Bat surveys

[Flymeaway4]

We are having 3 nocturnal bat surveys done on a grade 2 listed farmhouse we plan to refurbish. The company carrying out the surveys has just asked if we'd be happy for them to install a static recording device in the house for 4 nights in addition for free.

We're obviously hoping they don't find bats, because this will likely hinder our chances of gaining planning permission/listed building consent or require is to do a lot of extra work to comply with any conditions. Also, after the first survey last year, the device did not form part of their recommendations to us/the council for the further surveys required. So, our immediate thought was to say no, as the longer they or any device is in there the more chance they have of finding bats. However, he's said it will allow them to collect extra data, which we can use to support an eventual European Protected Species licence application with Natural England.

So, now I'm wondering if we're missing something and it could actually help us? Could he come back after the 3 surveys are done and say they still need to do more work because they don't have enough data? Anyone have any experience?

Trust me, if you have bats they will know immediately . You don’t need a survey . We have them, you can hear them in the walls at night, in the loft hatch and see them flying around at dusk into the night.

Do you need to get the surveys done is that a requirement? If not, I’d not bother, it’s obvious if you do.

If you find you do have bats, then the more information you have, the easier it is to do the licence application should you need it. Putting a recording device in over a period of time is fairly standard and good industry practice. It will also give a better indication as to how the bats are using the space, I.e. is it a transitory roost, maternity roost etc which can affect the times of year you are allowed to carry out works and the mitigation you are required to provide.

I would recommended allowing them to put in the recording device but would also like you to be aware that depending on the results they may have to do hibernation surveys as well.

If you have a bat roost legally you cannot disturb it without a licence issued by Natural England. This has to be supported by evidence, meaning surveys.

We have one or two occasionally used bat roost in our loft void and walls with hanging tiles (allegedly) and we are doing an extension which needed planning permission.
I would totally advise against doing anything recommended by bat ecologists you do not absolutely have to do, because if you have bat roosts you will be doing a lot anyway. The rules you will have to follow and the mitigation is an absolute joke and an expensive nightmare. We have spent thousands, our project has been delayed by over a year and the ecologists seen to revel in all the problems and barriers they put up - which they do at any opportunity. I really hope you don’t have any bat roosts because no one will care about you or your family and the conditions you are living in, Or anything you want to decide on regarding your own house- it is all about the bats.

We don’t live in the house, it’s completely uninhabitable (leaks all over, structural issues, no heating or running water etc), so a massive refurb project. We’ve only ever been inside in the daytime, so never seen or heard any bats, but there are sometimes lots of butterfly/moth wings which indicates they are feasting in there at least. That’s why we need to do these surveys, we won’t get planning without them.

We’ve only had the initial survey so far, but definitely got the impression the ecologist was recommending the absolute maximum he could in terms of further work (he gets more money that way I guess!). I think we’re just trying to decide whether the device is likely to throw up more issues for us to deal with, or if we say no, whether they’ll say they need more data at the end and we’ll have to fork out for further surveys.

Risk either way I guess

We have just gone through this for planning on our semi detached as the garden has a wood at the back. The only thing I would say is if they want it, they will do it. Our experience went like this.
Check with council we don't need a survey as too far from woods. - confirmation received
Submit planning
Get asked for survey as they now think they need it.
Survey booked
No bats or evidence of bats found. Phew.
But as there was "potential" for bats we now have to do dawn and dusk survey.
Survey booked dawn complete - no bats
Confirmed they still want dusk survey
Dusk survey booked - still no bats
Planning then require a mitigation plan for if we should find non existent bats.

It was pretty stressful and we knew and still know we don't have bats... But we are 17 weeks behind and £3k lighter.

Sorry to be doom and gloom but although I totally get the need for surveys this process is awful. Particularly as our neighbors demolished an outbuilding and built under permitted development with no surveys and they had bats!!!

I'm short I have no advice as I couldn't have predicted what happened to ours. B

We’ve told him to go ahead with the detector. We figured if there are bats they will find them from the 3 nocturnal surveys anyway and this may just give us more info now, as opposed to having to get it later and delaying us further. Fingers crossed it’s the right decision! Thank you all for your help