Clear, compliant and programme-focused badger surveys designed for real construction environments.
You may need a badger survey if your site includes woodland edges, hedgerows, scrub, rough grassland, earth banks or if a PEA has flagged badger potential. Development close to any active sett requires clear evidence before planning can progress.
A badger survey confirms sett locations, type of sett, activity levels and suspected pathways. It provides the evidence planners need to validate applications and defines the mitigation required to keep works lawful and predictable.
LPAs typically request evidence when:
Early confirmation avoids programme friction, redesigns and licensing delays.
| Service | Purpose | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Badger Check | Early walkover to confirm risk and identify sett features. | Fast clarity before design commits. |
| Full Badger Survey | Sett mapping, field signs and territory assessment. | Evidence suitable for planning and mitigation design. |
| Activity Monitoring (Camera / Field Signs) | Determine usage, status and activity levels. | Robust data for planning authorities and licensing. |
| Mitigation Strategies & Method Statements | Keep works lawful where setts or routes are present. | Practical, construction-friendly measures. |
| Licensing Support | Where works may disturb or close a sett. | Prepared applications with realistic timelines. |
A practical, proportionate, planning-ready route for development.
Send your site details and programme. We confirm the correct level of survey.
Walkovers, sett assessments, camera deployment and activity checks depending on risk
Planning-ready reporting with impact assessment, mitigation options and clear timelines for designers and site teams.
Early engagement helps avoid licensing delays and prevents mid-programme disruption.
April to September
Year-round
Generally May to August
Evidence planners rely on. Steps your project team can deliver.
Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Development near an active sett without proper evidence can trigger enforcement, stoppages and licensing requirements.
Missing or inadequate surveys can lead to:
Relevant legislation:
Our role is to keep everything compliant, predictable and aligned to your build sequence.
Need an invertebrate survey? We’ll confirm what’s required and align survey windows with your programme.
Phone: 0800 494 7479
Email: [email protected]
We cover many areas across England and Wales. Click below to find out more.
A badger survey is an ecological assessment used to identify badger setts, activity, and potential constraints on a development site.
Local Planning Authorities require these surveys to ensure proposals comply with wildlife legislation and avoid harm to a legally protected species. Submitting a survey early supports smooth planning validation and decision making.
Badger surveys can be undertaken throughout the year, as badgers remain active.
Survey conditions are generally optimal between November and April, when vegetation is reduced and field signs are easier to identify.
A standard badger survey includes:
Further survey work or mitigation design may be recommended where required.
If your site includes suitable habitat such as woodland, hedgerows, or undisturbed land, a badger survey is often required.
Most Local Planning Authorities expect ecological constraints to be addressed upfront.
You can review general validation guidance here:
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications/validation-requirements
Where badger activity is confirmed, development proposals must be designed to avoid harm.
This may include:
Where impacts cannot be avoided, licensed works may be required.
Yes. Badgers and their setts are protected under UK legislation.
It is an offence to damage, destroy, or obstruct a sett, or to disturb badgers within it, without a licence.
Failure to comply can result in prosecution and planning complications.
A licence is required where development will impact a badger sett or cause disturbance.
Applications must be supported by survey evidence and a clear mitigation strategy, typically prepared by an ecologist.
Badger survey reports are generally valid for up to 2 years, depending on site conditions and Local Planning Authority requirements.
If development is delayed, an updated survey may be necessary.
If not addressed early, badger constraints can delay validation or determination.
Providing a survey at submission stage helps reduce risk and ensures compliance with planning policy and legislation.
A planning ready report typically includes:
Reports are prepared to meet Local Planning Authority expectations.
Badger survey fees typically start from:
£1,200 + VAT
Costs are area dependent and reflect the requirement to survey not only the development site, but also land within up to 30 metres beyond the site boundary, where accessible.
Larger sites or more complex terrain are quoted individually.
What influences the cost?
Cost is primarily influenced by:
Where follow up monitoring surveys, mitigation design, or licence applications are required, these are quoted separately.
Badger surveys should be undertaken by a qualified ecologist.
Accurate identification of setts and activity is critical, particularly for planning and legal compliance.
Professional surveys ensure findings are robust and accepted by Local Planning Authorities.
A badger sett is a system of underground tunnels and chambers used for shelter and breeding.
They are identified by:
Setts are classified based on activity, which informs any required mitigation.
Where badger activity is present, site layouts may need to be adjusted to avoid impacts.
This is typically addressed early in the design process to maintain planning compliance and avoid delays later.
