Protected Species Survey

What is a Protected Species Survey?

A Protected Species Survey is sometimes required following an initial site survey which is undertaken as part of a Phase 1 Habitat Survey. The purpose of a Protected Species Survey is to establish the presence or absence of any protected species on or adjacent to a site which is proposed to be developed.

Within the UK certain species have special protection which is covered through specific wildlife legislation. The relevant species is often protected owing to its rarity due to population decline or persecution. A Protected Species Survey will establish the presence of one or a number of these protected species in order to enable material consideration on the impact to these protected species during the planning process.

Should a protected species be identified as part of the Protected Species Survey then suitable consideration and mitigation should be included in a proposed development such as retaining certain areas of habitat, re-providing the habitat elsewhere on the site or adjacent to the site, or other alternative mitigation. The mitigation measures should be included in the impact assessment which can form part of or follow on from the Protected Species Survey.

A Protected Species Survey may be conducted to assess any number of the following protected species:

Breeding Bird Survey;
Great Crested Newt Survey;
Dormouse Surveys;
Water Vole Surveys
Bat Survey;
Badger Survey;
Barn Owl Survey;
Reptile Survey.

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What is included in a Protected Species Survey?

A Protected Species Survey will firstly require a site survey which should preferably be undertaken at a specific time which will be dependent upon the species which is being assessed as part of the Protected Species Survey. An environmental consultant can advise on the most appropriate timescales to align with the protected species’ most active months. It is recommended that an environmental consultant is engaged at the earliest opportunity for this reason as it is pivotal not to miss these periods as could delay the planning stages of a project by a number of months.

The Protected Species Survey will adopt and use a specific methodology which will be dependent upon the species which is being surveyed. This will include evaluation of the specific animal and will likely extend to assessing the relevant habitats. A Protected Species Survey will likely also include an assessment of local records in relation to the species for the site and immediate locality.

The Protected Species Survey report will include commentary on the methodology and results of the site assessment and surveys. The Protected Species Survey report will then go on to evaluate the findings and provide recommendations for mitigation measures that can be adopted, or it may advise on the further surveys or consultants required to provide greater clarity of the matters raised within the Protected Species Survey report.

The likely outcomes of a Protected Species Survey report will be:

To interpret the various species protection legislation and advise on how legal compliance can be achieved;
To make licence applications in relation to the specific species;
Advise and make recommendation on species mitigation and/or protection measures to be incorporated into the design and construction;
To monitor the site and protected species.

Why do I need a Protected Species Survey?

As with a large number of services provided by environmental consultants, a Protected Species Survey is required as part of the planning process in order to demonstrate that suitable consideration has been given to the ecological value and importance of the site is taken into consideration and that suitable protection and mitigation measures and put in place in order to protect these. The Protected Species Survey will determine and identify whether protected species are located on site and will assist a developer with assessing the site risks and constraints at an early stage, during the viability assessment.