Our First Renovation Project... Before the Renovation Could Even Begin

When we took on the farmhouse, we couldn't wait to get started. We had so many ideas and plans for restoring the building, but before any of those exciting projects could begin, we had one very unexpected job to tackle.

Bats.

During the surveys carried out before we signed the lease, evidence of bats was discovered in the farmhouse. If you've ever heard someone mention bats and building work in the same sentence, you'll probably know the reputation they have. We immediately thought of expensive delays, complicated paperwork and putting our renovation plans on hold.

Before committing to the property, we wanted to fully understand what this would mean for us. What were our legal responsibilities? Would it stop the renovation? How much extra time and cost were we looking at?

Thankfully, the reality has been far less daunting than we first imagined.

Why do bats matter?

Bats are one of the UK's protected species, which means both the bats themselves and their roosts are protected by law. If you're planning work that could disturb them, you have a legal responsibility to make sure they're protected throughout the process.

This is often the part that worries people, as it can mean additional surveys, specialist advice and carefully planned construction work. However, having bats doesn't usually prevent development from going ahead—it simply means it has to be carried out in the right way.

The survey process

Fortunately, the landlord had already arranged for an ecologist to carry out a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA). This is the first step and can be completed at any time of year. It assesses whether a property has the potential to support protected species and identifies whether any further surveys are needed.

Because the farmhouse showed signs of bat activity, additional bat surveys were required. These have to be carried out during specific times of the year when bats are active, which is why projects involving bats can sometimes take longer than expected.

The surveys confirmed that our farmhouse is home to roosting pipistrelles and hibernating lesser horseshoe bats.

Planning for people and wildlife

Rather than seeing this as an obstacle, we've chosen to see it as an opportunity to protect a species that has probably been living here for many years before we arrived.

As part of our mitigation plan, we'll be dedicating the entire attic space as a permanent bat roost, giving the bats a safe place to continue living once the renovation is complete. We'll also be installing an external bat tower to provide additional hibernation habitat for the lesser horseshoe bats.

Our next step is applying for a licence from Natural England, which will legally allow us to carry out the renovation work while ensuring the bats remain protected. We're working closely with our ecologist, who will submit the application, approve our method of working and oversee the works when they begin.

If bats are found during construction, the ecologist will be on hand to safely remove and relocate them before work continues.

What we've learnt

Looking back, discovering bats felt like a huge setback. We imagined endless delays and an overwhelming amount of work.

In reality, yes, there have been additional costs and yes, we've had to be patient while surveys were completed at the right time of year. But the process has been far more manageable than we expected.

The ecologists we've worked with have been incredibly knowledgeable, practical and understanding. They've helped us find solutions that protect the bats while still allowing us to move forward with our plans for the farmhouse.

Most importantly, we've learnt that finding bats doesn't mean your renovation has to stop. It simply means taking the time to understand your responsibilities and working with the right professionals to do things properly.

What's next?

We're now waiting for our Natural England licence before work can begin. Once that's in place, we'll finally be able to start the first phase of the renovation.

We'll continue sharing the process as we go, as we know many people are nervous when they hear the word "bats" during a renovation project. Hopefully our experience shows that, while there is a legal process to follow, it's not nearly as frightening as its reputation suggests.

We're even hoping to install a camera in the bat roost so we can continue watching our newest residents long after the renovation is complete. It feels fitting that as we give this old farmhouse a new lease of life, we'll also be protecting the wildlife that has quietly called it home all along.