Recently, the Bat Conservation Trust produced a new guidance on Conserving Bats During Large-Scale Housing Maintenance Projects. Experience and evidence gathered from practitioners have highlighted that standard guidance for roost surveys and mitigation is not well-suited to large-scale housing maintenance projects, where there is relatively limited potential for roosting bats and where the principal focus is retention and repair rather than demolition.
This guidance represents the combined efforts of a Working Group of practitioners from the conservation, ecological consultancy, statutory nature conservation body, and local authority sectors. The document outlines a set of project suitability factors for the approach described, as well as the types of survey and mitigation that are appropriate. Importantly, it also explains how to evaluate the effectiveness of the approach to iteratively adapt it based on the results of monitoring.
Why Bats Matter
Bats play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They act as natural pest controllers, pollinate plants, and contribute significantly to biodiversity. Their protection under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 highlights the importance of preserving their habitats, even as urbanization accelerates.
As cities expand and housing infrastructure ages, it is crucial to find ways to support sustainable development that promotes coexistnce with bats. Despite their ecological importance, bats often face challenges in urban settings. Large-scale housing maintenance projects, while necessary for community development, can threaten bat populations if not carefully managed.
To address this, the Bat Conservation Trust’s 2024 guidance provides a comprehensive framework for integrating urban development with bat conservation. This approach ensures infrastructure improvements can proceed while safeguarding bat populations and supporting broader ecological preservation efforts.
Defining Large-Scale Housing Maintenance
Large-scale housing maintenance projects encompass repairs and upgrades to multiple residential properties within a defined area. These projects include re-roofing, replacing structural elements, or enhancing energy efficiency. The challenge lies in maintaining or replicating the roosting opportunities that bats rely on while ensuring cost-effectiveness and compliance with legal frameworks.
The BCT guidance identifies suitable project types and emphasizes a collaborative approach among stakeholders, including ecologists, local authorities, architects, contractors, and residents.
Key Principles for Bat-Friendly Projects
1. Early Collaboration
Success in managing bats during housing maintenance begin with early and close coordination between property owners, ecologists, and regulatory bodies like Natural England. Stakeholder engagement is crucial for creating tailored solutions that balance conservation with development needs.
2. Surveying and Habitat Assessment
Proportionate and selective survey efforts form the cornerstone of planning. Surveys aim to determine the likelihood of bat roosts, considering factors like property type, habitat quality, and the presence of features conducive to roosting. The guidance recommends:
- Desk studies to review existing records.
- External inspections of all properties.
- Internal loft inspections on a representative sample.
- Nocturnal surveys, including transect walks and static detectors, to assess bat activity.
Early engagement with Natural England’s Discretionary Advice Service can streamline the process, ensuring survey efforts are proportionate to the risk.
Mitigation Strategies: A Focus on Solutions
When reduced survey efforts are employed, an increased focus on mitigation becomes critical. BCT’s recommendations include:
- Integrated Roosting Provisions: Incorporating bat access tiles, soffit boxes, and suitable roofing materials to replace or enhance roosting opportunities.
- Temporary Provisions: Installing woodcrete bat boxes as interim solutions during construction.
- Contractor Training: Educating contractors about bat-friendly practices and the importance of reporting any discoveries.
- Adaptive Methods: Adjusting approaches as new information emerges during project implementation.
The use of hessian-backed Type 1F felt, as highlighted in case studies, exemplifies simple yet effective mitigation measures that accommodate both bats and the logistical demands of the project.
Case Study Spotlight: Sheffield City Council’s Initiative
The Sheffield City Council project demonstrates the practical application of BCT’s guidance. Over five years, approximately 5,000 council-owned properties underwent maintenance, including re-roofing. Key features of the project included:
- Grouping properties into zones for efficient survey efforts.
- Employing a tiered survey methodology, starting with transect walks and refining efforts based on findings.
- Installing bespoke bat access tiles on 25% of properties.
- Retaining open eaves to ensure roosting access.
The results were promising: a low yet significant roost occupation rate, minimal disturbance to bats, and positive feedback from residents who observed increased bat activity post-renovation.
Navigating Licensing Complexities
Securing licences for projects impacting bats is non-negotiable under English law. Site-wide licenses covering common species and low-conservation-status roosts offer a pragmatic solution, reducing the risk of work stoppages due to unexpected findings. The Sheffield project, for instance, relied on Natural England’s Licensing Policy 4 to mitigate potential impacts.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
The BCT guidance and Sheffield case study provide valuable insights for future projects:
- Iterative Approaches Work Best: Flexibility in survey and mitigation efforts ensures that conservation measures align with real-world findings.
- Stakeholder Engagement is Crucial: Early involvement of ecologists, regulatory bodies, and contractors minimizes delays and fosters collaboration.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Monitoring and feedback mechanisms validate the effectiveness of conservation measures and inform future projects.
Beyond Bats: Integrating Broader Conservation Goals
While the primary focus is on bats, the BCT guidance advocates for an integrated approach that considers other species, such as nesting birds. Enhancements such as swift bricks and sparrow terraces can provide additional ecological benefits, aligning with broader biodiversity goals.
Conclusion: A Path Forward
The BCT’s 2024 guidance on bats and large-scale housing maintenance highlights the importance of balancing development with conservation. By fostering collaboration, employing proportionate survey efforts, and implementing adaptive mitigation strategies, it is possible to safeguard bat populations while meeting housing needs.
As urbanisation continues, adopting these best practices will not only ensure compliance with legal frameworks but also reaffirm our commitment to preserving the natural world.
If you require assistance with bats on your project, please get in touch on 02920 650 331 or contact us at enquiries@acerecology.co.uk
The full guidance document is available here.