Great Crested Newt Survey

Natural England’s standing advice tells councils to ask for a survey where there are records of great crested newts, a pond or ditch within 500 metres (even one that only holds water part of the year), or places newts shelter within 500 metres of water. Surveying water bodies within 250 metres is usually enough, extending to 500 metres where nothing blocks the way (gov.uk).

Newts are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Killing or injuring them, or damaging their breeding and resting places, is an offence, which includes the grassland, hedges and log piles they use on land.

An eDNA test looks for traces of newt DNA in the water. A negative result from a sample taken in the right window is usually enough to rule newts out. The window is 15 April to 30 June (Natural Resources Wales). If newts are found and the work will affect them, a full population survey follows: four visits between mid-March and mid-June, with at least two from mid-April to mid-May, using torches, bottle traps and egg searches.

In much of England you do not have to survey at all. Under district level licensing, the developer pays into a scheme that creates and looks after new ponds elsewhere, and receives a licence that covers impacts on newts on the site. It avoids waiting for the survey season and is often cheaper on sites where newts are likely (gov.uk).

Schemes are run by Natural England and partners such as NatureSpace, and they do not cover every council. Your ecologist can check whether your site is in a scheme area and compare the cost with surveying.

Change is coming: under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, Natural England has said it will prepare seven regional Environmental Delivery Plans for great crested newts covering most of England (Natural England, December 2025). They are not in place yet.

For one or two ponds, an eDNA survey is typically £250 to £500 a pond plus VAT, including the laboratory test. A full population survey for up to six ponds is typically £2,750 to £3,500. Mitigation, fencing and translocation are quoted separately and depend on the licence route. See the survey cost guide.