Bat Survey Chester: Protected Species

Bat surveys are a vital part of many planning applications to determine whether there is any present bat activity that will need to be conserved during the project development process.

Many wild species, including bats and birds, are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, meaning it is illegal to injure/kill bats or damage or destroy a bat roosting place. A bat scoping survey can identify any protected species and prevent disturbance by development in both rural and urban areas.

Preliminary Roost Assessment:  A Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) should be conducted initially to determine whether bats are likely to be roosting in a specific building or structure.

This assessment is an important first step in the process of assessing the potential impact of project development on bat species on the site and in the area. Our bat surveyors will examine the internal areas of a site, followed by an external inspection, and record any evidence of bat roosting at the time, including insect-feeding remains and bat droppings.

Bat emergence and re-entry surveys: If necessary, after a preliminary roost survey, a bat emergence survey or a re-entry survey will typically be performed to monitor further bat activity such as monitoring entry and exit points to provide information on the location, species, and population of the bats.

To encourage accurate results, emergence and re-entry surveys are carried out on multiple occasions over a period of time to collect a substantial range of data. Consultants use bat detectors to monitor bat activity without causing unnecessary disturbance to the bats.

Nocturnal bat surveys: A nocturnal bat survey is an ecological survey conducted during the night to observe and record bat species’ activity and behaviour. These surveys are essential for monitoring bat populations, identifying species, and assessing their habitats. Nocturnal bat surveys are often carried out as part of ecological impact assessments and conservation efforts related to development projects.

A proposed development site may also benefit from an additional aerial inspection and tree climbing survey to investigate potential roosting bats and further inform a bat survey report. 

Cheshire West and Chester Council will usually advise project developers based in this area on the type of survey needed in the form of a method statement. For Guidance on the correct treatment of Bats, visit the Chartered Institute of Ecology website.

Collington Winter Environmental are an ecological consultancy boasting extensive experience in environmental impact assessments and protected species surveys nationwide. Our ecologist team work with protected species across the UK alongside bat conservation trusts supported by Natural England bat licences and European Protected Species licences to ensure a project development receives planning permission.

Please contact our Managing Director Olivia Collington (info@collingtonwinter.co.uk), more information on our wide range of ecological services and protected habitats and species survey work, including great crested newt surveys. We also provide preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) and assessment services.