Badgers and their setts, Otters and their holts, Red Squirrels and their dreys and Bats and their roosts are legally protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Order (Northern Ireland) 1985.

The Planning Service (Department of the Environment NI) is required to take account of protected species and habitat conservation when they are considering a proposed planning application. Planning Service will consult Environment & Heritage Service (DoE NI) with regard to protected species that may be present within the site of proposed development or its immediate environs.

Where development proposals of any kind may affect a Badger sett/Otter holt/Squirrel drey or Bat roost in terms of its concealment, disturbance, damage or access by the Badger, Otter, Squirrel or Bat, it is necessary to establish the exact status and the position of the sett/holt/roost and its access routes. ATEC have extensive experience in completing these types of surveys.

Planning Service may then stipulate certain conditions in a planning permission in order to ensure the protection of species. In some circumstances, Badger Setts/Otter holts/Squirrel dreys and Bat roosts may be removed, but this is only legal under licence from the Environment & Heritage Service Wildlife Officer.

A pre-condition of such a licence is invariably a survey of the area by a person or person(s) acceptable to Environment & Heritage Service as expert in mammal ecology. Environment & Heritage Service will then decide whether or not to grant a licence for the removal of a sett/holt/roost/drey and will attach conditions to ensure the welfare of the mammals both during the removal and in the future.

ATEC are fully accepted as experts in mammal ecology by the Environment & Heritage Service.