The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017

1. Introductory Text

2. PART 1 Introductory and General Provisions

   1. 1. Citation and commencement

   2. 2. Extent

   3. 3. Interpretation

   4. 3A. Interpretation: the Directives

   5. 4. Plans or projects relating to offshore marine area or offshore marine installations

   6. 5. Nature conservation bodies

   7. 6. Relevant authorities in relation to marine areas and European marine sites

   8. 7. Competent authorities

   9. 8. European sites and European marine sites

   10. 9. Duties relating to compliance with the Directives

   11. 9A. Reports

   12. 10. Duties in relation to wild bird habitat

   13. 11. Review by appropriate nature conservation body

3. PART 2 Conservation of Natural Habitats and Habitats of Species

   1. European sites

      1. 12. Duty to designate special areas of conservation

      2. 13. Priorities for designating special areas of conservation

      3. 14. Consultation as to inclusion of site omitted from the list

      4. 15. Classification of sites as special protection areas

      5. 16. Notification of a proposal to classify a special protection area

      6. 16A. Management objectives of the national site network

   2. Register of European sites

      1. 17. Register of European sites

      2. 18. Notification of changes to the register

      3. 19. Notice to landowners and other bodies

   3. Management agreements

      1. 20. Management agreements

      2. 21. Existing agreements

      3. 22. Certain payments under management agreements

   4. Control of potentially damaging operations

      1. 23. Notification of potentially damaging operations

      2. 24. Assessment of implications for European sites

      3. 25. Sites of special scientific interest which become European sites: duty to review

      4. 26. Farm capital grants

   5. Special nature conservation orders

      1. 27. Power to make special nature conservation order

      2. 28. Restriction on carrying out operations specified in order

      3. 29. Assessment of implications for European sites after service of stop notice

      4. 30. Compensation for effect of stop notice

      5. 31. Restoration orders

   6. Byelaws

      1. 32. Power to make byelaws

      2. 33. Byelaws: supplementary provisions

      3. 34. Compensation for effect of byelaws

      4. 35. Continuation in force of existing byelaws

   7. Powers of compulsory acquisition

      1. 36. Powers of compulsory acquisition

   8. European marine sites

      1. 37. Marking of site and advice by nature conservation bodies

      2. 38. Management scheme for European marine site

      3. 39. Direction to establish or amend management scheme

      4. 40. European marine sites: byelaws and orders

   9. Nature conservation policy in planning contexts

      1. 41. Nature conservation policy in planning contexts

4. PART 3 Protection of species

   1. Protection of animals

      1. 42. European protected species of animals

      2. 43. Protection of certain wild animals: offences

      3. 44. Protection of certain wild animals: defences

      4. 45. Prohibition of certain methods of capturing or killing wild animals

   2. Protection of plants

      1. 46. European protected species of plants

      2. 47. Protection of certain wild plants: offences

      3. 48. Protection of certain wild plants: defences

   3. Interpretation of Part 3

      1. 49. Interpretation of Part 3

5. PART 4 Additional protection of habitats and wild animals and plants

   1. Surveillance and monitoring

      1. 50. Surveillance of conservation status of habitats and species

      2. 51. Protection of certain animals and plants from exploitation

      3. 52. Monitoring of incidental capture and killing

      4. 53. Protection from incidental capture and killing

   2. Introduction of new species

      1. 54. Introduction of new species from ships

6. PART 5 Licences

   1. Grant of licences

      1. 55. Licences for certain activities relating to animals or plants

      2. 56. Licences for the introduction of new species

      3. 57. Licences: general provisions

   2. Relevant licensing body

      1. 58. Relevant licensing body

   3. Offences

      1. 59. False statements made for obtaining licence

      2. 60. Offence of breaching licence condition

7. PART 6 Assessment of plans and projects

   1. CHAPTER 1 General provisions

      1. Introductory provisions

         1. 61. Interpretation of Part 6

         2. 62. Application of provisions of Chapter 1

      2. General provisions for protection of European sites and European offshore marine sites

         1. 63. Assessment of implications for European sites and European offshore marine sites

         2. 64. Considerations of overriding public interest

         3. 65. Review of existing decisions and consents

         4. 66. Consideration on review

         5. 67. Co-ordination where more than one competent authority involved

         6. 68. Compensatory measures

         7. 69. Modifications of regulations 63 to 68 in certain cases

   2. CHAPTER 2 Planning

      1. Planning permission

         1. 70. Grant of planning permission

         2. 71. Planning permission: duty to review

         3. 72. Planning permission: consideration on review

         4. 73. Planning permission: effect of orders made on review

         5. 74. Planning permission: compensation

      2. General development orders

         1. 75. General development orders

         2. 76. General development orders: opinion of appropriate nature conservation body

