<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
Increasingly Local Planning Authorities (LPA) are asking for bat surveys as part of the planning process, this is because bats are a European Protected Species<\/em> along with great crested newts Triturus cristatus<\/em> and other species, for more information on the protection afforded to bats see our bats and the law <\/a>page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
All 18 species of bat in the U.K. are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended through inclusion in Schedule V. All bat species in the U.K. are also included in Schedule II of the Habitats Regulations 2010 which transpose Annex II of the Council Directive 92\/43\/EEC 1992 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (\u201cEC Habitats Directive\u201d) which defines European protected species of animals.<\/p>\n
Bats species are afforded further protection by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.<\/p>\n
Cumulatively, this legislation makes it illegal to:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Intentionally or deliberately kill, injure or capture bats.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Deliberately disturb bats, whether at roost or not.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Damage, destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Possess or transport a bat or any part of a bat, unless acquired legally.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sell, barter or exchange bats, or any part of a bat.<\/p>\n
A bat roost is defined by the Bat Conservation Trust publication Bat Surveys\u2014Good Practice Guidelines as \u201cthe resting place of a bat\u201d (BCT 2012). Generally however, the word roost is interpreted as \u201cany structure or place, which any wild bat uses for shelter or protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bats tend to re-use the same roosts; therefore legal opinion is guided by recent case law precedents , that a roost is protected whether or not the bats are present at the time. This can include for summer roosts, used for breeding; or winter roosts, used for hibernating.<\/p>\n
In addition to the statutes described above, various local planning policy imposes duties upon would-be planning applicants to take account of protected species and habitats at sites of proposed development and in particular, protected species. The objective of these policies is to prevent a net loss of species and habitats diversity identified as priorities for the U.K. as a consequence of development activity.<\/p>\n
Further, The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and government circular 06\/05 states the following when EU protected species may be affected:<\/p>\n
\u2018119. The presumption in favour of sustainable development (paragraph 14) does not apply where development requiring appropriate assessment under the Birds or Habitats Directives is being considered, planned or determined.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a0So who can undertake surveys for development?<\/span><\/h2>\nBat surveys for development or planning processes are not<\/span> undertaken by\u00a0 bat groups, this is because they are run by volunteers, are none-profit making and don\u2019t have the correct insurances for undertaking commercial work.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSurveys are undertake<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> by professional consultants (see below for further details of local consultants). Consultants are trained individuals or companies who have the correct insurances (public liability and professional indemnity), often individual staff members are also a member of a professional body such as The Chartered\u00a0 institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) <\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"cieem\"](\"https:\/\/www.bedsbatgroup.org.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/cieem.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\nHow are development bat surveys undertaken?<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"Survey](\"http:\/\/www.bats.org.uk\/data\/images\/BCT_Survey_Guide_cover_2016.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists refer to a method of ecological assessment outlined in the Bat Conservation Trust publication Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines 2nd edition<\/a> (Hundt, 2012), Bat Mitigation Guidelines (NE, 2004) <\/a>and Bat Workers Manual (JNCC, 2004)<\/a> taken together these guidelines set out a national standard for undertaking surveys using the following system:<\/p>\n1.A scoping bat survey (or daylight inspection\/diurnal\/walkover survey). This looks for three main signs of bats, (1) bats themselves<\/span>, (2) evidence of bats<\/span> e.g. droppings and (3) habitat potential<\/span> e.g. the potential for bats to be using the site, such as woodlands and open water close by or holes, cracks and gaps in the building structure.<\/p>\n2. Full surveys where bats or evidence of bats are found. Three surveys are undertaken usually two dusk and one dawn survey. Where habitat potential is found either a dusk\/dawn or two dusk surveys are carried out.<\/p>\n
Depending on what is found these will trigger further surveys or full bat surveys. These are often known as emergence surveys or dusk\/dawn surveys and are designed to inform the consultant as to the number of bats, the species and how they use the structure or land.<\/p>\n
