Form

How to apply for a hazel dormouse mitigation licence (A35)

Updated 25 July 2025

Applies to England

To apply for a mitigation licence, you need to complete the latest version of the:

• application form
• method statement – to show what you’ll do to reduce the impacts of the proposed work on hazel dormice
• work schedule – to show when you’ll do the activities and in what order

You may also need to provide:

• a reasoned statement to show that the activity fits the criteria and that there is no satisfactory alternative - read the guidance below to check whether you need one

• references to show that the ecological consultant has the necessary experience to apply for a mitigation licence (references will not be needed if they’ve been named on a mitigation licence for hazel dormice issued in the last 3 years)

If the work is part of a phased development (requiring more than one licence application) or multi-plot development, you must submit a:

• hazel dormouse master plan

• habitat management and maintenance plan

You should attach these as separate documents alongside your application. 

To understand what needs to be included in your master plan, you can use the archived guidance on great crested newt master plan requirements as a guide.

Use the European protected species (EPS) licensing policies 

As part of your mitigation licence application, you may be able to use the EPS licensing policies to: 

• reduce the level of survey you need to carry out 

• reduce the mitigation requirements 

• improve flexibility on where you create habitats as a compensation measure 

Find out when and how to use European protected species policies to benefit EPS.

You need to send all required forms together with the application form.

Check whether you need a reasoned statement

You may need to complete a reasoned statement as part of your licence application, depending on your planned activity and its purpose. Some activities have exemptions.

Housing developments

You do not need a reasoned statement for dormouse licence applications for housing developments, unless your application will impact more than one hectare of dormouse habitat.

Public utility works

A public utility supplier can be a public or private company that provides public services such as:

• energy (gas and electricity)
• water
• waste
• transport and communications infrastructure

You do not need to include a reasoned statement if hazel dormice and their habitats will only be affected on a temporary or negligible basis by:

• repair, maintenance, restoration or renovation of existing infrastructure
• removal of infrastructure that’s no longer needed, such as road signage or cabling
• construction or installation of new infrastructure such as laying pipes and cables or putting up road signs or telegraph poles
• essential works to prevent serious damage to property, preserve public health and safety, or to allow continued intended and appropriate use of the infrastructure

You must restore any habitat that’s been temporarily impacted to its original or comparable state once works are complete. There should be:

• negligible permanent habitat loss - as a guide, less than one square metre for the footprint of each road sign or telegraph pole installed
• the same resource, shelter, protection and suitability as a breeding site or resting place when works are complete

You must include a reasoned statement for works that cause a permanent loss of hazel dormouse habitat by a change in land use.

Complete the reasoned statement form

Unless your activity meets one of the exemptions, you must complete an EPS reasoned statement as part of your application pack.

If your activity does meet one of the exemptions, you do not need to complete a reasoned statement. You must explain which exemption applies on your licence application form.

Request a change to your existing licence 

For all changes, you must: 

• complete the modification request form 

• include the licence reference number 

• have both the ecologist and the licensee sign the form 

• include any amended documents or figures, dated appropriately, as stated on your request form (highlight changes within documents and strikeout deleted text) 

For a change of licensee, you must include: 

• a letter or email from the previous licensee explaining what is proposed 

• a letter or email from the new licensee confirming that they accept the agreed mitigation proposals relating to the licence 

• an application form with sections 1, 18 and 19a completed by the new licensee 

For a change of named ecologist, you must include: 

• a letter or email from the previous ecologist explaining what is proposed 

• a letter or email from the new ecologist confirming that they accept the agreed mitigation proposals relating to the licence 

• an application form with Sections 2, 10, 18 and 19b completed by the new ecologist

Natural England will decide whether to issue a licence within 30 working days of receiving your application.

If your licence was issued before 2015, meaning it includes a licensed method statement, you must:

• provide a summary of progress stating what has been completed and what is left to complete 

• provide a summary of the animals captured or disturbed during the licensed works so far 

• include a list of the changes to the licensed method statement and other documents 

• state whether there are any implications for the ‘favourable conservation status’ of the licensed species as a result of the proposed changes 

• include an updated method statement, dated appropriately, with all changes clearly highlighted (even if you only need to modify the work schedule) 

• include all maps and figures that support your method statement

When you may need to pay 

You may need to pay for this licence or a change to your licence for certain development work. Natural England will assess your application form and tell you: 

• if you need to pay 

• how much you’ll pay 

Read the terms and conditions for paying for a wildlife licence.

How to pay 

Natural England will send you an invoice when it approves your application. 

You can pay by: 

• electronic bank transfer 

• debit or credit card by telephone (except American Express) 

• cheque 

Your invoice will give details for these payment methods. 

You need to include the invoice number with your payment so Natural England can match it to your application. 

VAT does not apply to charges for wildlife licences. 

Natural England accepts purchase orders. If you want Natural England to add a purchase number to your invoice, you must include it in the invoice details in your application form.

How to report your actions 

You must report any actions you took using this licence.

You must report no later than 2 weeks after your licence expires, even if you’ve taken no action. You may be asked to submit interim reports too.

Send your completed form by post or email to Natural England using the details on the form.

The report form you use depends on when your licence was granted. If it was granted:

• before summer 2013, use the European protected species report form

• after summer 2013, use the hazel dormouse licence report form found on Hazel dormice: apply for a mitigation licence (A35)