Bats bring a halt to homes development (From Worcester News)

Bats bring a halt to homes development

6:00pm Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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BATS in the loft have put paid to a housing development in rural Worcestershire.

Councillors have told developer Crest Nicholson to come back with a full bat survey after the company submitted a planning application to build 39 homes at Brewer’s Lane in Badsey, near Pershore.

The survey would set out how much bats – which are a protected species – use the loftspace of no 27 Brewer’s Lane, which would be demolished under the plans.

Outline permission had been recommended for approval by planning officers at Wychavon District Council, but members refused the application by a majority at a meeting.

Objector and local resident Margaret Tyszkow said the house was a bat roost.

Her neighbour Ian Devine told councillors that there were also concerns over sewage and surface water flooding and extra traffic using Brewer’s Lane.

More than 20 letters from people objecting to the plans have been received by the district council.

But Simon Hawley, representing the developer, said the proposed site was “ideal” and that it would contribute to house-building targets set by the Government.

Crest Nicholson has also pledged to turn over 30 per cent of the site to affordable housing, either as rentals or shared ownership.

However, the company was criticised by Councillor Judy Pearce for picking a site outside Wychavon’s local plan framework, which sets out residential development in the district, and then not submitting a full bat survey.

She said: “A bat survey here in 2007 identified bats at no 27. It’s not satisfactory for them [Crest Nicholson] to want to build on a site outside our local plan – and then put forward an application that is not 100 per cent complete. They’ve fallen down on the bats.”

Council planning manager Jonathan Edwards said a bat survey had been completed in the winter but that this was “not the optimum time of year to be doing it”.

Other concerns raised by people about the plan were ruled out as reasons for refusal after Severn Trent Water, Worcestershire County Council’s highways team and the district’s own drainage officer raised no objections.