Bat Survey, Southampton: Protected Species Surveys
What is a Bat Survey?
Bat activity surveys are required for some developments to assist with planning applications during the planning permission process to find out whether the development could impact bats in the area. Typically, the local authority or district councils will let you know whether a bat habitat survey is required in order for the work to be carried out. The need to undertake bat independent ecological surveys could also be identified during a PEA survey (Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Survey).
Bat surveys detect presence or the likely absence of bats within the development area and listed buildings so that the planning and development process can proceed. If the survey finds that there is evidence of bats in close proximity to a site, compensation and high quality bat mitigation strategies must be undertaken before any development work is permitted to proceed.
These measures are required as bats, and bat roosts, are protected species under the Wildlife and countryside Act, and they are also a European protected species under UK and European Legislation. Therefore, it is illegal to kill, harm or disturb bats in any way.
Types of Bat Survey, Southampton
The active season for bats in Southampton, is at its peak during the summer months. Therefore, this is the best time of year to carry out survey work to determine the presence of roosting bat groups.
The many bat species that are likely to be found in Southampton are Natterer’s bats, Daubenton’s bats, Whiskered bats, Brandt’s bats, and Alcathoe bats, Soprano Pipistrelle bats, Brown long eared bats.
Types of Bat Survey, Southampton
There are two types of bat surveys which can help you to uncover whether bats are present. The first ecological service is a preliminary roost assessment which involves an Ecology Consultant carrying out a site visit. They will carry out both an internal and external inspection of the building, looking for evidence of roosting bats, including insect feeding remains as well as bat droppings.
The second type are nocturnal bat emergence surveys. Emergence and re-entry surveys involve surveyors using bat detectors to record and analyse bat calls. These surveyors will operate either when bats are leaving their roosts to forage (dusk emergence surveys) or when the bats return to their roosts (dawn re-entry surveys) to determine the number of bats.
How Can Collington Winter Assist?
Collington Winter Environmental, we are an experienced team of ecological consultants with extensive knowledge in undertaking bat and hibernating bat surveys using good practice guidelines. Our Ecology Director, Olivia Collington, holds a Natural England bat licence, amongst many other protected species licences, and has worked with protected species throughout the UK.
We assist in all types of development projects, such as large scale housing developments as well as mineral and commercial developments.
Please get in touch with our Ecology Director Olivia Collington via email (Olivia.collington@collingtonwinter.co.uk) for information on cost effective protected species surveys, such as bats and great crested newts. We offer extended phase 1 habitat surveys, ecological survey and assessment services for many types of protected species.
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