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If you’re planning activities on a site where water voles may live, you may be eligible to apply for a strategic licence.Ìý

A strategic licence is a new type of licence being developed by Natural England to: 

• improve the conservation status of water voles by addressing the biggest threats and opportunities across the landscape 

• make the regulatory process easier and more efficient for applicants 

You need a licence if your work will affect water voles. This includes if you may need to: 

• disturb them while they are in a place they use for shelter or protection Â�

• damage or destroy places they use for shelter or protection 

• stop water voles accessing places they use for shelter or protection 

• take them 

• kill or injure them (additional restrictions apply) 

This strategic licence is an alternative to a water vole mitigation or class licence and offers some advantages. With a strategic licence you:  

• do not need to carry out your own surveys of water voles 

• get clarity earlier on your eligibility, and mitigation and compensation requirements 

• benefit from increased flexibility during licensed works in most areas 

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You can apply for this licence if: 

• your project site is based in Norfolk, Suffolk Essex, Thurrock or Southend-on-Sea 

• the purpose of your project is for reasons of overriding public interest (including development) or to preserve public health and safety  

If your project does not meet the criteria, you may be eligible for other water vole licences.ÌýÌý

We will use a risk zone map to assess licence and compensation requirements. You can view and download the risk zone map for water voles from or the .Ìý

Express your interest 

If you are eligible and interested in applying for a strategic species licence for water voles, complete our expression of interest form.

If you need a version of this form in a more accessible format, or need help filling in the form, email [email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.ÌýÌý  

We will assess your expression of interest. We will contact you within 3 working days and invite the strongest projects to make a full application for a licence.ÌýÌý

Find out how Natural England will use your personal information when you submit an expression of interest.Ìý

Licence costs 

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappre is a set licence fee of £700 (exempt from VAT). You do not need to pay the licence fee if the purpose of your development is to preserve public health and safety. Read the terms and conditions for paying for a wildlife licence.Ìý

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappre are currently no discretionary charges for this licence. We plan to introduce discretionary charges for this licence in the future.  

How to pay 

We will send you an invoice if we approve your application.Ìý

You can pay by: 

• electronic bank transfer 

• debit or credit card by telephone (except American Express) 

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Your invoice will give details for these payment methods.Ìý

You need to include the invoice number with your payment so we can match it to your application.Ìý

VAT does not apply to charges for wildlife licences.Ìý

We accept purchase orders. If you want us to add a purchase number to your invoice, you must include it in the invoice details in the application form.Ìý

Future of the scheme 

We will evaluate the application process and the licence and use any insights to improve the scheme in the future. If the trial period is successful, the strategic licence could be introduced in other parts of England.