Bats and planning
Information for planning applicants, agents and developers
If you are submitting a planning application that may affect bats (for example, if the roof will be significantly affected by the works) you may have questions about bats and planning such as:
- why do I need a bat survey?
- what does a bat survey involve?
- will I still be able to go ahead with my development if I have bats?
For answers to these and many more questions you may have, please refer to our useful Bat briefing note (PDF, 78 KB).
For information on who can carry out bat surveys, you can search for ecological consultants online, or you could visit the Chartered Institute of Ecologists and Environmental Managers. On this website, you can search the institute’s commercial directory of consultants to find local ecologists who can carry out the work for you. We recommend you obtain a number of quotes as prices can vary. If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Information for Ecological Consultants
For a bat survey report to be accepted, the consultant must be able to demonstrate that sufficient survey effort has been carried out (in accordance with the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) Good Practice Guidelines (PDF, 6.2MB).
It is expected that bat survey reports will include sufficient detail to enable WCC Ecological Services to feel confident in the findings of the survey and use them to inform subsequent recommendations. Any deviation from BCT good practice should be justified within the report. There is a uniform standard that we expect from all consultants and failure to adhere to this standard could result in the report being rejected by WCC Ecological Services.
If a Natural England licence is required, case law states that the Local Planning Authority needs to take into account whether or not a licence is likely to be granted. The Local Planning Authority must be satisfied that the three licensing tests will be met. Information on the three licensing tests: GOV.UK - European protected species: apply for a mitigation licence (A12).
Regarding mitigation, Natural England require only the ‘minimum measures necessary to meet regulatory requirements’ for impacts proposed. Ecological Services would however highlight that, unlike the Natural England licensing team the Local Planning Authority under the provisions of the NPPF and the Environment Act have a wider remit to maintain, enhance and restore biodiversity over and above just mitigating for any loss of a roost.