Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
  • Join today!
  • Donate
  • Appeals
  • Members
  • Shop
  • FAQs
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About us
    • Our history
    • Our strategy to 2030
    • Benefits of our work
    • Who's who
      • Staff
      • Trustees
      • Patrons
    • Partners & Funders
    • Polices & Position statements
    • Work with us
  • What we do
    • Conservation
      • Our reserves
      • Saving species
      • Saving habitats
      • In Europe
      • Overseas
    • Education & Training
      • Training
      • Education
      • Champhibians scheme
      • School work placements
      • University placements & dissertations
    • Influencing policy & Legislation
    • Projects & Partnerships
      • Regional projects
      • Partnership work
      • Past work
    • Science & Monitoring
  • Reptiles & Amphibians
    • Report your sightings
    • Frogs, Toads & Spawn
    • Newts
    • Lizards
    • Snakes
    • Non-natives
    • Their habitats
  • Help & Advice
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Gardens & Ponds
    • Snakes in gardens
    • Escaped pet snakes
    • Amphibian disease
    • Reptile disease
    • Habitat management
    • Planning & Development
    • Free adder photo library
    • Wildlife crime
  • Ways to help
    • Volunteering
    • Donate
    • ARC Membership
    • Fundraising for us
    • Sponsor a species
    • ARC Guardians
    • Legacies & Gifts in memory
    • In memory giving pages
    • ARC Corporate Supporters
    • Employee Action Days
    • More ways to help
  • News & Events
    • Latest news
    • ARC eNews
    • Conferences
    • Events
  • Admin
    • Log in
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Planning & Development
  1. What we do
  2. Influencing policy & Legislation

Planning & Development

The planning system regulates how land-use changes are decided, and can therefore have a major influence on reptile and amphibian conservation. In essence, there are two main elements to land-use planning: forward (or strategic) planning, and development control. The former sets out the broad framework for land-use changes in a given region. The latter regulates applications for individual land-use changes. ARC engages in planning by influencing national policy and, when particular cases merit, by making representations on individual cases. The document below gives advice if you are concerned about a particular development. The planning systems in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run to similar principles but different procedures. 

Wildlife Assessment Check

The Wildlife Assessment Check is a free online tool, developed by the Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning, that is designed to help householders and smaller developers who are making a planning application, or undertaking a permitted development or works to a listed building. The tool allows applicants to check whether their proposed site and works are likely to require expert ecological advice before making a planning application. It aims to smooth out the planning application process for applicants by encouraging them to address potential ecological impacts early on, reducing unnecessary delays and costs. It also aims to support those local planning authorities who lack in-house ecological capacity, by encouraging applicants to take responsibility for ecological impact as a part of their application.

The Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning, of which ARC is a partner, is led by the Bat Conservation Trust and funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The partnership website provides up to date publications about planning policies across the UK and ecological assessment (in the ’Resources’ section).

Related documents

Developing wildlife rich communities for future generations (PDF)

Guidance on Building Development (England) with Respect to Amphibians and Reptiles (PDF)

Common Toads and Roads - Guidance for planners and highways engineers in England (PDF)

Amphibian Habitat Management Handbook (PDF)

Reptile Habitat Management Handbook (PDF)

Published: 18th April, 2016

Updated: 8th February, 2022

Author: Abby Louis

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Record-breaking New Forest frog spawn sighting added to national survey

    Record-breaking New Forest frog spawn sighting added to national survey

    ARC's Senior Ecologist Paul Edgar spotted record breaking spawn in the New Forest, creating the earliest record of spawn in Hampshire.

  • ARC Reptile Survey Training Event (classroom) - Friday 31st March 2023

    ARC Reptile Survey Training Event (classroom) - Friday 31st March 2023

    This free classroom training event is an introduction to reptile ecology and survey skills useful for observing reptiles in the UK, with a special emphasis on ARC’s flagship Snakes in the Heather project.

  • ARC Reptile Survey Training Event (classroom) - Friday 17th March 2023

    ARC Reptile Survey Training Event (classroom) - Friday 17th March 2023

    This free classroom training event is an introduction to reptile ecology and survey skills useful for observing reptiles in the UK, with a special emphasis on ARC’s flagship Snakes in the Heather project.

