Plan for Ecology Ltd was commissioned to undertake detailed bat surveys of a property supporting a boathouse located on the edge of a Special Area of Conservation. The client proposed to renovate the dilapidated property to include works to the boathouse located directly beneath the property. The detailed bat surveys confirmed lesser horseshoe bats to be using the boathouse as a maternity and hibernation roost. Bats were present all year round.
In consultation with the client and architect, the Project Ecologist designed a mitigation plan involving the temporary exclusion and construction of an alternative roost to permit building works, followed by enhancement of the boathouse for breeding and hibernating bats. Plan for Ecology Ltd successfully obtained a EPS licence from Natural England and supervised works under the licence.
Post-development monitoring confirmed that the lesser horseshoe bats continue to use the boathouse in the same manner as they did prior to building works.
