As the day draws into night, if you look up to the dimming sky, you may see flashes of darkness fluttering overhead. Bats come out in the dark to hunt and feast upon insects and creepy crawlies. They have very poor eyesight so use echolocation to navigate whilst they fly and find their food. These creatures are interesting and fascinating, but they can be an annoyance when it comes to property development, renovation, and construction work. This guide will give you the complete low-down on why property developers need to take bats seriously, what they are required to do by law and how they can achieve this.
Bats in the UK
Britain has a total of eighteen native bat species, and is often visited by some other European relatives too. Each and every one of them is protected by law due to the dramatic decrease in numbers. This has been caused by the loss of feeding habitats, flight lines, insects to feed on, and disturbed roosts. Bats are important in the UK for a number of reasons. British bats only eat insects, so are a close ally of farmers and gardeners as they act as a natural pest control, removing any insects that cause harm or damage crops and flowers. Without bats, the insect population would explode. They are also active and essential pollinators that spread seeds and keep our ecosystem thriving and producing necessary foods and crops. Bats are an essential part of our ecosystem, which is why there are measures put in place to protect them.
Roosts on Development Sites
In the wild, bats typically make their homes, known as roosts, in tall trees like oak or beech. They like to find areas where there are cracks and cavities in the trunk or branch to provide a cosy and protective roost. Unfortunately, bats often find their perfect roosting spot in buildings. As bats are loyal to their roosts and usually return year after year, this can be problematic if you want to build or develop a building where there are bats. Some of the most common places you could find bat roosts in your property include in between loose tiles, in cracks and crevices in the structural work or in exposed beams. If the building has a large roof space, it is perfect for flying, which is why they often make a home in the roof. Many agricultural buildings are susceptible to becoming popular roosting spots, as are buildings near woodland or water, and those that are in need of development or conversion and have minimal natural light.
Why is it a Problem?
All species of bat in the UK are protected by law, as they are in a number of countries across the world. This means that you cannot disturb, harm, injure or capture them, or damage, destroy or obstruct access to their roosts. Any of these, even if done by accident, can and will result in prosecution. This is why finding bats in or around your property can lead to major disruptions and delays to the project. All kinds of building and construction work can affect bat populations, but in particular developers have to be careful when conducting roof modifications, extensions, demolitions, barn conversions and removing trees or hedgerows.
How are Bats Affected by Development?
There are direct and indirect development disruptions that can affect bats. If their roosts are in areas that are being removed, destroyed, or redeveloped, there is a high chance that it will be disrupted due to construction works. Light and noise pollution also has a huge negative effect on nearby bat populations. Construction sites are generally full of artificial lights that are used as it gets darker, which disrupts the bats’ schedule and disturbs their natural routine. As bats use echolocation to navigate, the noise from the development site can cause them to lose their way and become lost or unable to find the roost, all of which can be detrimental to the survival of the bats.
Bat Surveys
To avoid delays and running into problems or legal action further down the line, a bat survey should be completed. Undertaking a bat survey will ensure that all the appropriate measures are being taken to minimise and avoid any disruption to bat species in the area or on the development site. Professionals will initially scope the site during the day and at any time of year to assess whether there are signs that bats are present. If they find evidence of bat activity, like droppings, urine, or potential access points, then an emergency assessment will take place. This will need to be conducted during the dark between the months of May and November, the time of year known as bat survey season, to make sure the report is accurate and complete. The experts that complete bat surveys from Arbtech specialise in construction and development and are all licensed bat consultants who are educated and trained to safely handle and disturb bats. This means you are able to get back to your development as quickly and effortlessly as possible without incurring any legal difficulties.
When to Get a Bat Survey
If you are thinking about or beginning a development project in the near future, getting a bat survey done as soon as possible will save you having to cover costs for mitigation later down the line or discovering that you are actually partaking in illegal activity. Developers have been known to get fined for ignoring legislation, so completing a bat survey before you even get planning permission is the safest and most sensible approach. Even if you think you do not have bats and haven’t noticed any signs of their presence, get a professional to take a look. You are much better off playing it safe rather than being sorry. As the initial assessment can take place at any time of the year, it doesn’t matter where you are in the process; it can still be carried out so you can continue work with peace of mind that you aren’t disrupting any bats.
In the world of construction and development, bats need to be taken seriously. If not, they can end up causing you a whole lot of hassle and delay.
