Bat Surveys
All bats and their roosts are fully protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended)
It is a criminal offence to deliberately or recklessly kill, injure, disturb or take a bat. Bat roosts are also protected from damage and destruction including when not in use.
Protected species are a material consideration within the planning process and Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) have a duty in exercising their function to consider the impact of a development on bats when determining an application.
Bats roost in a variety of natural and built structures that broadly includes trees, buildings, bridges, tunnels, mines and caves. Landscape features such as woodland, hedgerows, grasslands and water bodies also provide important commuting and foraging habitat vital to their survival.
If your development is reasonably likely to impact bats and/or their habitat you will need to undertake bat surveys to ensure that your development proposals are able to proceed lawfully.
Bat Surveys
Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA)
Preliminary Ground Level Tree Roost Assessment (PGLTRA)
Hibernation Surveys
Bat Aerial Inspections with MEWPS or Tree Climbing
Dusk Emergence and Dawn Re-Entry Surveys (Phase II)
Bat Activity Surveys
What you need to know about bat surveys
Where will you find out if you need a bat survey?
Potential roosting, commuting and foraging habitat for bats is normally outlined within a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) Report, as will any local records of bats which may indicate they are using the site.
You may be notified that a bat survey is required by the LPA , where a PEA has not been undertaken (works restricted to the footprint of an existing building). However, this should not be relied upon; it is ultimately your responsibility to seek advice.
Our approach
To ensure a standardised approach to data collection our bat surveys are always carried out in line with the Bat Conservation Trust best practice guidelines and all other industry recognised technical guidelines.
This is the trusted approach for Local Planning Authorities and regulatory bodies such as Natural England, providing assurance that any bat survey carried out by Arun Ecology will meet the expectations of these bodies.
The Arun team
We have an in-house team of ecologists registered to use the Level 2 class licence to survey bats, whose wealth of experience means we are more than qualified to carry out the job.
Our experience means that even in the most challenging situations, we are able to quickly find bespoke solutions, where safe to do so, to capture data efficiently.
Planning your surveys ahead of time
The one thing we can’t guarantee is the Local Planning Authority or regulatory body, Natural England, accepting survey data carried out at a sub-optimal time of year. It is therefore vital that surveys are timed appropriately in line with the bat surveys season.
What you can expect from Arun Ecology is an honest approach from the offset to find the best solution for your project schedule – no false promises that could result in unexpected delays and costs to your project.
Each of our dedicated bat survey pages outlines the optimal season for carrying out a given type of bat survey.
What next?
If it has been concluded following a proportionate survey effort that bats are likely absent from the structure or tree, Arun Ecology can provide a report for submission with your planning application demonstrating that your scheme can proceed lawfully.
Should the presence of bats be confirmed and they are likely to be impacted by the proposals, a mitigation licence for a European Protect Species (EPS) will need to be obtained from the regulatory body (Natural England in England) for the scheme to proceed lawfully.
Helping to address the ecological
and climate crisis
At Arun Ecology it’s not all just about driving business. We want to contribute to addressing the challenges of our time to ensure a prosperous future for the next generation.
So, as part of our service, each time you commission us we are committed to planting one tree within the UK, through our partnership with Creating Tomorrow’s Forests.
Watch this space to find out more about how we are contributing to nature recovery and tackling climate change.
Contact us
Contact us today or request a call back at a more convenient time to discuss your project.
Whether you wish to request a quote or ask us a question, our friendly and experienced team will always be happy to advise and will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible.