District Level Licensing (DLL) is a strategic approach to licensing which compensates for the impacts of development on great crested newts (GCN) at a landscape scale. This DLL Five-Year Evaluation reviews the Natural England (NE) DLL Scheme, over the preceding five financial years.
The evaluation explores ecological, efficiency and effectiveness outcomes though the following evaluation questions:
- EQ1: To what extent does DLL contribute to Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) for GCN?
- EQ2-4: To what extent does DLL provide efficiency and effectiveness improvements for GCN licensing, for Developers, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) and NE?
This evaluation indicates positive outcomes of DLL, including no loss of GCN range (occupied 10km grid squares), overall increase in distribution (1km grid squares with suitable habitat for GCN), area of suitable habitat and GCN population. A high proportion of compensation ponds are good or excellent suitability for GCN, and the long-term management of ponds is more favourable, compared to other licensing approaches. There has been a net increase in suitable GCN ponds, and a net increase in occupied ponds, as a result of the DLL scheme.
DLL has more efficient turnaround times and a higher uptake by developers, compared to standard mitigation licensing, with developers valuing its certainty and timesaving benefits, but highlighting concerns about costs. LPAs mirrored these views on timesaving and certainty, and found DLL maps as strategic resources more useful than those offered under standard licensing. Financially, DLL’s income over five-years has covered short-term operations and long-term obligations. The scheme has adapted to improve delivery and collaboration across NE. Stakeholder feedback indicates that relationships with NE have strengthened over time, whilst highlighting areas for improvement.