Local Authority Rules and the Importance of Bat Checks
In the Southampton area, the local planning authorities are strict about compliance with the law, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. It is illegal to recklessly disturb bats or their roosts, and to prevent this, the preliminary roost assessment (PRA) is the mandatory first step in the bat survey process, making it possible to see if your development site has suitable habitat or structures that could form a bat roost.
Our team of experts knows exactly what the district councils require from these protected species surveys, and we can also include extended phase 1 habitat surveys / preliminary ecological appraisals for a wider view of potential constraints, covering everything from bird surveys to reptile surveys. If your project in Southampton requires evidence to grant planning permission, one of the first steps is often an ecological survey to assess the potential impact on protected wildlife.
Bats are European protected species, and their status means you must check for them before any proposed works begin. We specialise in providing the essential bat survey report that helps support your planning application with the local authority and district councils across Southampton and the wider county of Hampshire.
Brown Long-Eared Bats and Other Species in Hampshire
The Hampshire Bat Group does excellent work monitoring the local bat species, including the delicate brown long-eared bats and rarer species like the alcathoe bats, especially in areas close to the city centre and surrounding woodlands. Understanding the local bat calls and habitat is key to an accurate assessment, with even a project in close proximity to a known roost needing careful attention.
Our ecological survey focuses on all relevant local bat species, and if our surveys confirm that bats are present, we proceed immediately to design mitigation strategies to address any elements of the development that would otherwise impact bats, including measures to prevent habitat loss and secure their future. We understand that your focus is on a successful planning process, and we provide a detailed report that clearly outlines the findings and the necessary next steps.
Bat Survey Support for Planning Success
To properly assess the bat presence, the bat survey process must follow set guidelines, starting with a detailed internal and external inspection during a site visit. We meticulously search for field signs, such as bat droppings or feeding remains, and we also inspect the structure’s condition and look for support roosting bats might use, such as crevices or cavities. If there is a potential for a bat roost, we move on to more detailed and seasonal work.
During bats’ active season across the summer months, we use specialist equipment – particularly advanced bat detectors – to record bat calls and confirm the species present. Given countless other names like dawn entry and dusk emergence surveys, dusk entry and dawn re-entry surveys, and bat activity surveys, we perform bat emergence surveys to accurately monitor potential entry and exit points on the site.
We work to ensure that all of our further survey work is conducted in line with good practice guidelines set out by the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT). We can also integrate services for other protected species to cover all of your ecological needs and the presence of other wildlife on the site, such as great crested newt surveys and badger surveys.
Reach Out for Bat Reports and Effective Mitigation Strategies
If confirmed, the required mitigation work can take several forms, often involving installing bat boxes or creating new roosting spaces before demolition or construction begins. We design mitigation measures that ensure these fully protected creatures are not harmed, including bats and other categories like great crested newts. We also guide you through any necessary licensing process, working with you to secure a Natural England bat licence if required.
We are your reliable partner group in this process, and if other assessments like tree surveys are required, we can help with them too. Our team covers countless different services that are frequently required to support planning, and we do this in a way that ensures our recommended next steps are practical and cost-effective. By using us, you guarantee that your project minimises the loss of habitat and complies with every aspect of the law, allowing you to move forward confidently.
Between a preliminary roost assessment (PRA) and a bat emergence survey – and numerous other ecological surveys – speak to our team directly for help with picking the right option for you. You can call us, email us or complete a form on our website, and with that, we will be able to create a free quote for you to look over. If you’re happy to move forward, our survey and report will help you to progress your development and obtain planning consent.
