Devon County Council is required to protect and enhance wildlife habitats, species and geological sites through the planning process. Some habitats and species are protected through European or national legislation, others are protected through national and local policy. In Devon, examples of widespread protected species include bats, dormice, nesting birds and reptiles.
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When is a wildlife report required
All planning applications to DCC must be submitted with a wildlife and geology trigger table which helps both the developer and DCC to identify whether the proposal may impact on protected or priority habitats or species.
If there is a ‘yes’ in any column a wildlife and/or geology report must be produced by a qualified and suitably experienced ecological consultant and submitted with the application. The report should be commissioned at the start of the project and any project changes discussed with the consultant.
If the wildlife report indicates that detailed protected species surveys are required these must also be included as part of the wildlife report. The application cannot be validated without them. A guide on when to survey can be found here.
All details of avoidance, mitigation, compensation and enhancement actions must also be included with the application. It is very likely that any planning permission will be conditional on these being implemented.
The following should also be submitted to ensure a quicker ecological assessment process:
Householder/building applications should be submitted with this Householder/Buildings Checklist.
All other applications should be submitted with the wildlife and geology trigger table.
To fill out these documents online, use the Add text function in the top toolbar of the documents. You can also use this function to place an X into checkboxes.
Except for a few exceptions and householder applications, all developments must show that they will provide a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain.
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Production of a wildlife report
The ecological consultant will initially carry out a site walkover survey to identify known and potential impacts. This can usually be carried out at any time of year.
If potential impacts are identified, the ecologist may have to carry out further survey work, for example to clarify the impacts on dormice or bats. These detailed surveys will have to be carried out at certain times of year, which will vary from species to species. It is therefore important that surveys are timetabled into your project plan in order to avoid wasting time and money.
The length and scope of the wildlife report will vary and should be proportionate to the impacts and size of the project. The report may vary from a short statement (if there are no or minimal impacts) to a comprehensive report with detailed surveys.
If the proposed development is going to impact on a Protected Species (such as bats, dormice, otters, great crested newts or badgers) you may need a licence from Natural England. Your ecological consultant will provide advice on this as it is separate to the planning process.
A guidance note for consultants has been produced as to what should be included in a wildlife report.
Remember that you may need other licences or consents outside of the planning system.
The following publications provide guidance on survey methodologies and legislation and policy.
General
- Ecological Impact Assessment Guidelines – CIEEM (Chartered Institute of Ecological and Environmental Management) EcIA guidelines)
- Good Practice Guidance – CIEEM general survey advice
- Professional Guidance Series – CIEEM guidance, including competencies for species surveys and sources of survey methods
Phase 1 habitat survey
- Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey.- a technique for environmental audit (ISBN 0 86139 636 7), JNCC, Peterborough
Legislation and policy
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Government Circular: biodiversity and geological conservation, ODPM Circular (2005) – statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system
- Biodiversity Duty –the new Environment Act 2021 requirement for all public bodies to consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England.
- List of Habitats and Species of Principal Importance – Defra and Natural England
Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP)
Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)
Applications for which construction may result in a conflict, disturbance or significant impact on the below will require a CEMP.
- neighbours;
- other road users;
- sensitive wildlife designations;
- sensitive landscape designations;
- protected species; or
- priority habitats
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Finding an ecological consultant
If a wildlife and/or geology report, or full biodiversity net gain metric, is required, it must be produced by a qualified and suitably experienced ecological consultant and submitted with the application. The report should be commissioned at the start of the project and any project changes discussed with the consultant.
When employing a consultant it is recommended that you consider their knowledge of the local area or locality. Ecologists who have knowledge of the local area are usually better able to assess the implications of the scheme in relation to local context, make contact with local wildlife organisations, undertake survey work and attend meetings.
Also consider tenders and detailed written proposals; it is always advisable to seek, for comparative purposes, several written quotes or tenders which include details of the work the ecological consultants would undertake and a summary of relevant experience and licences (for example, for bat roost visits and dormice and great crested newt surveys). Please also check that the consultant is experienced in submitting reports for planning applications.
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Biodiversity Net Gain
Information and Guidance on Biodiversity Net Gain in Devon can be found on the Devon County Council BNG webpage. A map showing the location of Devon-based Habitat Banks and interested landowners for the purpose of providing offsite BNG has also been developed.
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Devon Environment Viewer
Information on Devon’s environment has been mapped on our Environment Viewer.
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Protected Sites
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) template
DCC has produced an HRA template, which consultants should complete and submit with any ecology reports which require a HRA to be completed. The document can be found here – DCC HRA Template Document.
South Hams Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Advice on planning applications in the South Devon area which may impact the South Hams SAC population of greater horseshoe bats is available. This has been endorsed by the South Hams SAC Steering Group (Devon County Council, Teignbridge District Council, South Hams District Council, Torbay Council, Dartmoor National Park and Natural England).
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) guidance for the South Hams SAC – HRA Guidance with respect to Greater Horseshoe Bats (2019). Important: for up to date mapping of the Sustenance Zones, existing mitigation features and pinch points, consult our Environment Viewer.
Priorities Papers have been put together for each of the SAC roosts’ Sustenance Zones. They highlight where the bats have been found during surveys, key foraging areas, mitigation areas for developments, pinch points, local plan allocated sites, as well as some key areas identified for enhancement opportunities or further survey work.
