Natural England
Details
You must have a licence to displace water voles for development.
This licence allows you to intentionally damage or destroy water vole burrows or displace water voles for development projects. This includes:
- cutting vegetation back to bare earth in the spring
- carrying out a destructive search of water vole burrows to displace them from their burrows after removing vegetation
- destroying water vole burrows after a destructive search
Intentionally disturbing water voles by displacement is a method of reducing harm to them where development is to take place. Read the licence document on this page for more details.
You can only use this licence for a development if your actions will result in a conservation benefit for water voles.
You should apply for an individual licence if you cannot follow the terms and conditions of this licence.
Register to use this licence
You must register with Natural England before you can use this licence.
You can only use this licence if youre an:
- ecological consultant registered to use it - the registered person
- accredited agent of the registered person
- assistant working under the direct supervision of the registered person or accredited agent
Pay for your licence
You need to pay for a CL31 licence.
New registrations cost 60.
It costs 50 a year to renew your licence registration.
Read the terms and conditions for paying for a wildlife licence.
How to pay
You can pay using a bank card. Follow the GOV.UK Pay link on the application form.
Report your actions
You must report any actions you took while using this licence. Use the online reporting, monitoring and licence renewal form for CL31 licences.
You must submit your report by 31 January each year, even if youve taken no action.
There is a monitoring element to the online form. This information allows Natural England to assess the effectiveness of displacement as a new licensed activity.
Renew your licence
It costs 50 a year to renew your licence.
Complete the online reporting, monitoring and licence renewal form for CL31 licences.