Surrey
Bat Group
Survey Criteria
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Surrey
Bat Group |
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The Bat Conservation Trust has recently published a guidance note entitled "Bats, Development and Planning in England," which seeks to provide an overview of the current planning framework with reference to bats. However, it does not give guidance to planners on the types of application for which they should consider asking for a bat survey to be undertaken before registration of the application, or as a condition attached to an approval. This document draws upon work done by the Durham Bat Group and the personal experiences of members of the Surrey Bat Group to provide such a list of criteria which we feel planners in Surrey should adhere to. Although written with Surrey in mind these criteria could be successfully applied in most counties of south-east England. The following types of structure should be surveyed before any work is approved involving demolition or modification to roof voids:  Pre-1960 detached buildings
within 200m of woodland or water. Pre-1914 buildings within
400m of woodland or water. Pre-1914 buildings with
gable ends and slate roofs, regardless of location. All barns pre-1914 with
exposed wooden beams greater than 20cm thick. All tunnels, mines,
ice-houses, military fortifications, air raid shelters and similar subterranean
structures. All trees older than 100
years, or with obvious cavities, or with a girth greater than 1m at chest
height.These criteria should cover the majority of scenarios, but bats are highly mobile animals and can turn up in unusual places. We believe these guidelines will aid planners in making initial decisions involving bats but they should not be used in isolation to rebut claims from the public that bats are roosting in structures that are the subject of planning applications. For further advice contact: The Bat Conservation Trust, 15 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 9BG. The Surrey Bat Group
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