Bat Mitigation in Kent - Another Successful Project Completed
7th May 2025
PJC’s licensed ecologists delivered expert bat mitigation support during the demolition of an aging home for a modern replacement.
PJC Consultancy’s licensed ecological team delivered a comprehensive bat mitigation strategy during the demolition and rebuild of a residential property in Kent. This case study demonstrates how effective bat mitigation measures, designed in line with national bat mitigation guidelines, can balance development with bat conservation.
The ecological requirements were for a homeowner in Kent, seeking to demolish an existing residential property and construct a new dwelling on the same footprint. The site was located in a clearing within ancient woodland, and the replacement home was designed to achieve Passivhaus status, adding further complexity to the required bat mitigation measures.
PJC’s ecological team initially conducted a preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) and a preliminary bat roost assessment (PBRA), highlighting the presence of bat droppings, which confirmed the presence of bat roosts within the building. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis of the droppings confirmed the species to be common pipistrelles Pipistrellus pipistrellus, soprano pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus and brown long-eared Plecotus auritus bats.
As a result, PJC Consultancy completed a number of emergence surveys on the existing residential building, confirming the presence of a maternity roost of brown long-eared bats in addition to day roosts for both pipistrelle species.
Given the complexity of the roosts, the Passivhaus target for the new dwelling, and the sensitive environmental setting, PJC’s team of licensed ecologists developed a tailored bat mitigation and compensation strategy. Central to this was the creation of a purpose-built bat loft in an adjacent outbuilding, designed and constructed in line with best-practice bat mitigation guidelines.
Once full planning permission was granted, the ecological team at PJC supported the client in applying for a European protected species mitigation (EPSML) licence, to allow the works to legally proceed.
Monitoring surveys of the compensatory roosts are ongoing. However, initial results show the bat loft has been highly successful, with a growing number of individuals returning each year which is clear evidence of effective and sustainable bat mitigation.
If you require professional guidance on bat mitigation measures or support with ecological matters as part of a planning application or development project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with PJC Consultancy. Our team has the expertise to interpret bat mitigation guidelines and deliver practical, lawful solutions that protect wildlife while enabling development.