Natural England
Details
You need a mitigation licence if your work will have impacts on European protected species (EPS) that would otherwise be illegal. This includes:
- capturing, killing, disturbing or injuring them - on purpose or by not taking enough care
- damaging or destroying their breeding or resting places - even accidentally
- obstructing access to their resting or sheltering places - on purpose or by not taking enough care
You can use licence A12 for the following animal EPS:
- beavers
- fishers estuarine moth
- large blue butterfly
- lesser whirlpool ramshorn snail
- pool frog
- wildcat
You can use licence A12 for the following plant EPS:
- creeping marshwort
- early gentian
- fen orchid
- floating water-plantain
- Killarney fern
- ladys slipper orchid
- shore dock
- slender naiad
- marsh saxifrage
Do not use this licence for the EPS that have their own mitigation licence application forms:
You need to follow the Marine Management Organisation guidance for marine EPS:
- sturgeon
- dolphin, porpoise and whale (all species)
- turtles: green turtle, hawksbill turtle, Kemps ridley, turtle, leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle
Apply for an A12 licence
To apply you must:
- complete application form A12
- include a method statement to show what youll do to reduce the impacts of the proposed work on the affected species
- include a reasoned statement to show that the activity fits the criteria and that there is no satisfactory alternative
- include references to show that the ecological consultant has the necessary experience to apply for a mitigation licence - references are not needed if theyve held a mitigation licence for the same species in the last 3 years
If the application is for a phased or multi-plot development, you need to provide:
- a master plan
- a habitat management and maintenance plan
You may need to pay for this licence.
Natural England will decide whether to issue a licence within 30 working days of receiving your application.
Use the European protected species (EPS) licensing policies
As part of your mitigation licence application, you may be able to use the EPS licensing policies to:
- reduce the level of survey you need to carry out
- reduce the mitigation requirements
- improve flexibility on where you create habitats as a compensation measure
Find out when and how to use European protected species policies to benefit EPS.
The 3 licensing tests
Your licence application must pass 3 legal tests:
- the activity must be for a certain purpose - for example, for scientific research or in the public interest
- there must be no satisfactory alternative that will cause less harm to the species
- the activity must not harm the long-term conservation status of the species - you may need to create new habitats to offset any damage
Find out more about the requirements for a European protected species licence.
When you need to pay
You may need to pay for an A12 licence. Natural England will assess your application form and tell you:
- if you need to pay
- how much youll pay
Read the terms and conditions for paying for a wildlife licence.
When you do not need to pay
You may not need to pay for a licence if its:
- to preserve public health and safety
- to prevent the spread of disease
- to prevent serious damage to property
- to conserve a historic property
- householder home improvements
How to pay
Natural England will send you an invoice when it approves your application.
You can pay by:
- electronic bank transfer
- debit or credit card by telephone - except American Express
- cheque
Your invoice will give payment method details.
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