Reptile Surveys
Our six native reptile species are all protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it a criminal offence to intentionally kill or injure them. Sand lizards and smooth snakes receive additional legal protection under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, from killing and injuring, by providing additional protection from capture and disturbance, as well as damage or obstruction to their habitat.
All native reptiles are also listed as Species of Principle Importance (SPI) under section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, 2006. This act places a duty on any local or regional authority to further the conservation of reptiles.
Protected species and SPI are a material consideration within the planning process and Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) have a duty in exercising their function to consider the impact of a development on reptiles prior to the determination of any application.
UK reptiles can be found in many habitat types including rough grasslands, heathlands, open woodlands, grassy scrub, dunes, moorland and wetlands across rural, semi urban and brownfield locations.
If your development is reasonably likely to impact reptiles and their habitat, you may have to undertake reptile surveys to ensure that you development proposals proceed lawfully.
Reptile Surveys
Presence/ absence and population surveys
This survey consists of using artificial refugia and visually searching within a defined study area to detect reptiles and estimate population size.
Seven survey visits are required at two week intervals to achieve a proportionate surveying effort. Sand lizards and smooth snakes require much more extensive surveying.
The optimum survey windows for reptiles is typically in spring (April-May) and autumn (September) although there is variability in this window dependent upon weather and survey objectives, such as targeting information about specific species.
It is also possible to undertake surveys during the summer; however weather conditions are often sub-optimal for the detection of reptiles.
What you need to know about reptile surveys
Where will you find out if you need a reptile survey?
Any suitable habitat recorded for reptiles that is relevant to the development will be outlined within a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Report (PEA), as will any local records of reptiles which may indicate that they are using the site.
Our approach
Formal best practice guidelines for reptiles are lacking. To ensure our approach is standardised, our surveys are carried out in line with Natural England’s technical guidance notes and other published literature.
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 reptiles.
The Arun team
We have an in-house team and extended network of ecologists who are highly experienced in designing and undertaking surveys for reptiles. We also have staff who hold the Class Licence to survey for rare reptiles (sand lizards and smooth snakes).
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 reptile 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 reptile surveys season.
What you can expect from Arun Ecology is an honest approach from the offset to find the best solution for your project schedule – no 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 reptiles are likely absent from the site, your development proposals should be able to proceed lawfully, with respect of reptiles. Arun Ecology can provide a report for submission with your planning application demonstrating that your scheme can proceed lawfully.
Where reptiles are found to be present on-site, then appropriate mitigation plans may need to be put in place for determination by the Local Planning Authority, to ensure the development can progress lawfully.
If smooth snakes or sand lizards are likely to be impacted by the proposals, a mitigation licence for a European Protect Species (EPS) will need to be obtained from the regulatory body (Natural England in England) for the scheme to be able to proceed lawfully.
FAQs
Local Planning Authorities have a legal duty to assess the potential impacts of a proposed development on protected species (such as reptiles) before giving consent for a planning application. You will need to demonstrate that appropriate care has been taken to avoid any impacts to reptiles. This may include undertaking reptile surveys (to determine their presence/likely absence) if there is suitable reptile habitat present that could be impacted by the development. Reptile surveys would also inform any mitigation plans that may be required if impacts to reptiles cannot be avoided.
In line with biodiversity and geological conservation: circular 06/2005 protected species surveys (such as reptiles) should be completed prior to the granting of planning permission, and should not be conditions of planning.
Habitat is usually assessed for its suitability to support reptiles as part of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA). Reptile surveys will normally be recommended in a PEA report if there are local records or habitat that suggest there is a reasonable likelihood of reptiles being present and impacted by the proposed development.
The reptile surveying season is time restricted as reptile detectability during the hot summer months and cold winter months is often very low as reptiles take cover in such conditions. Reptile surveys conducted in spring, early summer and autumn provide the most reliable data to determine presence/absence of the species at a given site and estimate their population abundance.
Ideally, if reptiles have been identified on a proposed development site, any impacts to reptiles should be avoided if possible. If it is not possible to avoid impacts to reptiles and it is not possible to retain viable habitat for reptiles within the site, then as a last resort translocating reptiles could be a possibility.
You will need to demonstrate the translocation can be successful by finding a suitable receptor site that can be secured indefinitely. The receptor sites needs to be as close to the existing site as possible, be of similar size and have habitat in favourable condition. Ideally, the translocated species would not be present already at the new receptor site. Enhancements may be required prior to the translocation of reptiles to the receptor site to ensure the long term viability of the reptile population.
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 of the survey
- Any other hazards that might be present at the (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.