Great Crested Newt Survey Information

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05 Mar 2018

Ecology

Great Crested Newt

Great Crested Newt (GCN) are a European Protected Species, and surveys may be required for both on site and within up to 500m of a site if suitable terrestrial habitat connects to the water body, and the site itself supports suitable terrestrial habitat.

This species can, therefore, have a wide impact and affect many development sites. Surveys are heavily seasonably restricted, with a minimum of four survey visits of any impacted water bodies being required between mid-March and mid-June, two of which have to be undertaken between mid-April and mid-May.

Aquatic Survey Season:

     15th March - 15th June

Terrestial Survey Season:

   15th March - 15th September

Environmental (e)DNA Survey
Season:

   15th April - 30th June

How long to allow for surveys: 

   Potentially across the full survey period

Latest date to commence the
aquatic surveys:

   25th April

Notes:

  

All surveys are weather dependent. Four aquatic survey visits are required (two survey visits must be between 15th April - 15th May). If GCN found then a total of six survey visits are required to determine a population size, three of which will need to be between 15th April - 15th May)
 

Planning Risk:

  

Survey information is required during the planning determination period, failure to provide may result in delays to determination or even refusal
 

Construction Risk:

  

If found on-site GCN can cause major delays to Site works. Excavations remaining open that are subsequently flooded may result in GCN colonisation if they are present in the area.    
 

Design Risk:

   Potential requirement for on-site mitigation, consideration of SUDS ponds and potential as GCN habitat requires consideration 

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Contacts

  • Charlotte Sanderson-Lewis

    Charlotte Sanderson-Lewis

    Associate Director, Ecology

    +44 (0)7884 498315

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  • Ali Yarrow

    Ali Yarrow

    Technical Director, Environmental Planning

    +44 (0) 7792525343

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)