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Guidance

Great crested newts: district level licensing schemes for developers, ecologists and landowners

Apply to join the Natural England great crested newt district level licensing scheme as a developer, ecologist or landowner.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published:
25 July 2022
Last updated:
20 March 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated the attachment 'Developers: how to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme'. In the 'Where district level licensing schemes operate’ section we've updated the entry for Dorset. In the current list for ‘NatureSpace district level licensing scheme’ section we've updated the entries for Hampshire, Staffordshire, Surrey and West Sussex. The ‘Local planning authority-led district level licensing schemes’ section has been removed as there are currently no LPA-led schemes in existence.

  2. The district level licensing enquiry form has been restructured and questions added or updated to improve data quality. Section 1a: option for individual or company added. Section 2a: variable fee guidance updated. Customer agreement to variable fee added. Section 3d: organisational licence section added. Section 4f: temporary impact criteria and example added. Section 5b: link to waterbody guidance added. Section 6: site plan and shapefile guidance updated. Checklist added to confirm file submission.

  3. Updated the attachment 'Developers: how to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme'. In step 1 under 'Phased development', we've updated the information you must include. Under 'Where district level licensing schemes operate', we've added Dorset and Telford & Wrekin.

  4. We have updated the attachment 'Developers: how to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme'. Updated step 4 with information about when you need to include a reasoned statement with your application.

  5. Updated the attachment 'Developers: how to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme'. In step 2, the expiry dates for the impact assessment and conservation payment certificate have changed.

  6. New document added for landowners wanting to host a pond as part of the great crested newt district level licensing scheme. The page lists out the current habitat delivery partners across England, as well as guidance on suitability for the scheme.

  7. Added information in the enquiry form and guidance about a variable fee, which will be charged where a development is categorised as a complex case. Further details about complex cases has been added to the guidance on 'How to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme'. Updated the guidance about what survey information ecologists need to submit to Natural England in 'Ecologists: how to provide pond and waterbody data for district level licensing': - survey information must have been collected within the past 5 survey seasons - a waterbody must be labelled as 'P' if GCN have been recorded at least once over the previous 5 survey seasons

  8. We have removed Telford and Wrekin listed under ‘Where district level licensing schemes operate’ and Telford and Wrekin Strategic Newt Licencing listed under ‘Local planning authority-led district level licensing schemes’ as this area is now incorporated into the Shropshire strategy area.

  9. Updated the guidance with information on what you should do if you are considering applying for a district level licence for a development site that has ponds within the proposed red line boundary.

  10. Added Hertfordshire to the list of Natural England district level licensing scheme areas and Hampshire and West Sussex to the list of NatureSpace district level licensing scheme areas on 'How to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme'.

  11. Under NatureSpace district level licensing scheme: removed Elmbridge from the list of exclusions in Surrey as the scheme now operates in this area.

  12. Uploaded an updated version of the enquiry form and added Cumbria to the list of Natural England-led schemes.

  13. Uploaded updated versions of the application and enquiry forms.

  14. Updated title, subheading and details to reflect the new guidance added for ecologists. Added new guidance for ecologists on supplying survey data. Updated the guidance 'Developers: how to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme' - included a link to what to include in your GIS polygon shapefile.

  15. Updated how to renew your licence. You must request renewal of your licence at least 1 month before it expires.

  16. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Developers: how to join the great crested newt district level licensing scheme

HTML

District level licensing enquiry form

PDF, 2.17 MB, 12 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

District level licensing application form

PDF, 869 KB, 7 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Ecologists: how to provide pond and waterbody data for district level licensing

HTML

Landowners: hosting a pond as part of the great crested newt district level licensing scheme

HTML

Details

Guidance for:

  • developers on how to join a district level licensing scheme to develop land that may affect great crested newts
  • ecologists on how to supply data from site surveys
  • landowners on how to apply to host a pond as part of the scheme

If a district level licensing scheme does not operate in your area, you must apply for a mitigation licence to carry out work that affects great crested newts.

Guidance is also available on district level licensing schemes for local planning authorities.

For more information, email Natural England.

Email: gcndll@naturalengland.org.uk

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