Elton Ecology were commissioned to carry out ecology work to inform a planning application for the demolition of an existing dwelling and the construction of a replacement dwelling within a conservation area of the Amber Valley Borough Council planning authority.

The Issue

During a Preliminary Bat Roost Assessment (PBRA) by a third-party ecologist the building was assessed as offering moderate bat roosting suitability, requiring two nocturnal surveys to establish the presence/ likely absence of roosting bats. The Amber Valley Borough Council planning authority ecology consultee for the site stated that, with reference to Paragraph 99 of ODPM Circular 06/2005 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, it was essential that the results of the nocturnal surveys were submitted to the local planning authority with details of any required bat mitigation, prior to the planning authority determining the application.

Our Solution

With reference to best practice survey guidelines (Collins, 2016), Elton Ecology carried out two nocturnal emergence/ re-entry surveys aided by full spectrum bat echolocation detectors and HD infrared video cameras, comprising one dusk emergence survey and one dawn re-entry survey during which no emerging/re-entering bats were recorded. Therefore, with reference to best practice survey guidelines (Collins, 2016), the likely absence of roosting bats at the site was demonstrated and a subsequent bat report issued to satisfy the comments of the ecology consultee.

The use of infrared video technology provides greater confidence to key decision makers.