Bat Survey Dorking: Protected Species

When undertaking a new project development in the South East of the UK, project developers must take specific ecological considerations into account to ensure minimal harm and impact on protected species. A Bat Survey, Dorking, helps to identify the presence of bats in buildings, trees, and other structures on and around a project site, which can identify any necessary provisions that need to be made for bat mitigation.

Local planning authorities, such as Mole Valley District Council, see to it that project planners and developers follow through with ecological requirements by reviewing planning applications and visiting proposed sites for inspections during and after construction work takes place.

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 legal ability to delay or even prevent a project from receiving planning permission if they believe bat roosts have been disturbed or damaged, or project developers have obstructed access to the bat habitat.

A bat survey process will typically follow a structure similar to the one below:

• Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA): This initial survey determines whether bats are likely to be roosting in a building or structure. It is an important first step in evaluating the potential impact of the proposed development on local bat species. Consultants will inspect both the internal and external areas of a site for any signs of bat roosts.
• Bat Emergence Surveys and Re-entry Surveys: If bat activity is detected after the preliminary survey, an emergence or re-entry survey may be necessary. These surveys track bat movements, including entry and exit points to buildings, providing valuable insights into bat behaviour, roosting locations, and feeding habits. They are typically conducted multiple times, both day and night, using equipment like thermal imaging cameras and bat detectors to minimise any disturbance to the bats.
• Nocturnal Bat Surveys: Since all UK bat species are nocturnal and use echolocation, nocturnal surveys are an effective way to monitor their activity and behaviour. These surveys are typically performed at night to gather detailed data on bat behaviour and activity levels.

Collington Winter is an environmental consultancy comprised of licensed protected species surveyors. We work alongside bat conservation trusts to safeguard endangered species across the UK. Our team holds Natural England bat licenses and European Protected Species licences, supporting our efforts to protect bat species impacted by development projects.

For more information on our ecological services and bat survey, Dorking work, including great crested newt surveys, please contact our Managing Director, Olivia Collington, at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk. We also offer Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA) services and landscape architectural expertise.