Ecological Survey Wildlife-Protected Species & Vegetation



Ecological Survey Wildlife-Protected Species & Vegetation

This standing advice replaces some of the individual comments that Natural England has provided in the past when consulted by local authorities on applications that potentially affect protected species. It provides advice to planners on deciding if there is a 'reasonable likelihood' of protected species being present. It also provides advice on survey and mitigation requirements. As standing advice it is a material consideration in the determination of applications in the same way as any individual response received from Natural England following consultation (Cypher, 2005).

Natural England's aim is to support local authorities in carrying out their statutory duties by providing a consistent set of advice that applies to all planning applications.  This guidance should result in higher quality planning applications and fewer objections from Natural England (and subsequent delays to decision timetables) due to a lack of survey information.  The guidance is framed around the habitats and features associated with the presence of protected species, rather than the type of development.  As such the advice can be applied to all types of development (Gray, 2003).

Unless other local consultation arrangements have been agreed, Natural England will continue to provide advice in the form of individual responses when consulted on planning applications:

Where surveys or reports have been submitted which indicate that an application is likely to affect species protected under the Habitats Regulations 2010 or other protected species where detailed advice is not provided by the Standing Advice; or

Where applications require an Environmental Impact Assessment or

Where applications affect Nationally important landscapes including an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Park; or

Where applications are likely to damage features of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); or

Where applications are likely to have a significant effect upon Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA) or Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention (Ramsar Sites); or

Minerals applications that would lead to the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.

Certain methods are common to all of the following species-specific survey guidelines; similar methods may be employed for species not covered herein. In the southern San Joaquin Valley, many of the listed plants are small and easily obscured by dense vegetation. Thus intensive, systematic surveys are recommended to detect rare plant species in this region. Biologists should walk parallel transects spaced 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet) apart throughout the entire site, regardless of subjective habitat evaluations. Transects may be stratified by topography or plant community for convenience. Field survey crews should include at least one member who has seen the target species growing in its natural habitat (Greene, 2001).

Other team members may be trained using photographs and/or herbarium specimens but should be accompanied in the field by the experienced crew member during all surveys. Project-area surveys are valid only for those species that are evident during the survey period. Prior to conducting surveys in a given year, at least one member of the survey crew should visit ...