Need a bat survey in Northumberland?

Bat Surveys in Northumberland

Any development projects that might impact bats will likely need a bat survey, from demolishing a building to working on a barn conversion. If bats are found on a site, the scheme could still go ahead providing the correct mitigation procedure is followed. Obtaining advice from ecological consultants with experience in producing bat surveys for the relevant local authorities will clarify the way forward.

UK bats

While the UK hosts 18 bat species, bat numbers have declined over the past 30-40 years, resulting in bats becoming highly protected. Bats roost in various places, including mature houses where they squeeze under weatherboarding or loose roof tiles, and in lofts, trees, hedgerows and farm buildings. Typical bat roost sites are near water which attracts insects for bats to forage on.

Legal protection for bats

As all bats are considered a European protected species, they are safeguarded by a raft of legislation, and disturbing bats without the correct permission is a criminal offence. Bats are protected by legislation in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct bats’ resting places.

Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 protects all 18 species of European bat in the UK, making it an offence to intentionally kill or deliberately capture bats, harm or disturb bats, destroy a bat roost, or obstruct their access.

Discovering bats on development projects means that specific guidance must be followed to avoid disturbing bats before planning permission will be granted. A bat risk assessment via a bat survey is the first step. Providing that the correct mitigation work is carried out, in many cases local authorities can grant a planning application. The Bat Conservation Trust, Natural England, and the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) all provide information about roosting bats and bat surveys.

Northumberland bats

The Northumberland Bat Group, which is affiliated with the Bat Conservation Trust, monitors the county’s bats which include the soprano pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), common pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus nathusii) Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandtii), whiskered bat (Myotis alcathoe), Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri), Daubentons bat (Myotis daubentoniid) and the alcathoe bat (Myotis alcathoe).

Northumberland County Council

The presence of bats and other threatened species is a material consideration in the planning process. According to Defra guidance, the presence of a protected species must be established before a local planning authority may determine a planning application.

As well as bats, otters, great crested newts, wild birds, red squirrels and water voles receive high levels of protection in Northumberland, and their presence may involve further survey work such as bird surveys. Such species may be found on the county’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest or local wildlife sites designated as important by public bodies and wildlife organisations including Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbrian Water and Natural England. In many cases, ecological surveys that assess habitats and species may be needed with planning applications.

What triggers a bat survey?

In some cases, a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal may have identified a habitat that could support bats or indicated the need for further ecological surveys, including bat surveys. In other cases, a planning application may have been submitted and ecology surveys have been recommended. If a development project is likely to affect an established bat roost or roosting bats, it will be clear that a bat survey is required, as will a reasonable likelihood that bats are present.

Bat Surveys

Preliminary Roost Assessment

This Phase 1 Bat Survey or Scoping Bat Survey is the first stage in the bat survey process. An ecological consultant will conduct a desktop study followed by a site visit to make an internal and external inspection, looking for evidence of bats. They will search for bat roosts, potential roosting sites, remains of prey, dead bat carcasses, bat droppings and urine stains.

If there is evidence of bats, a local planning authority is likely to require more information from a bat survey. A likely absence of bats means that the scheme should be able to proceed through the planning process.

Bat Emergence and Re-Entry Survey

This survey involves a team of ecologists visiting a site at dusk and dawn on several occasions to monitor entry and exit points on buildings to check for bats. These bat surveys must be carried out in good weather conditions as rain and wind affect bat activity: Bat Conservation Trust guidelines recommend two to three surveys.

To identify bat species and population numbers, ecological consultants will use bat detectors which pick up bat calls. If bats are found, the correct mitigation measures will be detailed in the bat survey report including installing bat boxes, changing environmental management practices, or relocating bats.

The bat report may also recommend further surveys or other protected species surveys such as great crested newt surveys or breeding bird surveys. If there is no evidence of bats on the site, the bat report will enable the local authority to grant planning permission. Bat emergence surveys can only be carried out during the summer months of May to September.

While the Preliminary Roost Assessment and Bat Emergence and Re-entry bat surveys will often satisfy local planning authorities, allowing them to grant planning permission, in some cases, a European Protected Species Licence will be needed to move, disturb bats or destroy bat roosts. Mitigation licence applications can be made to Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.

Need a bat survey in Northumberland?

Identifying a reputable ecological consultancy that employs fully qualified consultants is the first step. The firm should have extensive experience in bat surveys and receive good reviews. Expert advice from consultants will enable you to carry out the correct mitigation strategies for your development project, from simple measures such as installing bat boxes to environmental management changes.

Bear in mind that a preliminary roost assessment can be carried out year-round, but bat emergence and re-entry surveys (and other protected species surveys) have a limited survey window. Engaging a professional ecology consultancy for your bat surveys will help your scheme to advance through the planning process.