STRINGENT measures to protect wildlife on a proposed Redditch building site will be taken by a housing developer, its project manager has said.

The Advertiser recently reported that neighbours opposed to a controversial 30-home development in Rough Hill Drive, Oakenshaw, hoped rare bats and slowworms could scupper the plans.

Now developer Redditch Co-operative Homes has received the results of a wildlife investigation.

Slowworms, which are actually reptiles, were found but evidence of bats living on the site was not, although they are believed to forage there, said Co-operative Homes project manager Carl Taylor.

Consequently the Co-operative is to spend £30,000 moving the slowworms and creating a habitat for them nearby.

Meanwhile further investigations will be done into whether bats do live there - but whatever the results bat boxes will be put up, said Mr Taylor.

He added: "We don't think there are bats living on the site but we want to make sure.

"With regards to the slowworms, we'll be spending a considerable amount of money moving them to a specially created habitat nearby.

"We care for the environment and want to take the utmost care of it, as we do of the many people on waiting lists desperate for affordable housing in Redditch."

Opponents of the scheme fear being overlooked and increased traffic, though planning permission has already been given.

Graham Badger, of Towbury Close Action Group, told the Advertiser on October 1 that the group would watch with interest how the Co-operative dealt with the wildlife situation considering the strict conditions imposed when dealing with protected species.