There are 18 species of bats in the UK which roost in a wide variety of places, including in buildings such as churches, houses, barns, and sheds, as well as walls, trees, bridges and caves (to name but a few!).
To determine if bats are present within a development site, an Initial Daytime Assessment will look for bats and their signs, including droppings, urine stains and feeding remains. This assessment will highlight any features within the site that may be used by bats and give an indication of potential risks to them and their roost sites from the proposed work.
If bats are found or suspected as being present, further Nocturnal Surveys will then be completed in order to confirm which bat species is present and how they are using the site.
The results of the Nocturnal Surveys will be used to fully assess impacts of the development on the bats and to create a mitigation package, which will be required to ensure the protection of the bats and to ensure they are able to continue roosting within the site post-development. The level of mitigation will depend upon the rarity of the species present and how they are using the site, with higher numbers of bats and maternity roosts requiring more detailed mitigation strategies. The mitigation package will be contained with a European Protected Species Mitigation (EPSM) Licence which must be applied for from Natural England.
Timing Constraints
The Initial Daytime Assessment can be completed at any time of year, but Nocturnal Surveys can only be completed between May-September. Outside of this period, bat activity is significantly reduced as they hibernate for winter.
The Legal Bit
| Bats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and under Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, which offer protection from intentional or reckless actions upon bats as well as obstructing access, damaging or destroying any structure or place which the bat uses for shelter or protection. |
Gray Ecology 