Bats and birds are most likely to be encountered when carrying out works to roofs and minor refurbishments or extensions. These species are protected in law and to disturb them either recklessly (by having no regard for their potential presence) or intentionally (by knowing they are present) consistutes an offence which may be investigated by the Police.

The presence of birds or bats is unlikely to mean that the works cannot go ahead, but does mean that their presence must be accommodated both during and after works. This can be achieved by performing the work at a certain time of the year and building features into the design that will allow the bats or birds to continue using the building after work has been completed.  For all works that affect a protected species within a dwelling house, advice must be sought from the Countryside Council for Wales prior to works being carried out.

Bat in particular can be disturbed by work such as timber treatment to roof supports or expansion into a roof or re-roofing. The presence of bats will often be unknown to the home owner because bats can make use of even the smallest opening as a roost or access to roof space.  For timber tretament, there are now many suitable treatments available that are not toxic to bats.

View more information on timber treatments on the Bat Conservation Trust website

More information on bats and planning.