ERC conducted stakeholder evaluation to review the effectiveness of the DLL Scheme, focusing on the engagement of customers i.e., developers and consultant ecologists, including those that had progressed through the Scheme to licensing and those that, although they applied to the Scheme, withdrew their application.  This followed on from the previous contract to consider DLL in relation to the LPAs experience. Data was collected through an online survey and in-depth interviews with developers that had enquired, applied and been licensed through DLL and developers that had enquired about DLL but not proceeded to application.

The final report considers how the Scheme is perceived and utilised by customers, their perceptions of the Scheme and whether they have changed since the Scheme was launched and explores whether customers felt that enhancements could be made to the Scheme and what the perceived benefits of those enhancements might be. It includes proposed recommendations to improve the Scheme.