A local client identified that remediation works were required for the roof of a cottage located in the New Forest and ECOSA, a Trinity Consultants team, was appointed to undertake an Ecological Impact Assessment of the site to support a planning application for this work. During the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal survey, the cottage showed signs of being highly suitable for roosting bats, with bat droppings recorded around possible access/egress points on the roof. Bat droppings were sent to a lab for DNA analysis and were found to belong to soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus.

All bat species are designated as European Protected Species and are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 meaning it is an offence to deliberately kill, injure, disturb or capture bats and damage or destroy their breeding sites and resting places. It is also an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to intentionally or recklessly disturb bats while they occupy a structure or place used for shelter or protection or obstruct access to a place of shelter or protection. Therefore, bat surveys were necessary to determine the nature of the bat roost present, and the potential impacts of any works undertaken.