Bat Surveys

Why is a survey required?

Bat species in the UK have suffered considerable population losses over the past years. Therefore, all bats and their roosts are protected by law. This protection means that any development that may impact bats or their roosting locations will require a survey and assessment of the impacts.

It is a consideration of the Local Planning Authority (LPA) that appropriate measures have been undertaken during the planning process to consider the impacts on biodiversity when determining an application.

The survey aims to establish the identity of what species may be present and the number of individuals. This information can allow us to determine the type of roost that may be impacted.

If you, your architect, planning agent or the LPA consider there is a likelihood of bats being present, then a survey must be carried out.

Contact us for further advice; our Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) surveys start from £350+VAT.

Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA)

PRAs are undertaken to assess the suitability of a structure for roosting bats and to determine if the roost is ‘reasonably likely’ to be impacted by the development. This survey provides a recommendation for further surveys should the structure be suitable.

Bat Emergence/Re-entry Surveys

Dusk emergence and dawn re-entry surveys are undertaken if the PRA determines suitability for a bat roost. These surveys aim to establish the presence or likely absence of roosting bats and determine the roost type and number of bats present.

Bat Activity Surveys

These surveys are undertaken for developments that may impact important habitats for bats. The surveys aim to determine what species use the site and how they use it for foraging and commuting purposes.

Aerial Bat Surveys

Aerial bat surveys enable any potential roost features (PRFs) on trees to be examined closer, giving a more accurate assessment of roost type. This enables the appropriate survey effort to be determined.

Bat Hibernation Surveys

Should the PRA determine that the works are ‘reasonably likely’ to impact a feature with hibernation potential, then surveys must be carried out over winter. This is to determine if hibernating bats are present.

What next after the survey is complete?

Once the appropriate survey effort has been completed for your project, a report must be written to support your planning application. The report will detail information about the surveys, background data for the project area, findings from the surveys, what impact the development will have on these findings and recommendations to mitigate these impacts.

If it is found that bats are present, then a mitigation licence will need to be obtained from Natural England to enable the project to proceed legally. This may also be supported by a ‘mitigation strategy’ outlining certain factors to consider during the development and provisions to provide bats with continuous access to the current roost or the creation of a replacement roost.

 FAQs

  • All 18 species of British bat are protected by The ‘Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981’ (as amended) extended by the ‘Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000’ (CRoW Act). This legislation makes it an offence to:

    - intentionally kill, injure or take a bat;

    - possess or control a bat;

    - intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to a bat roost; and

    - intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat whilst it occupies a bat roost.

    Bats are also European Protected Species listed on Schedule 2 of the ‘Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017’ under Regulation 41. This legislation makes it an offence to:

    - deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat;

    - deliberately disturb bats in such a way as to be likely to (a) impair their ability to: (i) survive, breed or reproduce, or to rear or nurture their young, or (ii) in the case of animals of a hibernating or migratory species, to hibernate or migrate; or b), to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong; and

    - damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of a bat; and

    - possess, control, transport, sell, exchange a bat, or offer a bat for sale or exchange.

    All bat roosting sites receive legal protection even when bats are not present.

    Where it is necessary to carry out an action that could result in an offence under the ‘Conservation of

    Habitats and Species Regulations 2017’ it is possible to apply for a European Protected Species (EPS) licence from Natural England (NE). Three tests must be satisfied before this licence (to permit otherwise prohibited acts) can be issued:

    - Regulation 53(2)(e) states that licences may be granted to “preserve public health or public safety or other imperative reasons of overriding public interest including those of a social or economic nature and beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment.”

    - Regulation 53(9)(a) states that a licence may not be granted unless “there is no satisfactory alternative”.

    - Regulation 53(9) (b) states that a licence cannot be issued unless the action proposed “will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the population of the species concerned at a favourable conservation status in their natural range”.

  • Initial daytime surveys such as a Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) can be undertaken at any time of the year.

    Following the initial visit we can advise you if any further surveys are necessary (e.g. activity surveys or bat emergence surveys), to fully establish the presence or absence of bats.

    These follow on surveys are undertaken between May and August. Occasionally there is the ability for surveys to start earlier in the year, but this is weather dependent. Similarly, we can also survey well into September, but not where maternity roosts may be present, as most bats could have already dispersed.

    Hibernation surveys should be undertaken in December, January and February.

    Aerial tree surveys can be completed at any time throughout the year and are used to provide a recommendation for further surveys.

  • The cost will vary with factors such as location, project size and complexity and the number of surveys/surveyors required all playing their part in the total cost. Our costs for a PRA survey start from £350+VAT, following the PRA we will be able to discuss if further surveys are required and if so, the costs of these surveys.

    Please contact us and we will be able to provide further advice and a quote.