Bat Survey for Planning Permission, Wokingham

When embarking on a new development project, a bat survey for planning permission, Wokingham, may be required to uphold necessary commitments to support the preservation of bat habitats and mitigate risk factors to bats alongside other endangered species.

Supported by crucial legislation, such as The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, local authorities have the ability to delay or even prevent a project from receiving planning permission if developers do not protect bats that are present on site.

Developers have a personal responsibility to see to it that proposed works do not obstruct access, damage or destroy bat roosts and allow bats to live harmoniously alongside new developments. Conducting a bat survey for planning permission in Wokingham can inform the correct mitigation measures to take and ensure that a project development remains committed to supporting the ongoing preservation of bat species across England and Wales.

Bat surveys are most effective  when undertaken between the summer months of May and September, as this season witnesses the peak of bat activity. Wintertime surveys may also be appropriate to assess whether it is likely that bats are using the site to hibernate.

Commonly sighted bats in Wokingham include Whiskered bats, Brandt’s bats, Common Pipistrelle bats, Daubentons bats, and Soprano Pipistrelle bats.

The main types of bat activity surveys include:

Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA): The first type of survey is the Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA). This involves a desk study, reviewing local bat records and databases, combined with a site visit to perform internal and external inspections of buildings, trees, or other structures for signs of bats. Evidence may include bat droppings, feeding remains, and potential access points. The purpose of this survey is to determine whether further, more detailed assessments are necessary.

Bat Emergence and Dawn Re-entry surveys:  If evidence suggests that bats may be present, a bat emergence survey and a Re-entry Survey are carried out. These assessments are conducted at dusk and dawn, using static bat detectors to record echolocation calls. They confirm the presence of bats, identify species, and locate roosting bat sites.

Nocturnal bat surveys: A nocturnal bat survey is conducted at night to observe and record the behaviour patterns of bat species. As bat activity increases during this time, nighttime surveys efficiently monitor local bat populations and assess their habitats. Here, our consultants take every precautionary step to collect data without disturbing bats.

For Good Practice Guidance for Bats, visit the Chartered Institute of Ecology website.

Collington Winter Environmental is an ecological consultancy offering protected species and habitat services for project developments. We have extensive experience in providing bat ecologist services, including preliminary roost assessments, emergence and re-entry, and nocturnal and hibernation surveys.

Our qualified ecologists are proud to hold European Protected Species Licences and Natural England Class Mitigation licences to perform informative and reliable project assessments in England and Wales.

To find out more about a bat survey for planning permission, Wokingham, and information on other protected species surveys we offer, such as Great Crested Newt and Badger surveys, contact us today (info@collingtonwinter.co.uk). We also provide Preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) services and landscape architecture services to support a new development planning application. Alternatively, fill out the contact form below.