         3. 77. General development orders: approval of local planning authority

         4. 78. General development orders: supplementary

      3. Special development orders

         1. 79. Special development orders

      4. Local development orders

         1. 80. Local development orders

      5. Neighbourhood development orders

         1. 81. Neighbourhood development orders

      6. Simplified planning zones and enterprise zones

         1. 82. Simplified planning zones

         2. 83. Enterprise zones

      7. Development consent under Planning Act 2008

         1. 84. Grant of development consent

         2. 85. Development consent: review

      8. Interpretation of Chapter 2

         1. 86. Interpretation of Chapter 2

   3. CHAPTER 3 Highways and roads

      1. 87. Construction or improvement of highways or roads

      2. 88. Cycle tracks and other ancillary works

   4. CHAPTER 4 Electricity

      1. 89. Consents under Electricity Act 1989: application of assessment and review provisions

      2. 90. Consents under Electricity Act 1989: procedure on review

      3. 91. Consents under Electricity Act 1989: effect of review

      4. 92. Consents under Electricity Act 1989: compensation

   5. CHAPTER 5 Pipe-lines

      1. 93. Authorisations under Pipe-lines Act 1962: application of assessment and review provisions

      2. 94. Authorisations under Pipe-lines Act 1962: procedure on review

      3. 95. Authorisations under Pipe-lines Act 1962: effect of review

      4. 96. Authorisations under Pipe-lines Act 1962: compensation

   6. CHAPTER 6 Transport and Works

      1. 97. Orders under Transport and Works Act 1992: application of assessment and review provisions

      2. 98. Orders under Transport and Works Act 1992: procedure on review

      3. 99. Orders under Transport and Works Act 1992: effect of review

      4. 100. Orders under Transport and Works Act 1992: compensation

   7. CHAPTER 7 Environmental Controls

      1. 101. Environmental permits

      2. 102. Abstraction and works authorised under water legislation

      3. 103. Marine works

      4. 104. Derogations in relation to nitrate pollution prevention legislation

   8. CHAPTER 8 Land Use Plans

      1. Land use plans

         1. 105. Assessment of implications for European sites and European offshore marine sites

         2. 106. Assessment of implications for European site: neighbourhood development plans

         3. 107. Considerations of overriding public interest

         4. 108. Co-ordination for land use plan prepared by more than one authority

         5. 109. Compensatory measures

      2. Planning Act 2008

         1. 110. National policy statements

      3. Interpretation of Chapter 8

         1. 111. Interpretation of Chapter 8

   9. CHAPTER 9 MARINE POLICY STATEMENTS AND MARINE PLANS

      1. 112. Marine policy statement

      2. 113. Marine plan

8. PART 7 Enforcement

   1. Wildlife inspectors

      1. 114. Wildlife inspectors

   2. Powers of entry

      1. 115. Powers of entry: constables

      2. 116. Powers of entry: wildlife inspectors

      3. 117. Powers of entry: other authorised persons

   3. Powers of search etc.

      1. 118. Constables' powers of search, etc.

   4. Powers in relation to specimens and samples

      1. 119. Powers in relation to samples: constables

      2. 120. Powers in relation to specimens and samples: wildlife inspectors

      3. 121. Restrictions on taking samples from live specimens

   5. Offences

      1. 122. Attempts and possession of means of committing offence

      2. 123. Obstruction of persons exercising powers of entry under regulation 117

      3. 124. Obstruction in connection with constables' powers to take samples

      4. 125. Offences in connection with wildlife inspectors' enforcement powers

   6. Codes of practice

      1. 126. Codes of practice

   7. Miscellaneous

      1. 127. Advice and assistance from nature conservation bodies

      2. 128. Forfeiture

      3. 129. Proceedings for offences: venue and time limits

      4. 130. Offences by bodies corporate etc.

      5. 131. Application of criminal offences to the Crown

   8. Interpretation of Part 7

      1. 132. Interpretation of Part 7

9. PART 8 Final Provisions

   1. 133. Powers of drainage authorities

   2. 134. Advisory role of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee

   3. 135. Advisory role of Natural England, the Natural Resources Body for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage

   4. 136. Research

   5. 137. Local inquiries

   6. 138. Notices

   7. 139. Consequential Amendments

   8. 140. Revocations

   9. 141. Transitional provisions

   10. 141A. Transitional provisions: EU exit

   11. 142. Review: England

   12. 143. Amendment of Schedules

   13. 144. Amendment of the Annexes to the Directives

   14. 145. Statutory instruments

10. Signature

11. 1. SCHEDULE 1

       Special Nature Conservation Orders: Procedure

       1. 1. Coming into operation

       2. 2. Publicity for orders

       3. 3. Unopposed orders

       4. 4. Opposed orders

       5. 5. Restriction on power to amend orders or confirm them with modifications

       6. 6. Notice of final decision on order

       7. 7. Proceedings for questioning validity of orders

       8. 8. Interpretation

    2. SCHEDULE 2

       European Protected Species of animals

    3. SCHEDULE 3

       Excluded populations of certain species

    4. SCHEDULE 4

       Animals which may not be captured or killed in certain ways.

