Form

Pay for discretionary SSSI consent advice

Land owners should use this form to pay for advice on carrying out work on or near sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs).

• From: Natural England
• Published: 1 November 2016
• Last updated: 20 April 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

SSSI paid consent advice request form

PDF, 274 KB, 4 pages

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Details

Natural England can provide charged advice on the more complex aspects of carrying out works on or near SSSIs. This is also known as ‘discretionary advice’. It can:

• help you review your survey results
• advise on your mitigation strategies to reduce damage to the environment
• advise on drafting your consent application
• help if you need advice within 28 working days

Fill in the advice request form and email it to ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk

Contact your SSSI adviser as soon as possible if you need advice quickly.

You’ll normally get this advice before you apply for consent.

See Sites of special scientific interest: get consent advice for more information about: 

• how much Natural England charges for paid advice 
• requesting initial informal advice 
• paying for fast-track advice 
• paying for the quick check service

Published 1 November 2016

Last updated 20 April 2026 + show all updates

1. 20 April 2026

   Updated the name of this form to make it clearer that this is paid advice.

2. 8 April 2020

   Form updated.

3. 17 September 2019

   Updated version of form.

4. 1 November 2016

   First published.