Paragraph 21 Protected speciesI1

No phase of the authorised development may commence until protected species surveys have been carried out by a suitably qualified person. The surveys shall inform the mitigation measures required for the protection of such species, which shall be incorporated into a species protection plan (SPP) that shall include a scheme of protection and mitigation.

The SPP must be agreed with the local planning authority in consultation with Natural England and implemented as approved.

In this requirement, “protected species” refers to any species defined as a European Protected Species in regulations 42 (European protected species of animals) and 46 (European protected species of plants) of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 or any species to which Part I (wildlife) and Schedule 5 (animals which are protected) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981^f1 applies.