Bat Survey Hertfordshire: Protected Species Survey

Bat surveys are undertaken for development sites to inform a planning permission application and determine the presence of bats within a structure or tree. In Hertfordshire, development works, from minor home improvements to major development projects require licensing to ensure no offences are committed in relation to the bat community. If it is likely that bats are present in an area, a survey will be required. The local planning authority will usually let you know if bats may be present and if a bat survey is required during the planning process.

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

All species of bats in Hertfordshire are protected by several statutes, species including the common pipistrelle bat, Noctule bat and soprano pipistrelle bat. Any works affecting the lives and the breeding of bats, without first gaining a European protected species license, are against the law.

In England and Wales, bat activity is highest during the summer months. Therefore, surveys should be carried out during this time to determine the presence of potential 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.