Bat Habitats Regulation Bill (HL Bill 44)

1 Enhancing the protection available for bat habitats in the non-built
environment

(1) No new building shall be constructed on a previously undeveloped site unless
prior to its construction a local bat survey has been conducted and it has been
5established that no bat habitat is located in the vicinity of the proposed
building.

(2) Where a survey under subsection (1) concludes that a bat habitat is located in
the vicinity of the site of a proposed building, the building shall not be
occupied unless or until the developer of that building has provided a bat box
10or artificial roost for each species of bat located in the vicinity.

(3) No wind turbine for which planning permission is required shall be
constructed unless prior to its construction a local bat survey has been
conducted and it has been established that no bat habitat is located in the
vicinity of the proposed wind turbine.

2 15Limiting the protection for bat habitats in the built environment

Notwithstanding the European Communities Act 1972, the provisions of the
Habitats Regulations and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 shall not
apply to bats or bat roosts located inside a building used for public worship
unless it has been established that the presence of such bats or bat roosts has no
20significant adverse impact upon the users of the building.

3 Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This Act extends to England and Wales only.

(2) This Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Bat Habitats Regulation Act 2015.