Network Rail: Biodiversity
(asked on 20th October 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2026 to Question 19483 on Network Rail: Biodiversity, if she will provide the number of Network Rail projects to which standard licences for (a) badgers, (b) bats, (c) great crested newts, (d) hazel dormice and (e) Roman snails apply, broken down by Network Rail region.
At the time of writing Network Rail hold the following standard licences. It should be noted that wherever possible Network Rail will use non-licensable techniques to complete works and organisational or district licencing schemes rather than standard project licences.
Species | NWC | Southern | Eastern | Wales & Western | Scotland’s Railway |
Badger | Information on standard licences was unavailable in the time given. The region uses organisational and district licencing schemes for badger and GCN. | 0 | Information on standard licences was unavailable in the time given. The region uses organisational and district licencing schemes for badger and GCN. | 1 | 1 |
Bats | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||
Great crested newt | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
Hazel dormice | 45 | 38 | N/A species not present in Scotland | ||
Roman snails | 0 | 0 | N/A species not present in Scotland |
Standard licences typically contain site-specific or project-specific conditions. An organisational licence is a licence which permits an organisation to undertake activities (that are specified within the licence) which would otherwise require individual standard licences. Where Network Rail cannot use non-licensable techniques, it will apply for standard licences. Network Rail uses organisational licences or district licencing schemes where available and where application of multiple standard licences would be inefficient for them and the relevant regulator.