The Landmark Practice ecologists worked with the client to devise an emergency mitigation strategy to enable demolition of the dangerous buildings (under a European Protected Species licence). A temporary roost with access points for lesser horseshoe and long eared bats was created from a garden shed in advance of the building demolition.

Internal modifications included the insulation of the walls and roof to retain heat at night, provision of a central ridge beam, addition of materials to increase purchase for bats and a partition to create a warm, more enclosed roosting area.

In addition, six bat boxes (Schwegler type) were installed on trees within protected parts of the site to provide permanent roosting habitat for displaced crevice dwelling bats (i.e. pipistrelle and long-eared). Two, permanent new roosting areas have been provided in the roof voids of the new retail/residential properties to provide new roost areas for both lesser horseshoe and long-eared bats.