Paragraph 14 European protected species: onshore

No stage of the onshore works other than surveying and investigation necessary to comply with this requirement may commence until, for that stage, pre-construction survey work has been carried out to establish whether a European protected species is present on any of the land affected, or likely to be affected, by any part of that stage of the onshore works.

Where a European protected species is shown to be present, the relevant stage of the onshore works likely to affect the species must not commence until a scheme of protection and mitigation measures for that stage has been submitted to and approved by the discharging authority or a European protected species licence is granted by the relevant SNCB.

Each stage of the onshore works which requires a scheme of protection and mitigation measures in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) of this requirement must be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme as applicable in each stage.

In this paragraph, “European protected species” has the same meaning as in regulations 42 (European protected species of animals) and 46 (European protected species of plants) of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.