A protected population of great crested newts nearly derailed plans for a development at one of the Yorkshire coast’s largest holiday parks after previously unidentified breeding ponds were discovered nearby.
North Yorkshire Council has now approved the plans at Primrose Valley Holiday Village, near Filey, despite ecological concerns raised during the application process.
After receiving further ecological evidence and concluding the newt population can be protected through licensing and mitigation measures, the authority granted planning permission for six liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage tanks and a fenced compound.
The proposals faced scrutiny after two additional great crested newt breeding ponds were identified within 250 metres of the development site that had not been included in the original ecological assessment.
Council documents show the discovery initially prompted concerns from the authority’s ecology team, with further survey work and supporting information subsequently submitted by the applicant.
The site lies within a great crested newt district-level licensing “red zone” – an area considered important for populations of the protected species.
According to planners, the wider holiday park supports a population of great crested newts and parts of the application site provide terrestrial habitat that could be used by the animals.
However, following the submission of updated ecological reports, North Yorkshire Council’s ecology officer withdrew an earlier objection.
The report stated that while the ecological information submitted was “less than fully comprehensive”, it was likely to be sufficient for the developer to secure a European Protected Species Licence from Natural England, which will be required before work can begin.
Planning officers said none of the breeding ponds would be directly affected by the scheme and that mitigation measures could protect the local newt population.
These measures are expected to include temporary fencing, trapping and relocation programmes, ecological supervision during construction and habitat enhancement works.
The approved scheme will also be subject to biodiversity net gain requirements.
Planning documents state that proposed landscaping and habitat creation would deliver a 71.97 per cent increase in habitat units and a 23.01 per cent increase in hedgerow units, significantly exceeding the national minimum requirement.
New infrastructure included as part of the plans are intended to improve and consolidate gas supplies serving the holiday park.
In recommending approval, planning officers said the development would support the continued operation of the tourism business while ensuring the favourable conservation status of the area’s great crested newt population is maintained.
A condition attached to the permission requires the developer to obtain the necessary licence from Natural England before any works affecting the newts can commence.
The application was approved, subject to conditions, on Friday, October 9.