change in section D5.1, the work schedule (E6a) and post development works timetable (E6b) have also been updated.
(9th March) Natural England have released new guidance on European Protected Species and the planning process. This guidance document (WML-G24)
details, at a high level, the approach Natural England’s wildlife licensing team takes when assessing a EPS mitigation licence applications against the three ‘tests’, as set out in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (Habitats Regulations).
(21 January) Natural England are developing plans to enable customers to submit licence applications electronically if they wish to. Compressing files makes an enormous difference to the size of applications, and thus to their efficient handling. We have developed the following advisory material: (1.62mb) for users of Microsoft Office 2007 systems. We expect to remove the need for a paper copy of an EPS application by the 15th February 2011, and enable other species licensing to submit electronically a few weeks later.
(20 January) Please be aware that there may be delays to the service Natural England Wildlife Management and Licensing Team provide currently as the Wildlife Licensing Unit is relocating. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.
(19 January) The Natural England online licensing system has been closed down for essential maintenance, it should be back in operation on Monday 24th January. Apologies for any disruption this will cause, as an alternative in the interim applications can be downloaded and e-mailed to wildlife.scicons@naturalengland.org.uk.
(15 December) Advanced warning of the Wildlife Licensing Unit office move: As from Monday 24th January 2011 the Wildlife Licensing Unit will be situated at a new office location in central Bristol. Our letter to customers: (58kb) provides further details on our office move and guidance on where, and when, to send applications and other correspondence to our new address. All telephone numbers and email addresses for the Wildlife Licensing Unit and members of staff will remain the same, despite the move.
(15 December) Great crested newt update: A new guidance note is now available providing useful tips on how to fill in the Great crested newt method statement template work schedules (E6a and E6b): (309kb). Two theoretical examples of the same development scenario for an application submitted at different times of the year have been provided.
(15 November)The much awaited revised version of the great crested newt method statement template: (689kb) is now available on our application forms page. This latest version includes changes to the survey section structure, a new declarations page and advice on post development monitoring requirements. To assist with applications which involve more than 10 ponds there is also a new appendix (for a further 20 ponds): (409kb) available to append to the method statement (also available on the applications form page). Please always download the latest version of the method statement template before preparing each new application to be made.
(29 October) Natural England have now released three European Protected Species mitigation licensing updates. These ‘latest developments’ will keep stakeholders informed of proposed changes to the EPS licensing process and give notice of implementation dates. The first changes were announced in the August issue of the ‘latest developments’: (199kb) which resulted from recent focus group workshops and customer feedback. We aim to continue to develop a licensing process that is streamlined, places least burden on customers and staff within current legislation. Please note that an amended version of the ‘How to get a licence: (1mb)' guidance which incorporates the initial raft of changes is now available on the website. The September issue: (180kb) and October issue: (173kb) of latest developments are now also available.
2010
(6 April) On 1 April 2010 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 came into force. These are now the principal means by which the Habitats Directive is transposed in England and Wales. This updates and consolidates all the amendments to the Regulations since they were first made in 1994. There are few changes that effect licensing and advice (except in the marine environment - see news item below). However, please note that restructuring to make the legislation easier to understand has resulted in alterations to the numbering of the various provisions.
(24 March) In February 2010, Natural England ran two stakeholder EPS Focus Group events in Birmingham to encourage developers and ecologists to share their experiences of EPS licensing and suggest ways of improving the process and the service. A summary of the discussions: (451kb)
records the outcomes of the events. It includes stakeholder thoughts on what works well with Natural England licensing and what works less well and possible solutions put forward by the attendees on how the system could be improved. Following the Focus Group event we have hosted a similar event with Natural England licensing staff to develop our ways of working. We will keep customers informed on our progress(12 March) White-nose syndrome in bats. Following the positive identification of G. destructans on a bat in France, the WNS guidance for UK Bat Workers has been revised to include sampling techniques and a revised surveillance form. A copy of the revised guidelines is available on the BCT website
. As a precautionary measure, all UK bat workers undertaking hibernation checks are asked to follow the decontamination procedure after each site visit (contained in Appendix IV of BCT’s White-nose Syndrome: Guidelines for Bat workers).(26 January) Revised guidance on over mitigation: (69kb)
has been added to the Natural England Website - Dispelling the myths: providing unnecessary “over-mitigation/compensation” will not help to secure a Natural England European Protected Species mitigation licence.(14 January) A revised Great crested newt method statement has been added to our website - GCN WML-14-2.xls: (689kb)
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The format of the survey section within this method statement template is currently being revised and is likely to be added to the website toward the end of February or beginning of March 2010. Please always down load the latest version of the method statement template from our licence application pages to ensure the most up to date version is being used.(7 January) European Protected Species Applications
Due to the adverse weather conditions and resulting staff shortages, there may be some delay in processing of applications. However, Natural England are working as quickly as possible to ensure we meet the needs and expectations of our customers.
2009
(15 December) Change to 'Experience in bat mitigation: Guidance for ecologists': (179kb)
. Natural England has updated its guidance on experience required for those applying for bat licenses (mitigation), would applicants please ensure they read this new guidance.(5 October) Change to Bat mitigation application form, Natural England have produced a new method statement form: (135kb)
incorporating a timetable template. Please ensure you use the latest version when applying.
(20 August) Natural England has produced a statement: (142kb)
welcoming the recent judicial review judgement in Woolley vs Cheshire East Borough Council & Millennium Estates. The judgement clarifies the responsibilities of competent authorities in discharging their duties in relation to European Protected Species.(14 May) EPS Mitigation Licences – Is your licensed activity or development affected by the current economic downturn? Natural England has produced some guidance for developers: (214kb)
.(28 April) It is a myth that applications proposing ‘over-mitigation’ or ‘over compensation’ will stand a better chance of obtaining a Great crested newt mitigation licence. Natural England’s latest guidance: (69kb)
addresses this misconception.