- Berry Head to Sharkham Point SSSI
- Buckfastleigh Caves SSSI and Bulkamore Iron Mines SSSI
- Chudleigh Caves and Woods SSSI
- Haytor and Smallacombe Iron Mines SSSI
- High Marks Barn SSSI
Berry Head (Torbay)
The zones of influence where new housing or tourist accomodation applications could cause in-combination recreational impacts on the Berry Head calcareous grassland component of the SAC are mapped on the Environment Viewer. The latest supporting evidence on recreational impacts is published on the Torbay Council South Hams SAC HRA guidance webpage. Please see the Torbay Local Plan and Planning Contributions and Affordable House SPD for information on mitigation and developer contributions.
Beer Quarry and Caves SAC
Similarly, guidance on HRA where proposals could impact the Beer Quarry and Caves SAC in East Devon is available.
Follow these links for information on Beer Quarry Caves and the Beer Quarry and Caves SAC HRA Guidance 2022.
Other Protected Sites
- DCC Environment Viewer shows the locations of protected sites
- Site designations (note that County Wildlife Sites are not currently included on this list)
- Designated Sites View, Natural England
- List of habitats and species of principal importance (section 41)
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Dark Corridors Guidance
A Devon dark corridors guidance note has been produced by a number of Devon Local Authorities to help protect bat flight lines – Maintaining dark corridors through the landscape for bats. This should be used by all consultants dealing with bat flight lines in Devon.
The guidance note is in beta format so please do share any comments. Please also help to promote best practice through sharing any case studies of functional dark corridors. Contact: nature@devon.gov.uk
The latest national guidance on lighting should always be followed. See Guidance Note 08/23, Bats and artificial lighting at night, Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), 2023 on the Bat Conservation Trust website.
Supplementary Guidance on lighting impact assessments Considering impacts from internal lighting has been prepared for Devon County Council by a specialist lighting design consultancy.
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Protected Species Guidance
Amphibians
- Common toads and roads: guidance for planners and highways engineers in England, (2009), Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
- Amphibians and reptiles planning advice note, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (2023)
Great Crested Newt
- Great Crested Newt Conservation Handbook, (2001), Langton, T., Beckett, C. & Foster, J., Froglife, Halesworth
- Great Crested Newt Habitat Suitability Index, (2010), Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the United Kingdom
- Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines, (2001), English Nature, Peterborough.
Badgers
- Badgers: A Guide for Developers, (2023), Natural Resources Wales
- Badgers: protection, surveys and licensing, (2014), Natural England
Bats
- Bats advice
- Greater horseshoe bat ecology and management
- Grey long-eared bats Devon guidance note (2024) BCT and DCC. Draft for consultation and use
- A Review of Bat Mitigation in Relation to Highway Severance, (2011), O’Connor and Green
- Bats and artificial lighting at night (2023) BCT and ILP
- Bats and wind turbines, Bat Conservation Trust
- Bat Mitigation Guidelines, Reason, P.F. and Wray, S., CIEEM (2023)
- Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines 4th edition, (2023), Bat Conservation Trust
- Bat Workers’ Manual, 3rd Edition, (2004), Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & Mcleish, A.P., JNCC, Peterborough
Beavers
- Beavers are now a European protected species and widespread within Devon. Where proposals are near watercourses or ponds, ecological assessments must consider possible impacts on beavers.
- Beaver Standing Advice for planning consultations (2025) in England published by Natural England.
- Beavers: how to manage them and when you need a licence, Defra and Natural England
- Protection and management of beavers in England, Defra and Natural England
- Beaver Management website with links to the East Devon and Tamar Beaver Management Groups
Birds
- Wild birds and wind farms, (2015) Natural England
- Barn owls and planning, The Barn Owl Trust
- Barn Owls and Rural Planning Applications (2015), The Barn Owl Trust
- Barn owl survey methodology, CIEEM
- Wild Birds and the Law Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Cirl Bunting
Dormice
- The Dormouse Conservation Handbook 2nd Edition, (2006), Bright, P., Morris, P. & Mitchell-Jones, A.J., English Nature, Peterborough
- Hazel Dormouse Conservation Handbook 3rd Edition (2025) Bullion, S, Wolton, R & White, The Mammal Society
- Hazel Dormouse Mitigation Handbook (2025) Wells, D, Chanin, P & Gubert, L, The Mammal Society
Harvest Mouse
Otters
- Ecology of the European Otter. Conserving Natura 2000. Rivers Ecology Series No. 10, (2003), Chanin, P, English Nature, Peterborough.
- Otters: advice for making planning decisions, (2022) Natural England
Reptiles
- Herpetofauna Worker’s Manual, (1998), Gent, T. & Gibson, S., JNCC, Peterborough
- Reptiles Mitigation Guidelines, (2011), Natural England
- Reptile Habitat Management Handbook, (2010), Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bournemouth
- Amphibians and reptiles planning advice note, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (2023)
Water Voles
- Water Voles: advice for making planning decisions, (2022) Natural England
White-clawed Crayfish
- Ecology of the white-clawed crayfish, (2003)
- White-clawed crayfish: advice for making planning decisions, (2022) Natural England
Legislation and Advice
- European Protected Species – advice relating to European Protected Species legislation and Licensing
- Natural England Standing Advice for Protected Species – advice which can be applied to any planning application that could affect protected species
- List of Habitats and Species of Principal Importance – Defra and Natural England
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Devon Priority Species
Devon Biodiversity Records Centre host the list of Devon Priority Species.
Devon County Council, Devon Biodiversity Records Centre (DBRC) and Devon species experts from a range of recording groups and organisations have worked together to update the 1998 species list from the Devon Biodiversity Action Plan and produced a long list of ~ 1,600 species known to be rare in Devon (Priority Species) and a shortlist of 96 species (Devon’s Special Species) for which Devon has a particular responsibility.