These surveys are time constrained, only being undertaken between May and October (depending on weather and location in the country) (Hundt, 2012). For 1 and 2 above two or three surveys are undertaken e.g. two dusk and one dawn or two dusks, for number 3 above, one dusk and dawn or two dusks are undertaken.<\/p>\n
\u00a0What happens next? <\/span><\/h2>\nDepending on what you plan to do with the structure or land will depend on your next course of action. An experienced licenced bat worker will advise to the best course of action, two examples are given below.<\/p>\n
Example 1: (Destruction of a roost) Bats are found to be using the building and you intend to demolish it.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
This is an offence without applying for a European Protected Species Licence (EPSL), this licence consists of three main parts:<\/p>\n
\n- A Method Statement (undertaken by our consultant) a lengthy document designed to protect the bats and ensure the developer replaces the bat habitat on site.<\/li>\n
- A Reasoned Statement (undertaken by the developer\/land owner) a form justifying the need for the development.<\/li>\n
- An Application (undertaken by both)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You also have to have planning permission in place and discharged all wildlife conditions before the licence can be applied for and the licencing authorities (Natural England\/CCW) have a period of 30 working days to grant the licence or ask for more information.<\/p>\n
Example 2 (Retention of the roost) Bats are found using the building, but you can retain the roost. <\/em><\/p>\nAn experienced bat consultant will be able to advise as to whether the works can go ahead, using best practice (from the above guidelines) without harming or destroying the current roost. This may involve the following advice:<\/p>\n
\n- Timing of works, at a time when bats are unlikely to be using the building<\/li>\n
- Retaining all roost entrances (without modification).<\/li>\n
- Enhancing the roosting features<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning<\/span><\/h2>\nThe Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning is a four year project funded by the Esm\u00e9e Fairbairn Foundation. The Bat Conservation Trust is the lead partner and is working with 17 organisations representing the planning and conservation sectors to improve the consideration of biodiversity in the planning process. The Partnership is developing a web-based planning tool that will enable users without any ecological expertise to quickly and easily assess whether a development scheme is likely to affect protected and priority species and will therefore require some form of an ecological assessment.<\/em><\/p>\nThe planning tool will take the form of an Interactive Trigger List (ITL); a series of questions will be asked about the development proposal, enabling an assessment to be made about whether it is likely to affect protected and priority species. The ITL will indicate the species that may require investigation, the surveys that may be required and the time of year these surveys should be carried out. The ITL will also act as a \u2018one stop shop\u2019 for best practice guidance on survey methods, mitigation, enhancement and monitoring techniques for protected and priority species. Alongside the ITL, the project will also be producing guidance regarding when to consult species distribution data and how to interpret the results of a data search.<\/em><\/p>\nThe project is UK-wide and started in December 2014.<\/em><\/p>\nMore information on the Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning and its aims is available from their website: http:\/\/www.biodiversityinplanning.org\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nBCT Bat Bulletin February 2016<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\nWhere can I find an ecological consultant?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe Bedfordshire Bat Group is not in a position to recommend any particular consultant, but we are aware of the following consultancies which work in the Bedfordshire area<\/p>\n
Please remove the (2011) in the e-mail address when e-mailing<\/span>.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\nThe consultants I have starred are Registered Consultants with Natural England which allows them to use Low Impact Class Licences<\/a><\/p>\n<\/pre>\nCompany:<\/span>\u00a0 Bernwood ECS Ltd*<\/span>
\nContact name:<\/span>Chris Damant CIEM
\nTel: 01296 72835
\nMob: 07817131683
\nWeb:www.bernwood.net <\/a>:<\/a>____<\/a><\/p>\n_____________________________________________<\/p>\n
Company: <\/span>Castle Hill Ecology<\/span>
\nContact name:<\/span> Rachel Bates BSc (Hons) ACIEEM
\nMobile: 07534 340964
\nEmail: rachel(2o11)@castlehillecology.co.uk
\nWebsite: www.castlehillecology.co.uk<\/a>
\n___________________________________________<\/p>\nCompany: <\/span>Cherry Field Ecology Ltd<\/span>
\nContact name:<\/span> Martin O\u2019Connor Dip BSc (Hons) PGCert CBiol MRSB
\nContact number<\/span>: 07950279790 or 01582 534044
\n<\/strong>Email – martin(2011)@cherryfieldecology.co.uk
\nWeb:http:\/\/cherryfieldecology.co.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n_____________________________________________________<\/p>\n
Contact name<\/span>: Chris Vine<\/span> BSc (Hons), MCIEEM, MRSB,*<\/span>
\n1 Nursery Cottage
\nWindmill Hill,
\nExning,
\nSuffolk.
