Protecting Bats in Waterside Development

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Developed by Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Council, this guidance focuses specifically on the relationship between lighting, bats and waterways. The document recognises

that rivers, streams, and ponds often form important commuting and foraging routes for bats and that inappropriate lighting can disrupt these ecological networks. In Bath, ecological surveys carried out along a section of the Avon River detected the presence of 12 different bat species out of a total of 18 in the UK and this document was produced to ensure future developments along the River Avon did not negatively effect the local bat population.

This is a useful reference document when it comes to the design of lighting close to watercourses. The area around the river is divided into ‘river corridor lighting zones’, with associated lighting limits. The river itself is classified as Zone A and has the most stringent limits, and at the other end of the scale are inner development zones classified as Zone E, with no lighting limits at all.

Although produced for the BANES area, the principles are widely applicable across the UK and are frequently referenced on planning documents for

projects involving sensitive waterside habitats.