EXPERT ADVICE
As a self-builder, you might require a bat survey to accompany your planning application. Bats are a protected species, stemming from the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which protects bats and their roosts in England. Bats can be found in buildings or trees on site, or foraging over grassland or water, so even as a self-builder with a fairly clear plot as a starting point, it is worth considering potential for bats on site or in the immediate vicinity.
Disturbing bats or their habitats is a criminal offence — in assessing development proposals, planning officers will give consideration to the potential for bats to be disturbed. As such, bat surveys may need to be done, along with any recommended mitigation measures,
