A CONTROVERSIAL plan to convert a Stoke Prior home into an office has been deferred again -- this time because of bats.

Foster Care Associates (FCA) has submitted an application to use Heath House, next door to Fieldview House which is used as a school for foster children, in Brickhouse Lane, as an office.

But the move has caused outrage among residents and the Brickhouse Lane Residents Association (BRA) is strongly opposed to the plan.

BRA is worried the FCA will eventually sell the building for commercial use, despite reassurance from Midland FCA that it does not want to sell them for a profit at a later date.

On Monday, Bromsgrove District Council's planning committee deferred the decision for the third time to allow consultation with English Nature about the home's resident bats.

On October 1, a decision was deferred for a site visit and four weeks later it was deferred again while the applicant provided amended plans.

At this week's meeting, a planning officer's report recommend the scheme for approval.