Badger Surveys for Planning and Development
Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, making it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct access to an active sett, or to disturb badgers whilst occupying a sett.
Where development proposals have the potential to affect badgers or their setts, a badger survey may be required to support a planning application and ensure compliance with wildlife legislation.
At Stour Ecology Ltd, we provide professional badger surveys and mitigation advice throughout Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and the wider East Anglia region.
What Does a Badger Survey Involve?
A badger survey involves a detailed walkover of the site and surrounding land to identify evidence of badger activity, including:
- Main, annex, subsidiary and outlier setts.
- Badger pathways and runs.
- Foraging signs.
- Latrines.
- Snuffle holes.
- Hair and footprint evidence.
The survey findings are used to assess whether badgers may be affected by the proposed development and whether any mitigation measures are required.
Badger Mitigation and Licensing
Where impacts cannot be avoided, mitigation measures may be required. These can include:
- Protective exclusion zones around active setts.
- Timing works to avoid sensitive periods.
- Installation of badger-proof fencing.
- Artificial sett creation.
- Sett closure under licence where necessary.
Where impacts to active setts cannot be avoided, a licence from Natural England may be required before works can commence.
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