The Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) was firstly undertaken and identified four buildings with High Bat Roost Potential (BRP), one building with Moderate BRP and one building with Low BRP which would be disturbed, damaged and/or destroyed during the development process. Further emergence and re-entry surveys were then carried out at both dusk and dawn to determine the presence/likely absence of a roost.

The bat scoping element of the PEA revealed numerous PRFs across several buildings, located across the site, with each building varying in the type and number of PRFs. Some of these could accommodate a high number of roosting bats and therefore, a roost of high conservation value. This resulted in four buildings deemed as having high bat roosting potential, one building with moderate bat roosting potential and a further building deemed as having low bat roosting potential.

No bats were observed re-entering or emerging from any of the six buildings that were surveyed. However, the proposed development would have an impact on biodiversity for wildlife by reducing roosting opportunities for bats. The low level of bat activity observed during the surveys suggests that the buildings are situated in an area not favoured by bats, so the impact will be minor.

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A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) was first of all undertaken and identified one building with moderate Bat Roost Potential (BRP) which would be disturbed during the proposed works. Further field surveys were undertaken to identify any bat use of the building. The surveys found moderate levels of bat activity on site but no evidence of bats roosting in the building.

Our ecological consultant concluded that whilst the current survey did not confirm any bat roosting within the building, the features in which bats may roost remain present and available to bats using the site. It was advised that works should proceed with caution, particularly in those areas where bat roost potential was identified in the initial bat scoping survey.

In the unlikely event that a bat was found within the building on site at any time of year, either prior to or during the scheme, works should cease immediately, and the advice of an appropriately qualified, experienced and licensed ecologist should be sought. As bats and their roosts are protected under UK legislation, the work would then need to be completed under the authority of a Natural England (NE) mitigation licence. Mitigation and compensation measures to reduce the impact on bats would be required as conditions of the licence.

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Bat Emergence and Re-entry surveys were carried out at both dusk and dawn on a number of dates. Whilst no bats were found to be roosting in the building at the time it was surveyed, the potential for bats to enter the building remains.

Our consultant concluded that any works should proceed with caution and if bats are discovered, all work must cease, and a suitably qualified ecologist must be contacted for further advice. It was also advised that, because the proposed development would see a reduction in the available roosting opportunity for bats locally, it was recommended that additional roosting provisions were provided in the form of 9 Schwegler bat boxes around the site.

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As the site had been considered to have a high potential of supporting bat roosting sites, we recommended that dawn/dusk emergence surveys should be carried out to establish the absence/presence of roosting bats. After conducting the three emergence/re-entry surveys Common Pipistrelle bats were determined to be roosting within the mill complex and there was also evidence and sightings of Brown Long-eared bats and Mytosis species. As a result, our consultant informed our client that a Bat Mitigation Licence should be applied for from Natural England, and a mitigation plan devised so that development would cause as little impact on local bat populations as possible.

JCA advised our client that it would also be necessary to undertake a hibernation survey to determine whether those bats were using the site for hibernating during the winter months. Three surveys were carried out, one per month from December to February. The licensed bat ecologist searched the entirety of the complex for hibernating bats and bats in torpor within the building to determine whether the mill was a key bat hibernation site. No bats were found to be hibernating or present during the hibernation surveys in December, January or February. However, it was concluded that brown long-eared bats were using the site as a day roost and the common pipistrelle as a maternity roost. High levels of bat foraging and commuting activity were also observed over the canal adjacent to the west of the site.

As part of the plans, the common pipistrelle roosts were to be retained post-development and new roosting features were to be created within the roof void of the building to mitigate the loss of the brown long eared roost. Wildlife friendly lighting was also to be utilised throughout the site and landscape planting of native trees and shrubs was to be carried out to the borders of the site. The inclusion of these features and the subsequent monitoring of bat usage is expected to improve the ecological value of the site for bats!

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