Otters, beavers and dormice are among the threatened wildlife that could be put at risk by new planning proposals, green groups have warned.

Senior ministers have pointed the finger at species such as bats, spiders and snails for holding up development of new housing and key infrastructure, and have proposed changes in planning rules they claim will work for growth and nature. As part of the proposed plans, developers could pay a levy for their impacts on nature.

A report from the Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL) coalition of 90 nature organisations has warned of a “black hole” in evidence that the proposals to make developers pay a fee, rather than follow existing rules to protect wildlife, would work for many species.