Great crested newts and the law

 Great crested newts, their breeding ponds and resting places are legally protected in Scotland by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) - "the Habitats Regulations". For details of this protection, see Protected species - Amphibians and reptiles  and Regulations 39-41 and 44-46 of the Habitats Regulations .

 If you intend to do any work near an area which might be occupied by Great crested newts then you should consider whether anything you do might involve acts which are illegal under the legislation.

 It is possible to obtain a licence to carry out work that would otherwise be illegal as long as it is offset by other work so that the overall status of the newt population is not degraded. The page Mitigating the effects of development has a link to guidance on mitigation.

 A licence application must fulfil three tests as outlined in the European Protected Species Licensing page.