Licensing & Mitigation

European Protected Species Licensing (EPSL)

We support clients through the licensing process for European Protected Species (EPS), ensuring legal compliance and effective mitigation. Our ecologists provide expert advice from survey through to licence application and implementation, helping to manage risks and protect biodiversity. Including bats, dormice, great crested newts (GCN), otters and other EPS under the Habitats Regulations, our work ensures that development proceeds responsibly and lawfully.
 

Our EPSL services include:

 
• Habitat and species surveys to inform licence applications
• Preparation of EPS licence applications and supporting documentation
• Design and delivery of mitigation and compensation strategies
• Liaison with Natural England and other statutory bodies
• Monitoring and reporting to meet licence conditions
• Integration with planning and construction programmes

Low Impact Class Licences

We support the use of Low Impact Class Licences for projects involving minimal disturbance to protected species, streamlining the licensing process while ensuring legal compliance. These licences are suitable for common scenarios where impacts are predictable and limited. For common bat roosts and great crested newt (GCN) populations with limited disturbance, our ecologists provide the necessary evidence and advice to secure and implement these licences efficiently.
Our services include:

• Eligibility assessments for Low Impact Class Licences
• Ecological surveys to support licence applications
• Preparation of supporting documentation and mitigation plans
• Liaison with Natural England and other statutory bodies
• On-site ecological supervision and compliance monitoring
• Integration with wider planning and construction programmes

Mitigation Design & Implementation

We design and deliver practical mitigation strategies to reduce ecological impacts and support compliance with protected species legislation. Our ecologists work closely with project teams to ensure that mitigation is proportionate, effective, and aligned with planning and licensing requirements. Provision of habitat, exclusion fencing, translocation, habitat creation and timing controls are all part of our tailored approach to safeguarding biodiversity.
 

Our mitigation services include:

 
• Design and installation of exclusion fencing and protective measures
• Translocation of protected species under licence
• Creation and enhancement of habitats to support long-term conservation
• Timing controls to avoid sensitive periods such as breeding or hibernation
• On-site ecological supervision and contractor briefings
• Monitoring and reporting to demonstrate mitigation success

Method Statements & Reasoned Justifications

We prepare detailed method statements and reasoned justifications to support protected species licence applications, ensuring that proposals meet legal tests and conservation requirements. Our documents clearly set out the need for development and the steps taken to minimise ecological harm. Supporting licence applications under overriding public interest and no satisfactory alternative tests, we help secure permissions for essential projects while safeguarding biodiversity.
 

Our services include:

 
• Preparation of method statements for licensed works
• Development of reasoned justifications aligned with Habitats Regulations
• Evidence gathering to support legal tests and mitigation proposals
• Liaison with Natural England and planning authorities
• Integration with wider ecological and planning documentation
• Support throughout the licence determination process

Post-Development Monitoring

We carry out post-development ecological monitoring to demonstrate compliance with licence conditions and assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Our monitoring programmes are tailored to species, habitats, and project requirements, providing clear evidence to support licence discharge and long-term biodiversity outcomes. To demonstrate compliance and support licence discharge, we ensure that monitoring is robust, proportionate, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
 

Our services include:

 
• Design and delivery of post-development monitoring programmes
• Species and habitat surveys to assess mitigation success
• Data analysis and interpretation to inform future management
• Preparation of compliance reports for statutory bodies
• Support for licence discharge and planning conditions
• Integration with Biodiversity Net Gain and ecological management plans

Corridor Ecology & Infrastructure Projects

We specialise in supporting linear infrastructure schemes, including:

 
• Route corridor surveys for roads, rail, water and utilities
• Multi-species constraints mapping and risk screening
• Protected species mitigation across phased construction zones
• Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) supervision during installation and reinstatement
• Licence coordination across multiple land parcels and authorities

Our team understands the sensitivities and logistics of working across long corridors—ensuring ecological risks are managed without compromising progress.