Bat Survey Middlesbrough: Protected Species Surveys

A bat survey, Middlesbrough, is an ecology survey used to address bat-related concerns during the planning application process. Undertaking a bat survey can be used to determine whether bats are present in buildings, structures, or trees on a particular development site.

Important legislation, such as The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, protects all species of bat from human harm. This protection extends to their breeding and roosting sites, regardless of where they may be. If a local planning authority recognises that this has been ignored, it is likely that planning permission will be denied.

Developers should be aware that if bats are present on a site, it is illegal to cause deliberate harm, injure, or obstruct access to their roosts or habitats. Therefore, minimising the risk of harm is essential for ensuring an environmentally responsible development process which supports endangered species, including bats.

Bat activity surveys to identify bat species on a proposed development site in Middlesbrough should take place between May and September, as this season witnesses the peak of bat activity across the North East of England. Should bat presence be recorded during the summertime, wintertime surveys are sometimes required to assess for hibernating bats.

Preliminary Roost Assessment: A Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) is typically the first assessment to undertake to determine whether bats are likely to be present on a site. This step can also provide an understanding of the scale of impact a project development may have on the bat species residing on-site and in the area.

Bat emergence and re-entry surveys: If a PRA determines that bats could be present on a site, a bat emergence survey or a re-entry survey will typically be performed to monitor further bat activity in and around the bat roosts. This includes monitoring entry and exit points to provide a more in-depth record of the bats.

Our experienced bat ecology consultants use specialist bat detectors to monitor bat activity in a non-intrusive manner over multiple site visits, minimising any disturbance to the bats.

Nocturnal bat surveys: This type of survey observes and records bat species’ activity and behaviour during the night, as bat activity is predominantly nocturnal. In summary, these surveys are beneficial for monitoring bat populations, identifying species, and assessing their habitats.

At Collington Winter Environmental, we provide expert services to meet the ecological needs of our clients. Our ecological consultants are licensed by Natural England and hold European Protected Species licenses.

When instructing Collington Winter Environmental for a bat survey in Middlesbrough, you can expect a simple, hassle-free service. Our team (info@collingtonwinter.co.uk), is happy to provide more information on our wide range of protected species survey work, including bat surveys, water vole surveys and great crested newt surveys. We also provide preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) and assessment services.