Services | Licensing

The licences used by Peak Ecology staff are either survey licences or European Protected Species (EPS) Mitigation licences. Other non-EPS species licences can be obtained in certain situations to work with; for example, pine martin, badgers and water vole.

Survey Licences

These are required to survey certain species, such as bats, great crested newts, dormice, white-clawed crayfish and sand lizards, where the activity might disturb the species. We also hold otter survey licences, but these are usually only required if intrusive surveys into holts are required or if otters will be significantly disturbed.

Peak Ecology have a number of qualified staff licensed to survey for protected species in England, Scotland and Wales and as well as undertaking regular surveys for these species, we also attend relevant training courses to keep up-to-date with methodologies and changes to legislation.

European Protected Species (EPS) Mitigation Licences

In these cases an application can be made for a mitigation licence from the relevant Statutory Nature Conservation Organisation (SNCO) e.g. Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, Welsh Government or Northern Ireland Environment Agency to allow activities that would otherwise be illegal.

These licences can only be granted if the proposal meets one of more of the following criteria:

  • Preserving public health or public safety or other imperative reason of overriding public interest;
  • Preventing the spread of disease; or
  • Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber or any other form of property or to fisheries.

Licence applications require a high level of detail and can be lengthy and complex. Information required includes up-to-date survey data, a detailed impact assessment including post-development and long-term impacts, and sufficient mitigation to ensure long-term maintenance of the population. Management and monitoring schemes are often required in addition.

Peak Ecology regularly and efficiently undertake licence application on behalf of our clients, working closely with the developer, county ecologist and statutory consultee e.g. Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage or Natural Resources Wales.

If you are interested in any of our services, don’t hesitate to contact us >>