The message to those advising anyone with interest in land, however large or small, is loud and clear. If your client has a protected species on its land which they intend to develop, it is absolutely vital that they have the site surveyed by a competent environmental consultant, who will be able to identify any potential risks.
The rest of the article may be a bit alarmist, but I can't disagree with the quoted message. Don't forget that Calumma Ecological Services specialises in projects that involve great crested newts.