Case Studies

Our role: The site comprised derelict buildings formerly used as industrial buildings and a mill, with associated ancillary buildings, hard standing and former grounds including a stream and area of woodland. The site has now been developed to provide residential housing.

Ecosulis has been involved with the ecological aspects of the site since 2003 when survey work found evidence for the presence of a single male Greater Horseshoe bat roosting within one of the buildings. Common and Soprano Pipistrelle bats, Daubenton’s bats and Whiskered bats were also recorded foraging on site. Following these findings, a detailed mitigation strategy was compiled to include replacement roost sites, appropriate landscaping, a monitoring programme and management plan.

Under a licence from Natural England features for bats have been incorporated into one of the new buildings, including an entrance for horseshoe bat species, bat boxes and a bat ridge tile, with additional roosting features including the creation of a Pipistrelle roosting chamber and a Lesser Horseshoe microclimate roost. Landscape planting and lighting within the development has also been designed sensitively with bats in mind, with the retention and protection of the important foraging and commuting features including the hedgerows, woodland and pond.