Planning permission was being sought to demolish a derelict building and to construct a new dwelling on the site, including changes to the site access. Switch Ecology were commissioned to carry out a range of surveys to support the planning application.
The site surveys commenced with a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) to assess the habitats present on site and to allow Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations to be prepared. The PEA identified several ponds on site and in the surrounding area, with the site located in an area covered by Natural England District Level Licencing (DLL) for great crested newts (Triturus cristatus). The survey also identified roosting potential for bats in the building and one tree on site.
Subsequent bat surveys identified two species of bat roosting in the building, brown long eared (Plecotus auritus) and common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and a further pipistrelle (Pipistrellus sp.) roost in a tree on site.
A mitigation strategy was subsequently prepared to support the planning application, alongside the PEA report and Statutory Metric.
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