Bat Survey Salisbury: Protected Species Surveys

A bat survey, Salisbury, is an essential part of the planning process, helping to identify and address any potential bat-related concerns that may arise during development proposals. These surveys assess whether bats are present in buildings, structures, or trees on the proposed site.

Key legislation, such as The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, offers comprehensive protection to all bat species and wild birds, including their breeding and roosting sites – regardless of location. If local planning authorities determine that this legal protection has been overlooked or that required ecological surveys have not been carried out, they may intervene or even refuse planning permission.

Throughout England and Wales, it is illegal to intentionally harm, kill, or injure bats, or to block access to their roosts or habitats. As such, implementing mitigation and enhancement measures is crucial. These steps not only help protect bats but also ensure that developers remain compliant with legal requirements, reducing the risk of delays or project rejection due to ecological concerns.

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 development 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 surrounding area.

Bat emergence and re-entry surveys: If a PRA determines that roosting 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 thorough insight on behaviour, as well as collecting evidence of bats, such as bat droppings.

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 and identifying habitats and species.

At Collington Winter Environmental, we deliver specialist ecological services tailored to meet the needs of both local authorities and our clients. Our team of ecological consultants is fully licenced by Natural England, holding European Protected Species licences. We work in close collaboration with bat conservation trusts and project developers across the UK, ensuring the protection of endangered species remains a priority – while also supporting a smooth and efficient planning application process.

Our Managing Director, Olivia Collington (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 Biodiversity Net Gain services.