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Written question asked by Joe Robertson (Conservative) on Friday, 3 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 July 2026. It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Monday, 13 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Network Rail: Biodiversity

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 13067 on Network Rail: Biodiversity, how many protected species licences have been applied for (a) by and (b) on behalf of Network Rail in each of the last five years, broken down by species.

Answer

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. Standard licences typically contain site- or project-specific conditions. Where Network Rail cannot use non-licensable techniques, it will apply for standard licences. Network Rail continues to explore the opportunity for organisational licences where application of multiple licences would be inefficient for them and the regulator.

Based on information held centrally by Network Rail the following protected species licences have been issued to, or on behalf of, Network Rail in England and Wales since 2021. These figures have not been subject to a further validation exercise with all Regions and Functions and are therefore a best estimate available.

Standard Licences

Number of permits, licences or consents

Species

Badger

15

Bat

3

Great Crested Newt

8

Hazel Dormouse

55

Roman Snail

3

Organisational Licences

Number of permits, licences or consents

Species

Badger

2

Birds

2

Great Crested Newt

1

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
15858
Session
2026-27
Related items
Network Rail: Biodiversity
Monday, 29 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Biodiversity Licensing Nature conservation Network Rail
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk