Bat surveys in Bournemouth: Expert Support for Planning Applications
If you’re planning a development in Bournemouth, it’s important to consider the presence of bats. Bats are protected by law in the UK, and their habitats must be taken into account during the planning process.
There are 17 species of bat in the UK and many of these have been recorded in this part of south west England. Your development proposals are likely to require a bat survey, especially if they involve converting old buildings, re roofing projects or felling trees.
Bat Activity in Bournemouth: Local Species and Roosting Sites
Bournemouth’s combination of woodland, rivers, coastline and varied architecture provides excellent opportunities for bats to forage and roost. Thanks to its network of green corridors and natural habitats, Bournemouth offers rich feeding grounds for bats.
The New Forest National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty, is close by and offers a range of bat habitats, while suburban gardens, churchyards, parks and even some town centre buildings can host bat roosts.
Common bat species in Bournemouth include the common pipistrelle bat, which often roosts in small gaps under roof tiles, behind fascia boards or within cavity walls; the soprano pipistrelle bat, often found near rivers and lakes such as those in the Stour Valley Nature Reserve; brown long-eared bats that favour older buildings, barns and woodland edges, while Daubenton’s bats are seen skimming the surface of the River Stour or Bourne Stream.
Local Bat Groups and Community Support
Groups such as the Dorset Bat Group are very active in bat conservation in and around Bournemouth. They monitor local bat roosts, record bat activity, help rescue injured bats, and raise awareness through educational programmes. The Bat Conservation Trust is the overarching body providing expert advice and guidance for the whole UK.
Bat Protection Laws in the UK
In the UK, all bat species and their roosts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended).
It is a criminal offence to disturb bats, damage bat roosts, or obstruct access to a roost – even if bats aren’t currently present. This is why a bat survey in Bournemouth is often required before planning permission can be granted for development proposals that impact bats.
When Is a Bat Survey Needed?
A bat survey is typically triggered when demolishing or altering a roof, loft or eaves; a building is older, disused or in disrepair; there are trees with holes, cracks or loose bark being removed or pruned; the site is located near water, woodland, or in areas of known bat activity or when a preliminary ecological assessment raises concerns about bat presence.
The local planning authority will often require a professional bat survey before validating your planning application if any of these apply.
The Bat Survey Process
Here’s how the phased process typically works:
Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA)
This is the initial scoping survey, often instigated following a preliminary ecological survey, where a licensed, experienced ecologist performs an internal and external inspection of buildings, trees and the surrounding habitat for roosting potential, signs of socialising bats or feeding remains, bat droppings or bat carcases. This daytime visit helps determine if further surveys are needed – these may include great crested newt surveys or barn owl surveys.
Bat Emergence and Re-entry Surveys (BERS)
If the PRA suggests bats could be present, dusk emergence and dawn re-entry surveys will be needed. Seasonal constrains apply to these bat activity surveys which must conducted between May and September. Consultants use specialist equipment such as automated bat detectors to establish the species present, and infra-red cameras to observe bats entering or exiting bat roosts. If required, bat dna analysis will be undertaken.
Depending on the site, a team of ecological consultants will make several survey visits, monitoring entry and exit points on buildings and trees for bat evidence, confirming species, numbers and the level of bat activity.
Bat Survey Report
Once surveys are complete, an experienced ecologist will compile a detailed report that includes survey results and methodology; bat activity details; the species of bat identified; assessment of impacts from your development; mitigation or compensation measures and recommendations for planning and licensing.
This report can be submitted to your local planning authority as part of your application for full planning permission.
Bat Mitigation
If your project is likely to disturb bats or affect their habitat, an ecological consultant will help you develop a bat mitigation strategy according to good practice guidelines. This could involve timing works to avoid sensitive periods, environmental management, installing bat boxes, creating alternative roosts or help with submitting a bat licence application to Natural England.
Engage an experienced ecology consultancy
When selecting a consultancy for a bat survey in Bournemouth, make sure you look for experienced licensed ecologists: all surveys must be undertaken by professionals holding appropriate Natural England licences. Consultants must have an excellent knowledge of European protected species, local ecology and local authority requirements as well as a track record of producing reports that satisfy planning officers.
Get in Touch for Expert Bat Survey Support
If your proposed development site plans involve converting old buildings, felling trees or building in a rural area, they could affect bats. Acting early in your project and organising a bat survey can save time, prevent delays and ensure full compliance with European legislation, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
If you need a bat survey in Bournemouth, our team has experience of completing bat surveys to the required standard to satisfy the local planning authority. And if you require a European Protected Species Licence to relocate or destroy a bat roost, we can help with the application process to Natural England.
Contact us by filling in our online quote form or for further information, talk to us by phone about your site and development plans. If you are happy with our low cost bat survey quote, we can fix a time for a bat survey on your site.