District Level Licensing
District level licensing is available in West Suffolk for:
- Great crested newts (GCN)
- Water voles (pilot scheme launched June 2025)
Great crested newts
District level licensing is now available in West Suffolk and additional information can be found on GOV.UK - GOV.UK - Great crested newts: district level licensing schemes for developers, ecologists and landowners
District level licensing (DLL) is a type of strategic mitigation licence for great crested newts (GCN) granted in certain areas at a local authority or wider scale. A DLL scheme for GCN is in place for West Suffolk. A map of GCN risk zones is available Natural England Open Data Geoportal - GCN Risk Zones (Norfolk and Suffolk)
District level licensing is an alternative approach to mitigation licensing for planning applications to develop sites which could affect great crested newts. Developers can make a financial contribution to strategic, off-site habitat compensation instead of applying for a separate licence or carrying out individual detailed surveys.
If the DLL approach is to be used, an Impact Assessment and Conservation Payment Certificate (IACPC) which includes a plan of the site and is signed by both the applicant and Natural England will need to be submitted prior to determination of your planning application in order to demonstrate that the site has been accepted into the DLL scheme by Natural England.
Water voles (pilot)
Natural England has launched a pilot district level licensing scheme for water voles in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. The pilot will initially accept enquiries for one year.
This pilot strategic licensing approach is an alternative to other existing licensing routes for water voles, which will remain available. It is for the applicant to choose whether or not to apply to use the strategic licensing pilot, but eligibility criteria will restrict which applications are accepted by Natural England.
Water Vole risk zone mapping is available which indicates the level of risk to water vole from works planned in red and amber zones. However, applicants can apply to join the pilot scheme in any of the four risk zone categories.
More information is available at GOV.UK - Water voles: apply for a strategic licence