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Bat Licences - Development

If bats are likely to be found in a site proposed for development (for instance in a building to be modified or demolished or in trees that may need to be felled), then it is strongly recommended that you have a bat survey undertaken by a suitably qualified and experienced person.

If bats, their roosts or even signs of bats, are found then they should identify what impact the development might have on the bats.  Wherever possible these impacts should be avoided or minimised.  However, if they can't be avoided and the development might otherwise result in an offence being committed, then a licence would be necessary to be able to proceed.

Licences to permit development can only be granted subject to strict tests being met. 

It should also be noted that planning authorities are required to consider the same strict tests as the licensing authority when considering any planning permission that might affect bats or any other protected species, so it pays to make sure that a good survey and protection plan is drawn up at the planning stage.  Surveys should be up-to-date and carried out according to best practice to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in addressing licence and planning applications.