\nCB8 7NP<\/p>\nMobile<\/span> 07801 276994
\nE mail:<\/span>cvine(2011)<\/span>@btinternet.com<\/a><\/p>\n___________________________________________________<\/p>\n
Company name<\/span> : JD Ecology Ltd*
\nContact name<\/span>: Jonathan Durward<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 BSc (Hons) CEnv MIEEM
\n5 The Maltings
\n41 High Street
\nChesterton
\nCambridge
\nCB4 1NQ<\/p>\nContact No:<\/span> Office: 01223 660176<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nMobile: 07717532825
\nEmail:<\/span> jonathan.durward(2011<\/span>)@jdecology.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n_____________________________________________________<\/span><\/p>\nCompany name<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>Prime Environment Ltd.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nContact name<\/span>: Jo Pedder <\/span>BSc (Hons) MCIEEM
\nContact No:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\nMobile: 07790 989857
\nEmail:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>jpedder (2011)@primeenvironment.co.uk
\n<\/a>_______________________________________________________
\n<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFor more details of Bat and Planning. Visit the Bat Conservation Trust’s pages<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
An important new edition of the reference book for those involved in bat mitigation and planning .<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0Created October 2011 Updated 27th August\u00a0 2016 This page has been updated\u00a0 in the light of the National Policy Planning Document Framework which was released on 27th March 2012. \u00a0 Increasingly Local Planning Authorities (LPA) … Continue reading
<\/p>\n
All 18 species of bat in the U.K. are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended through inclusion in Schedule V. All bat species in the U.K. are also included in Schedule II of the Habitats Regulations 2010 which transpose Annex II of the Council Directive 92\/43\/EEC 1992 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (\u201cEC Habitats Directive\u201d) which defines European protected species of animals.<\/p>\n
Bats species are afforded further protection by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.<\/p>\n
Cumulatively, this legislation makes it illegal to:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Intentionally or deliberately kill, injure or capture bats.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Deliberately disturb bats, whether at roost or not.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Damage, destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Possess or transport a bat or any part of a bat, unless acquired legally.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sell, barter or exchange bats, or any part of a bat.<\/p>\n
A bat roost is defined by the Bat Conservation Trust publication Bat Surveys\u2014Good Practice Guidelines as \u201cthe resting place of a bat\u201d (BCT 2012). Generally however, the word roost is interpreted as \u201cany structure or place, which any wild bat uses for shelter or protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bats tend to re-use the same roosts; therefore legal opinion is guided by recent case law precedents , that a roost is protected whether or not the bats are present at the time. This can include for summer roosts, used for breeding; or winter roosts, used for hibernating.<\/p>\n
In addition to the statutes described above, various local planning policy imposes duties upon would-be planning applicants to take account of protected species and habitats at sites of proposed development and in particular, protected species. The objective of these policies is to prevent a net loss of species and habitats diversity identified as priorities for the U.K. as a consequence of development activity.<\/p>\n
Further, The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and government circular 06\/05 states the following when EU protected species may be affected:<\/p>\n
\u2018119. The presumption in favour of sustainable development (paragraph 14) does not apply where development requiring appropriate assessment under the Birds or Habitats Directives is being considered, planned or determined.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n Bat surveys for development or planning processes are not<\/span> undertaken by\u00a0 bat groups, this is because they are run by volunteers, are none-profit making and don\u2019t have the correct insurances for undertaking commercial work.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Surveys are undertake<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> by professional consultants (see below for further details of local consultants). Consultants are trained individuals or companies who have the correct insurances (public liability and professional indemnity), often individual staff members are also a member of a professional body such as The Chartered\u00a0 institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) <\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists refer to a method of ecological assessment outlined in the Bat Conservation Trust publication Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines 2nd edition<\/a> (Hundt, 2012), Bat Mitigation Guidelines (NE, 2004) <\/a>and Bat Workers Manual (JNCC, 2004)<\/a> taken together these guidelines set out a national standard for undertaking surveys using the following system:<\/p>\n 1.A scoping bat survey (or daylight inspection\/diurnal\/walkover survey). This looks for three main signs of bats, (1) bats themselves<\/span>, (2) evidence of bats<\/span> e.g. droppings and (3) habitat potential<\/span> e.g. the potential for bats to be using the site, such as woodlands and open water close by or holes, cracks and gaps in the building structure.<\/p>\n 2. Full surveys where bats or evidence of bats are found. Three surveys are undertaken usually two dusk and one dawn survey. Where habitat potential is found either a dusk\/dawn or two dusk surveys are carried out.<\/p>\n Depending on what is found these will trigger further surveys or full bat surveys. These are often known as emergence surveys or dusk\/dawn surveys and are designed to inform the consultant as to the number of bats, the species and how they use the structure or land.<\/p>\n These surveys are time constrained, only being undertaken between May and October (depending on weather and location in the country) (Hundt, 2012). For 1 and 2 above two or three surveys are undertaken e.g. two dusk and one dawn or two dusks, for number 3 above, one dusk and dawn or two dusks are undertaken.