Introduced in 1981, the Wildlife & Countryside Act plays an important role when it comes to the protection of animals and development projects. But how does this impact surveying? Let’s take a closer look and what you need to consider before planning and developing your next project.
What Species Does the Wildlife & Countryside Act Protect?
It may not be common knowledge, but the Wildlife & Countryside Act protects wild plant species as well as certain animals; this also includes the habitats of the animal species. Although this list has been amended many times, here is a general record of the species that the Act aims to protect and here is the full list of protected species.
| Adders | Leeches | Sharks |
| Algae | Lichens | Shrimps |
| Badgers | Liverworts | Snails |
| Bats | Lizards | Snakes |
| Beetles | Martens | Spiders |
| Butterflies | Moles | Squirrels |
| Crickets | Mosses | Toads |
| Dolphins | Moths | Turtles |
| Dormice | Mussels | Voles |
| Dragonflies | Newts | Walruses |
| Frogs | Otters | Wildcats |
| Fungi | Porpoises | Worms |
| Grasshoppers | Reptiles | Vascular Plants |
Wild birds are also included in this list with references to injured birds, migratory species and the dependent young. At Greenlight, we make sure we keep up to date with these changing regulations so you can always be sure your project is compliant.
How Does the Wildlife & Countryside Act Get Enforced?
The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 is enforced by many parties. Dependent on location and the specific endangered species involved, here is a list of those responsible for regulating this environmental legislation:
- Natural England / Natural Resources Wales / Scottish Natural Heritage
- Environment Agency
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee
- Food, Farming & Countryside Commission (FFCC)
- Local Authorities , Police and Public Bodies
- Partnership of Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW)
- Relevant Organisations for Endangered Species
If any of these parties witness a breaking of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, a police investigation will be undertaken to find out what necessitates a breach of the rules against wildlife protection. There are specific departments that focus on these breaches such as National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs).
How Does the Wildlife & Countryside Act Affect Planning Permission?
Planning permission is usually required for land and property development projects and the Wildlife & Countryside Act ensures that protected species experience no harm from the planned works. More often than not, planning permission will not be granted by local planning authorities unless there is evidence that there has been a thorough inspection.
Professional ecologists, like Greenlight Consultancy, provide ecological surveys to help with this to identify occupancy of wild animal species and confirm compliance with the Act. In doing so, the evidence will support planning permission applications and allow development work to move forward.
The Impact of the Wildlife & Countryside Act on Surveying
So, how does the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 impact surveying? As mentioned above, it’s vital to organise an ecological survey alongside your planning application to make sure you comply with the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. This is because these surveys will be able to identify if any protected species and their habitats are on the land you wish to develop and if you need to make any mitigation and enhancement measures.
A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) is a great place to start as this covers everything. An ecological consultant will conduct a desk study to find out if there are any existing protections or records of protected species on the site. They will also carry out a walkover survey across the entire site to look for evidence of animal and plant species. A report will be created afterwards with their findings which can be passed on to the local authority along with your planning application – unless other surveys are required.
If protected species are found, further ecology surveys specific to these species may be required to gather more information. This will help reassure the authorities that the species will be safe despite the proposed developments and possibly encourage enhancements to be made to support this.
How to Choose an Ecological Survey
Now we’ve answered your question, ‘how does the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 impact surveying?’, you might want to start looking into ecology surveys. Before choosing an ecological survey though, it’s important to choose an ecological consultant first. Greenlight Consultancy have been providing the highest quality and cost-effective surveys for clients since 2010. Our experience means we are familiar with all legislation, including the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, so you can rest assured that your project is in safe hands.
Contact us or give our team a call on 01379 413011 for a free no-obligation chat to discuss your development with us.