  • I've found an animal in my house

    I've found an animal in my house

    ARC's guide on what to do when you find an amphibian or reptile in your house.

Related

  • Stowaways

    Stowaways

    Have you found a reptile or amphibian stowaway? Read our advice on what to do next

  • National Amphibian and Reptile Monitoring Programme

    National Amphibian and Reptile Monitoring Programme

    The National Amphibian and Reptile Monitoring Programme is ARC’s flagship portfolio of surveys and projects. This includes the National Amphibian Survey, National Reptile Survey and species specific surveys.

  • Training courses

    Training courses

    Amphibian and Reptile Conservation runs a series of training events designed both for beginners, volunteers and professional ecologists.

  • Wildlife and Countryside Link

    Wildlife and Countryside Link

    A coalition of environmental and wildlife organisations, coming together as a united voice for nature.

  • Species Champions

    Species Champions

    Some species have friends in high places … discover the Species Champions.

  • Benefits of our work

    Benefits of our work

    Read more about the the primary and secondary benefits of our work to conserves amphibians and reptiles, and the habitats on which they depend.

  • ARC's advice on adder bites

    ARC's advice on adder bites

    New advice answering some of the most frequently asked questions about adder bites.

  • Winners of Amazing Animals, Brilliant Science competition announced

    Winners of Amazing Animals, Brilliant Science competition announced

    Winners of children's Amazing Animals, Brilliant Science art and writing competition in Scotland announced.

  • Snake Fungal Disease (SFD)

    Snake Fungal Disease (SFD)

    Emerging fungal pathogen amongst European snake populations

  • Bearing Witness for Wildlife

    Bearing Witness for Wildlife

    Recording wildlife crimes in partnership with the Bat Conservation Trust

Most read

  • Facts and advice on adder bites

    Facts and advice on adder bites

    Facts about adder bites and answers to frequently asked questions about prevention and treatment. This text is based on ARC’s research and experience, published evidence, and authoritative sources.

  • Slow-worm

    Slow-worm

    Where to find slow-worms (legless lizard), how to identify them, their lifecycle and protection status.

  • Adder

    Adder

    where to find adders, how to identify them, their lifecycle and protection status.

  • Vacancies

    Vacancies

    Come and work for us! See our current vacancies.

  • Smooth newt

    Smooth newt

    Where to find the smooth newt, how to identify them, their lifecycle and protection status.

  • Frogs & toads FAQs

    Frogs & toads FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions about... frogs and toads!

  • Common lizard

    Common lizard

    Where to find common lizards, how to identify them, their lifecycle and protection status.

  • Report your sightings!

    Report your sightings!

    Let us know which amphibians and reptiles you've seen

  • Grass snake

    Grass snake

    Where to find grass snakes, how to identify them, their lifecycle and protection status.

  • newts FAQs

    newts FAQs

    Answers to some frequently asked questions about... newts!

Tag cloud

amphibian conservation amphibians biological recording citizen science community science conservation England mobile app monitoring reptile conservation reptiles Scotland survey hub surveying UK Wales
ARC eNews

ARC eNews

Sign up and receive our e-Newsletter Read more

Published: 27th April, 2017

Updated: 18th November, 2021

Author: Kim Boughey

Latest tweet

  • Home
  • Our reserves
  • Projects & campaigns
  • Garden & ponds
  • Record your sightings!
  • News
  • Volunteer
  • ARC Corporate Supporters
  • Donate
  • Contact

  •  

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
744 Christchurch Road
Boscombe
Bournemouth
Dorset BH7 6BZ

ARC Ecological Services Ltd
744 Christchurch Road
Boscombe
Bournemouth
Dorset BH7 6BZ

Details of our Privacy Policy can be found on our Policies page.
See the ARC Website Terms and Conditions and ARC Shop Terms and Conditions
The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust is a registered charity (England & Wales no. 1130188, Scotland no.SC044097).
We are committed to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles.

Company number 07817747

Privacy Policy

Become an ARC Member

Become an ARC Member today and help us give a voice to the UK's amphibians and reptiles - saving species, improving habitats and enhancing lives in the process

Join us today

Manage Cookie Preferences