14 April 2010
The Great Crested Newt season has arrived.
Due to their protected status these innocent looking creatures
can delay developments and cost money. What’s more, the season for
surveying their habitats is extremely tight – 4-6 surveys are
required before mid-June.
Sarah Yarwood-Lovett from our Ecology team says: “We always
advise our clients to consider these as early as possible to avoid
programme delays and potentially waiting for the following year's
survey season."
Great Crested Newts (GCNs) may be relevant if a project
encompasses habitats such as temporary or permanent ponds, ditches,
rough grassland or woodland. They forage over land and, generally,
suitable waterbodies within 500m are subject to survey and
recommendations (GCNs have even been recorded occupying a
water-holding swimming pool cover!).
Sarah says: “Capita Symonds' ecologists use various survey
techniques including Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) Assessments,
presence/absence surveys and population surveys to help contractors
spot GCNs. We hold Natural England licences, undertake all aspects
of mitigation, including development (EPS) licence applications and
translocations, and advise on habitat creation and enhancement. We
also tailor advice specifically to the site and client needs and
have an excellent record in anticipating and averting problems
thanks to our rapid turnaround of advice, reports and
mitigation.”
“Our Ecology team offer a wide range of ecological solutions for
all project stages to ensure compliance with current environmental
legislation and planning policies. With various protected wildlife
able to cause delays, extra costs and even the shelving of a
development, the need to consider ecology at the start of a project
has never been greater,” she adds.
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for more information.