Bat Survey Torfaen: Protected Species Surveys

If you are in the initial stages of a development project in Torfaen, you may be required to conduct a bat survey to meet ecological expectations during the planning process. Local planning authorities often require bat species assessments when considering planning permission grants, especially when a site may impact local nature. In Torfaen and the wider Wales landscape, assessing whether bats are present on a site is crucial to ensuring a development process benefits both the environment and the local area.

Bats’ habitats are legally protected under UK law, including all bat roosts and foraging areas; under the legislation, they must face no harm. Torfaen County Borough Council, which processes planning applications in the Torfaen region, may request proof of ecological surveys to ensure projects comply with legal standards such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

At Collington Winter Environmental, our mission is to provide clear and understandable guidance for developers and landowners across the UK, helping to keep projects on track while respecting local nature and wildlife.

The summer months between May and September witness a peak in the number of bat surveys for professional ecologists to complete, as this is when bats are most active. If early surveys during this period indicate a bat presence, further surveys may be required during the less active winter months as the bats may be using this space for the hibernation period.

We appreciate that every project brings different challenges, so we focus on ensuring our assessments meet the specific needs of your development and the surrounding environment. Popular bat risk assessment methods include:

• Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA): This is the first step, where one of our ecological clerks completes a thorough inspection of the building site (internal and external, trees, structures) to check for any significant bat activity such as bat droppings, staining, or access points.
• Bat Emergence Surveys (Dusk and Dawn): If there is evidence to suggest bats are roosting, we then carry out observations at dawn and dusk using thermal imaging and bat detectors to document when and where bats access the site.
• Nocturnal Surveys: These surveys are undertaken during the night to track bat behaviour, such as feeding patterns, species identification, and flight routes. We use specialist tracking equipment to minimise disturbance to the bats whilst gathering important data.

Collington Winter Environmental is well adapted to providing a large number of protected species and habitat surveys across South Wales each bat season.

Our team of experienced ecologists are experts in the bat survey process and hold Natural England and European Protected Species Licences (EPSL), allowing us to work efficiently while meeting all legal and ecological responsibilities.

Whether you’re assembling a planning application or simply want to ensure your project respects local wildlife and habitats, we can help make the process trouble-free, with the necessary focus on compliance with local authorities. We offer other ecological services in addition to bat surveys, including:

• Great crested newt surveys
• Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs)
• Landscape architecture services

To discuss your project or arrange a no-obligation discussion on our wide range of services, such as a bat survey in North Eastern locations like Torfaen, contact our Ecology Director, Olivia Collington at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk. You can also reach us through our enquiry and contact form, which is displayed on the side of this page.