Bat Survey Southend-on-Sea: Protected Species Surveys

If you’re planning a development in Southend-on-Sea, whether in the countryside or within the town, there’s a chance you may need to complete a bat survey to meet planning and environmental regulations. Bats are a European Protected Species, and both their roosts and habitats are protected by UK and Welsh law, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

Local planning authorities like Southend-on-Sea City Council may request a bat survey if your project is likely to affect local bat populations. In these cases, an ecological assessment and appropriate mitigation steps are essential to support your planning application and help prevent delays or rejection.

At Collington Winter Environmental, we offer professional ecological consultancy services to help meet these requirements. Our team of licensed ecologists brings extensive experience in carrying out bat and other protected species survey work. We hold Natural England Protected Species Licences, ensuring your project stays compliant while supporting sustainable development.

Bat surveys are typically carried out between May and September – this is when bats are most active, and their presence can be properly assessed. If there’s a possibility of bats hibernating in a structure, a winter survey may also be required.

For more information on bat conservation, we recommend visiting the Essex Bat Group website.

The type of survey we carry out depends on the nature of the site and what our ecologists find during an initial assessment. Common methods include:

• Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA): A detailed visual inspection of buildings or trees to identify signs of bats, such as droppings, access points, or staining.
• Dusk and Dawn Surveys: Observing bat emergence and return using thermal imaging cameras and acoustic detectors.
• Nocturnal Activity Surveys: Monitoring bats at night to study flight paths, feeding habits, and species ID via echolocation.

To arrange a bat survey in Southend-on-Sea or to discuss your project with an experienced ecologist, contact Olivia Collington at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk, or speak over the phone to a member of our team, call 02014939608.

We also offer a range of other ecological services, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), surveys for other protected species, and landscape architecture services throughout the Southend area and beyond.