For impacts upon protected species, including bats and great crested newts, some situations require a specialist licence to be obtained from Natural England, known as a European Protected Species (EPS) mitigation licence.

Depending on the predicted scale of impacts, it is sometimes possible for a fast-track arrangement to be made, whereby the site is registered under a Bat Mitigation Class Licence (BMCL) or a great crested newt Low Impact Class Licence (GCNLICL).

For planning applications, it is also usually required that planning permission has been granted in advance.

Archer Ecology is highly experienced in providing pragmatic and cost effective solutions where mitigation is required, including measures to avoid and/or minimise impacts upon a protected species, site or habitat.

We are able to undertake or co-ordinate the following services:

• European Protected Species licence applications
• Badger licences
• Bat mitigation
• Great crested newt fencing and pitfall trapping

We fully appreciate the time and cost implications that mitigation works can have on a project. We, therefore, strive to support you through all steps of the process.

Be aware that some mitigation works will often require robust ecology surveys or protected species surveys to be undertaken in advance.

It is sometimes the case that a project simply cannot avoid negative impacts to protected species, habitats or sites without the need for mitigation.

In these instances, expertise in how to appropriately mitigate impacts is needed in order to comply with the law.