<\/p>\n Depending on what you plan to do with the structure or land will depend on your next course of action. An experienced licenced bat worker will advise to the best course of action, two examples are given below.<\/p>\n Example 1: (Destruction of a roost) Bats are found to be using the building and you intend to demolish it.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is an offence without applying for a European Protected Species Licence (EPSL), this licence consists of three main parts:<\/p>\n You also have to have planning permission in place and discharged all wildlife conditions before the licence can be applied for and the licencing authorities (Natural England\/CCW) have a period of 30 working days to grant the licence or ask for more information.<\/p>\n Example 2 (Retention of the roost) Bats are found using the building, but you can retain the roost. <\/em><\/p>\n An experienced bat consultant will be able to advise as to whether the works can go ahead, using best practice (from the above guidelines) without harming or destroying the current roost. This may involve the following advice:<\/p>\n The Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning is a four year project funded by the Esm\u00e9e Fairbairn Foundation. The Bat Conservation Trust is the lead partner and is working with 17 organisations representing the planning and conservation sectors to improve the consideration of biodiversity in the planning process. The Partnership is developing a web-based planning tool that will enable users without any ecological expertise to quickly and easily assess whether a development scheme is likely to affect protected and priority species and will therefore require some form of an ecological assessment.<\/em><\/p>\n The planning tool will take the form of an Interactive Trigger List (ITL); a series of questions will be asked about the development proposal, enabling an assessment to be made about whether it is likely to affect protected and priority species. The ITL will indicate the species that may require investigation, the surveys that may be required and the time of year these surveys should be carried out. The ITL will also act as a \u2018one stop shop\u2019 for best practice guidance on survey methods, mitigation, enhancement and monitoring techniques for protected and priority species. Alongside the ITL, the project will also be producing guidance regarding when to consult species distribution data and how to interpret the results of a data search.<\/em><\/p>\n The project is UK-wide and started in December 2014.<\/em><\/p>\n More information on the Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning and its aims is available from their website: http:\/\/www.biodiversityinplanning.org\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n BCT Bat Bulletin February 2016<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n The Bedfordshire Bat Group is not in a position to recommend any particular consultant, but we are aware of the following consultancies which work in the Bedfordshire area<\/p>\n The consultants I have starred are Registered Consultants with Natural England which allows them to use Low Impact Class Licences<\/a><\/p>\n Company:<\/span>\u00a0 Bernwood ECS Ltd*<\/span> _____________________________________________<\/p>\n Company: <\/span>Castle Hill Ecology<\/span> Company: <\/span>Cherry Field Ecology Ltd<\/span> _____________________________________________________<\/p>\n Contact name<\/span>: Chris Vine<\/span> BSc (Hons), MCIEEM, MRSB,*<\/span> Mobile<\/span> 07801 276994 ___________________________________________________<\/p>\n Company name<\/span> : JD Ecology Ltd* Contact No:<\/span> Office: 01223 660176<\/span><\/span><\/span> _____________________________________________________<\/span><\/p>\n Company name<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>Prime Environment Ltd.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Contact name<\/span>: Jo Pedder <\/span>BSc (Hons) MCIEEM For more details of Bat and Planning. Visit the Bat Conservation Trust’s pages<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n An important new edition of the reference book for those involved in bat mitigation and planning .<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0Created October 2011 Updated 27th August\u00a0 2016 This page has been updated\u00a0 in the light of the National Policy Planning Document Framework which was released on 27th March 2012. \u00a0 Increasingly Local Planning Authorities (LPA) … Continue reading \u00a0So who can undertake surveys for development?<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
How are development bat surveys undertaken?<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\u00a0What happens next? <\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
The Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning<\/span><\/h2>\n
Where can I find an ecological consultant?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Please remove the (2011) in the e-mail address when e-mailing<\/span>.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/pre>\n
\nContact name:<\/span>Chris Damant CIEM
\nTel: 01296 72835
\nMob: 07817131683
\nWeb:www.bernwood.net <\/a>:<\/a>____<\/a><\/p>\n
\nContact name:<\/span> Rachel Bates BSc (Hons) ACIEEM
\nMobile: 07534 340964
\nEmail: rachel(2o11)@castlehillecology.co.uk
\nWebsite: www.castlehillecology.co.uk<\/a>
\n___________________________________________<\/p>\n
\nContact name:<\/span> Martin O\u2019Connor Dip BSc (Hons) PGCert CBiol MRSB
\nContact number<\/span>: 07950279790 or 01582 534044
\n<\/strong>Email – martin(2011)@cherryfieldecology.co.uk
\nWeb:http:\/\/cherryfieldecology.co.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\n1 Nursery Cottage
\nWindmill Hill,
\nExning,
\nSuffolk.
\nCB8 7NP<\/p>\n
\nE mail:<\/span>cvine(2011)<\/span>@btinternet.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nContact name<\/span>: Jonathan Durward<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 BSc (Hons) CEnv MIEEM
\n5 The Maltings
\n41 High Street
\nChesterton
\nCambridge
\nCB4 1NQ<\/p>\n
\nMobile: 07717532825
\nEmail:<\/span> jonathan.durward(2011<\/span>)@jdecology.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
\nContact No:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\nMobile: 07790 989857
\nEmail:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>jpedder (2011)@primeenvironment.co.uk
\n<\/a>_______________________________________________________
\n<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n