Protected Species Surveys

Your planning application could be refused if impact on protected species is not adequately assessed, and harming protected species such as bats or Great Crested Newts, even after planning consent is given, could leave you liable to a fine of up to £5,000 per animal or six months in prison.

An initial protected species assessment and report may save you considerable time and money, as a thorough assessment and report would either:

• Demonstrate to the local planning authority that no further survey or full protected species survey is required, even if they initially asked for a full survey (see Great Crested Newt Survey for an example)
• Stop protected species becoming a more costly and time-consuming issue later on in the development process by identifying a risk of protected species so that it can be addressed as soon as possible
• Having your potential development site assessed for all protected species risks stops nasty surprises later on – local planning authorities sometimes ask for surveys of additional species very late in the planning process