What You Need to Know About Your Bat Survey

Our team of expert bat surveyors is here to help you move your project forward smoothly and efficiently. We are pro-development, meaning that we prioritise ensuring you can progress with your project quickly while also providing a positive experience with your bat survey.

Bat surveys are often requested by local planning authorities when there’s a reasonable likelihood that the planning application could impact bats. Common projects that may require bat surveys include:

• Barn conversions
• Extensions
• Demolitions and rebuilds
• Repair work to old buildings, such as churches or manor houses
• Large developments with good habitats, such as hedgerows or trees

Bat Surveys: A Step-by-Step Process

Bat surveys for buildings and structures typically occur in stages:

Stage 1: Initial Scoping Survey

The first step is usually a bat scoping survey, which is an affordable initial assessment of the building or structure. This survey aims to determine whether bats are present or whether the building has the potential to support bats.

• Outcome: If no evidence of bats is found and the building is unsuitable, this stage will be sufficient.

Stage 2: Bat Activity (Emergence) Survey

If evidence of bats is found, or if the building is suitable for bats, the next stage involves bat activity surveys (also called emergence surveys). These surveys are carried out at night between May and September and involve our surveyors using specialist equipment to observe if bats emerge from the building.

• Outcome: If no bats are recorded, the survey ends here.

Stage 3: Mitigation Planning and Licensing

If bats are recorded exiting the building, further consideration is required. In consultation with you or your architect, we’ll assess whether the bats will be impacted by the development.

• Outcome: If the development will disturb or damage bat roosts, a bat licence will be required. We will guide you through the licensing process to ensure compliance. If the development can proceed without disturbing the roosts, sensible precautions will be recommended.

Tip: Skip the First Stage

If you suspect bats are present or if your building/structure is old or located in a rural area, it might be more efficient to skip the scoping survey and proceed directly to a bat activity (emergence) survey. This can save both time and money. Contact us for advice on the best approach.

Bats: A Brief Life History

Bats are often misunderstood, but they play an essential role in the environment, particularly by controlling insect pests such as mosquitoes, moths, and crop-damaging insects.

Bats are nocturnal creatures, active between dusk and dawn during the summer months. They roost during the day in communal sites that provide shelter for resting, hibernating, and raising young. Bat roosts are typically located near food sources (insects) and water, but bats may move their roosts depending on seasonal needs.

Why Bats Are Protected

Bats have experienced significant declines over recent decades due to land-use changes, loss of roosts, and habitat fragmentation. There are 18 species of bats in the UK, all of which are legally protected.

Under UK legislation, it is illegal to disturb, capture, injure, or kill bats. It’s also illegal to damage or destroy their roosts or block access to them.

How One of Our Bat Surveys Works

To gain planning approval for new development, you must provide evidence that your project will not harm bats or their roosts. As a licensed ecological consultancy, we can carry out a scoping bat survey to assess the interior and exterior of buildings and any trees on site for signs of bat activity.

If we find evidence of bats or if the site is deemed suitable for bats, the local authority will likely request a second bat survey, known as a bat emergence survey. These surveys must be conducted during the summer months (1 May – 30 September), at dusk or dawn when bats are most active.

Take a look at our information sheet for a step-by-step guide on how our surveys work.

What Happens if Bats Are Found on Your Site

During the bat emergence survey, we record any bats emerging or returning to the roost, noting their species, flight paths, and timing. This survey confirms the presence and species of bats, as well as roosting locations and any specific mitigation measures required.

Mitigation may include scheduling the development work when bats are not roosting to minimise disturbance. If the work is likely to damage or disturb bat roosts, you will need to obtain a bat licence. We will support you through this process to ensure that all legal requirements are met.