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Panton Hall Stables, Lincolnshire - Work affecting Brown Long-eared bat & Common Pipistrelle bats

Client: Mr T Elliott QC

• Securing licences in respect of work affecting bats
• Designing and undertaking mitigation work
• Post development monitoring
• Habitat creation and enhancement

During the survey of this Grade II Listed structure scheduled for partial conversion to living accommodation, both brown long-eared and common pipistrelle bats were found hibernating in the area of proposed works.

Under licence from Defra, a range of features suitable for use by hibernating bats were installed in the areas of the building which were excluded from development. These included purpose designed slit boxes. In the long term an old cellar will also be adapted to create the conditions and the niches required by hibernating bats.

Hibernation slit box

Both brown long-eared and pipistrelle bats were found to be using the provision for hibernation in the subsequent winter during the development. During the process of the conversion to living accommodation, the redeveloped section of the building was additionally fitted with a bat 'loft', complete with a dedicated access point at the gable apex suitable for future summer roosting by brown long-eared bats. Access slot opportunities leading into spaces behind the replacement soffits were also made available to pipistrelle bats.

Post-development monitoring of the site has recorded increasing usage and use by additional species including Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri and a single Barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus .