News - Changes to the Planning Application process
There are important changes to the ecological requirements for Planning Applications, which came into effect on 20th July 2026. The aim is to make it easier to submit planning applications, with less upfront costs for surveys prior to determination.
So what’s changed?
All planning applications will require a Wildlife Trigger List to be submitted, which can be completed by the applicant or agent.
The outcome of the trigger list may generate the requirement for a Preliminary Ecological Assessment (PEA). This PEA is basically a ‘walk-over’ survey that determines the suitability of the site for wildlife protected by the Conservation of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000. The PEA needs to be undertaken by a suitably qualified and locally experienced person, such as our amazing team at Nurture Ecology!
The PEA will make one of two recommendations, either;
for further detailed surveys, related to a protected species that may be impacted by the proposed development, or
suggest that no further survey effort is required, or the inclusion of some basic mitigation measures that would reduce any negative impacts to a protected animal or plant.
Further Surveys are now Conditioned
Here is the main change. Previously any further survey work was required before the planning application could be determined. Now a pre-commencement planning condition will be applied to indicate additional survey work, if required. Further survey work will still need to follow the survey effort and timings that the States of Jersey Land Resource Management team request us to implement, to ensure a robust survey is undertaken.
That’s good news right?
In many ways, yes! It makes the process faster and cheaper for applicants which is ultimately good news. If further surveys have to be completed prior to determination of the planning application it can take a long time, and applicants can get very nervous about spending money on surveys when they don't have their planning permission yet.
So are there any negative in this new approach?
As long as people are aware of the following points, any negative impacts of this new approach can be reduced;
The further surveys still need to be undertaken before works commence, and they are still seasonally constrained. This means that someone may get their planning permission, but works can only commence after these surveys and reports are completed and approved. Be sure to work with a well-resourced ecological provider that can guide you on timings and be efficient!
If the further surveys find a legally protected species that cannot be compensated for in the proposed development, planning permission will have effectively been given for something that will break the Wildlife Law. This scenario will be rare, but will leave some applicants in a tricky stalemate. Be sure to work with an ecological provider that has experience working with Planing and Land Resource Management to ensure a solution that allows work to go ahead can be found.
What are you doing to support these new changes?
The new system is positive news for most applications. We are introducing a sliding scale of PEA prices to create packages that will support different scales and complexities of developments. We have the resource ready to do these PEAs quickly and cost effectively, meaning planning applications can be processed promptly.
What other recommendations can help?
In some cases, waiting to adapt a final design to incorporate ecological requirements does, in fact, cause more delays. If a project is complex and highly likely to need ecological requirements incorporating, we will be recommending some clients to undertake further surveys prior to final plans. The benefit being an informed final design that will have a quick, positive determination. This will be rare though, and of course clients have the choice of whether to do this.
If we undertake a PEA close to seasonal constraints, we may also recommend that some further surveys are undertaken alongside, when they are very likely to be required before work can start. The aim is always to avoid delays once planning permission is given. Again, clients will be advised but have the choice.
Same process… different sequence
It can seem complicated, but we are here to help and guide you and your clients navigate this process. At Nurture Ecology we have undertaken thousands of surveys since we started in 2010. We have an experienced, friendly team that will explain the pros and cons of different approaches. Ultimately our role is to help our clients obtain planning permission. We have never had a planning application refused based on ecological reasons, to date and we can always find a way forward in line with law and project aspirations.