If you are planning to build a new home or carry out renovations on an existing property, you may be wondering whether you can build if you have bats on your property. The answer is not always straightforward, as it depends on the specific circumstances of your project and the legal protections that are in place for bats.
Bats are protected species in the UK, and it is illegal to harm, kill, or disturb bats or their roosts. This means that if you have bats on your property, you may need to take steps to protect them during the building process. However, it is possible to build if you have bats, as long as you take the necessary precautions and follow the legal requirements.
If you are planning to build and you know or suspect that you have bats on your property, you should consider carrying out a bat survey to identify the presence and location of any roosts. You may also need to obtain a European protected species license from Natural England, which will allow you to carry out works on or near a bat roost.
In some cases, it may be necessary to provide alternative roosting arrangements for the bats during the building process, or to relocate them to a suitable site. You should work with a qualified ecologist or bat specialist to develop a bat management plan that meets the needs of the bats and complies with the legal requirements.
In summary, it is possible to build if you have bats on your property, but you will need to take the necessary precautions and follow the legal requirements to protect these protected species. By working with a qualified ecologist or bat specialist, you can ensure that your building project is carried out in a way that is compliant with the law and respectful of the environment.
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