Great crested newts nearly blocked Yorkshire holiday park expansion

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 20:32 · Archive

North Yorkshire Council approved plans for six LPG storage tanks at Primrose Valley Holiday Village near Filey despite discovering previously unidentified great crested newt breeding ponds.

North Yorkshire Council has approved plans for six LPG storage tanks and a fenced compound at Primrose Valley Holiday Village, a major holiday park near Filey on the Yorkshire coast. The approval came after two previously unidentified great crested newt breeding ponds were discovered within 250 metres of the development site during the planning process, triggering initial concerns from the authority's ecology team.

The site lies within a great crested newt district-level licensing red zone, an area considered important for the protected species. The wider holiday park supports a population of great crested newts, and parts of the application site provide terrestrial habitat the animals could use. However, after the applicant submitted updated ecological reports, North Yorkshire Council's ecology officer withdrew an earlier objection.

The council concluded that while the ecological information was 'less than fully comprehensive', it was likely sufficient for the developer to secure the required European Protected Species Licence from Natural England. The developer will need this licence before construction can begin, and the newt population will be protected through licensing and mitigation measures.

How it is being reported

• Protected species almost held up holiday park developmentPlans for a new holiday park in the Filey area were held up after great crested newt breeding ponds were identified.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 14 Oct, 20:00
• Protected species almost held up holiday park developmentPlans for a new holiday park in the Filey area were held up after great crested newt breeding ponds were identified.The Press (York) · 14 Oct, 20:00

In this story: Primrose Valley Holiday Village · Filey · North Yorkshire Council · Natural England · Yorkshire coast

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