No phase of the authorised development may commence until final pre-construction survey work has been carried out for that phase to establish whether a protected species is present on any of the land affected, or likely to be affected, by the authorised development or in any of the trees to be lopped or felled as part of that stage of the connection works.

For the purposes of requirement 14(1) “commence” includes any site preparation works.

Where a protected species is shown to be present, the phase of the authorised development must not begin until, after consultation with Natural England and the relevant planning authority, a scheme of protection and mitigation measures has been submitted to and approved by the relevant planning authority.

The authorised development must be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme.

In this requirement, “protected species” refers to any species defined as a European Protected Species in regulations 42 (European protected species of animals) and 46 (European protected species of plants) of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 M1 or any species to which Part I (wildlife) and Schedule 5 (animals which are protected) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 M2 applies.