Overview

This bill, the Bat Habitats Regulation Act 2020, aims to reduce the legal protection afforded to bats and their roosts within buildings used for public worship in England and Wales. The protection will only apply if the presence of bats has no significant negative impact on building users.

Description

This bill amends existing legislation, specifically the Habitats Regulations and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The key change is that it removes protection for bats and their roosts inside places of worship unless it can be demonstrated that their presence negatively affects building users. This means that the removal of bats and their roosts would be permissible in places of worship if it can be proved that they cause significant problems for the building's users.

Government Spending

The bill is unlikely to have a significant direct impact on government spending. The potential cost savings may come from reduced enforcement of existing bat protection measures in places of worship. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The bill would primarily affect:

• Places of worship: They may face less stringent regulations regarding bat roosts. This could make building maintenance and renovations easier, but it could also lead to bat displacement.
• Bats: The bill could reduce their level of protection in places of worship, potentially leading to habitat loss and population decline in these specific locations.
• Conservation groups: These groups may experience challenges in protecting bat populations within places of worship.

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