Professional Bat Surveys Throughout Greater Manchester
Bats, their roosting sites and their resting places are protected by law, specifically under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, meaning you cannot knowingly disturb bats or their homes. If your proposed works in Manchester involve structures like barn conversions, loft conversion projects or demolition in areas like Manchester City Centre or the surrounding suburbs of Greater Manchester, you need an assessment.
The initial step is a first-stage assessment called a preliminary roost assessment (PRA) – an essential inspection that determines the likelihood of bat presence, making it critical for your planning application. The cost of a bat survey is a small investment compared to the penalties or delays from legal issues. We use our extensive experience to help you navigate the entire planning process, with our goal being to achieve successful project completion with minimal hassle for you.
We know your development project needs to move forward smoothly. When you’re undertaking development work in the Greater Manchester area, securing planning consent from the local planning authority – such as Manchester City Council – often requires you to consider protected species like bats. Ignoring this crucial first step can seriously delay your entire development site schedule. Our team of licensed ecologists and bat surveyors are here to make the process clear and efficient, ensuring you meet all legal requirements.
Local Bat Conservation Groups in the Area
The Greater Manchester area sits close to the border of North Wales, and while we follow the guidance from organisations like Natural Resources Wales for projects there, our focus in this region is on local groups and the guidance from Natural England, as well as the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT).
For instance, the work of the South Lancashire Bat Group is vital for monitoring bat populations and helping to raise public awareness about the need to protect bats. We often see bat species like the daubentons bat, Brandt’s bat, common pipistrelle bat, Nathusius pipistrelle bat, soprano pipistrelle bat, noctule bat and whiskered bat in the local environment. Even when structures only show likely absence during the initial assessment phase of a preliminary roost assessment, we remain vigilant over any further ecology surveys.
Our full range of services extends beyond bats too, with the option of an extended phase 1 habitat survey / preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) for detecting other European protected species, and specialised assessments such as great crested newt surveys based on our findings. It is important to remember that certain survey types can only be conducted at certain times of the year, particularly avoiding disrupting hibernating bats during the winter months and ensuring we never obstruct access to resting places during this critical period.
Mapping Out the Bat Surveying Process
In a bat survey, Manchester developers will see that our team always starts with a comprehensive desk study where we review local data and check the area for records of bat species, immediately followed by a detailed site visit, which includes an internal and external inspection of any buildings or trees on the development site.
We meticulously check for field signs such as bat droppings, grease marks or feeding remains near exit points and areas of potential entry, like gaps in roof tiles or access to loft spaces. Often referred to as a bat scoping survey, the preliminary assessment will determine if there is low potential or a high likelihood of a bat roost. If, at any point, a bat roost is suspected, we move on to the next phase for bat surveys.
During the summer months and just outside of daylight hours, when bats are most active, we carry out bat emergence surveys to confirm if roosting bats are using the property, using specialist equipment like high-tech bat detectors to record echolocation calls of several species in the area. Also known as bat activity surveys, dusk entry and dawn re-entry surveys, and dawn and dusk emergence surveys, bat emergence surveys see us monitoring exit and entry points at dawn and dusk to cover the full active period in the present and surrounding bat habitat.
Once all the data is collected, you will receive a comprehensive bat survey report detailing our findings and any recommended mitigation measures.
Licensing and the Next Steps for Your Development
If bats are confirmed, we will begin designing appropriate mitigation measures, possibly including installing bat boxes to provide alternative shelter or seeking a specific European protected species licence from Natural England. Our experts can prepare a strong case for you to be covered under the bat mitigation class licence.
We ensure that all our work aligns with the standards set by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), and the process ensures that even if bats are confirmed, we can find a way for your development to proceed legally and responsibly. Our team prides itself on being your trusted ecological consultant, understanding the importance of clear communication and delivering reliable results for your project.
By working with our team of licensed bat surveyors from the first instance, you gain peace of mind that you are complying with all relevant legislation regarding the population numbers of every species of bat. For an indication of bat survey cost based on your site, fill out a quote form, call us or email us, and our team will send you a free quote. We are committed to helping you succeed, making sure the final stages of your project are completed without issue.
