Energy saving building insulation works were put on hold when the potential for bats to be affected was raised by the planning ecologist. CSA were asked to investigate and found small numbers of pipistrelle bats using gaps behind large concrete panels located at each end of the five-storey building. With funding for the work being time limited, there was concern that the issue would lead to the works being abandoned.
However, with advice from CSA and with surveys and planning consent in place, Aidan Marsh (CSA Director and Registered Consultant) was able to obtain a Bat Low Impact Class Licence (BLICL) within a few days, allowing works to exclude the bats to commence. A totally bespoke approach was required as individual bats were using a range of crevices and extensive areas of netting, plus some ‘exclusion tubes’ were erected using an elevated platform to create one-way exclusion devices.
Monitoring showed that bats were successfully able to escape but unable to return. In one case a bat tried over 80 times to re-enter a favoured spot to which an exclusion tube had been fitted!
Within 10 days of commencement the building works were able to begin. Local residents were delighted that their building would not miss out on the insulation improvements and somewhat fascinated by the whole ‘bat drama’! Whilst not a compensation requirement under BLICL, the client was happy to provide some integrated bat boxes to create on-going opportunities for bats in the future