Guidance and regulation

How to assess a planning application when there are protected species on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 25 October 2023

How to apply to import, export or re-export endangered animal and plant species on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 1 July 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are ancient woodland, ancient trees or veteran trees on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Forestry Commission and 1 others
• Updated: 14 January 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are bats on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are great crested newts on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 26 July 2022

What you must do to avoid harming bats and when you’ll need a licence.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 29 March 2015

How to assess a planning application when there are badgers on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are reptiles on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 25 October 2023

Register for a licence to survey great crested newts for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2024

How to assess a planning application when there are wild birds on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

Register for a licence to survey bats using torches for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 6 March 2024

Find out what experience and references you need to support your application or registration, and what form your referees need to complete.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 10 October 2023

How to assess a planning application when there are otters on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

How to register to keep captive schedule 4 birds, when to ring them and when to microchip them.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 23 May 2023

How to assess a planning application when there are hazel (common) dormice on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

Ecologists can use European protected species (EPS) policies on development sites to benefit EPS by changing survey, mitigation or compensation methods.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 14 January 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are water voles on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 21 December 2022

Register as an ecological consultant to disturb or capture common bats, or damage or destroy low conservation status roosts; find out how to register a site and if you need to pay.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2023

Register for a licence to survey bats using your hand, artificial light, endoscopes and hand-held nets for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 6 March 2024

Register for a licence to take, disturb or possess hazel dormice to survey for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 22 March 2024