Guide
Ecological survey cost: what UK ecologists publish, by survey type
Updated
An ecological survey costs a median of £355 across the 22 UK ecology consultancies that print a price on their own page, read in October 2026: a preliminary ecological appraisal has a median of £399.50 and a preliminary bat roost assessment £324.50. The survey the council asks for decides which you need.
By survey type
| Survey | Firms publishing | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary ecological appraisal | 12 | £399.50 | £275 to £700 |
| Preliminary bat roost assessment | 10 | £324.50 | £200 to £750 |
Every row, with its source, is in the price index. Of 106 consultancies we read, 22 print a figure; the rest quote after seeing the site.
Bat roost assessment prices
| Consultancy | Published price |
|---|---|
| Indigo Surveys | from £200 + VAT |
| ACP Consultants | from £275 |
| Bat Surveys | from £299 + VAT |
| Aware Ecology | from £350 + VAT |
| Coachman Bat Consultancy | from £750 |
Sources: Indigo Surveys, ACP Consultants, Bat Surveys, Aware Ecology and Coachman Bat Consultancy.
When the council asks for one
The planning authority asks for surveys where a protected species or habitat may be affected, following Natural England's standing advice (GOV.UK). In Scotland, NatureScot's standing advice expects bat surveys to have been carried out within the last 18 months (NatureScot). Most development in England must also show a 10% biodiversity net gain (GOV.UK, natural environment), which starts from a habitat survey of the site.
What to ask
- Which survey has the council asked for, and is it in the quote?
- If more surveys are needed, in which months can they be done?
- Is the report written to the standard the council's ecologist expects?
Published figures are what each ecology consultancy advertises on its own page, read through our fetch box on the date shown. A 'from' price is the firm's floor, not the price of your survey.