Need a bat survey in Warwickshire?

Consider bats at an early stage of development plans

If you are planning development work that might impact bats, such as barn conversions or the demolition of a building, you will likely need a bat survey.

Finding bats on a site does not mean a proposed development can’t proceed, but the correct procedure involving bat mitigation and compensation measures must be followed before local planning authorities approve planning applications.

It’s important to engage an ecology consultancy with extensive experience in producing protected species surveys for the relevant local authorities.

UK bats

The UK is home to 18 species of bat: the more common species are found nationwide while rarer bats tend to be found in the south and southwest. All UK bat species have declined in numbers over the past 30-40 years, and as a protected species they have priority conservation status. Bats roost in lofts, trees, hedgerows, farm buildings and in buildings under weatherboarding or loose roof tiles; they forage in areas that offer water, green space, trees and shelter.

Bats and the law

All bats are considered a European protected species and disturbing them without permission is a criminal offence. Legislation in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct bats’ resting places whether or not bats are in occupation. All 18 species of European bat breeding in the UK are protected under Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, making it an offence to intentionally kill or deliberately capture bats, destroy a bat roost, recklessly disturb bats, obstruct their access or harm bats in any way.

If bat presence is detected on your site, detailed guidance must be followed involving bat surveys to avoid disturbing bats. Providing that the necessary mitigation work is carried out, your planning application may well be able to achieve consent.

Further information about bats and bat surveys can be obtained from the Bat Conservation Trust, Natural England and the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).

Warwickshire bats

Warwickshire Bat Group, a Bat Conservation Trust partner group, monitors bats in the county. Of the 18 species of bat found in the UK, 14 have been recorded in Warwickshire. Warwickshire Bat Group worked with the Bat Conservation Trust on its National Bat Monitoring Programme and assisted Warwickshire County Council with The Warwickshire Barbastelle Bat Project.

Bats found in Warwickshire include the Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii), barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus), Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandtii), whiskered bat (Myotis alcathoe), brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), Daubentons bat (Myotis daubentoniid), Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri), lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros), Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri), noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula), soprano pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), common pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus nathusii) and the serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus).

Warwickshire County Council and bats

Warwickshire County Council and district and borough councils are advised about bats by the County Council’s Ecological Services, which manages the Warwickshire Biological Records Centre where current protected species information is held to inform the planning process. The presence of bats is a material consideration in the planning process, and Defra guidance states that the presence of a protected species must be established before a planning application is determined.

Despite the emphasis on protecting bats, Warwickshire District Council’s Local Plan supports sustainable development providing that it protects, enhances or restores habitat biodiversity. The Local Plan’s vision includes conserving the environment: this West Midlands region includes many natural assets including the historic Arden landscape, seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 72 local wildlife sites, 31 conservation areas, and ancient woodland.

When are bat surveys needed?

• Following pre-application advice or submission of a planning application that recommends ecology surveys.
• When a building structure could support bats, for example, pitched or tiled roofs or agricultural buildings.
• Where a site is close to a known bat roost.
• Where habitat has the potential to support bats, for example, woodland, hedgerows, or a nearby watercourse.
• If development projects are likely to affect or obstruct an established bat roost or roosting bats.
• If a development scheme could alter lighting conditions which could affect bats.

Bat Surveys

Bat surveys can only be conducted by qualified ecological consultants. If there is a reasonable likelihood that bats are present on a proposed development site, or they are discovered following a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, bat survey reports will be needed.

Preliminary Roost Assessment

Also known as a Phase 1 Bat Survey or Scoping Bat Survey, this is the first stage bat survey and involves an ecological consultant conducting a desktop study followed by a site visit to look for evidence of bats. They will make an internal and external inspection to search for bat roosts, potential roosting sites, dead bat carcasses, bat droppings, urine stains, and feeding remains.

The bat survey report will guide the next steps: if bats are found on the site, a local planning authority is likely to require detailed information about mitigation measures for bats on the site, involving a full bat survey. If this phase 1 survey finds no evidence of bats, the proposed development work should be able to proceed through the planning process.

Bat Emergence and Re-Entry Survey

Bat activity surveys are carried out during a dusk and dawn site visit by an ecology team monitoring structures for signs of bats entering or exiting. According to Bat Conservation Trust guidelines, two to three surveys should be conducted. These bat surveys should be carried out in good weather conditions as rain and high winds affect bat activity. The ecological consultants will use specialist equipment including bat detectors enabling identification of bat species from bat calls and bat population numbers.

If there is evidence of bats, the bat survey report will provide details of the correct mitigation measures to ensure that bats are not disturbed or harmed. These might include installing bat boxes, relocating bats, or altering environmental management practices. Finding bats on a development site might lead to a recommendation for further bat surveys or other protected species surveys such as great crested newt surveys or surveys for many types of breeding birds. If the survey finds no signs of bats, the report will satisfy the local authority, allowing it to grant planning permission.

Bat activity surveys must be carried out during the summer months of May to September when bats are most active: bats hibernate between November and March.

The Preliminary Roost Assessment and Bat Emergence and Re-entry bat surveys will enable local planning authorities to grant planning permission, but a European Protected Species Licence may be needed to move or disturb bats or destroy roosts. Bat mitigation class licences are issued by the statutory nature conservation organisations Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.

Need Warwickshire bat surveys?

Identifying an experienced ecology consultancy is the first step. Engaging a firm that employs fully licensed ecological consultants with extensive experience in conducting bat surveys and ecology services for the relevant local planning authority will give you the best chance of obtaining a successful planning application. An ecological consultant can offer expert advice about the correct mitigation strategies for your development project, from environmental management changes to installing bat boxes, to satisfy planning requirements.

When working out timeframes, bear in mind that while preliminary roost assessments can be carried out year-round, there are seasonal restrictions for bat emergence and re-entry surveys as well as other protected species surveys. Timely planning and hiring a reputable ecology consultancy for your protected species surveys will enable you to submit bat survey reports that allow your scheme to advance through the planning process.