It is common to be asked for a bat survey, or bat and bird survey, to accompany your planning application. Although many people think bats only occur in old buildings like churches and barns in fact they can be found in many types of building, including outbuildings, garages, agricultural buildings, bungalows, terraces, and modern houses.
These surveys are asked for because bats and their roosts are protected under both UK and European Law (HM Government Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010) which means it is illegal to disturb, injure, harm or kill them. Nesting birds are also protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, with extra protection for Barn Owls, which are included on Schedule 1 of the Act. Our surveys and advice help you proceed with your project with the necessary permissions so that you stay inside the law and protect wildlife as the law requires. If your planning officer has requested a bat or bat and bird survey, or your architect or planning agent has recommended you obtain a survey prior to lodging your planning application, the first step is to contact us to arrange an internal inspection of your building.
You can generate a quote and buy online using our auto quoting tool, or use the Contact Us page and we will get in touch to discuss your specific requirements and provide a no obligation quotation which is valid for 90 days.
We will then visit your property and undertake the initial survey of your building. In most cases if no evidence of bats or nesting birds is found we will produce a report which states this, and this is what’s needed to accompany your planning application. This initial survey can take place at any time of year.
If evidence of bats is found, or if the areas which could house bats are not accessible (for example the building is too dangerous to enter), emergence surveys are likely to be needed. These are follow-up surveys to the initial visit, and can only be undertaken between May and September inclusive, when bats are active. Occasionally winter surveys may be required to establish whether a roost is used by hibernating bats, but this is rare, and we would advise you of this within the report produced following the initial survey visit.
The initial bat and nesting bird survey involves a bat ecologist surveying all areas of the building, inside and out, using high powered torches, ladders and possibly an endoscope. If bats, or evidence of bats, is found during this initial survey, then the bat ecologist will recommend further surveys are undertaken using specialised equipment.
Rest assured that is it very unlikely your development will not be able to go ahead if we find bats. CEC is here to help you through the process to implement some form of bat mitigation and/or obtaining a European Protected Species Licence or a Bat Mitigation Class Licence to satisfy the Planning Authority and Natural England that the bats will be able to continue using your property as their home.
Additional surveys are quoted for separately and can include:
Bat emergence surveys – this normally involves two ecologists on site to record any bats emerging in and out of the building. A minimum of two emergence surveys is normally recommended as per Natural England and Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) guidelines.
Bat remote detector surveys – this involves placing a recordable unit within the building which automatically records any bat calls and activity. It is normally in the building for a period of 1 to 2 weeks.
Depending on what your additional surveys tell us, you might need to gain permission from Natural England to legally and temporarily disturb a bat roost so your works can go ahead. Please contact us for more information using 01872 245510 (answerphone service, we will return your call) or by emailing bats@cecenvironment.co.uk, or using our contact form for further advise on additional surveys, or use our auto quoting tool to buy your initial survey visit.
