Bat Survey Nottingham: Protected Species Surveys

As bats and their roosts are protected, it is a criminal offence to kill, injure, or disturb bats or to destroy their habitats. It is for this reason that bat activity surveys are required on certain development projects to determine whether bats are present on, or within close proximity to a development site.

Bat surveys are undertaken for development sites to inform planning applications and determine presence of bats and whether the development will have an impact on bats in the area. The local planning authority will usually let you know which types of survey are required.

A bat 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 are found to be present on a site, mitigation measures and compensation measures must be undertaken before any development work can begin.

There are a number of bat species that are likely to be found in Nottingham and the East Midlands. These species of bats include, common pipistrelle bat, Noctule bat, soprano pipistrelle bat, Daubentons’ bat, Whiskered bat, Brandt’s’ bat and Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat.

The time of year is important when carrying out a bat survey. In Nottingham, 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.