Why consider protected species during land use planning processes?

The conservation of bats within the built environment is reliant on the delivery of a number of factors:

the provision of roosting opportunities;

the availability of foraging and commuting habitat; and

the appropriate management / protection of existing roosts and areas.

Legal protection



Legislation dictates that any structures or place which a bats use for shelter or protection are protected from damage or destruction whether occupied or not. This legislation has been incorporated into planning policies. This means that planning authorities have a legal obligation to consider whether bats are likely to be affected by a proposed development.

How does this relate to day to day planning?