NatureSpace Partnership - Green Angel Syndicate Investment

Green Angel Syndicate has completed an investment in a ground-breaking scheme to protect great crested newts whilst eliminating problems of delay and high costs for developers. NatureSpace Partnership will manage the new scheme in seven Local Planning Authorities in the South Midlands where Natural England has granted District Licences.

Because of their importance, great crested newts are protected by law and until now developers of sites where ponds are present have had to respect the traditional scheme of on-site surveys and mitigation measures. These cost significant sums and can delay developments by up to 18 months. Under the new scheme, NatureSpace Partnership and the Local Planning Authorities offer a simple, lower cost and guaranteed option to address great crested newt protection.

NatureSpace Partnership is an exciting investment opportunity for our syndicate offering the strongest conservation credentials coupled with a robust business model. It is our belief that this new scheme will become the preferred model for developers and planning authorities to manage great crested newt mitigation.
John Hinnigan - Green Angel Syndicate

​The NatureSpace scheme puts new ponds back in the landscape (or restores ancient ponds) for the first time. This is especially important in farm landscapes where agricultural intensification has been so hard on freshwater ecosystems.

The licence system is watertight and costs are known ahead of applying for planning consent. Delays are much reduced - even with complex developments the process takes less than 6 months and licence fees paid by the developer are used to create new ponds and habitats for newts and other wildlife.

The scheme is government endorsed and is fully supported by conservationists and Local Planning Authorities. The Seven Planning Authorities operating the NatureSpace scheme from February 2018 are: Milton Keynes, Aylesbury Vale, Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, South Oxfordshire, Vale of the White Horse, and Oxford City.

John Hinnigan, Chair of Green Angel Syndicate, who has also joined the NatureSpace Board, said “NatureSpace Partnership is an exciting investment opportunity for our syndicate offering the strongest conservation credentials coupled with a robust business model. It is our belief that this new scheme will become the preferred model for developers and planning authorities to manage great crested newt mitigation.”

NatureSpace Partnership CEO Tom Tew said, “I am delighted to have attracted investment from a specialist investment group which understands our market and mission”.

Green Angel Syndicate’s investment has been made as part of a £0.6 million equity fund-raising.