<p>Draft Great crested Newts</p><p>Like all British amphibians, great crested newts rely on water bodies for breeding, but otherwise they spend much of their lives on land. Some adults commence migration to breeding ponds in late January, but the most move later in March. Adult newts generally leave the breeding ponds from late May onwards, this dispersal being gradual, and newts may return occasionally to the pond to feed.</p><p>Unlike several other protected species, great crested newts occur on brown field sites and habitats that are often prime development sites.</p><p>Some development has destroyed ponds and associated terrestrial habitats such as grassland, scrub and woodland used for foraging, dispersal and hibernation by great crested newts. In addition many ponds have been left unmanaged and silted up and over shaded leading to the reduced viability of ponds as breeding sites.</p><p>Consequently the great crested newt has suffered a major decline in Britain over the last century. In view of the status of great crested newts across Europe, the law protects them. The primary legislation is embodied in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981(as amended) and also by the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 and the Countryside and Rights of way (CroW) Act 2000.</p><p>It is an offence to</p><p> Intentionally kill, injure or take a great crested newt</p><p> Possess or control any live or dead specimen or anything derived from a great crested newt</p><p> Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place used for shelter or protection by a great crested newt</p><p> Intentionally or recklessly disturb a great crested newt</p><p> Deliberately take or destroy the eggs of a great crested newt</p><p>Where a proposed development will affect land that potentially used by great crested newts, the Planning Authority would require extra information in the form of surveys, impact assessments and mitigation proposals before determining the planning application.</p><p>When is a licence required? In some cases the developer may need to apply to Natural England for a licence to facilitate mitigation, if on the basis of survey information and specialist knowledge, it is considered that the proposed activity is reasonably likely to result in an offence. Often, compensation for the loss of habitat is required in the form of habitat creation, restoration or enhancement.</p>