Protected species found on your development site

Identify what you have found

The species you have found determines the licensing route, the survey requirements, and the likely delay to your project.

• Bats or bat droppings in a building, roof void, or tree being felled
• A badger sett within 30 metres of your works
• Great crested newts in or near ponds on or adjacent to the site
• Nesting birds in hedgerows, trees, or buildings during March to August
• Reptiles (slow worms, grass snakes) under debris or in vegetation

Secure the area and call an ecologist

Your actions in the first hours determine whether you face prosecution or a managed delay.

• Stop all work in the area where the species was found
• Establish a buffer zone (at least 30 metres for badger setts)
• Do not attempt to move, handle, or relocate the animal
• Contact a CIEEM-registered ecologist for an emergency site visit
• Record what was found, where, and when

Get an emergency ecological assessment

Your ecologist will confirm the species, assess the significance, and advise on next steps. Survey requirements are species-specific and season-dependent.

Understand the licensing requirements

Once surveys confirm protected species, you will need a wildlife licence from Natural England before works can resume. Allow at least 30 working days for determination, and budget for licence fees under the charging regime from April 2025.

Manage the project delay

The length of delay depends on the species and the time of year.

• Bats outside survey season (October to April): Up to 7 months until surveys can begin in May
• Bats during survey season (May to September): 3 to 6 months for surveys and licensing
• Badger sett outside closure window (December to June): Wait until July
• Nesting birds: 2 to 6 weeks until chicks fledge
• Great crested newts: Surveys March to June only; licensing adds 30+ working days

Identify which areas of the site can proceed unaffected while licensed works are resolved.