Bat Survey Guildford: Protected Species Surveys

A bat survey in Guildford can help to identify the presence of bats in buildings, trees, and other structures on development sites. Integrating these surveys into project planning is crucial to addressing ecological concerns related to bats during the planning application process for a proposed development.

Local planning authorities typically inform applicants if a bat survey is required and provide guidelines for conducting ecological assessments. The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 were established to protect wildlife in the UK, particularly species vulnerable to development.

All bat species, along with their breeding and roosting sites, are safeguarded under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If bats are present on a site, it is illegal to harm, injure or block their access to roosts by damaging their habitat. Therefore, implementing bat mitigation measures is essential to ensuring an environmentally responsible project outcome.

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.

Bat emergence and re-entry surveys: If a PRA determines there could be potential to support roosting bats, a bat emergence survey or a re-entry survey will typically be performed to monitor further bat activity. This includes monitoring entry and exit points to provide information on the location, species, and population of the bats.

These surveys are carried out on multiple occasions over a period of time to collect a substantial range of data and encourage accurate results. Our bat 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 at 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.

At Collington Winter Environmental, we provide professional expert advice to our clients. Our ecological consultants are licensed by Natural England and hold European Protected Species licences. We collaborate with bat conservation trusts and developers to safeguard endangered bat species across the UK whilst achieving planning permission.

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