Bat Survey Skipton: Protected Species Surveys

A bat survey, Skipton, plays a vital role in the planning application process by identifying any potential issues related to the presence of bats on a development site. These surveys determine whether bats are using buildings, trees, or other structures in the proposed area.

Bats and their roosts are protected under legislation such as The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which safeguards all bat species, along with their nesting and roosting habitats. If a local planning authority determines that these legal protections have not been properly considered or that required ecological surveys are missing, they may withhold or refuse planning permission.

In both England and Wales, it is a criminal offence to intentionally injure, kill, or disturb bats, or to obstruct access to their roosts. Therefore, the implementation of appropriate bat mitigation and enhancement strategies is critical. These efforts not only support bat conservation but also help to minimise the risk of planning delays or refusals.

Preliminary Bat Roost Assessment: A Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA), also referred to as a bat scoping survey, 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 (BERS): If a PRA determines that roosting bats could be present on a site, a dusk emergence survey or a dawn 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 ecology survey observes and records bat species’ activity and behaviour during the night, as bat activity is predominantly nocturnal. In summary, these bat activity surveys are beneficial for monitoring bat populations and identifying habitats and species.

At Collington Winter Environmental, we undertake bat surveys designed to meet the needs of both local authorities and clients. Our experienced ecology team is fully licensed by Natural England and holds European Protected Species licenses. We work closely with developers throughout the UK, prioritising the protection of endangered species while supporting a smooth, efficient planning 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.