    5. SCHEDULE 4A

       Prohibited Methods of Capturing or Killing Wild Animals

       1. 1. The prohibited means of capturing or killing mammals are—

       2. 2. The prohibited methods of capturing or killing fish are—

       3. 3. The prohibited modes of transport are— (a) aircraft; and

    6. SCHEDULE 5

       European Protected Species of plants

    7. SCHEDULE 6

       Consequential Amendments

       1. PART 1 Primary Legislation

          1. 1. Harbours Act 1964

          2. 2. Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967

          3. 3. Conservation of Seals Act 1970

          4. 4. Highways Act 1980

          5. 5. Town and Country Planning Act 1990

          6. 6. Planning Act 2008

          7. 7. Constitutional Reform Act 2005

          8. 8. Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

       2. PART 2 Subordinate Legislation

          1. 9. Public Gas Transporter Pipe-Line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999

          2. 10. Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 1999

          3. 11. Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999

          4. 12. Pipe-line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2000

          5. 13. Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001

          6. 14. Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003

          7. 15. Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2006

          8. 16. Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009

          9. 17. Marine Management Organisation (Prescription of Powers to Fix Fees and Charges) Order 2010

          10. 18. Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010

          11. 19. Marine Strategy Regulations 2010

          12. 20. Port of Bristol (Deep Sea Container Terminal) Harbour Revision Order 2010

          13. 21. Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011

          14. 22. Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Wales) Order 2011

          15. 23. Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2011

          16. 24. Associated British Ports (Grimsby Riverside Ro-Ro Terminal) Harbour Revision Order 2011

          17. 25. The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011

          18. 26. Localism Act 2011 (Infrastructure Planning) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2012

          19. 27. Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012

          20. 28. Hinkley Point Harbour Empowerment Order 2012

          21. 29. Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm Order 2013

          22. 30. Lancashire County Council (Torrisholme to the M6 Link (A683 Completion of Heysham to M6 Link Road)) Order 2013

          23. 31. The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013

          24. 32. Galloper Wind Farm Order 2013

          25. 33. Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2013

          26. 34. Marine Licensing (Application Fees) Regulations 2014

          27. 35. Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 2014

          28. 36. Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014

          29. 37. A556 (Knutsford to Bowdon Improvement) Development Consent Order 2014

          30. 38. Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Order 2014

          31. 39. Central Bedfordshire Council (Woodside Link Houghton Regis) Development Consent Order 2014

          32. 40. Associated British Ports (Fisher Fleet Quay) Harbour Revision Order 2014

          33. 41. Able Marine Energy Park Development Consent Order 2014

          34. 42. Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014

          35. 43. Keeping and Introduction of Fish (Wales) Regulations 2014

          36. 44. Willington C Gas Pipeline Order 2014

          37. 45. Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and River Esk Catchment Area) Regulations 2015

          38. 46. A160/A180 (Port of Immingham Improvement) Development Consent Order 2015

          39. 47. Cornwall Council (A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement) Order 2015

          40. 48. Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015

          41. 49. Infrastructure Act 2015 (Strategic Highways Companies) (Consequential, Transitional and Savings Provisions) Regulations 2015

          42. 50. Infrastructure Planning (Interested Parties and Miscellaneous Prescribed Provisions) Regulations 2015

          43. 51. Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015

          44. 52. Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015

          45. 53. Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015

          46. 54. Knottingley Power Plant Order 2015

          47. 55. Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 2015

          48. 56. White Moss Landfill Order 2015

          49. 57. Norfolk County Council (Norwich Northern Distributor Road (A1067 to A47(T))) Order 2015

          50. 58. Poole Harbour (Works) Revision Order 2015

          51. 59. Preesall Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2015

          52. 60. Progress Power (Gas Fired Power Station) Order 2015

          53. 61. Dogger Bank Teeside A and B Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015

          54. 62. Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station Order 2015

          55. 63. Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

          56. 64. A19/A1058 Coast Road (Junction Improvement) Development Consent Order 2016

          57. 65. Palm Paper Mill Generating Station Order 2016

          58. 66. Thorpe Marsh Gas Pipeline Order 2016

          59. 67. A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Development Consent Order 2016

          60. 68. Fal Fishery Order 2016

          61. 69. York Potash Harbour Facilities Order 2016

          62. 70. River Humber Gas Pipeline Replacement Order 2016

          63. 71. Triton Knoll Electrical System Order 2016

          64. 72. M4 Motorway (Junctions 3 to 12) (Smart Motorway) Development Consent Order 2016

          65. 73. Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

          66. 74. Economic Growth (Regulatory Functions) Order 2017

          67. 75. Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017

          68. 76. Keuper Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2017

          69. 77. Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Wales) Regulations 2017

          70. 78. Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017

          71. 79. Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017

          72. 80. Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017

          73. 81. Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017

    8. SCHEDULE 7

       Revocations

12. Explanatory Note