If bats or their roosts are likely to be affected on your site, you may need a licence for the works to go ahead. Breakwell Ecology provide a personal service tailored to your individual needs and the potential impacts of your project.

What happens if bats are found on my site?

Each site and project is unique. If bats are found to be roosting on your site, the first option is to try to avoid any impact on them by modifying the project or the timing of works. If this is possible, the project may be able to proceed under a Bat Mitigation Plan or Reasonable Avoidance Measures Method Statement.

If impacts on bats or their roost are unavoidable, a European Protected Species Mitigation Licence (EPSML) will need to be acquired from Natural England to permit the disturbance of bats and/or the lawful destruction, disturbance or modification of a bat roost. As your ecologist, we would complete all the documentation needed and apply for the licence on your behalf.

As part of the bat licensing process, a mitigation and compensation strategy will be devised, which details the proportionate measures required to provide adequate mitigation to minimise harm and maintain the “favourable conservation status” of the bat population that will be affected. This typically includes the creation of alternative roosting sites, timing of works and/or habitat enhancement.

Planning consent must be granted with all relevant conditions relating to wildlife discharged before a licence application can be submitted to Natural England. We recommend that you get in touch at the earliest stage of your project to plan ahead and avoid unexpected and potentially costly delays.

Breakwell Ecology have extensive experience in bat licensing. We will work with you to design a mitigation and compensation plan that is proportionate to your project and guide you through the process of mitigation and licensing to ensure a positive outcome for you, whilst ensuring the protection of bat populations and their habitats.