Skip to main content
Form

Great crested newts: apply for a mitigation licence (A14)

Apply for a licence to carry out work that may affect great crested newts, find out if you need to pay and how to report your actions.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England
Published:
4 April 2014
Last updated:
15 October 2025
Show all updates

  1. We have updated the information about when you need to complete a reasoned statement for public utility works.

  2. We have added information about when you need to complete a reasoned statement. Some exemptions now apply for overriding public interest licence applications.

  3. Updated application form for a great crested newt mitigation licence (A14). In the introductory section, updated the telephone number for the Wildlife Licensing team. In Section 15: Licence charges, updated the costs. Section 16: administration fee. Updated form to request a modification to your great crested newt licence: updated licence charges information.

  4. Fixed an error in the A14 application form. Section 10a, Question 1 now asks if the named ecologist is registered to use a GCN survey class licence level 1 or above. The previous version wrongly referred to a GCN survey class licence level 2 or above.

  5. Updated the licence application form (A14) to be clearer and more accessible. Added the option for a company or organisation to be named as the licensee. Updated the guidance for completing the licence application form.

  6. Removed references to the separate charge form. You should enter charge information into section 15 of the A14 form.

  7. Updated the licence application form to reflect that it now covers derogations under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

  8. We've replaced the work schedule and the licence modification request form. We've removed the charge screening form as this has now been incorporated into the main application form.

  9. We've replaced the mitigation licence application form (A14).

  10. We've replaced the mitigation licence application form (A14).

  11. Added a section on how to use European protected species (EPS) policies to benefit EPS as part of your mitigation licence application.

  12. Replaced the 2 existing charge screening forms (for new applications and for modifications) with a single form that covers both requests.

  13. Payment details added. Charge screening forms added for applications and modifications to licences issued before 17 February 2020.

  14. New great crested newt method statement added.

  15. Added licence application and modification checklists to Detail section.

  16. Replaced great crested newt application form A14 with revised version.

  17. Added updated version of the application form.

  18. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

How to apply for a great crested newt mitigation licence (A14)

HTML

Application form for a great crested newt mitigation licence (A14)

ODT, 59.9 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Method statement template for great crested newt mitigation licence

776 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Appendix for applications with survey data from more than 10 ponds

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 414 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Work schedule for great crested newt licence

MS Word Document, 152 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Request a modification to your great crested newt licence

PDF, 943 KB, 4 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Report your actions under this licence (for licences granted after summer 2013)

MS Word Document, 154 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

You need a mitigation licence if your work will have impacts on great crested newts (GCN) that would otherwise be illegal, such as:

  • capturing, killing, disturbing or injuring them (on purpose or by not taking enough care)
  • damaging or destroying their breeding or resting places (even accidentally)
  • obstructing access to their resting or sheltering places (on purpose or by not taking enough care)

You should check if you’re working in an area where there is a district level licensing scheme. This offers a quicker option to apply for a GCN mitigation licence.

Find out how great crested newts are protected.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Related content