Water Vole Surveys
Water voles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended. It is a criminal offence to kill, injure or disturb a water vole or damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place which water vole use for shelter.
Water voles are also listed as a Species of Importance (SPI) under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006. This ensures that Local Planning Authorities (LPA) should have regard for such species when determining planning applications.
Protected species and SPI are a material consideration within the planning process and LPAs have a duty in exercising their function to consider the impact of a development on water vole prior to the determination of any application.
Water voles are broadly found along water bodies such as slow flowing rivers, ditches and canals as well as freshwater marshes favouring steep, well vegetated banks that provide adequate cover, feeding and burrowing/nesting opportunities.
If your proposed development is reasonably likely to impact water voles and/or their habitat, you may need to undertake a water vole survey to ensure that your development proposals are able to proceed lawfully.
Water Vole Surveys
Water Vole Surveys
The overall aim of the survey is to determine the presence/likely absence of water voles within the study area and estimate population size. Two survey visits should be undertaken: one from mid-April to June and one from July to September, covering the most active period for water vole.
The first part of a water vole survey consists of recording key features within a defined study area along a waterbody (usually 2m around the edge of a waterbody) such as: bank material, amount and type of marginal vegetation, amount of shading from trees and water depth and width.
The survey also includes searching for evidence of water voles within the study area such as: footprints, droppings, latrines, burrows, pathways, signs of feeding, and grazed ‘lawns’ in front of burrow entrances.
What you need to know about water vole surveys
Where will you find out if you need a water vole survey?
Any suitable habitat recorded for water voles that is relevant to the development will be outlined within a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Report (PEA), as will any local records of water vole which may indicate that they are using the site.
Our approach
To ensure our approach is standardised, our water vole surveys are carried out in line with The Mammal Society’s Water Mitigation Handbook as well as any other industry technical notes.
Our approach can be trusted to satisfy the requirement of Local Planning Authorities and Natural England and ensure that your project is able to proceed lawfully with the best outcomes for water vole.
The Arun team
We have an in-house team and extended network of ecologists who are highly experienced in designing and undertaking surveys for water voles.
Our experience means that even in the most challenging situations, we are able to quickly find bespoke solutions, where safe to do so, to capture water vole data efficiently.
Planning your surveys ahead of time
The one thing we can’t guarantee is the Local Planning Authority or regulatory body Natural England, accepting survey data carried out at a sub-optimal time of year. It is therefore vital that surveys are timed appropriately in line with the water vole survey season.
What you can expect from Arun Ecology is an honest approach from the offset to find the best solution for your project schedule – not false promises that could result in unexpected delays and costs to your project.
What next?
If it is concluded following a proportionate survey effort that water voles are likely absent from the site, your development proposals should be able to proceed lawfully. A survey report provided by Arun Ecology will confirm this to the local planning authority.
Should the presence of water voles be confirmed and they are likely to be impacted by the proposals, a mitigation licence will need to be obtained from the regulatory body (Natural England in England) for the scheme to proceed lawfully.
Application for a mitigation licence should be supported by appropriate survey evidence and a mitigation strategy.
FAQs
Local Planning Authorities have a legal duty to assess the potential impacts of a proposed development on protected species (such as water voles) before giving consent for a planning application. You will need to demonstrate that appropriate care has been taken to avoid any impacts to water voles. This may include undertaking water vole surveys (to determine their presence/likely absence) if there is suitable water vole habitat present that could be impacted by the development. Water vole surveys would also inform any mitigation plans that may be required if impacts to water voles cannot be avoided.
In line with biodiversity and geological conservation: circular 06/2005 protected species surveys (such as water voles) should be completed prior to the granting of planning permission, and should not be conditions of planning except in exceptional circumstances.
Habitat is usually assessed for its suitability to support water voles as part of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA). Surveys for water voles will normally be recommended in a PEA report if there are local records or habitat that suggest there is a reasonable likelihood of water voles being present and impacted by the proposed development.
At Arun Ecology we will provide you with a questionnaire prior to any survey on the information we require to complete the survey, predominantly focusing on land access and health and safety. As an insight we require the following information:
- Land parcel access
- Any land tenants present informed over the duration of the survey
- Any other hazards that might be present at the site (such as livestock or plant activity)
Helping to address the ecological
and climate crisis
At Arun Ecology it’s not all just about driving business. We want to contribute to addressing the challenges of our time to ensure a prosperous future for the next generation.
So, as part of our service, each time you commission us we are committed to planting one tree within the UK, through our partnership with Creating Tomorrow’s Forests.
Watch this space to find out more about how we are contributing to nature recovery and tackling climate change.
Contact us
Contact us today or request a call back at a more convenient time to discuss your project.
Whether you wish to request a quote or ask us a question, our friendly and experienced team will always be happy to advise and will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible.