Bat Survey Essex: Protected Species Surveys

Bat surveys are undertaken for development sites to inform a planning application and determine presence of bats within an area and can help with bat species identification. The local planning authority will usually let you know if a bat survey is required for proposed work to begin. Bat surveys are often completed alongside ecological impact assessments.

A bat survey will detect the presence or likely absence of bats in a particular area so that management plans can be made to proceed with a development. If bats are found to be present on a site, mitigation and compensation measures must be undertaken before any development work can begin.

There are many bat species which are likely to be found in Essex. These include, common pipistrelle bat, Noctule bat, soprano pipistrelle bat, Daubentons’ bat, Whiskered bat, Brandt’s’ bat and Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat.

In Essex, bat activity is highest during the summer months. Therefore, surveys should be carried out during this time to determine the presence of roosting bats. If bat activity is found during a bat survey in the summer months, a bat hibernation survey may be required during the winter to establish whether the area is also used by hibernating bats.