Building / Remedial Work
All of the UK's bats and their roosts are protected by law, so it is important to understand these laws if you are planning any building or remedial work that may affect a roost. The relevant statutory authority should be contacted for advice.
Having bats in your roof does not necessarily preclude work being done. What it does mean is that the work will need careful consideration, especially in terms of time and materials, so that the structure can continue to be shared by bats and people. Therefore the earlier in the process the bats are taken into account the less disruption to building plans there will be.
Remedial work in a dwelling house (not requiring planning permission)
If the roost is in a dwelling house you need to contact the SNCO through the BCT Bat Helpline
The SNCO will send a volunteer round on a free of charge visit to check whether the roof is used by bats, and if it appears that it is, or you know already that it is, they will write and advise on how best to go about the work, causing minimal disturbance to the bats. This might mean that the work has to be carried out at a particular time of year (bats are usually only seasonal visitors to roofs) or that particular materials must be used. This is a vital part of bat conservation; the cooperation of roost owners is invaluable in halting the decline in UK bat numbers.
Work requiring planning permission or work in a non-dwelling
If the roost is not in a dwelling but is, for example, in an old farm building, out-building, or a tree then it is necessary for the person proposing the work to apply for a Habitats Regulations Licence. This also applies to work in a dwelling house that requires planning permission. These are administered by the relevant devolved power, either Natural England, the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly or the Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland). The forms to apply for these licences require detailed bat knowledge, so it is usual to employ an environmental consultant to carry out a survey of the structure containing the roost, and write the method statement for the licence on behalf of the person proposing the work.
We suggest that you contact the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management to find a consultant in your area. A list of local consultants can be found in the 'Find an Expert (IEEM Directory)' section. Enter "bats" as a keyword, and search by your geographic area.
Information on Bats, the Law and Planning
